Alternative Indie Music
What is Alternative Indie Music?
Indie is a term used to describe music created by independent artists, who are not supported by major record labels. The artists do not play the same music, and they cannot be categorized by a single genre, so we cannot consider indie to be a single genre. It is more of an umbrella that classifies artists based on their recording techniques.
Due to its association with indie pop and indie rock, many people regard indie music as a genre. However, it is not a genre of music per se.
Many individuals refer to indie as an attitude. Without the influence of a record label, the artists have a greater opportunity to freely express themselves and create their music. They are also free to create music videos and distribute their music as they see fit.
Indie is subdivided into subgenres, including indie rock and indie pop, based on each artist's musical style. They are identical to conventional rock and pop, except that independent artists perform them.
Initially, independent musicians were not motivated by fame or wealth. They played music because they were passionate about it.
Over time, independent artists began to gain worldwide recognition. Arctic Monkeys and Tame Impala are ideal illustrations of this.
Consequently, many people believe that "indie music" is replacing "alternative music" as the umbrella term for all non-mainstream music.
The only real distinction between alternative and indie is the origin of the artist's name: the alternative was favored by American musicians, whereas indie originated in the British Isles.
In America, indie is synonymous with twee, meekness, and Anglophilia, and always with retrophonic. Indie means without distortion and without aggression. Given the current state of radio in the United States, this almost by definition makes indie acts underground bands. I can only think of The Shins as a band with a true indie-pop sound that has been successful on the American charts.
However, in England, where the term originated, "indie" has taken on an entirely different meaning. Indie is no longer a term used, often with pride, to describe bands with a down-to-earth attitude and do-it-yourself beliefs; instead, it has become a synonym for the harshest non-rock music.
In Britain, indie is commonly used as a catch-all term to describe an ever-increasing number of unimaginably bland, boyish bands playing inoffensive, melancholy ballad-rock.
How to get into Alternative Indie Music?
When there are so many genres, bands, and albums to discover, it can be intimidating to decide what kind of indie music to begin listening to. There are numerous online resources that make it simple for indie music novices to become hipsters in a matter of weeks. This guide will assist you in beginning to listen to independent music.
You are not required to listen to every album on the list! Utilize it as a starting point for your indie music journey.
Some of the albums on the list are technically not independent, but you shouldn't disregard them because they were released by a major label. As you listen to more music and read about the music industry, you will develop your own ideas and opinions regarding what indie music means to you.
When you begin listening to indie music, you may encounter bands and artists who use unusual instruments, strange vocals, or low-fidelity production. Before deciding whether you truly dislike the sound of these songs, give them multiple listens. It is beneficial to take breaks between listening in order to maintain a fresh perspective.
Discovering new indie music should be a pleasurable experience, not a stressful one. If you do not enjoy an artist's music, you should not force yourself to like it. Recognize that everyone has their own tastes and preferences.
Do not interfere with other people's enjoyment of indie music by boasting about your knowledge of obscure or underground indie music. It only makes you look bad and casts a negative light on other indie music fans.
Being independent involves a self-presentation that emphasizes your individuality. It entails independent thought or making decisions based on one's own internal compass as opposed to following external voices. Indie is more than the clothes you wear and the music you listen to; it is a culture and a way of thinking. If you want to embrace the indie culture, please read the following advice.
Indie signifies an independent record label. I will not provide you with a list of well-known indie bands to listen to; new bands with new sounds are constantly being released, and it would defeat the purpose to tell you what to listen to. Being independent in terms of music involves being receptive to novelty.
Why is Alternative Indie Music popular?
Music has always had a significant impact on culture and society, influencing everything from romance to religion. With the evolution and expansion of the world in which we live, music styles have adapted and changed, giving way to new music that challenges fundamentals and adopts foreign genres.
Various music genres and regions have risen and fallen, including disco, hip hop, and alternative. The term "alternative" was coined to describe artists who did things differently than the mainstream trend or genre. It was a departure from the popular music prevalent at the time.
The origins of alternative music can be traced to independent musicians who, earlier than most people believe, sought to distance themselves from mainstream pop and dance music in order to create their own distinctive music. However, the rise of alternative music is still evident in the mainstream today.
