The rock and roll mentality
There is a lot of talk about what constitutes an Indie band, but the one constant is the determination and hard work of the DYI generation. His numbers are uncountable and his fans are fiercely loyal.
In today’s music world, you can’t just be a “pretty face” with the ability to sing, DYI bands must have a business sense that rivals many CEOs. For an independent band to be successful, they first write, produce and perform all of their own songs; then they record, distribute and promote themselves. Once completed, they book their own shows and tours; they often travel with another band doing the same for themselves.
The genre encompasses an endless list of musical styles; Rock-a-Billy, Indie Dance, Horror Rock, Punk, Southern Rock, Irish Punk, and Gypsy Punk, to name a few; with a multitude of subgenres. Each sector has its own sound and style with a unique mix of rhythm and lyrics.
The most popular or well-known Indie bands qualify for the title because they create their own record companies rather than signing with the more traditional studios, allowing them to have full control of their music and the evolution of style and sound.
In a resentful interview, I asked a group of very talented guys why they are still DYI, knowing that they had been offered recording contracts with major labels, the answer I got was the following;
“I would say that the most important reason our band is independent is that it is the only way to be constantly evolving! With no end to our timeline in sight, the challenge is apparently our bands best friend. , but it can also be our worst enemy at the same time.
We have noticed that most record labels start with a ‘development agreement’, which covers the fundamentals, in general: style, online presence, brand logo, street promotion, etc.
Our band chose a long time ago to develop over time, and it wasn’t just to “stay in full control”. Having an associated entity like a label or an investor is not always a bad thing. They (should, anyway) open exponential doors of opportunity for a band, giving them the opportunity to explore possibility after possibility. We represent ourselves in all respects, in the hope that through our hard work, we will find more people who can help us gain experiences that we could not provide ourselves. We plow our own field, so to speak, so that we only reap what we sow. The second we stop perpetually ‘planting seeds’ is the moment our band ceases to exist. The term “DIY” speaks loud and true to us.
Our band’s golden rule has always been “If you want something done right, you must do it yourself“Our band exists because we love music, hard work, and genuine performance with no rules or regulations to break.”
I find this mindset to be true in interview after interview with these self-made musicians. Wanting to evolve and grow with the music they share and learn from each other seems to be a driving force for them. They keep what they do close to their heart, and they do it for more reasons than just a paycheck.
Bands that play for today’s fans have an advantage that the pioneers did not have; They use technology to reach out to a broader listening base. By using social media such as My Space, Facebook, and You Tube, fans can cross-reference each other with bands of the same style. Entire websites are dedicated to linking musicians with fans, with forums to upload their music or videos for everyone to enjoy.
Wikipedia lists, on the home page, more than a thousand names. The site is listed by decade and offers the history of the field, starting as 1967 with Velvet Undergrounds’ self-titled debut album. The trend has advanced throughout each decade and has grown with the sounds of today.
As I move through this part of the entertainment world, I can’t help but admire each group for the sacrifice and dedication they bring to their work. I wish you all luck and success … let’s go porty! {not misspelled, just pronounced like this}.
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