American Roots: Indie Music

     Indie rock is a subgenre of rock music that originated in the United States, United Kingdom, and New Zealand from the 1970s to the 1980s. The term indie isn't technically a genre, but a business model used to describe independent record labels making it a very broad grouping of songs. Most agree that indie music typically sounds grittier than a track that has been produced by a major label, vocals are typically sung with a breathy voice, vocal fry, distinct vowel choices, and a thin, delicate style of singing. Indie Music as it's known today is derived from a variety of genres including pop, folk, and rock. 

Indie rock has several subgenres, ranging from synth-driven indie pop to post-punk to hip-hop, yet most independent music has some characteristics in common:   

1. DIY aesthetic: Most indie rockers do not record using advanced technologies from record labels. They pay for their own studio time or record at home. Many musicians also use unconventional instrumentation, such as jangling guitars, and may draw inspiration from a variety of genres, including folk, dance rock, and hip hop. This DIY approach not only allows indie rockers to have more creative control over their music but also gives them the freedom to experiment with different sounds and styles without the pressure of meeting commercial expectations. Additionally, this approach has helped many indie rockers establish a strong connection with their fans who appreciate the authenticity and sincerity of their music. 
2. Some lo-fi sonics: many indie rockers simply did not have access to the production resources enjoyed by major label bands. Whether bands liked it or not, this resulted in lo-fi aesthetics. Today's digital technology allows bands to enhance their recordings, but some prefer the lo-fi look for artistic reasons. Lo-fi aesthetics became popular due to the limitations of recording equipment in the past, but now it has become a deliberate choice for some artists who want to create a vintage or raw sound that adds character to their music. 
3. Tracks written by the band: Unlike most mainstream pop, country, and hip-hop performers, who may frequently rely on outside songwriters and producers, most indie rockers write and produce their own music. This allows indie rock bands to have more creative control over their sound and message and often results in a more authentic and personal listening experience for fans. Additionally, the DIY ethos of indie rock encourages experimentation and risk-taking, leading to a diverse range of musical styles within the genre. 
4. While indie rock is not recognized for being fancy, it is noted for sincere performances performed by band members rather than hired studio musicians. This allows most indie rockers to simply duplicate the sounds of their albums when performing live. The genre's emphasis on authenticity and DIY ethos also attracts a loyal fan base who appreciates the raw and unpolished sound. Indie rock has also been known to incorporate elements from various genres, making it a diverse and dynamic genre. 

here is a modern one I really like!

Indie music is a musical genre with no distinct musical style. It wasn't so much a style as it was a movement, as is the case with many genres. It does, however, take inspiration from many blues-derived genres. These genres all bleed into one another and create subset genres. These include- 

A. Pop- Indie music takes elements such as emphasis on harmonies, arrangements, and songcraft from pop music. 

• Pop music focuses on melody and hooks, conventional songcraft and presentation, and a tendency to be derivative of older popular music. 

B. Folk - Indie music takes elements such as lo-fi acoustic ballads to lush electric rockers from folk music. Most Notably complicated instrumentation, multi-voiced harmonies, and lyricism.   

• It is characterized by simple scales, sharp keys, and simple time signatures.  Folk music often tackles “taboo” topics like oppression, politics, depression, and war. Instrumentations in folk music commonly involve violins, acoustic guitars, whistles, flutes, mandolins, accordion, etc. 

C.  Rock- Indie music takes Rocks' ability to explore sounds, emotions, and lyrical subjects that don't appeal to large, mainstream audiences most of the instrumentation is also the same. 

• It is distinguished by strong lyrics and instrumentation, typically about love, sex, drugs, rebellion, protest, and criminality. Rock music is often comprised of electric guitar, bass guitar, drums, and occasionally keyboards or additional instruments. Rock music frequently employs a fast tempo, a 4/4-time signature, a verse-chorus structure, and lyrical hooks. 

    

Popular Early Indie Music 

 Sonic Youth (1981-2011) - 

Sonic Youth came from the New York City no-wave art and music scene as one of the most influential noise-rock bands that experimented with classic rock guitar, becoming one of the earliest indie rock groups. 

Pixies (1986) -

    The Pixies were one of the most influential indie bands of the late 1980s, driving a huge movement in mainstream music toward alternative rock, which dominated the 1990s. 

Works Cited

Branco, Holly. “Indie Music: The Complete Breakdown of the Most Diverse and Well-Loved Genres of Music.” Magnetic Magazine, 8 Aug. 2022, www.magneticmag.com/2022/08/what-is-indie-music/.

“Indie Pop Music Genre Overview.” AllMusic, www.allmusic.com/style/indie-pop-ma0000004494.

Masterclass. “Indie Rock Music: History and Artists of Independent Rock.” Masterclass.com, 7 June 2021, www.masterclass.com/articles/indie-rock-music-guide.

Timberg, Scott. “The Life and Death of the Indie-Rock Heyday.” Vox, Vox, 25 Oct. 2017, www.vox.com/culture/2017/10/25/16070928/peak-indie-rock-1997.

“What Is Folk Music? Characteristics, Artists & Examples.” Promusicianhub.com, 4 Nov. 2021, promusicianhub.com/what-is-folk-music/#:~:text=For%20instance%2C%20traditional%20American%20folk%20music%20has%20the. Accessed 31 Mar. 2023.

