Indie rock

Some bands make their own music.

It started in the 1980s. Bands in the UK and the US made it. People in New Zealand made it too.

Some bands used small labels. These labels were not big companies. This helped them share their songs.

Bands can play in many ways. Some play loud songs. Other bands play soft songs.

Many people love this music. It is fun to hear. You can make music too!

Indie rock is a style of rock music. It started in the 1980s. Bands in the UK, the US, and New Zealand helped it grow.

At first, the word "indie" described how music was sold. It meant bands used independent record labels. These were small companies. They were not the big, famous ones. Many bands used a "do-it-yourself" or DIY way of working. This meant they made and shared their own music.

Soon, indie rock became a name for a specific sound. It does not sound like all other rock. Some bands play loud and hard. Other bands play soft or strange music. There are even many subgenres. These include space rock and Midwest emo.

Many famous bands played indie rock. The Smiths and R.E.M. were early examples. Later, bands like Radiohead and The Strokes became very popular. Even though the music changed, it stayed special. It is a way for artists to share their own ideas.

Indie rock is a special kind of rock music. It started in the 1980s in the United Kingdom, the United States, and New Zealand. At first, the word "indie" meant music released on independent record labels. These were small companies that worked outside of the big, famous music businesses. Over time, the name changed to describe a specific musical style. Today, indie rock covers many different sounds. Some bands play loud, hard music. Other bands might play soft, experimental, or strange songs.

Many bands follow a "do-it-yourself" or DIY way of working. This means they take charge of making their own records. In the late 1970s, the Buzzcocks released a record called the Spiral Scratch EP. They used their own label called New Hormines on January 29, 1977. This was a very important moment for the music scene. The band even printed details about their recording process on the cover. This showed others how to make and share music without big companies.

This music has many different roots and histories. Some of the earliest influences came from the 1960s. Bands like The Kinks and The Velvet Underground helped shape the sound. Other important artists include The Byrds and Big Star. In the late 1970s, punk rock also helped the genre grow. A famous concert by the Sex Pistols in Manchester in 1976 inspired many new groups. This led to the start of famous labels like Factory and Creation Records.

As the years went by, indie rock grew into many new styles. In the 1990s, subgenres like slowcore and space rock appeared. Some bands, like Sonic Youth and the Pixies, even signed to major labels. Different cities created their own local scenes too. Manchester had a style called baggy. London and the Thames Valley had a style called shoegaze. Even in New Zealand, the Dunedin sound became well-known through bands like The Chills.

Indie rock has always been about being different from mainstream music. It connects many different types of artists together. For example, the riot grrrl movement featured female artists like Bikini Kill. Some musicians focus on being very experimental and strange. Others might play music that feels more traditional or nostalgic. In the 2000s, bands like The Strokes and Arctic Monkeys brought the sound back to the mainstream. Whether it is loud or quiet, indie rock is about sharing a unique vision.

Indie rock is a diverse subgenre of rock music. It emerged during the early to mid-1980s. The genre began in the United Kingdom, the United States, and New Zealand. Originally, the term "indie" described music released via independent record labels. These labels operated outside of major corporate music companies. By the 1990s, the term shifted in meaning. It began to describe a specific musical style rather than a business model. Today, indie rock encompasses many different sounds and approaches.

The movement is deeply rooted in a "do-it-yourself" or DIY ethic. This philosophy encourages musicians to produce and distribute their own work. A pivotal moment occurred on January 29, 1977. The Manchester punk band Buzzcocks released the Spiral Scratch EP. They used their own independent label, New Hormones. The band even printed recording details on the cover. This showed others how to make records at low costs. This helped undermine the monopoly of major record labels.

Indie rock includes many distinct subgenres and regional sounds. In the 1990s, several new styles emerged. These included slowcore, Midwest emo, slacker rock, and space rock. Local scenes also developed unique identities. Manchester became known for the baggy style. London and the Thames Valley produced shoegaze music. In New Zealand, the Dunedin sound became a recognized movement. Bands like The Chills and The Clean were central to this sound.

The history of the genre draws from many musical eras. Many artists look back to the 1960s for inspiration. The Kinks and The Velvet Underground are cited as early influences. The Byrds and Big Star also helped shape the genre's development. In the late 1970s, the punk rock explosion provided new energy. Two Sex Pistols performances in Manchester in 1976 were very influential. These shows inspired the formation of groups like Joy Division and The Smiths. They also led to the birth of labels like Factory and Creation Records.

Musicologists and anthropologists have noted specific characteristics of the genre. Anthropologist Wendy Fonarow describes a dichotomy in the music. She sees a tension between a "puritan ethos" and a "romantic one." Some acts use austere ethics, while others are more eccentric. In the 1990s, British acts were often flamboyant performers. In contrast, American acts often used a lack of virtuosity to show authenticity. The genre also features a high proportion of female artists. This is seen in the feminist-informed riot grrrl movement. Bands like Bikini Kill and Bratmobile were part of this era.

Indie rock has moved between the underground and the mainstream. In the 1990s, grunge and Britpop brought more attention to the genre. Some indie bands, such as Radiohead and the Pixies, signed to major labels. This caused a split in the scene. One side followed mainstream radio trends. The other side became increasingly experimental. The 2000s saw a new wave of mainstream success. This was driven by the garage rock and post-punk revival. Bands like The Strokes and The White Stripes led this movement.

Many successful bands helped expand the genre's reach in the 2000s. The era saw the rise of blog rock and the indie sleaze aesthetic. Groups like Arctic Monkeys and The Killers contributed to this proliferation. The genre remains connected to broader cultural ideas about independence. It reflects a desire to exist outside of mainstream musical values. Whether through experimental sounds or DIY distribution, it remains a significant part of rock history.