What is *not* "indie" ?

[mladendomic]

I don't quite understand what belongs to "indie" genre. What are the properties of indie? Or, to ask in more efficient manner: what is NOT indie? What do you guys think? If you submit a song to a listing and you get the comment "this song is not quite indie" what does it mean? How do you know if something is indie or not?

[Lazyknife]

That's exactly what I'm wondering. Every style has it's indie equivilant but what is it that allows you to put the indie tag before that style? What's the difference between indie rock and rock, indie pop and pop. Is there something like indie country too?

Thanks Mladendomic for asking!

[Len911]

Indie- Music that has found success unconventionally by other than traditional mainstream methods. A term now adopted as a genre to capitalize on it's success by the mainstream record label conglomerates, exploitation that creates confusion as to it's origin and meaning, possibly diluting or changing it's current and future definition.

[Razor7Music]

Indie- Music that has found success unconventionally by other than traditional mainstream methods. A term now adopted as a genre to capitalize on it's success by the mainstream record label conglomerates, exploitation that creates confusion as to it's origin and meaning, possibly diluting or changing it's current and future definition.

Um, yeah. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the term 'indie' came from 'independent record label' and had nothing to do with the genre.

[andygabrys]

yeah I think that's right. independent label.

but think back from there. Indie not major. small budget not big. distinctive not mainstream. perhaps quirky not polished. live band in a room session vs. pristine or pieced together. cool, hip, not Bourgeoisie

I think in a way that describes what we have as Indie music today - the many many styles of indie. Of course, once an Indie band makes it, that is a silly way to categorize them, so I think its now more about the associated style (regardless of how much the band earns) and not the indie record label.

my 2 cents.

[Razor7Music]

yeah I think that's right. independent label.

but think back from there. Indie not major. small budget not big. distinctive not mainstream. perhaps quirky not polished. live band in a room session vs. pristine or pieced together. cool, hip, not Bourgeoisie

I think in a way that describes what we have as Indie music today - the many many styles of indie. Of course, once an Indie band makes it, that is a silly way to categorize them, so I think its now more about the associated style (regardless of how much the band earns) and not the indie record label.

my 2 cents.

Sounds right to me--because let's face it, when a listing is asking for indie this or that, the last thing they're looking for is something already on a label.

One might also look at the old phrase, garage band. Although most of that was in the Rock genre, the loose band feel was really what that meant--not the venue!

[Lazyknife]

That's a logical way off looking at it.

So when they're looking for indie-folk, it's folk that's rough on the edges and unique?!
But does this also mean you can't use autotune or go for a smooth mix. Should you go faster though the production and not worry about everything that much? So Lady GaGa (just to name someone) is the anti-indie pop queen?

[richmstudios]

TAXI's UStream TV episode dealt with this in last night's episode (Monday 01/07) by playing several indie tracks for viewers to hear. It might be helpful to check it out to get a feel for the "indie sound": http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/28316657.

Rich

[Lazyknife]

Thanks Rich!

Haven't seen the last episode yet, so I'll check it out!

[AndyKotz]

It might be helpful to check it out to get a feel for the "indie sound"

A feel for their definition of "indie"... which is subject to change with each and EVERY screener...