Music

Definition: Indie Genre

Independent music is often shortened to indie music or indie. “Indie” music is produced independently from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, a process that may include a DIY approach to recording and publishing.

Popular/Successful Indie Bands...

Indie Record Labels

Rough TradeThe big daddy of British indie labels, Rough Trade has had its ups and downs since 1978 when Geoff Travis founded it in the back of his Notting Hill record shop. Its early roster was an embarrassment of riches: the Smiths, the Fall, and Stiff Little Fingers whose Inflammable Material, Rough Trade’s first ever album release, sold more than 100,000 copies.

The label went bust in 1991, losing a decade, but soon after its relaunch in 2000, Travis happened upon a little-known New York band called The Strokes. Now owned by Beggars Group, the label manages acts as diverse as Antony & the Johnsons and Micachu.

Indie Record Labels

Creation

From 1983 to 1999, the lion’s share of carousing and brawling in the British music industry was done not just by the roster of Creation Records but also by its management. Most labels attract signings with lucrative deals, Creation, according to a former label manager, “used to drink and drug the bands into submission”.

It’s style worked a treat with Oasis, its biggest success story, as well as Primal Scream, too close to call in the debauchery stakes. However, despite a host of great names, Alan McGee’s company never got the hang of turning a profit.

Factory

Few defunct British music institutions inspire more nostalgia than Factory, the label that put Manchester on the musical map. Established in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus, Factory is remembered for its highs:Joy Division and New Order, the halcyon days of the Hacienda nightclub, Peter Saville’s sleeve designs.

But it’s also remembered for it’s lows, notably the suicide of Joy Division’s Ian Curtis in May 1980. No less memorable was Wilson’s fearless approach, championing “difficult” bands and declining to make them sign contracts. The label closed in 1992, but Factory’s influence remainsIndie Record Labels

I’ve posted some links below, of Indie music videos that inspired me for similar footage in my own music video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HS1XrH9077Q

I particularly like this song because I can relate to it, and it has a relaxing adjustment to it. Big Deal

Homework The video has great effects and moulds well with the song, the narrative is well structured.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dU9hrd35Dsg

The VaccinesPost Break Up This song is simple, yet catchy and holds great meaning for teenagers and youth, most adults are also able to related to it.

The video provides the effect of memory as well as an alternative ‘indie’ feature... They’ve made something as simple as recording in a front room look ‘retro and ‘modern’. I admire the uniqueness of this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzzCthKw_C0

Ben HowardOld Pine

The setting and narrative used in this video helped to inspire a particular shot in my video, this video compliments the song – it’s excellent!

What makes an indie video successful?

Originality. An indie music video is at it’s best when it’s a chance taking, friend making, low budget thing – FUN?

A low budget isn’t a necessity for a great indie music video, it’s just prevalent, and frequently inevitably to be due to indies’ need to express with freedom in both form and subject.

With this indie spirit and these constraints there could be said to be an independent arts culture, and a less obvious but no less vivid indie music video visual.

Who’s truly the indie genre’s audience?

Females and males from 14-26 – the age in which youth struggle to find out who they

are and where they belong.

The indie culture holds a place for every individual

Does it’s music therefore relate to everyone? And does it therefore have a

target audience?

From my research I have learnt...

With indie music video’s, less is more, realism and trivial, yet every day issues are featured not only in the lyrics of the song but also in the video.

My video doesn’t necessarily have to related to the songs. However it does have to relate to my audience.