Since the 1960s, alternative music has filled the headphones of people across the globe for the past six decades. The term "alternative" was coined for this genre of music after it broke the trends of mainstream music. Over time, the alternative has morphed into numerous subgenres, which have found a home on the various music streaming platforms.
Alternative music is an umbrella term for multiple musical genres that have topped the charts for the past six decades. They have continuously evolved with society and adapted to their audience. This genre contains some of the most iconic bands and songs and will continue to produce memorable music because of its capacity to adapt to the needs of its audience.
Although alternative music emerged in the 1960s, it wasn't until the 1980s that British pop became popular on radio stations. The Smiths and Depeche Mode were two of the most popular bands during this time period. More and more people began to join the alternative music scene, appreciating the synth piano and electronic distortions.
Green Day, one of the most well-known alternative bands, was formed as a result of the global spread of alternative music. Green Day was capable of giving alternative music a new meaning. Green Day, along with bands such as Pearl Jam and Nirvana, created the subgenres of punk and grunge rock. These subgenres were immensely popular in the 1990s and dominated the music industry for the following decade.
What Alternative Indie Music are popular?
Some say indie music peaked in the middle of the 2000s, and they may be right with Animal Collective's brilliant album Merriweather Post Pavilion, Panda Bear's Person Pitch, Grizzly Bears' hot run of albums, and Radiohead's In Rainbows, but that thinking is that of the oldsters yelling, "The music back then actually meant something!" Music evolves and advances; it is not a static entity.
Early in the 2010s, we observed albums that resembled their predecessors, whereas more recently, the genre has blurred the lines between them and pop. It is a welcome development for creators to be recognized by a larger audience.
Some snobs may sneer at the crossover, but that's just how music has evolved, and it's the reason why there's been so much great music released in the last ten years. This list was difficult to compile because so much great music was produced, but I had to put something together.
Back Baby - Jessica Pratt
A breakup song filled with regrets, but not from the person who messed up the relationship so badly that they want it all back: "But you can't go back, baby." The breakthrough single by Jessica Pratt is reminiscent of old standards, as her hauntingly beautiful voice is interwoven with acoustic guitar. It is a beautifully arranged song ideal for the rainy days for which Pratt occasionally prays.
King Krule – Out Getting Ribs
King Krule has mastered the art of making a jazz or blues riff feel raw and gritty; this is because his voice exudes unmatched raw emotional swagger. With perfectly elegant guitar lines dragged beautifully through the mud to create grit and grime by his British accent and vocal style, he has carved out his own unique style, one that is not replicated by any other artists. The best way to describe the emotions he evokes is "beautiful grime," as he creates sensations that you never imagined could coexist.
Pa'lante - Hurray For The Riff Raff
A folksy song based on the poem "Puerto Rican Obituary" by Pedro Pietri, an uplifting work about self-awareness and self-love.
Mac DeMarco – Ode to Viceroy
Mac DeMarco has gradually become a household name, not by chance, but by manual labor; would you expect anything less from a Canadian? DeMarco is also well-known for his entertaining live performances, during which he drinks beer, smokes cigarettes, and walks shirtless around the stage.
Lake – Xanman
Born from Kevin Parker's Tame Impala backing band, Pond has forged their own psychedelic path with psych pop gems such as "Xanman." Pond may always exist in Tame's shadow like a younger sibling, but the band doesn't mind, as Parker has produced all of their albums.
Car Seat Headrest – Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales
Car Seat Headrest rose to prominence with his hit single "Something Soon" and used that momentum to create his best album to date. With the release of "Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales" as the album's lead single, we witnessed Will Toledo's growth as an artist after self-releasing twelve albums.
Warpaint - Undertow
"Undertow," a tribute to Nirvana's classic song "Poly," was created when bassist Jenny Lee Lindberg and guitarist Theresa Wayman were jamming a bassline and Wayman "began singing the lyrics to 'Poly' over the top of it." Then it was decided, "Rather than making it a cover, why not write your own lyrics?" Wayman produced the band's debut single, which achieved widespread popularity.
