| Kirsten Starcher |   |
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To me “indie” and “DIY” are nearly synonymous. “Indie” implies that you’re not going into the music world expecting a big record deal, or making a hit pop album, or writing music according to a formula. It’s about seeing what you have to do to reach the next level, and doing it. You’re not waiting for a knight-in-shining-armour to come along with a big advance and make you a star. You’d rather do things on your own terms – maybe a little bit slower, maybe more thoughtfully – and retain more creative control. The indie path is no longer unusual – when you’re an emerging band, no label, manager or booking agent is going to take a chance on you until you’ve shown that you understand the business. By the time many bands learn this, they’ve either learned how to survive in the system without outside support, or they’ve given up.
But much like the word “alternative” was once used to refer to music that didn’t get play on mainstream radio and is now used to describe Nickelback, I’ve noticed that “indie” is starting to refer to the style of music that’s often associated with today’s independent scene – organic, acoustic-based rock played by hipster guys with thick beards and skinny-leg jeans. So I’m not sure what we’re going to use any more to describe the DIY ethic in music, once the word “indie” is lost forevermore. “Self-sufficient” just doesn’t have the same ring to it. “Selfies” maybe? Naah. |
