Indie pop, indie rock, and indie folk are all genres, and they are all related, but musically they are different. In this guide, we’ll give you a working definition of indie music and a brief history with examples, to explain how indie developed and exploded over recent years.
What is indie rock music?
Indie rock music differs from traditional rock music because it often embraces a softer sound. This type of rock music got its name because most record labels producing this music were independent of others in the industry. But first, if it’s your aim to do music professionally, you’ll want to check out our free ebook while it’s still available:
Is indie rock a feminist genre?
Indie rock is noted for having a relatively high proportion of female artists compared with preceding rock genres, a tendency exemplified by the development of the feminist-informed riot grrrl music of acts like Bikini Kill, Bratmobile, 7 Year Bitch, Team Dresch and Huggy Bear.
Does indie rock’sell out’?
Yet while indie rock definitely shares the punk community’s concerns about commercialism, it isn’t as particular about whether bands remain independent or “sell out”; the general assumption is that it’s virtually impossible to make indie rock’s varying musical approaches compatible with mainstream tastes in the first place.
What was indie rock in the ’90s?
These bands were grouped together under the term indie rock. Although the term had been around since the ’80s, in the ’90s it connotated bands that were dedicated to their own independent status, either for musical or hipness reasons. How Soon Is Now?
Is Taylor Swift indie rock?
Both explore indie folk and alternative rock with a more muted production compared to her previous upbeat pop songs. Swift wrote and recorded the albums with producers Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessner from the National.
What genre is Taylor Swift’s music?
Swift’s music contains elements of pop, pop rock, and country. She described herself as a country artist until the 2014 release of 1989, which she characterized as a “sonically cohesive pop album”.
Who is Taylor Swift?
Country-to-pop crossover princess Taylor Swift is the undisputed leader here, and she would have dominated even further if we’d gone back another year or two. No artist, male or female, of any genre, has sold as many albums as Taylor has over the late aughts and early part of this decade.
Is Taylor Swift finally releasing an indie record?
With the surprise midsummer release of Folklore, it seems that Taylor Swift has finally put out an indie record much cooler than her others, one that even a Pitchfork editor could love.
Is Taylor Swift making music with the National?
These days, Taylor Swift is no longer being pitted in opposition to an indie act like the National; she’s making music with them.
Is Metallica indie rock?
Metallica is an American heavy metal band. The band was formed in 1981 in Los Angeles by vocalist and guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, and has been based in San Francisco for most of its career.
What genre of music is Metallica?
Artist Biography by American quartet Metallica were one of the most influential heavy metal bands of the ’80s and ’90s, inspiring generations of rockers with their early thrash and later hard rock sounds before settling into their roles as a popular legacy act in the 2000s.
Why is Metallica so popular?
Metallica is one of the most important and most influential metal bands of all time, drafting the blueprint for thrash metal in their earliest days, then pushing the boundaries of mainstream metal and hard rock as they settled into their role as a popular legacy act as the decades went on.
Is Metallica the oldest metal band of all time?
Metallica have been going strong for just shy of 40 years, having officially formed in October in 1981. This makes them one of the longest-running bands of all time, and certainly one of the oldest metal bands. There are a few other contenders for the crown within the genre, though.
What is ‘indie rock’?
The term “indie rock” came into being during the 1980s and was used to describe independent music labels offering local and alternative sounds to what was being played on the radio. This DIY movement blossomed into new modes of fashion that recycled timeless looks from the past rather than embracing what was “in style” at the moment.
Is emo indie rock?
Emo music is a subgenre of punk rock, indie rock, and alternative rock music defined by its heavy emotional expression.
What is the difference between emo and indie rock?
• Emo is a rock sub-genre that is melodious and expressive. • Indie is a sub-genre of alternative rock that is not with mainstream record labels. • Emo mostly talks about emotional trials and conflicts. • Indie focuses on the musician’s creativity rather than popular trends.
What is emo music?
Author Matt Diehl called emo a “more sensitive interpolation of punk’s mission”. According to Merriam-Webster, emo is “a style of rock music influenced by punk rock and featuring introspective and emotionally fraught lyrics”. Pet Sounds, the Beach Boys ‘ 1966 album, is sometimes considered the first emo album.
Where did emo come from?
According to Andy Greenwald, author of Nothing Feels Good: Punk Rock, Teenagers, and Emo, “The origins of the term ’emo’ are shrouded in mystery … but it first came into common practice in 1985. If Minor Threat was hardcore, then Rites of Spring, with its altered focus, was emotional hardcore or emocore.”
Which 2010s emo bands use hardcore punk?
While many 2010s emo bands draw on the sound and aesthetic of 1990s emo, hardcore punk elements are consistently used by 2010s emo bands such as Title Fight and Small Brown Bike.
Is Ed Sheeran indie rock?
Originally an indie artist selling music independently on his own label starting in 2005, Sheeran released nine EPs, steadily gaining public and critical acclaim, resulting in his signing to Atlantic Records in January 2011.
Who is Ed Sheeran?
Most indie music comprises indie rock or indie pop, and Ed Sheeran falls somewhere between the two. That is before he released his claim to fame, ‘A-team,’ and became immensely popular. From starting off as a small indie musician in 2005 to bagging his first deal with the critically acclaimed Atlantic Records in 2011, Sheeran has come a long way.
Does Ed Sheeran mix folk and pop music?
One of the most common observations that have been picked into Ed Sheeran’s music is that he mixes and matches the sound of folk music into his typical pop music. “Galway Girl,” a song released in his third album, incorporates a touch of folk music into his typical pop song.
