Indie genre research

1. Indie/Alternative genre research
In termsof its history,the word‘Indie’wasusedtodifferentiate betweenpopmusicand
independentartistsandwasseentohave more of a ‘do-it-yourself’style.Tobeginwithithadno
reference tothe style of the music,itonlydistinguishedbetweenartistssignedtoindependent
record labelswiththose usingexternal fundingormajorrecordlabels.However,asthe termbecame
usedmore frequently,itbegantolose itsoriginal connotationandinsteadbecame more referredto
as a certainstyle of music.To differentiatebetweenthe differenttypesof Indie music,subgenres
were createdthatfocusedmore uponthe differentsoundsandstyles: Indie-rock, Indie-pop, Indie-
metal to name a few.Due to ‘Indie’beingused sobroadlyinthe musicindustryasa stand-alone
term,it hasgrown considerablyvaguer.However,the use of the termdiffersdependingonlocation
as differenthistoriesresultindifferentconnotations.
In termsof the genre’stime scale,an Indie/Alternative topcharthas featuredinthe UnitedKingdom
since the early1980s along-side genressuchasPop andR&B. During the early1980s the songsthat
dominatedthe Indie chartswere largelyacoustictracksincludingthose inthe c86 movement,a
cassette compilationreleasedbyNMEin1986 whichfeaturedarange of new bandslicencedwith
independentlabelsatthe time. Thisacousticsoundatthe top of the charts generatedthe
stereotypical soundforthe Indie genre andtookawaythe original connotationsof the word.
However,asthe genre developedthe stylesof musicvariedsignificantlytothe pointwhere they
share the soundsof songsinthe commercial marketandfurtherafield.The onlywaytheyare linked
isthrough the independence of theirrecord label,notthe style orsound.
Artiststhatmade significantcontributionstothe genre
1. The Smiths(1982-1987): Theywere the definitiveIndie rockbandof the 80s and
createdthe guidelinesformodern Indierock.The chemistrybetweenbandmembers
createda legacythat changedthe image of all future music.Theyreleasedfour
albumsover5 years whichremainaspopularas ever,appealingtoa new generation
of teenagersandinfluencingvariousartists.
2. Pixies(1986-present):Eventhoughtheyneverscaledthe charts
theirinfluence isstill apparentinthe Indie rockgenre.Fansof the genres
such as grunge can thankthe Pixiesforbands suchasNirvanaand Blur.
Theywere one of the firstbands to use elements of surf rockin the music
earningthema majorlabel deal fromElektra.Theyreleased5albumsand
thenlaunchedareuniontourin 2004 andplayedacrossthe worldfor
sevenyears.KimDeal leftthe bandbuttheycontinuedandrecorded Indie
Cindy in2014.
3. Pavement(1989-1999,2010): Consideredtobe one of the most
influential lo-fiIndie rockbandstoexist.Theygeneratedahuge
cult followingdue tothe successof theirfive albums.Theywere
well knownforalwaysrefusingtosigntoa majorrecord
label.Theyreunitedin2010 fora tour buthave since
announcedtheywill notbe touringagain.
4. DinosaurJr. (1984-1997, 2005-present):The world’sthoughtsaboutguitarsolos
were changedduringtheirtime withtheirheavyuse of feedbackanddistortion. They
blendedpunk,classicrock,countrytwang,and metal riffs,generatingamore aggressive
side of Indie rock.Theyreunitedin2005 and released Farmin2009.

2. 5. R.E.M(1980-2011): Theywere mainlyknownfortheirraw energy
and intensityinthe genre. Theirreleasesinthe early1980s such as
The OneI Loveinfluencesthe directionof the genre andmade major
record labelsstartpayingattentiontolow key,undergroundmusic.
Theywenton to release several criticallyacclaimedalbumsand
gainedthe reputationof being “America’sBestRockandRoll Band”.
6. SonicYouth (1981 – 2011): Theycreatedan unconventionalsoundmarkedby
dissonance,feedbackandalternate tuningsandhada significantimpactinhow rock
was defined.Theiralbum DaydreamNation isconsideredthe greatestby Indie rock
enthusiasts.
7. JoyDivision(1976 – 1980): Theyare undeniablyone of the mostsignificantactsin
the historyof Indie rockand shapedthe future forbandssuch as The Killersand
Radioheadwiththeirpost-punksoundthatincorporated
synthesizersandhauntingmelodies.The daybefore their
firsttour theywere forcedtoendintragedyaftertheirlead
singerIanCurtiscommittedsuicide.Theyreformedunderthe
name NewOrderof whicheventuallyachievedbothcritical
acclaimand commercial success.
8. The Replacements(1979-1991,2006,2012-present): They
remainone of the most cherishednamesin Indie rock. Claimingtobe the “hardest
drinkingbandinshowbiz”wrote the rulesof hardpartyingandtouringduringthe
1980s withrebellioussongsaboutthe refusal togrow upand rock androll.Theypaved
the way forbands like Wilco,GreenDay,andThe GaslightAnthemwiththeirno-
nonsense,anti-political style.
9. GuidedBy Voices(1983-2004,2010-2014): Identifiedasthe midwestof Indierock
that gainedprominenceduringthe lo-fimovementandwrote popmasterpiecesof the
1990s. theytookinspirationfrompost-Britishinvasiongarage
rock, punkrock and post-rockandrecordedfourtracks to cassette
throughouttheirtime.Theyreunitedin2010 andaftersix new releases
theybroke upfor the secondtime in2014.
10. ElliottSmith(1991-2003): The singer-songwriterwhotragically
diedin2003 at the youngage of 34 cementedhisplace asan Indie
rock legend whostill inspiresgenerationsof singer-songwriters.His
songswere full tothe brimof raw emotionandtorturedsoul andhe releasedfivestudio
albumsandgot nominatedforanOSCAR in1998 of BestOriginal Songforhissong Miss
Misery.
Common conventionsof Indie music videos
Setting– commonly Indie musicvideosare knownfortheirlow budget andthereforethe main
locationsare placessuchas parks, cities,orstudios.These placesare easilyaccessible andcanbe
usedto create mysteryeffortlessly.Withthe tendencytofocussolelyonthe artistorperformance
the locationneedstobe simple toinhibitdistraction. Forexample,The ArcticMonkeysvideoforRU
Mine?Is filmedonahandheldcameraina car creatinga low budget,vlogstyle video.
Mise-en-scene –MES isessential in Indie rockasithelpstoportray and enhance the narrative
throughthe artists look.Frequently,the artistshave aretrolookwhichisgenerallycreatedthrough
costumesandmakeup.The narrative isoftenenhancedusingotheractorsthatinteractwiththe

