Indie Music
Breance Brooks
How has indie music revolutionised the music industry?
Background
The term Indie comes for the word independent, which describes the small low budget labels on which it is released while promoting a do-it-yourself attitude of the band and artists involved; the term however describes no music style in particular and has many sub genres. Indie music emerged in the 1980's (often used interchangeably with the term alternative music) and was initially used to describe small bands outside of mainstream music, avoiding association with the major labels also allowed the bands involved to be more experimental since they didn't have to worry about the opinion of large mainstream audiences or the profit oriented perspective of the major labels, also allowing the independent acts their autonomy and artistic freedom. However the term indie shifted its meaning when it found commercial success in films in the 1990's and early 2000's and lost its original counter-culture/underground meaning, emphasizing its independent nature. These self-funded bands set a new standard for artistic integrity, as what they lacked in high-budget production values, they made up for in avant-garde styles and concepts.
Compare/Contrast
How the music changed over time?
Original Artists
R.E.M
Sonic Youth
Pixies
Alternative rock band from boston formed in 1986 known for their loud-quiet dynamic, song structures, and surreal lyrics of offbeat subjects.
Indie Rock
Cold War Kids- Passing The Hat
Indie Rock band from Long Beach formed formed in 2004; Passing The Hat is a song off their album Robbers and Cowards praised for its blues rock sound and morose lyrics, the album war released on october 10, 2006 produced with Downtown Records an independent record label.
Lyrics: https://genius.com/Cold-war-kids-passing-the-hat-lyrics
The Strokes- Someday
Formed in 1998, The Strokes are a rock band from New York City, they debuted their first album Is This It in 2001 through this album they strived to capture a simple rock sound that was not significantly enhanced in the studio. This album also helped usher the garage rock revival movement of the early 21st century.
Indie folk
The Lumineers- Cleopatra
Bon Iver- Skinny Love
Vernon released Bon Iver's debut album For Emma, Forever Ago independently in July 2007 written all independently without any executive influence or help from a label in a mostly secluded cabin in wisconsin.
sources
https://www.grimygoods.com/2016/07/13/look-inside-indie-culture-influential-indie-bands/
https://www.axs.com/best-indie-college-rock-bands-1980s-109701
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/mar/22/indie-record-labels-changed-world