What is Sheeran’s history in indie music?
From starting off as a small indie musician in 2005 to bagging his first deal with the critically acclaimed Atlantic Records in 2011, Sheeran has come a long way. Read this blog, ‘ What is Indie Music? ‘ to find out more about Indie Music.
What is Ed Sheeran’s best album?
Subtract is easily his best album. But it’s also the first Ed Sheeran album since his debut for which you can’t confidently predict eye-watering commercial success.
Is Coldplay an indie?
Coldplay is a band that is often associated with Brit-pop. Their music has been described as having “a Brit-pop feel” to it. Brit-pop on itself is a genre that originated in the United Kingdom in the early 1990s. It combines elements of alternative rock, indie rock, and pop music.
Who are Coldplay?
Coldplay are a British rock band formed in 1996 by lead singer and pianist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London (UCL).
Are Coldplay the most popular band in the world?
Meanwhile, 2011’s Mylo Xyloto topped the charts of over 34 countries around the world upon release. In 2013, Coldplay were the most influential British celebrities in the world according to Forbes, and the most googled and streamed band of 2016.
Do you like Coldplay’s music?
I like some of Coldplay’s music. They have a gift for melody and a knack of evoking emotion that makes their biggest hits almost irresistible. Sometimes – as on Fix You, arguably their defining song – the music becomes lachrymose. Often, it drifts into absolute nothingness. But when it comes to their hits, they usually locate the correct spot.
What happened to Coldplay in 2016?
On 7 February 2016 they headlined the Super Bowl 50 halftime show. The band were joined by Beyoncé and Bruno Mars. In April 2016, the band were named the sixth best selling artist worldwide in 2015. On 26 June 2016, Coldplay closed the final day of the Glastonbury Festival in England.
Does indie music still exist?
But what was left of the music industry, and the media attention that surrounded it, now focused its energy on bubblegum pop, R&B and hip-hop, and, later, electronic dance music. Indie, of course, would continue to live, through festivals like Glastonbury in the UK and Coachella in California.
Is indie music still popular?
Plenty of popular music today is actually indie music created by independent bands and artists. Does indie music still exist? Indie rock is still heavily out there; publications seem wary to get behind it like they did in the mid 2000’s.
What is independent music?
(May 2018) Independent music (also commonly known as indie music, or simply indie) is music produced independently from commercial record labels or their subsidiaries; this may include an autonomous, do-it-yourself approach to recording and publishing. As a genre term, “indie” may or may not comprise independently produced music.
What is the difference between “indie” and “indie” music?
As a music genre term, Indie can include music that is not independently produced, and as a genre term, “indie” may include music that is not independently produced.
Is indie rock an alternative genre?
The truth is, a lot of indie rock could also be considered alternative rock, and as indie rock becomes popular, it becomes a part of the alternative genre. Indie music is interesting because it’s always evolving and always influencing mainstream music. It’s hard to discern exactly where the history of indie music begins.
Where did pop music begin?
Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form during the mid-1950s in the United States and the United Kingdom. The terms popular music and pop music are often used interchangeably, although the former describes all music that is popular and includes many disparate styles.
When did pop music start?
Between 1920 and 1930, jazz and its big band orchestras were in fashion. Between 1930 and 1940, blues and country dominated radio stations and public preference. The culmination of these trends and influences took place in the 1950s when the first pop music artists, such as Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra began to emerge.
What is the difference between pop and popular music?
For other uses, see Pop Song. Pop is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form during the mid-1950s in the United States and the United Kingdom. The terms popular music and pop music are often used interchangeably, although the former describes all music that is popular and includes many disparate styles.
What is a pop song?
The term “pop song” was first used in 1926, in the sense of a piece of music “having popular appeal”. Hatch and Millward indicate that many events in the history of recording in the 1920s can be seen as the birth of the modern pop music industry, including in country, blues, and hillbilly music.
How has pop culture changed the sound of music?
However, if sticking true to the definition of being reflective of the era it’s produced, pop culture has certainly changed its sound over the decades. Pop music history started in the early 20th century when vaudeville acts and dance hall shows were the most popular form of music.
Who were the first indie artists?
REM, The Smiths, Husker Du and Sonic Youth, These bands were commonly played in the United Kingdom and the United States during the 1980’s on various college radio stations. College radio stations played a huge part in the ‘Indie’ music scene.
Where did indie rock come from?
Indie rock is a subgenre of rock music that originated in the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand from the 1970s to the 1980s. [unreliable source?]
What are some notable indie pop artists?
This is a list of notable indie pop artists. Bands are listed by the first letter in their name (not including the words “a”, “an”, or “the”), and individuals are listed by last name. Biff Bang Pow! Los Campesinos! Hey Ocean! Playradioplay! Pony Up! Supercute! ^ Mathieson, Craig (1 December 2015).
What are the different types of indie rock?
Linked by an ethos more than a musical approach, the indie rock movement encompassed a wide range of styles, from hard-edged, grunge-influenced bands, through do-it-yourself experimental bands like Pavement, to punk-folk singers such as Ani DiFranco. In fact, there is an everlasting list of genres and subgenres of indie rock.
When did ‘alternative rock’ become ‘indie rock’?
The terms “alternative rock” and “indie rock” were used interchangeably in the 1980s, but after many alternative bands followed Nirvana into the mainstream in the early 1990s, “indie rock” began to be used to describe those bands, working in a variety of styles, that did not pursue or achieve commercial success.
