In principle, indie music is associated with independent styles, songs and musical works not integrated into conventional releases, as far as production and promotion are concerned.
At concept analysis Of indie music, we hear the term indie music in many places, but do we really know what it means? This term, "indie", comes from the word independent.
In this section any type of musical style can be integrated that reaches the user by their own means. There is no record label that supports it, or at least there is not one conventionally.
In its great majority, are groups that promote their own style and independence, generating exclusive music. They do not depend on the trends of the moment, or on a brand that frames them in a certain type of genre.
When can we consider that a style or a group is indie?
Some elements can tell us that a group is indie:
- The purpose of generating music for the particular performer or group is to artistic vocation, not linked to the commercial aspect or income generation.
- Musical group it is not integrated into the general circuits of the music market, or of the sound or advertising diffusion. The artists promote their albums, songs and products, with their own means.
- Sometimes the seal record company that edits discs is amateurish or very small in size. Also in those cases it is called indie music.
Bands and indie music
Many bands that we associate with great musical success, even top sellers, started out in the indie movement. At later times, they had so successful that they were taken over by a record company, losing their independent character.
Throughout the history of music, various genres and bands have been classified as indie music, due to their innovative nature and because they presented alternative proposals to what was known at that time.
Thus genres such as reggae, or grunge have been emerging, that as they were gaining audience they consolidated with their particular label and the big companies were interested in the artists and their bands.
Today, there are many bands that play this kind of music. Using the latest generation electronic resources and social networks they have managed to position themselves in the taste of the followers of this genre.
Examples
Some people distinguishes between indie music from bands that record on independent labels and indie music as a musical genre.
Since the beginning of rock and roll there have been musical stamps They have worked independently, apart from the big corporations that dominated the industry.
Some of these stamps have had a very important role in the development of popular music and of certain genres and sub-genres. This is the case of Sun Records (the discoverers of Elvis) with rock and roll, Stax with the drunk, Rough Trade with the post-punk, Sub Pop with him grunge or Creation with the shoegaze.
As far as United States it means, the term indie music was created to refer to music produced by small record labels and that it was more or less preconceived on university radio stations. A clear example of this is the REM group, which would evolve towards a more mature rock.
Indie music in Spain
At Lóleo Eventos, 90 decade of, in Spain they were appearing different bands, influenced by what was happening abroad. Some examples from those years are Penelope Trip and Australian Blonde. They were bands that preferred the lyrics in English, rather than associate with what was the beginning of the move.
In those years a group called The planets it would begin its journey in Spain, becoming a true reference for other bands, which would follow the path marked out by them. Some known band names from that era are Nick Lizard, the Rebel Strawberries and The Good Life.
The Dover Group managed to sell, with an album created with his own label, more than 800.000 copies, a figure that was unthinkable until that moment, unless it was an already established record company. They were times of his famous "Devil came to me ”.
Popular indie music tracks
The Killers, “Mr. Brightside "
Death Cab for Cutie, "Soul Meets Body"
Kaiser Chiefs, "Ruby"
The Postal Service, "Such Great Heights"
Franz Ferdinand, "Take Me Out"
MGMT, "Kids"
The Killers, "Somebody Told Me"
MGMT, "Time to Pretend"
Snoy Patrol, "Chasing Cars"
Very important bands of indie music
The Black Keys
Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney created a musical duo with a style between blues-rock and indie rock.
Bastille
In 2010 this band was created in South London that It started from a previous solo path by singer and songwriter Dan Smith. He would be joined by Chris 'Woody' Wood, Will Farquarson and Kyle Simmons.
Of Monsters and Men
An interesting Irish band that combine folk with pop, all from an indie perspective. The group is made up of Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir (soloist and guitarist), Ragnar «Raggi» Þórhallsson (soloist and guitarist), Brynjar Leifsson (guitarist), Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson (drummer) and Kristján.
twenty one pilots
Formed in 2009, this North American duo is made up of Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun. His music combines rap, alternative rock, electronic and pop rhythms.. In other words, a bit of everything for all tastes.
Arctic Monkeys
This indie rock band is formed in the United Kingdom, specifically in Sheffield. Its members are led by lead guitarist and vocalist Alex Turner, guitarist Jamie Cook, drummer Matt Helders and Nick O'Malley on bass, a position previously held by Andy Nicholson.
The Strokes
This American indie rock band was formed in 1998. In their musical career they have managed to sell more than 8 million records around the world. They began their path of success in 2001 with the album "Is This It", and have been called "Rock saviors".
the killers
An American rock band formed in 2001 in Las Vegas. It is made up of Brandon Flowers (lead vocals, keyboards) and Dave Keuning (guitar, backing vocals). Mark Stoermer (bass, backing vocals) and Ronnie Vannucci Jr. (drums, percussion, backing vocals) later joined in 2002.
The Kooks
This British rock band, formed in 2004, is composed of Luke Pritchard (lead vocals, guitar), Hugh Harris (guitar, backing vocals), Paul Garred (drums) and Peter Denton (bass).
Image sources: Gotcha Musica / Todoindie