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The
key word to describe today's genre is independent. Even its name,
Indie, comes from this word! But independent from what exactly? Who's
it made by and who does this inspirational music inspire? Find out
here with the help of our expert guest, some fans and Katrina Leskanich,
best known as the front person of the Eurovision Song Contest winning
act Katrina and The Waves. |
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 Listen
to Karen Childs, who runs a public relations company called 'Razzle'.
The company specializes in Indie bands. As you listen, try to answer
these questions: Does Indie music have its own distinctive type of
sound? How difficult is it to create your own Indie label? Who are
the listeners and why do they find Indie appealing? |
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What
does Indie sound like?
There is no such thing as an Indie sound. It can cover anything, all
sorts of music. And it really covers a multitude of styles musically,
from dance to hip-hop, to guitar music. All sorts of instruments…
you know, instrumentals, vocalists. It covers a multitude of things.
Indie is more of an attitude. Giving people a choice to share inspirational
music. It comes from reacting against mainstream music and major record
labels and providing an alternative for people.
How do you set up an Indie label?
You could set up an Indie label just from your bedroom, say. You could
have full-time job, or you could be funded. But it's people who aren't
necessarily related to bigger labels and haven't got major funding,
that can set up an alternative label and just provide a choice for
people. And it can be done by, say, one person, or it can be done
by a team of 5 or 6. It can grow into something bigger. You could
take a band who have recently broken through called Coldplay. A year
ago a lot of people saw them as an Indie band. They're guitar... quite
guitar-based. They were touring, you know, tiny venues across the
UK. A year later, they've now got a Number One album and they're pretty
huge.
Who are the listeners?
Indie music appeals to a wide range of people, from young teenagers
to middle aged people, who, you know, probably helped make Coldplay
a Number One album. I think the artistes on independent labels that
we've talked about are allowed to be more creative. They're offering
something slightly exciting. They're not under pressure to churn out
hits necessarily, or to get into the Top Twenty. So, for some people
it makes for a more pleasurable experience. I think that's a big appeal. |
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Colin
Babb talks to Indie fans outside the club 'Supermarket' in North London |
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'Hi, this
is Colin Babb again and this is The Music Directory and we're outside
the 'Supermarket' club, which is in Camden in North London. It's a
venue where a lot of Indie bands play. Particularly young and up-and-coming
Indie bands. There's a good crowd outside waiting to come and see
the bands tonight. They look very enthusiastic and keen and ready
to see what's going on and I'm going to ask them a few questions about
what they feel about the music they're going to see tonight - and
about Indie music in general. So, once I get a bit nearer to the crowd
outside - and there's a lot of people - we'll start talking...'
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As
you listen to Colin's interviewees, see if you can spot the key
words and expressions people use to talk about Indie |
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