3. artist.Realismisensuredthroughthe use of propno matterhow unrealisticorconceptual the
narrative.Forexample,if the videoissetina studio,propssuchas instrumentsandmicrophones
wouldhelpbuildrealism. Forexample,The StrokesvideoforLastNite issetin a studioas if theyare
doinglive performancewithpropsthatwouldbe expectedsuchasdrumsand guitars.
Performance –a wide range of approachesisusedinthe Indie genre butthe mostcommon
approach isto include alive performance of the songasit generatesafocusuponthe artist. For
example,Mumford&SonsvideoforIWill Wait isall performance based,withvariousshotsof them
fromon stage and withinthe audience.Theyare seentobe performinginfrontof a large crowd
whichto a viewerhighlightstheirtalentsandhow populartheyare. However,ithas alsobecome
popularto include elementsof narrative betweenlive performance shotstogenerate more meaning
and to give the viewerssomethingtointerpret.Itcanalsosometimeshelpthe viewerrelatetothe
meaningof the lyricsif theyrelate tothe visualsseen.
Narrative – as previouslyexplainedithasbecome increasinglycommonfor Indie videostoinclude a
narrative thatviewers canrelate to.Usuallythisstorywill linkwiththe storyinthe songor meaning
of the lyrics.Narrative within Indie musicvideoshasbecome popularasithas proventoholdpeople
attentionbettercomparedtosimple shotsof alive performance asthere ismysteryastowhat will
happentothe artist/actorsnext.Furthermore,itnaturallyincreasesthe numberof shotsused,
increasinginterest. Anexample of thisisinBirdy’svideoforSkinnyLove wherebywe see her
performingata piano mixedwithanarrative shotwithinahouse.
Camera– typicallyarange of close-upshotsare usedin Indie musicvideosasitactivelyintroduces
and advertisesthe artist.These shotsare usedtohighlightthe artist’stalentsandallowsthe viewer
to see theirpassiontowardsthe song.Intermof the narrative style,longandwide shotsare usedto
establish the locationandshowthe viewerthe situationthe artistisinto give themanideaof what
mighthappentothemin the narrative. Forexample,inThe SmithsvideoforThe CharmingMan,
there are a range of close-upandtrackingshotsthatallow the viewertosee the artistandrest of
the band fromvariousanglesandspecificshotshighlightthe singeranddrummer’stalentby
allowingthe viewertosee exactlywhatthey’redoingandtowhatlevel of expertisetheyare
carryingthe actionout.
Editing– special effectsare commontomake the videorunsmoothlyorto make the audience feel
as if theyare inthe musicvideoexperiencingthe narrative themselves.Shotsusuallymatchthe
pace/beatof the music,linkingtoGoodwin’stheory.Thisisusedtomake the musicvideomore
pleasanttowatch forthe viewerandtoinhibitdisorientation.Regularly,effectsandfiltersare used
to make the footage lookoldor wornand create a rustic look.Inmore downbeat songsitis typical
to use blackand white throughoutthe entire videogivingitaclassical feel. Anexample of thiscanbe
seeninJamesBay’svideoforScars wherebythere isablackand white filteroverthe footage forthe
entire video.
Awards
A range of awardsfrom differentprovidersexistacrossthe globe forthe independentmusic
industry,one significantawardsprogrambeingthe AIMawards.Theyofferandaward a numberof
titlesincluding:
 GoldenWellyawardforbestindependentfestival
 Independentbreakthroughof the year

4.  Indie championaward
 Independentvideoof the year
 Bestlive act
 Independenttrackof the year
 Independentlabel of the year
 Independentalbumof the year
All of these awardshave nomineesandwinnersonanannual basis.
Top 10 independentpoprecordlabels
1. 4AD (Derrhunter,Grimes,The National,PurityRing)
2. Domino(ArcticMonkeys,DirtyProjections,FranzFerdinand,HotChip)
3. EntertainmentOne (FoxyBrown,The Game,Jake Miller,Michelle Williams)
4. Epitaph(Desaparcidos,FallingInReverse,MotionCitySoundtrack,SleepingWithSirens)
5. Glassnote (Chvrchers,FoyVance,MumfordandSons,Oberhofer)
6. Mad Decent(DillonFrancis,Diplo,MajorLazer)
7. Mom + Pop (CourtneyBarnett,FIDLAR,IngridMichaelson)
8. Mute (Erasure,Goldfrapp,NewOrder)
9. SubPop (BeachHouse,FatherJohnMisty,Sleater-Kinney)
10. XL (Adele,Radiohead,Vampire Weekend,JackWhite,The xx)
The Best Indie Bands and Artists (ranked by www.ranker.com)
1. Arctic Monkeys
2. The Strokes
3. The Arcana
4. Radiohead
5. The Killers
6. Arcade Fire
7. Vampire Weekend
8. The Smiths
9. Muse
10. Tame Impala