Indie Rock

Indie rock is a music genre that independent record labels release. Indie rock musicians have, in reality, recorded for major record labels while still adhering to the artistic principles of their independent origins. On the other hand, the indie rock scene consists of self-released records and boutique labels like Rockathon, which is home to Guided By Voices, and big independent labels like 4AD, which is home to Pixies and The Breeders. Several indie rock acts like Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr., and Arcade Fire have had extended careers with big labels.

Origin

For many years, major record labels distributed almost all popular music. These labels include Atlantic, Columbia, A&M, Elektra, Capitol, Arista, EMI, BMG, and Polydor. However, bands started distributing their music directly to fans in the 1970s, establishing small record companies to manage the distribution. The earliest documented example of an independent record breakthrough is Buzzcocks' (British pop-punk band) publication "The Spiral Scratch EP." The band manufactured and distributed over 15,000 copies and sparked a surge of independent record labels in the UK. Some of the inspired labels include 4AD, Rough Trade, and Mute. The fashion also gained popularity in the USA. Dischord Records was established in Washington, DC, by friends Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson. They distributed music from their early bands, notably Minor Threat, where MacKaye sang and Nelson played the drums.

Notable Stars

Greg Ginn established SST Records in the suburban South Bay area of Los Angeles, primarily as a platform to promote his punk band, Black Flag. Notable independent rock labels in the United States include Touch and Go in Chicago, Sub Pop in Seattle, Matador in New York, Merge in North Carolina, and TAANG! in Boston. Several labels identified and supported bands who became prominent figures in the alternative music genre. Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Mudhoney, all grunge icons, were signed to the Sub Pop record label. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, a band from Brooklyn, initially released their music on Touch and Go recordings before achieving success with the prominent label Interscope. Recently, several acts have departed from big labels and established their specific imprints. This is due to the concentration of labels and the emergence of a new streaming economy led by Spotify.

Following several years of recording under Warner Brothers-owned labels, Wilco launched its independent record label, dBpm Records. Robert Pollard, the lead singer of Guided By Voices, currently manages Rockathon Records after an extensive career at Matador.

Characteristics of Indie Rock

Indie rock spans various subgenres, including synth-driven indie pop, post-punk, and hip-hop. However, most indie songs have shared characteristics. Before the era of advanced digital audio workstations such as Pro Tools and Logic, several independent rock musicians didn't have the production resources available to bands signed to major record labels. Regardless of the bands' intentions, this resulted in the emergence of lo-fi aesthetics. In the present era of digital technology,  musicians can enhance the quality of their audio recordings. Still, some deliberately choose to maintain a low-fi appearance for artistic purposes. Though melismatic vocalists with five-octave vocal ranges and mind-bending guitar solos are not characteristics of indie rock, it is known for honest performances by band members rather than professional studio musicians. This makes it easier for most indie rock musicians to recreate the pro sounds on their songs.

If you enjoyed this article, please check out the following:

• Independent Record Label
• Hard Trance