Indie is a term used to describe Independent music. It is music that is less commercial and generally has a more unique sound but will sometimes end up sounding like other indie bands. Now most people on here are basically using bands like Arcade Fire, The Shins, ect. to describe Indie music. However the word indie means much more than alt rock, and basically includes like a million subgenres.
Indie can be rap.
Indie can be folk (it is a lot of the time).
Indie can be pop.
Indie is often international music.
INDIE IS NOT JUST ALTERNATIVE ROCK. Unless you are referring to mainstream "indie" bands. Then usually they will be.
Indie can be rap.
Indie can be folk (it is a lot of the time).
Indie can be pop.
Indie is often international music.
INDIE IS NOT JUST ALTERNATIVE ROCK. Unless you are referring to mainstream "indie" bands. Then usually they will be.
Kid #1: Well what bands do you like?
Indie kid: The Vaselines, Belaire, Suburban Kids with Biblical Names, Aesop Rock, Devendra Banhart a lot of random indie shit.
Kid #1: Indie? Oh like The Arctic Monkeys right???
Indie kid: No.
Indie kid: The Vaselines, Belaire, Suburban Kids with Biblical Names, Aesop Rock, Devendra Banhart a lot of random indie shit.
Kid #1: Indie? Oh like The Arctic Monkeys right???
Indie kid: No.
by Brooke R. January 14, 2008
Get the Indiemug. Mainly consisting of high school and college students, Indie is a current and very popular social group among the unpopular social groups.
Usually characterized by local or obscure music, eclectic clothing from thrift stores or the nearest Urban Outfitters, and constant bickering between one another on which bands are becoming too mainstream.
If you are considering becoming an indie kid, be prepared for many long arguments over various books, movies, music, paintings, and obscure pop culture icons between other members in the group. Oh, and be prepared for hearing loss, as you will be expected to attend many local shows and concerts.
Usually characterized by local or obscure music, eclectic clothing from thrift stores or the nearest Urban Outfitters, and constant bickering between one another on which bands are becoming too mainstream.
If you are considering becoming an indie kid, be prepared for many long arguments over various books, movies, music, paintings, and obscure pop culture icons between other members in the group. Oh, and be prepared for hearing loss, as you will be expected to attend many local shows and concerts.
"Hey Jane, how was the Cavil At Rest show last night?"
"It was good, but their newest song sounds so mainstream,, Like they are changing their sound so they will get a record deal"
"Isn't that a good thing though? I mean, doesn't every band hope for a record deal?"
"Not Indie. Its about the music, not the fame."
"It was good, but their newest song sounds so mainstream,, Like they are changing their sound so they will get a record deal"
"Isn't that a good thing though? I mean, doesn't every band hope for a record deal?"
"Not Indie. Its about the music, not the fame."
by Ms. Gina August 19, 2006
Get the Indiemug. A misnomer for a particular style of music. It formerly was used to correctly classify music that was "underground" and not supported by major music labels. Popular thought in recent years has been that it is itself a style of music, usually 80's throwback, alternitive-style music.
Any band in any style of music can be indie by virtue of not being signed.The style is not important; it is independence from major labels that makes a band independent, or "indie". This idea has been lost due to the popularity of the term indie as it is used today.
The reason it became so popular is because to like indie music, in its correct sense, was respectable because you're bypassing the corporate music machine and finding music that you like on your own. As more and more hipster-type kids wanted to appear as deep as possible, they would answer the question "What kind of music do you like?" with "Indie." As time went on, this answer became so popular that the music that many of them listened to started to be referred to as indie. After a while of this, bands that are on major labels started to be absorbed into this pseudo-genre, rendering it an oxymoron.
Since the loosely associated music that is referred to as indie cannot properly be grouped and classified, a more appropriate label for what is erroneously referred to as indie would be "scene." The scene kids are often more concerned with being opinionated and elitist about their music choice than they are about the music itself. Scene fashion trends include tight pants, square-rimmed glasses, tight vintage-looking t-shirts, newsboy caps, military-style caps, and tattoos of stars, guns or bullets, and especially birds. Making the "scene" (i.e. a concert),being popular, and being narcissistic are the main motivations of scene kids. They often do their best to display that they possess these qualities on social networking sites like MySpace.
Any band in any style of music can be indie by virtue of not being signed.The style is not important; it is independence from major labels that makes a band independent, or "indie". This idea has been lost due to the popularity of the term indie as it is used today.
The reason it became so popular is because to like indie music, in its correct sense, was respectable because you're bypassing the corporate music machine and finding music that you like on your own. As more and more hipster-type kids wanted to appear as deep as possible, they would answer the question "What kind of music do you like?" with "Indie." As time went on, this answer became so popular that the music that many of them listened to started to be referred to as indie. After a while of this, bands that are on major labels started to be absorbed into this pseudo-genre, rendering it an oxymoron.
