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Definition of "Indie" Music
Posted on 8/29/12 at 6:58 am
Posted on 8/29/12 at 6:58 am
Help settle a long-running debate between a buddy and myself.
I say describing something as "Indie" means it is produced under a label which wouldn't be considered major.
He says "Indie" is it's own genre (like rock, pop, elctronica, etc) with its own unique sound.
My stance is that "indie" spans many genres and really only has to do with the popularity/production value associated with the song.
Would anyone else like to share their definition of "indie" or otherwise care to educate me?
I posted this on the Music Board but have my doubt as to whether anyone whose opinion I respect frequents that board.
Title edited for whatever sandy-crotched admin anchored a decent discussion-provoking thread.
I say describing something as "Indie" means it is produced under a label which wouldn't be considered major.
He says "Indie" is it's own genre (like rock, pop, elctronica, etc) with its own unique sound.
My stance is that "indie" spans many genres and really only has to do with the popularity/production value associated with the song.
Would anyone else like to share their definition of "indie" or otherwise care to educate me?
I posted this on the Music Board but have my doubt as to whether anyone whose opinion I respect frequents that board.
Title edited for whatever sandy-crotched admin anchored a decent discussion-provoking thread.
This post was edited on 8/29/12 at 7:50 am
4
Posted on 8/29/12 at 7:03 am to ManBearTiger
if only there was a board
quote:it started as this...
say describing something as "Indie" means it is produced under a label which wouldn't be considered major
quote:but an indie genre emerged and indie today refers to a specific sound and not whether or not it was independently produced.
He says "Indie" is it's own genre (like rock, pop, elctronica, etc) with its own unique sound.
Posted on 8/29/12 at 7:06 am to Pilot Tiger
Give me 3 examples of exclusively "Indie" songs please.
ETA: I suppose I'm not disputing whether certain songs are referred to as "indie" or not, just whether "Indie" truly should be it's own category sound-wise
ETA: I suppose I'm not disputing whether certain songs are referred to as "indie" or not, just whether "Indie" truly should be it's own category sound-wise
This post was edited on 8/29/12 at 7:18 am
Posted on 8/29/12 at 7:20 am to ManBearTiger
By my friend's definition (the examples he used) Owl City and Velvet Underground are both considered exclusively "Indie" but if anything I would consider one pop and the other indie rock. Does that sound unreasonable?
Posted on 8/29/12 at 7:28 am to Pilot Tiger
quote:
indie today refers to a specific sound
No it doesn't.
Posted on 8/29/12 at 7:32 am to ManBearTiger
quote:
Would anyone else like to share their definition of "indie" or otherwise care to educate me?
I'm of the opinion that the term is used in so many different ways to mean so many different things, that it has essentially been rendered meaningless. Or at the very least, the practical utility of the term has run its course.
We need a new term.
Posted on 8/29/12 at 7:35 am to bobbyray21
quote:
I'm of the opinion that the term is used in so many different ways to mean so many different things, that it has essentially been rendered meaningless. Or at the very least, the practical utility of the term has run its course.
And if anybody disagrees with me here, I offer you a challenge. Try to define the term.
Posted on 8/29/12 at 7:36 am to bobbyray21
Why did this thread get anchored?
It seems relevant to the music board, yes?
It seems relevant to the music board, yes?
Posted on 8/29/12 at 7:39 am to bobbyray21
quote:
ManBearTiger
Try renaming the thread. Something like: What does "Indie" actually mean?
That will likely de-anchor it.
Although the one time my thread got anchored my title was quite specific. I think it was anchored because "Would you bang Serena Williams" was not considered an appropriate topic. Quakers.
Posted on 8/29/12 at 7:50 am to bobbyray21
quote:rather a set of sounds
indie today refers to a specific sound
No it doesn't
just because Attack Attack is going to release an album without a label, it's not "indie" music
there are plenty of subgenres, indie pop, indie rock, etc.
but it no longer really means, "Independent" as in not produced by a major label
This post was edited on 8/29/12 at 7:52 am
Posted on 8/29/12 at 7:55 am to Pilot Tiger
It seems to me that Indie=/=genre, but rather it is just a description of non-mainstream music that falls into established categories (rock, country, pop, etc)
Posted on 8/29/12 at 8:11 am to Pilot Tiger
quote:
there are plenty of subgenres, indie pop, indie rock, etc.
Brilliant idea. Let's just put the word indie in front of every existing genre. That way it becomes its own genre. All the genres that existed before the term "indie" was ever used are now subgenres of indie.
Worst. Point. Ever.
Posted on 8/29/12 at 8:18 am to bobbyray21
That was essentially the point my buddy was trying to make.
It seems like any band that experiments within an existing genre but has not reached widespread popularity gets an "indie" label rewarded/slapped on them.
It seems like any band that experiments within an existing genre but has not reached widespread popularity gets an "indie" label rewarded/slapped on them.
Posted on 8/29/12 at 8:48 am to ManBearTiger
indie music in the strictest literal definition is music that isn't on a major label.
However, today no one really refers to it in it's literal meaning. It's a genre. bands like pavement.
However, today no one really refers to it in it's literal meaning. It's a genre. bands like pavement.
Posted on 8/29/12 at 9:22 am to redneck hippie
People still use the word indie to
Describe music/bands? I thought this died out at least 5 years ago. It's just not relevant anymore
Describe music/bands? I thought this died out at least 5 years ago. It's just not relevant anymore
Posted on 8/29/12 at 10:02 am to ManBearTiger
whether this bobby moron will admit it or not the term indie, no longer really conjures up the notion of simple being "off label" as it was originally intended
you wouldn't describe music that sounded similar to lady gaga as indie and you wouldnt label a death metal band as "indie" despite being "off label"
the types of musicians who tended to stay off labels were acoustic singer/songerwriter types. I had a friend who was this way. The term indie just started being thrown around as a genre instead of differentiating between label/non-label.
so for right or wrong, the definition has somewhat shifted and resulted in further shifts/divisions.
you wouldn't describe music that sounded similar to lady gaga as indie and you wouldnt label a death metal band as "indie" despite being "off label"
the types of musicians who tended to stay off labels were acoustic singer/songerwriter types. I had a friend who was this way. The term indie just started being thrown around as a genre instead of differentiating between label/non-label.
so for right or wrong, the definition has somewhat shifted and resulted in further shifts/divisions.
Posted on 8/29/12 at 10:13 am to Pilot Tiger
quote:
just because Attack Attack is going to release an album without a label, it's not "indie" music
there are plenty of subgenres, indie pop, indie rock, etc.
but it no longer really means, "Independent" as in not produced by a major label
exactly. Attack Attack! is VERY far from what most people consider "Indie" in this day and age.
The vast majority of the thousands of bands in the pop-punk/hardcore/metalcore sub-genres of Rock have found a home on profitable smaller labels that a)support those bands touring relentlessly and b)let the artists be who they are and not what mainstream radio wants them to be. And it works - many of them pack small and mid-size clubs all over the country. But you'd be hard pressed to call any of them "Indie" by what most people think of the term these days.
The old definition is totally antiquated
Posted on 8/29/12 at 1:15 pm to ManBearTiger
So to conclude, which is douchier- Referring to a song as "Indie" or refusing to recognize the term altogether?
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