2. Live performance
– A way to focus on the main artist
– Live performance is very common in the indie rock genre. This is because it allows
for the artists to mimic what they love to do most which is perform.
– Nowadays a modern style twist is often put on this with a narrative included in-
between to break up the music video and give it a story for the reader. Also there is
more room to play around with the video if a narrative is included so many artists
tend to use this technique a lot. It also helps them to compete with other artists of
different genres who do narrative videos that are heavily based around a story to
make it more memorable.
– Live performance also assists in promoting the artists as it highlights their talent to
perform.
3. Narrative
– Narrative is very popular amongst a lot of genres as it leaves room for the imagination. There
are many different variations of this used and there tends to be a lot of room allowed for
creativity which can leave a video very memorable to the audience.
– Allows for the audience to relate to the storyline
– Indie music tends to lean heavily towards a narrative based video which often doesn't feature
the artist(s).
– This is a great way of making a music video stand out from the crowd and making it popular.
This is because there are many variations so you can make it as different and wacky as you
like.
– Narrative videos also hold peoples attention better in comparison to a live performance as
what you are seeing is constantly changing and keeps people entertained at all times. Even
people who aren’t necessarily a fan of the artist may still enjoy the video so this method often
helps people gain success and status.
4. Mise en scene
– Mise en scene now plays a large role in a lot of music videos and especially the indie rock genre. This is because
indie artists often have a retro look and this can be created through the sets they use, props and also their own
appearance themselves.
– Video itself usually has some sort of cinematic filter over the top of the footage to allow for a more neutral, yet
vibrant aesthetic.
– The use of sun glare in the camera is also common with artistic twists like over exposing and using slow motion in
addition.
– Props can change the look of a video completely for example in Lana Del Rey’s – National Anthem we can see
posing around a glamorous and expensive looking house. This highlights that the character she is playing is
wealthy and most likely well respected.
– Ensure the video looks realistic
– Costumes; give people their identity and set them apart from the rest. A good example is Lady Gaga whose know
for her elaborate choice in clothing. In the video music video ‘Telephone’ we know she wear a hat with a build in
phone and this reinforces the message that’s in her video. As this was a memorable look, people now recall the
video (due to her appearance)
– Makes it easy to give people different identities which therefore allows for a video that’s easier to follow
– Makeup is another key element of mise en scene and is used in a large majority of music videos. It can give us
indication as to which era the video is set in, it allows to change/alter a persons face or enhance the face
(depending what look the artist is going for or the type of video they wish to shoot)
5. Setting
– Indie music videos are known to be quite low budget (as independent music
artists don’t have the financial support of a large corporation/label), the main
settings of the videos tend to be shot in studios, parks, tunnels or a large
natural landscape (such as the seaside or forest) etc.
– This is because these are places that can be accessed easily and they can
add/create an element of mystery to the video.
6. Sound
– Sound is a very important aspect, especially during the live performances where
the audience can directly hear the instruments being played.
– If a music video adapts a narrative it might have diegetic sounds to make the
scene look realistic.
– Diegetic sounds tend to be much clearer and louder at the beginning before the
vocals start then at the end when the vocals finish.
– Sound can also overlap e.g. the vocals could still be playing but the audience
would be able to hear someone crying also.
– Effects could be added to the sound to fade it or increase its volume to convey
emotions
7. Camera
– The most typical camera shots used in indie genre music video
would be close up shots as it introduces the star and it helps to
advertise the star. Close up shots highlights the artist’s talents
when they are singing and it also helps convey their
passion/emotion. Crane shots are also popular when filming live
performances as they allow for a large range of angles.
– Long and wide shots are used as establishing shots to set the
scene of the narrative in the music video.
8. Editing
– Editing is a key element in the making of a music video as it can help make the final
production much more interesting.
– Most indie genre videos would include special effects that make the audience feel as if they
are in the video.
– Shots are usually cut either fast or slow to reflect the pace/beat of the music, which links in
well with Andrew Goodwin’s theory that music videos more often than not, tend to include a
demonstration of typical genre characteristics (it makes it a lot more comfortable to view).
– Effects are usually added over the top of the video to create the typical ‘old and worn’
aesthetic.
– The black and white effect tends to be very popular as gives the video a ‘classical’ and ‘sad’
appearance (this also appeals to Andrew Goodwin’s theory).