Since the loosely associated music that is referred to as indie cannot properly be grouped and classified, a more appropriate label for what is erroneously referred to as indie would be "scene." The scene kids are often more concerned with being opinionated and elitist about their music choice than they are about the music itself. Scene fashion trends include tight pants, square-rimmed glasses, tight vintage-looking t-shirts, newsboy caps, military-style caps, and tattoos of stars, guns or bullets, and especially birds. Making the "scene" (i.e. a concert),being popular, and being narcissistic are the main motivations of scene kids. They often do their best to display that they possess these qualities on social networking sites like MySpace.
Jim: You should check out this band.
Frank: Oh yeah? What kind of music are they?
Jim: Indie.
Frank: OK, so they're not signed... I mean what genre are they?
Jim: Dude, I told you. Indie.
Frank: You're such a tool.
Billy: Oasis is like, the coolest indie band ever.
Mark: Man, you are totally clueless.
Billy: Please. Music is my life. I would die without music. My taste is superb. How dare you criticize me?
Mark: Wow. You're hopeless. I'm leaving.
Billy: Good. I have to blog about how awesome the concert I went to last night was and post the 30 pictures I took of myself there on MySpace.
Frank: Oh yeah? What kind of music are they?
Jim: Indie.
Frank: OK, so they're not signed... I mean what genre are they?
Jim: Dude, I told you. Indie.
Frank: You're such a tool.
Billy: Oasis is like, the coolest indie band ever.
Mark: Man, you are totally clueless.
Billy: Please. Music is my life. I would die without music. My taste is superb. How dare you criticize me?
Mark: Wow. You're hopeless. I'm leaving.
Billy: Good. I have to blog about how awesome the concert I went to last night was and post the 30 pictures I took of myself there on MySpace.
by SmashCrab March 12, 2008
Get the Indiemug. 1. A term used to describe a band/artist/etc. who does not belong to a big name record label, or no label at all. Though all these shitheads who put definitions here years ago all talk about a relation between "Emo" and "Shit rock music" they are wrong. Indie is not only rock. For every genre of music there is, there is an underground ('Indie', for people who can't keep up) scene behind it. Indie could also refer to the indie culture around it. As much as people want to swear up and down against labeling and the such, it just is what it is. There *is* an indie culture in lingo, interests, CLOTHES, etc. Many people like to spot an "Indie Kid" as anyone in their teens to mid twenties:
-wearing faded skinny jeans
-scruffy hair
-a cardigan, military jacket, pea coat, etc.
-wearing boots all the time
-walk around with an ironic expression on their face
-drink. And then drink some more.
Those are just some of the things a "typical" indie kid would wear or do.
Additional Information; Hipsters are the ones who are somewhat hard to tell apart. Hipsters may look and dress like an Indie Kid, but are somehow different. They may even listen to the same music as Indie Kids, but apparently they are still different.
Hipsters are normally the ones who are just about as indie as Indie Kids except for perhaps one thing (which takes away their indie title): Listening to mainstream.
That's it. Listening to the occasional mainstream.
-wearing faded skinny jeans
-scruffy hair
-a cardigan, military jacket, pea coat, etc.
-wearing boots all the time
-walk around with an ironic expression on their face
-drink. And then drink some more.
Those are just some of the things a "typical" indie kid would wear or do.
Additional Information; Hipsters are the ones who are somewhat hard to tell apart. Hipsters may look and dress like an Indie Kid, but are somehow different. They may even listen to the same music as Indie Kids, but apparently they are still different.
Hipsters are normally the ones who are just about as indie as Indie Kids except for perhaps one thing (which takes away their indie title): Listening to mainstream.
That's it. Listening to the occasional mainstream.
Indie Kid #1: Oh yeah, I love the Teenagers, incredible stuff there.
Hipster #1: Yeah the Teenagers are great! I like the Kooks as well...
Uptight Indie Kid #1: The Kooks aren't "indie" anymore (scrunched look). Thinks: (Silly hipster girl)
"Hipster" #1: Yeah and? Are you one of those indie kids who have serious issues against mainstream?
Indie Kid #2 (who is much cooler): Yes, yes he is. C'mon, you wanna go to a Hadouken! gig with me? Tomorrow we can go to the Teenagers show. *friendly smile*
Uptight Indie Kid #1: Oooh! Can I come to the Teenagers show with you guys!?
Indie Kid #2: No.
Hipster #1: Yeah the Teenagers are great! I like the Kooks as well...
Uptight Indie Kid #1: The Kooks aren't "indie" anymore (scrunched look). Thinks: (Silly hipster girl)
"Hipster" #1: Yeah and? Are you one of those indie kids who have serious issues against mainstream?
