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Undertow, Overhead

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"Indie? What's That?" A short essay discussing Indie Culture by Drake Cortis

The term “indie” (meaning independent) is one that gets thrown around a lot these days when describing a multitude of things. As a result, it is easy for its meaning to become blurred. In a musical context the term originally referred to a musician or musicians who operated without major corporate funding. Though still relevant, that term has since evolved to define an entire artistic youth sub culture spanning several countries including the United States, Canada, and much of Europe. This sub culture revolves around film, hand made art, music, and hipsters who like to hang out in coffee shops. It is a term that many youngsters in particular can easily identify with; whether independent from your parents for the first time, or independent in your ways of thinking and relating to the world, this term has become a popular tool in terms of self expression; allowing individuals to fit into a particular social niche with which they identify. In that context alone, it is very likely a fad whose time will run out.

However, in my opinion, some of the best music being created today can most accurately be described as indie rock and/or pop music. But how do you know what qualifies as falling under this relative umbrella term? Though much is up for debate, what is certain is that whether you are trying to categorize a musician’s entire catalogue or simply one song, there must be present key musical characteristics definitive of the genre(s) in which you are trying to compare them or it to. As I said, those ingredients are fairly relative. However, I believe that another equally important aspect of the indie music genres is constantly being overlooked - that is what the term “indie” has come to represent socially; an independent way of thinking, independent of the hordes of people who latch onto the title as a means to be different in a culture full of people trying to be exactly the same so as not to stand out, creating an oxymoron in the process. Some of the more well known acts under the broad indie pop/rock spectrum are bands like Death Cab For Cutie, Beach House, and Metric. They display a melodic, emotional, introspective and intelligent sound indicative of much of the music commonly referred to under this title. Let us keep in mind that all of these bands are presently signed to record labels, making them the antithesis of what the term originally meant when referring to musicians.

My only advice to young people today regarding the topic of music and art scenes is this: don't let a label define who you are and how you live your life. Do what you want to do because it is what you want for yourself. You will never be happy trying to live by any art community's ideals simply for the purposes of trying to fit in and impress people. Overall, scenes aren't as open minded as you'd think.

To provide people with an accurate description of Dead Nouveau’s music, I frequently use the term indie pop/rock. I have always disliked labels for various reasons but they seem to be something that we as humans need as a means to identify with. I for one don’t seem to identify Dead Nouveau’s music as appropriately belonging to any particular musical scene but if it helps us be heard by you, I am proud to be called an “indie” musician, whatever that means. 

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Summer’s last breath (by Sebby)

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"We are the new dead...Dead Nouveau."

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Interview on 100.9 MyFM

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The Bed That You Lay On (Live at the Shelter Valley Folk Festival)

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Brother (Live at the Shelter Valley Folk Festival)

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Skylight Song

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Circulation

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Lullaby Over Brooklyn

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Running Coyote

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Hypnothermia

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Brother

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Bohemian Blue