Everything about Indie Rock totally explained
Indie rock is an
umbrella term to reference rock artists that are or were unsigned, or have signed to
independent record labels, rather than
major record labels. Originally the term wasn't a reference to a specific genre of rock music; however, it has come to be used often to reference the sound of particular bands and the bands they've influenced. "Indie rock" is used as an umbrella term covering a wide range of artists and styles close to rock music, connected by some degree of allegiance to the values of
underground culture and
counterculture. Genres or subgenres often associated with indie rock include
lo-fi,
post-rock,
sadcore,
C86, and
math rock, to list but a few; other related (and sometimes overlapping) categories include
shoegazing and
indie pop.
Indie rock artists place a premium on maintaining complete control of their music and careers, releasing albums on independent record labels (sometimes their own) and relying on touring, word-of-mouth, and airplay on independent or college radio stations for promotion. Some end up moving to major labels, often on favorable terms won by their prior independent success.
History
UK 1980s
After the
punk music scene of the 1970s, a number of musical styles emerged in the UK, some of which were supported by major record labels and assimilated into mainstream pop music (for example
2 Tone and
New Romantic). Simultaneously, artists such as
Felt (band),
Joy Division and
The Fall released music on small independent labels such as
Creation Records and
Factory Records. They often gained underground popularity via independent music magazines and
fanzines, or via the patronage of
John Peel. Their original and quirky music was generally recognised and admired by a niche audience of music enthusiasts. The music was generally influenced by
punk music, '60s pop music and
counterculture, and occasionally
electronic music and European pop. This broad range of artists and musical styles was often known as indie music, as it wasn't funded by the music industry, and was rarely featured on commercial radio or television. Still other bands and artists didn't use record labels, and traded their music by posting cassettes to one another- also hoping to reach an audience via independent media.
The Smiths were the most successful and critically-acclaimed indie artists of this period. Their singles regularly reached the UK top 40, although the band were signed to an independent record label (
Rough Trade) and supported by the independent music press. Their songs featured distinctive guitar melodies and lyrics sung in
Morrissey's Manchester accent. The lyrics often discussed taboo or embarrassing subjects (unrequited love, feelings of loneliness) in a close, confessional style, underwritten with dry wit and humour. The enduring popularity of
the Smiths, and their influence upon
Britpop bands, came to define indie music in the UK. However in the 1980s indie music referred to a broad range of musical styles, which were experimental and distinct from prevailing music trends.
U.S. 1980s
In the
United States, the music commonly regarded as indie rock is descended from an alternative rock scene largely influenced by the movements of the 1970s and early 1980s and their
DIY ethos. In the 1980s the term "indie rock" was particularly associated with the abrasive, distortion-heavy sounds of
Hüsker Dü,
Dinosaur Jr,
Sonic Youth,
Big Black, and others that populated American indie labels, separating them from jangly
college rock bands like
R.E.M. and
10,000 Maniacs, who, by the end of the decade, were signed to major labels. The late eighties band
Pixies is said to be the main influence in 1990s-present indie rock.
UK 1990s
In the 1990's, indie rock became somewhat assimilated into mainstream music culture, as bands on independent record labels began to achieve commercial success. Many hitherto 'indie' bands either signed to major record labels, or successful independent record labels were bought by major labels and subsumed into the music industry proper. In this way, popular and influential indie musicians joined the musical mainstream. Artists who either signed for a major record label in the early 1990s, or who were effectively 'sold' to one, include
The Stone Roses,
James,
New Order,
Happy Mondays and
Oasis. It is worth noting that all of them come from
Greater Manchester, as did
The Smiths. Many of these bands, particularly
Oasis, came to represent mainstream British pop music. These formerly-indie bands were collectively referred to in various ways by the music press. Newspapers and journalists referred to 'the Madchester scene'. The terms
Britpop and 'major-label indie' were later applied to these bands, alongside bands from other parts of the UK, as this music entered the mainstream.
Simultaneously however an 'indie' rock scene continued, albeit having 'lost' some well-known musicians. Indie music perhaps lost part of its identity as a flourishing, non-mainstream genre at this time. Influential independent music publications such as 'Sounds' and 'Melody Maker' began to lose money and were closed. The term 'indie rock' was often applied to commercial guitar-pop music. However the increasing affordability of musical instruments and technology allowed people to continue making original music without commercial success, and outwith the musical mainstream. A number of bands (including
Belle and Sebastian) continued to make music with the ethics of earlier British indie- they achieved success via the independent press and radio, and belonged to a genuinely independent record label (
Jeepster).
U.S. 1990s
During the first half of the 1990s, alternative music, led by
grunge bands such as
Alice in Chains,
Soundgarden,
Pearl Jam and
Nirvana broke into the mainstream, achieving commercial chart success and widespread exposure. Shortly thereafter the alternative genre became commercialized as mainstream success attracted major-label investment and commercially-oriented or manufactured acts with a formulaic, conservative approach. With this, the meaning of the label "alternative" changed away from its original, more counter-cultural meaning to refer to alternative music that achieved mainstream success and the term "indie rock" was used to refer to the bands and genres that remained underground. One of the defining movements of 1990s American indie rock was the lo-fi movement spearheaded by
Guided by Voices,
Pavement,
Sebadoh,
The Grifters,
Liz Phair,
The Elephant 6 Recording Co., and others, which placed a premium on rough recording techniques, ironic detachment, and disinterest in "
selling out" to the mainstream alternative rock scene.
Main indie rock genres of the 1990s
- Lo fi, as already mentioned above
- Noise rock, (continuing with Unwound, Shellac, Blonde Redhead)
- Riot Grrl, (Bikini Kill, Bratmobile)
- Math rock, (Chavez, June of '44)
- Post rock, (Slint, Mogwai)
- Indie pop, (Belle & Sebastian)
After 2000
Indie bands have attracted many amongst the age demographic of college students. Many indie bands have launched their careers by offering to perform at free concerts hosted by universities and colleges. Bands such as
Joe Lean And The Jing Jang Jong,
Silversun Pickups,
Tokyo Police Club and
Maxïmo Park have found their way on to charts this way.
UK after 2000
From the mid-1990s onwards, 'indie rock' has had two meanings in the UK. The more popular meaning is that of guitar music, influenced by
the Clash,
the Smiths and
Oasis, which is often very popular and commercially successful. The term is also applied to 'independent' music, which has some pop-rock influences but exists outwith the musical mainstream. There is however a good deal of similarity between the two meanings. Many bands, on independent labels, would gladly enter the musical mainstream, and hope to be given the opportunity. With the advent of
Myspace and other music-sharing internet sites, the journey from 'independent' to the musical mainstream (and back again) can be very short.
With Arts Council funding for some independent bands, and an increasing range of advertising and commercial opportunities to distribute music, few popular acts are wholly independent. However indie music in the UK has perhaps benefited from the relatively broad overlap between 'mainstream' and 'indie' music genres.
Radiohead release their music independently, don't accept corporate sponsorship and continue to make music which is experimental. They are also popular and well-known. There are many artists who make original, distinctive music, without aiming for mainstream success, in genres such as
grime music. In this sense, the UK retains a tradition of creating original, experimental music, which has one eye on achieving mainstream success without being subsumed by major music corporations.
Main indie rock genres after 2000
Post-punk revival: The Libertines, Arctic Monkeys
Baroque pop: Arcade Fire
Get more info on 'Indie Rock'.
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