Indie Kid #2 (who is much cooler): Yes, yes he is. C'mon, you wanna go to a Hadouken! gig with me? Tomorrow we can go to the Teenagers show. *friendly smile*
Uptight Indie Kid #1: Oooh! Can I come to the Teenagers show with you guys!?
Indie Kid #2: No.
by HipsterIndieWhateverGirl July 8, 2010
Get the Indiemug. An indie will never tag themself as indie but will reiceve the tag from the people and peers around them.it's about being yourself.
It isn't a trend, it's a way. Your just like that. An indie has their style and no matter how much copperates target wannabes. Wannabe can never be indie because indie means independant / not mainstream -completly different to sell out "indie" stuff like (vans and pennyboards).
Taste:
-Indies are indie because of their taste in music. It also sets out the real indies from the fake. Their taste is alternative and indie.
-The Arts are a big part of indie life.
-Indies dont mind what other people think of them. But they still try to look good/presentable.
- They have vintage looking taste and will stay away from mainstream trends.
- The reason i don't list what clothes they wear is because only wannabe indies would care.
Big mistake people make:
- Indies think they are more superior then everyone else. They don't think that they look like that because they don't respond to the glares of judgement from the scene.
-Indies hate all mainstream music. They will mostly stay away from it but may sometime enjoy a song in the top 40. What they hate is cooperates selling bands advertising them as mainstream.
-Indies are Emo, this one will probably piss an indie off the most. Emos basically stole the indie look and made it all black.
It isn't a trend, it's a way. Your just like that. An indie has their style and no matter how much copperates target wannabes. Wannabe can never be indie because indie means independant / not mainstream -completly different to sell out "indie" stuff like (vans and pennyboards).
Taste:
-Indies are indie because of their taste in music. It also sets out the real indies from the fake. Their taste is alternative and indie.
-The Arts are a big part of indie life.
-Indies dont mind what other people think of them. But they still try to look good/presentable.
- They have vintage looking taste and will stay away from mainstream trends.
- The reason i don't list what clothes they wear is because only wannabe indies would care.
Big mistake people make:
- Indies think they are more superior then everyone else. They don't think that they look like that because they don't respond to the glares of judgement from the scene.
-Indies hate all mainstream music. They will mostly stay away from it but may sometime enjoy a song in the top 40. What they hate is cooperates selling bands advertising them as mainstream.
-Indies are Emo, this one will probably piss an indie off the most. Emos basically stole the indie look and made it all black.
Indies dont mind what other people think of them. But they still try to look good/presentable.
~Wannabe indie: Wakes up with bed hair goes out in public
~Indie Guy: wakes up combs hair, styles it to look like bed hair.
~ Wannabe indie (tries to be indie): I'm so indie i got some vans and downloaded snow patrol they so rule.
~ Indie: You could never be indie because indie can't be bought.
~Wannabe Indie: Goes on the internet to see what a indies wears so they could go to school thinking their indie.
~ Wannabe Girl Indie: Im so indie i like love the indie music and the pennyobards are so cool like thats sooo indie. Indie like totally rule. Ekkkkkkkk
~ Indie Girl: You could never be an indie even if your life depended on it. No website on the world would tell you how to be indie.
Call yourself Indie. Your not indie if you do that. If you think you need to do that for people to think your "cool" then you are a wannabe indie.
~Wannabe indie: Wakes up with bed hair goes out in public
~Indie Guy: wakes up combs hair, styles it to look like bed hair.
~ Wannabe indie (tries to be indie): I'm so indie i got some vans and downloaded snow patrol they so rule.
~ Indie: You could never be indie because indie can't be bought.
~Wannabe Indie: Goes on the internet to see what a indies wears so they could go to school thinking their indie.
~ Wannabe Girl Indie: Im so indie i like love the indie music and the pennyobards are so cool like thats sooo indie. Indie like totally rule. Ekkkkkkkk
~ Indie Girl: You could never be an indie even if your life depended on it. No website on the world would tell you how to be indie.
Call yourself Indie. Your not indie if you do that. If you think you need to do that for people to think your "cool" then you are a wannabe indie.
by Case study: Indie May 31, 2012
Get the Indiemug. the art of pretending to be a professional photographer, photos of converses & derelict buildings on your social site is a must.
The art of listening to such obscure bands that the next step in Indieness is listening to non-existence itself, Very few have acheived this.
The art of drinking starbucks & once that becomes mainstream home-growing your own organic coffee beans.
The art of extreme self-denial, A true indie must learn to let go of his or her favourite obscure band once they cross into being a well known band & then rant at how they sold out from their roots.
