What is Indie Rock, Anyway?
Trying to define the term is like spiralling down a black hole.
The origins of the term indie rock can be traced back to the US, as well as the UK underground scene in the mid-80’s, where it was once defined as independently released music that was produced outside the major-label system. The dead-pan, poetic lyrics from the The Smiths were the antithesis to manufactured pop when they flourished the scene, and according to Johnny Marr:
“We invented indie as we still know it.”
In recent times — despite the once independently labeled bands such as The Pixies, Sonic Youth, and Dinosaur Jr finding commercial success, artists still consider themselves under the indie umbrella. Although the term is not definitive as it once was, it still associates itself with an attitude that is independent, authentic, and generally resisting against the mainstream culture. Both the US and the UK scene have been an influential part amongst today’s Canadian indie artists — including Broken Social Scene, Metric, and Feist.
Feist, who is known as a Canadian singer-songwriter that is part of Broken Social Scene, found success after her album The Reminder came on the scene. While she is known for selling out arenas and receiving multiple Grammy nominations, this is what she had…