Gender roles in Music

Gender roles in Music: Romania

(https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Inside+gender+domination+in+Romanian+contemporary+Gipsy+songs.-a0397454310)

(https://eige.europa.eu/gender-equality-index/2022/country/RO)

    Romani people originated in northern India and now live in Europe. Roma society is largely patriarchal, with men and women having distinct gender roles. Women mostly handle childcare and housework. Women are seen as inferior to men and Romania only scores 53.7 out of 100 points in EIGE's Gender Equality Index in 2022. A 100 means that the country has reached full equality between men and women. This patriarchal society also applies to their music. Specifically, I want to take a look at some contemporary Gipsy (Romani music) songs. This is a popular and widespread form of music in Romania.

    In Romania, men govern the music scene, where their perceptions, attitudes, and biases may be amplified and passed on to the rest of society. Women are often permitted to project the image that men have constructed for them, doing and saying what men want or want them to. Typically, women are projected as highly decorative and mostly seen as sexual objects. Men write, direct, produce, and advertise the majority of the cultural items they present to the public. Only independent female performers, such as Carmen Serban, who performs her own songs, take a feminine perspective. Roughly 90% of songs written are done so by men.

Gender roles in Music: US

(https://annenberg.usc.edu/news/research/women-music-climbing-charts-equality-slow-process#:~:text=In%202022%2C%2030%25%20of%20artists,to%20every%201%20female%20artist.)

https://annenberg.usc.edu/news/research/women-music-climbing-charts-equality-slow-process#:~:text=In%202022%2C%2030%25%20of%20artists,to%20every%201%20female%20artist.

     There are 3.5 male artists for every female artist in America. In 2022, 30% of artists on the Billboard Hot 100 Year-End Chart were female, a rise from 23.3% in 2021.  While this isn't nearly an equal chance for women in the music industry, it is significantly above what Romanian women face. The US has a score of about 78 compared to Romania's score of 53 on gender equality. Songwriting in the US is a male-dominated field with the number of women in the industry actually decreasing from 2021 to 2022. The article also states that many songs that have women contributing do not list their contributions. Another area of struggle is producers. Only 3.4 of producers were women in 2022. 

Gender roles in Music: India

(https://www.unicef.org/india/what-we-do/gender-equality)

(https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/music/music-events/theres-no-gender-discrimination-in-indian-classical-music-aditya-kalyanpur/articleshow/68300766.cms)

    On a lighter note, India. Different genders present different roles in India. Gender roles play a large part in which careers you can pursue due to "deeply entrenched patriarchal views, norms, traditions, and structures." This is true for almost every industry other than Indian Classical Music. Aditya states that "Artistes have survived only on the basis of their merit. In fact, even the thought of treating anyway differently based on gender, case, community, or religion never arises."

Hawaiian Music and Rituals

     In their ancestors' worldview, the divine is everywhere, and everything is divine; this notion is known as Kino Lau. This has greatly affected their rituals as they see all natural phenomena, objects, and creatures, as bodily forms assumed by nature gods or nature spirits. Interacting with the gods is the purpose of most ancient rituals. There were hundreds of rites and ceremonies in Ancient Hawaii. These ceremonies would spiritually unite the people to their most holy deities and ancestral spirits. Hula Dances are commonly performed alongside these rituals along with traditional music/chants.

Aia la o Pele (Aia lā ‘o Pele i Hawai‘i - Ka‘iwakīloumoku - Hawaiian Cultural Center (ksbe.edu))

    This is traditionally a chant whose phases would be repeated for hours at a time. The chant itself describes Pele (Goddess of Fire and Volcanoes). It expresses their love for her and for the land that they owe to her. The chant is built with neat, evenly phrased verses of two lines each. The hula, an ancient and sacred form of expression that unites the dancer with the divine, is typically performed alongside a chant and percussion instruments. 

Kumulipo (The Kumulipo: The Ancient Hawaiian Creation Legend | Self-Guided Audio Tours (shakaguide.com)

    The Kumulipo is a lengthy chant that depicts the ancient Hawaiian's account of creation. It is a record of the Hawaiian world's beginnings. For years, it has been preserved and passed down verbally. The chant can be used for celebrations or to teach young children about their ancestors. This music's purpose is not to dance to or play instruments with, but simply a teaching tool.

    In modern times marriage is a major ceremony in Hawaii in which everyone in the community participates. 

Marriage Rituals

Hawaiian Wedding Traditions - Ancient Hawaiian Weddings

    Several distinctive components of a Hawaiian wedding pay respect to traditional Hawaiian customs and honor the spirit of Aloha. A major part of the wedding ceremony is the
Oli Aloha, a chant meant to prepare the space for blessings and to welcome the happy couple and their guests. (Skip to 6 minutes in)

 

    A popular wedding song is Ke Kali Nei Au, typically played during the first dance. It is typically played using ukuleles and slack-key guitars. This is a more modern piece of music and was adapted from a song written by Charles E. King.

     A Dance of the hula is typically performed in the wedding ritual, this hula can be performed in many ways such as in the form of a bride performing for her husband or as a hula dancer's tribute to the pair. The dance is seen as a blessing for aloha pau'ole, (your enduring love). Many pieces of music can be played for this hula, Ke Kali Nei Au being one of them. Typically, the music played involves ukuleles and slack-key guitars with singing in the native language.

more sources

Kino Lau | Hawaiian Lore | Makahiki | Hawaiian Gods (mauimagazine.net)

Aloha Spirit 101: An Intro to Hawaiian Wedding Traditions - mywedding

Hula | Definition, Traditions, Importance, & Facts | Britannica