The art of feigning intelligence, To be a real indie one must watch foreign independent films, possess but not necessarily read or understand influential books (see Ulysses/Walden/Communist manifesto & others) & be able to act intelligent on a subject for a minimum of five minutes over a cup of coffee before your true knowledge on the topic is shown to be extremely limited & flawed
The ultimate paradox, of claiming to be unique & not following trends. Yet then adhering to the above statements
The art of listening to such obscure bands that the next step in Indieness is listening to non-existence itself, Very few have acheived this.
The art of drinking starbucks & once that becomes mainstream home-growing your own organic coffee beans.
The art of extreme self-denial, A true indie must learn to let go of his or her favourite obscure band once they cross into being a well known band & then rant at how they sold out from their roots.
The art of feigning intelligence, To be a real indie one must watch foreign independent films, possess but not necessarily read or understand influential books (see Ulysses/Walden/Communist manifesto & others) & be able to act intelligent on a subject for a minimum of five minutes over a cup of coffee before your true knowledge on the topic is shown to be extremely limited & flawed
The ultimate paradox, of claiming to be unique & not following trends. Yet then adhering to the above statements
If you were really Indie you'd piss in your bed & not the toilet, cause you know toilets are SOOO mainstream
How many indies does it take to change a lightbulb? Hint: its some really obscure number you've probably never heard of
How many indies does it take to change a lightbulb? Hint: its some really obscure number you've probably never heard of
by dumguy1&dumguy2 June 16, 2011
Get the Indiemug. is another soicial class like chav, goth, emo ect..
people who are indie are not trying to follow along with any fasions or trends, they where whatever they like, they dont take any shit from anyone, unlike most goths, emos and chavs which are all trying to be somthing and have a false personality covered in crap, indie people just do what they want when they want, no this dose not include people trying to make a political statement by wearing a pink shirt to school. Indie people are often cool too, and would not be embarresed like most people today by there parents and own personal intrests.
people who are indie are not trying to follow along with any fasions or trends, they where whatever they like, they dont take any shit from anyone, unlike most goths, emos and chavs which are all trying to be somthing and have a false personality covered in crap, indie people just do what they want when they want, no this dose not include people trying to make a political statement by wearing a pink shirt to school. Indie people are often cool too, and would not be embarresed like most people today by there parents and own personal intrests.
CoolKid1:My parents wouldent mind if any one drank a few bottles of booze and passed out at my house, they dont give a shit to what i do.
CoolKid2: Yeah my parents too.
CoolKid3: Yeah my Parents let me have parys with loads of beer too whenever i want them, and they dont care what happens.
IndieKid:
Well if it was my parents they would call an ambualnce if someone passed out from drinking too much.
---------------------------------------
CoolKid1:
Starwars is so gay, im glad i never liked it
CoolKid2:
Yeah me too, never even see them
CoolKid3:
Yeah only nerds are into that stuff, i dont even know why they bother making it, no one ever watches it.
indieKid:
I used to be into the star wars films a few years ago, i kind of went off it though as i was disapointed with the newer films. anyway i prefer more realistic films.
---------------------------------------
IndieKid:
I hate those fucking emos, no one wants to here how there lives are so "shit", or why they need sympathy. I used to have a friend who went Emo, he still has the same personality but it is coverd in all that emo shit, so i cant even talk to him now without hearing about how his life sucks and how he is so depressed.
---------------------------------------
Chav:
Oi nob'ed, ah ah ah, nice trousers, stitch it up mate ah ah.
(trousers have hole in the crotch)
IndieKid:
Nice Face Faggot, do you rub greese into it to help the fungus grow?
*Chav walks off insulted
CoolKid2: Yeah my parents too.
CoolKid3: Yeah my Parents let me have parys with loads of beer too whenever i want them, and they dont care what happens.
IndieKid:
Well if it was my parents they would call an ambualnce if someone passed out from drinking too much.
---------------------------------------
CoolKid1:
Starwars is so gay, im glad i never liked it
CoolKid2:
Yeah me too, never even see them
CoolKid3:
Yeah only nerds are into that stuff, i dont even know why they bother making it, no one ever watches it.
indieKid:
I used to be into the star wars films a few years ago, i kind of went off it though as i was disapointed with the newer films. anyway i prefer more realistic films.
---------------------------------------
IndieKid:
I hate those fucking emos, no one wants to here how there lives are so "shit", or why they need sympathy. I used to have a friend who went Emo, he still has the same personality but it is coverd in all that emo shit, so i cant even talk to him now without hearing about how his life sucks and how he is so depressed.
---------------------------------------
Chav:
Oi nob'ed, ah ah ah, nice trousers, stitch it up mate ah ah.
(trousers have hole in the crotch)
IndieKid:
Nice Face Faggot, do you rub greese into it to help the fungus grow?
*Chav walks off insulted
by Liam archwrite July 29, 2005
Get the Indiemug.