Indie rock and alternative rock are often used interchangeably. Nevertheless, there are some differences between the genres. Initially, the term “indie” was used for British-based music, whilst “alternative” for American.
What is the difference between indie rock and alternative rock?
Indie rock is typically characterized by its DIY aesthetic and independent record label status, while alternative rock is characterized by its more mainstream sound and major label status. While there is some overlap between the two genres, there are also a few key differences. Because of the abuse you reported, this post will not be visible.
What is the difference between independent and alternative music?
“Indie” was a term first coined to describe bands that were on Independent – meaning not Major – record labels. “Alternative” is a term used to define a certain type of music, and was originally adopted because the groups it was used to describe were an “Alternative” from the mainstream.
What is the difference between indie pop and indie folk?
Indie Pop has the pop format, (studio heavy instrumentation, verse, chorus, verse) Indie Rock has the rock format (electric guitars, drums, 4/4 beats) and Indie Folk uses the folk format (acoustic guitar, singer songwriter style lyrics.)
What is the difference between post-punk and alternative rock?
Music began being referred to as indie in the late seventies, and many post-punk bands fall into that bracket. Alternative rock only started to be used to describe music in the 80s (I think REM was the first band to be called alternative rock in print).
Who is considered indie?
Quite simply, Indie music definition is music that’s produced by a DIY artist, or on an independent label, without the traditional resources of a major label. Some indie artists aren’t involved with labels at all, and instead self-release their music using distributors, which we will look at later on.
Is indie music a genre?
When you hear the term “indie music”, any number of bands might come to mind. Modest Mouse, Bon Iver, Arcade Fire, The Smiths, Belle and Sebastian, The National, Mac DeMarco – these artists represent the indie music scene, and yet they are all different. Indie can be a bit of a confusing term, because by itself it isn’t a genre.
What is the difference between British indie and American indie?
Because this ‘sound’ differs, depending on where you are. I have found that many sources say that the British indie is somewhat melancholic and softer in sound. Whereas the American indie is a sort of unrefined music, having a sound that is very D-I-Y and quite rough.
What do you think of indie rock?
I believe indierock is that branch of rock that tries to avoid rock cliches and is influenced by postpunk and alternative rock of the 80s and the Velvet Underground. People tend to ca First of all I believe that a band is allowed to be signed to a major label and still be labelled “indie”.
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 defines rock music?
Rock music, also called rock and roll, rock & roll, or rock ‘n’ roll, is a form of popular music that emerged in the 1950s and is defined as “a form of music with a strong beat”—it is difficult to be much more explicit about it.
What is rock music?
The Collins Cobuild English Dictionary, based on a vast database of British usage, suggests that “rock is a kind of music with simple tunes and a very strong beat that is played and sung, usually loudly, by a small group of people with electric guitars and drums,” but there are so many exceptions to this description that it is practically useless.
What is hard rock music?
Hard rock is typically described as music that uses heavy drums, bass lines, guitar riffs, and vocals that are an easy listen. Music with lyrics that express strong emotions is also considered hard -rock music. An example of this would be The Beatles! Their songs can be very emotional and dramatic.
Is rock music the same as rock and roll?
If not, it wasn’t. Rock music is defined by rhythm, not melody. Rock is in 4/4 time with the heavy beats being 2 and 4. Rock and roll in the ’50s has exactly this in common with all of your “sub-genres” that you consider to be “rock” today.
Is rock a form of music with a strong beat?
Dictionary definitions of rock are problematic, not least because the term has different resonance in its British and American usages (the latter is broader in compass). There is basic agreement that rock “is a form of music with a strong beat,” but it is difficult to be much more explicit.
Why is called indie?
Characteristics. The term indie rock, which comes from “independent”, describes the small and relatively low-budget labels on which it is released and the do-it-yourself attitude of the bands and artists involved.
What does ‘indie’ mean in music?
So, ‘indie’ stands for independent, a term used to designate musicians who produced and distributed their music rather than going via a label. However, the phrase has grown much beyond its initial meaning. Many independent musicians are now signed to major labels.
Why is indie music so popular?
That’s because, visually, indie music has come to symbolize more than just being associated with a small label. Post-punk, new wave, and “alternative” music published in late-1970s UK independent labels gave rise to the term “indie” as a recognized musical genre description.
Who started indie music?
Many people would be surprised to know that indie started as punk music by none other than the Buzzcocks. In fact, rock punk bands are the reason there’s a music label called indie; they laid its foundation, sang it, and a lot of artists carried the flag later on.
What is an indie game?
The definition of indie games, for some people, is not about funding and publishing. The term “indie game” is often used to define everything that’s not mainstream. Games developed by big companies to sell millions of copies could never be indie, while niche games developed by small teams definitely are.
Is indie rock a real genre?
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 punk an alternative?
Alternative rock is an umbrella term – it encompasses all sorts of rock genres that aren’t classic rock, rock n roll, etc. Punk rock is one genre within alternative rock.
Is punk rock an alternative rock?
Punk rock has always been, therefore, a form of alternative rock. I hesitate to call Sum-41’s music alternative because, thanks to the huge popularity of Blink-182, that sound sort of became mainstream for a while.
What is punk music?
punk, also called punk rock, aggressive form of rock music that coalesced into an international (though predominantly Anglo-American) movement in 1975–80. Often politicized and full of vital energy beneath a sarcastic, hostile facade, punk spread as an ideology and an aesthetic approach, becoming an archetype of teen rebellion and alienation.
What is the difference between heavy metal and punk rock?
Metal is a genre that has almost kinds of other genres in it. For example – Doom Metal has blues elements, heavy metal has hard rock, psych rock, thrash metal has punk rock elements etc. Back in the 60s, punk rock was created from garage rock. The aim of punk rock was to create fast distorted sound.
Is punk a subculture?
Punk, as a subculture, remained – but popular music evolved. Their philosophy, however, didn’t – and has emerged periodically since, with movements such as gothic rock, grunge and EMO exhibiting many of the anarchic attributes that led to punk.
Is grunge rock alternative?
Grunge (sometimes referred to as the Seattle sound) is an alternative rock genre and subculture that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American Pacific Northwest state of Washington, particularly in Seattle and nearby towns. Grunge fuses elements of punk rock and heavy metal, but without punk’s structure and speed.
Is alternative only rock?
For a while, alternative just referred to rock acts that intentionally stayed out of the mainstream and weren’t influenced by heavy metal ballads, new wave, or pop-like dance anthems. Eventually, alternative owls include new wave, pop, punk rock, post-punk, and college or indie rock.
What is alternative rock?
“Alternative” refers to the genre’s distinction from mainstream or commercial rock or pop music. The term’s original meaning was broader, referring to musicians influenced by the musical style or independent, DIY ethos of late-1970s punk rock. Traditionally, alternative rock varied in terms of its sound, social context, and regional roots.
What is the difference between punk rock and alternative rock?
Alternative rock, at its core, is music made with an independent spirit or which draws its key influences from artists who make music with an independent spirit. That’s the key difference between punk rock and alternative rock: the thing that makes punk rock punk rock is different from the thing that makes alternative rock alternative rock.
What is the difference between alternative and Mainstream Rock?
You see the thing is, the term alternative is used today to describe songs that are not mainstream, mainstream rock refers to those songs that you hear on the radio over and over until you are left with no option but to grab your axe and go to work on your radio, or turn it off because that’s less expensive, hey whatever floats your boat.
What kind of music do alternative rock bands use?
Contemporary mainstream alternative rock bands tend to fuse musical elements of hard rock, electronica, hip-hop, indie, and punk while placing emphasis on keyboards and guitar.