It's uncommon for a band to achieve widespread success with their debut album, and it's even rarer for their debut single to be a hit, but the talent of these women is undeniable, and the song's pop aesthetics, similar to its predecessor, are the reason it's become one of the best songs of the decade.
Cass McCombs - County Line
The song "County Line" is comprised of a jazzy keyboard line, a sexy bass, intermittent guitar licks, and a church-style organ that harkens back to the softer side of the classic rock era. This is a departure for Cass McCombs, who typically experiments with dissonant chord progressions and industrial sounds.
Ariel Pink – Round and Round
"Round and Round" is a nonsensical anthem composed by Ariel Pink, one of the most eccentric eccentrics in indie music. Its catchiness is undeniable despite the fact that its lyrics make almost no sense, but if you squint a bit, you might be able to make out a song about how life just keeps spinning or perhaps a song about the musical cycles we find ourselves in constantly. In any case, the song is so enjoyable that no one cares what it actually means.
Alt-J – Breezeblocks
Alt-J is one of those bands that you enjoy, but you can't quite pinpoint why. The singing is strange, the lyrics are even stranger, and the musical compositions are not exactly in A B A format. However, the British rock band exploded onto the scene after releasing their entertaining debut single "Breezeblocks." With one of the most catchy canon found in contemporary music. It is a charming but strange song, much like the majority of their music and the band itself, but you cannot deny your love for it.
Spoon – Inside Out
As spoon became indie veterans, a sense of maturity washed over them. This is not to say that spoon wasn't great or mature before, but there is something that comes with age that cannot be denied. What is the old saying, "I wish I had known then what I know now?" With the graduation of spoons came a newfound sleekness.
A sound centred on a looped rhythm set the stage, not for a guitar solo, but for an angelic harp solo, something spoon never considered in their early days. Complementing this with lyrics about avoiding being dragged down by negativity demonstrates the maturity that has resulted from all those years on the road.
Stylo - Gorillaz featuring Mos Def and Bobby Womack
Since their debut album in the early 2000s, Gorillaz has become known for its hip-hop-influenced indie synth-pop. "Stylo," which features Mos Def and Bobby Womack, continued this trend into the next decade with a ready-made road-trip song.
Nonetheless, this was the first time Damon Albarn went overtly political with a song about the mistreatment of our planet and a warning about what we humans are doing to it. "Stylo" encased in a funky bass synth represents the group's entire album, which is named after the real Island of Plastic that has accumulated over the years and floats in the ocean.
Jungle - Earning Money
At a time when everyone was clamouring for more fun and something to groove to, the English band Jungle entered the indie scene with funky falsetto-laden pop songs. Jungle has become the go-to upbeat, disco soul, fun-loving rock band due to their infectious ability to get people moving.
There's a lot more to these Brits than meets the eye, as their lyrics have shown a lot more depth than most dance music acts, and "Busy Earnin'" is no exception.
Kill For Love - Chromatics
Johnny Jewel has established himself as a synth-pop powerhouse by producing flawless pop songs with infectious synths and Ruth Radelet's signature voice. On the title track of the band's 2012 album, "Kill for Love," Jewel's tireless efforts are on full display. From the opening line, the synth line envelops you, and Radelet's voice, which never reaches for the heights, is on full display with a rare lush coolness.
Clairo - Bags
When someone is so talented and well-known that they can convince songwriting guru Rostam to produce songs for their debut album, the entire world must take notice.
Clairo began with lo-fi bedroom pop that showcased her talented songwriting ability and beautiful voice, but her debut album has given her songs a rare level of professionalism and maturity for a debut album. With Rostam's production, "Bags" is the album's highlight, showcasing Clairo's exceptional songwriting ability for a debut album.
Amen Dunes - Miki Dora
"Miki Dora" is a sort of analogy that tells the story of an aging surfer from the 1960s who observes younger surfers imitating his style and doing things like him: "You're copying all my tricks, man, but you don't do it like me." Over a sleek jazz rhythm section, Dunes sings. This tale of aging and facing death is a greater reflection of the singer's work.
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