INDIE-ROCK Specific genre research

Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom in the 1980s. Indie rock was extremely diverse, with subgenres that include indie pop, jangle pop, and lo-fi, among others.

HISTORY OF THIS GENRE-

ITS BEGINNING

In the mid-1980s, the term "indie" began to be used to

describe the music produced on post-punk labels rather than

the labels themselves. The indie rock scene in the US was

prefigured by the college rock that dominated college radio

playlists which included key bands like R.E.M. from the US

and The Smiths from the UK

The 1990s brought major changes to the alternative rock scene. Grunge bands such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Hole, and Alice in Chains broke into the mainstream, achieving commercial chart success and widespread exposure. Punk revival bands like Green Day and The Offspring also became popular and were grouped under the "alternative" umbrella. Similarly, in the United Kingdom Britpop saw bands like Blur and Oasis emerge into the mainstream, abandoning the regional, small-scale and political elements of the 1980s indie scene.

The Smiths

What are the codes and

conventions?

• Artists in the indie rock genre usually wear dark

clothing such as black and are very casual with a scruffy

look eg black jackets and jeans.

• The rock genre and indie rock genre there is a

particular trend that the lead singer is placed in the

centre of frame in the camera. This may be to show

importance however, it tends to happen less

nowadays.

• Facial expressions either are over exaggerated

(aggressive or angry) or very calm and minimal (plain,

simple, serious). The indie rock genre in some ways can

be associated with demonic and Gothic.

Arctic Monkeys Alex Turner displayed in front of the

others.

What magazines for

this music genre are

there?

• A variety of music magazines are within this genre.

However, some vary more than others. For example,

some music magazine contain just rock with only a

little part of indie rather than a balance. Others may

reverse.

• Some music magazines only dedicate one of the

genres so pure indie or pure rock.

• Magazines include NME, Q, Rolling Stone, Indie (a style

magazine), Mojo and Kerrang.

How wide or small is

your audience/fans?

The fan base varies depending on the style of music within the band/ artist. It usually consists of 15-30 year olds. It is a very wide fan base due to the variety of indie rock artists nowadays.

Keys artists in the

development of the genre /present day

• Arctic Monkeys

• Blur

• Florence + the Machine

• Lana Del Rey

• Arcade Fire

• The Kooks

• Vampire Weekend

• The Killers

• The 1975

• alt-J

• Imagine Dragons

• Lykke Li

• HAIM

• Bastille

RECORD LABEL

NAMES IN THIS GENRE

- Eleven Thirty Records- Emerald Moon Records- Bonsound- China Records- Able label- ANTI-- Anyway Records- Crying Sun Records- Half a Cow- Blue Dog Records- Dancing Turtle Records