Introduction:
Independent music or famously known as ‘Indie’ music, is used as the term to describe the independence of music from major commercial record labels. These groups are mostly autonomous, self made and more precisely are pioneers. The people from this "Indie" class do everything on their own in recording, publishing and performances. Indie groups are usually not interested in taking help of any big names from Music Industry.
Birth of an Indie Music Band:
The history of Indie Music dates long back in 1960’s. The format of the music then was pop, rock and roll and a slight dash of R&B. The lyrics of the songs was inspired by peace, love and anti-war thoughts. There immerged some bands like "Velvet Underground". This was the band which could be considered as a real "Indie" band. They did everything regarding their album all on their own and created a difference in traditional music. They created songs comprising of almost everything belonging to that time. They tried the new style which was not tried by any other group. Unfortunately, the "Velvet Underground" band sold very few records of them. Even though the musicians are generating various kinds of music today, they are still amazed with the creation of "Velvet Underground".
In the era of 1970 more experimented music originated. There were numerous groups which tried diversity in music and immerged as music bands. One more new form of music aroused during this period named as "Progressive Rock". The music was distinct from hard rock of Beatles and soft music in 1960’s. This was the base of electronic instrumental era that took place in 1990. Music bands like Sire Records and Stiff Records were the most popular that time, which invented "New Wave" form of music.
Indie music took a stiff growth in 1980s. In this period a new form of music immerged known as "alternative music", which was a group formed out of distortion of garage bands. In 1990 the Indie music changed its face. The music was more promising and a missing link between modern music. The commercialization of these pioneers was on a high and they seem to be tied up with major labels than their own Indie labels. The Indie fans got upset with this. Soon the picture changed at the end of 1990s and Indie music got its original identity once again.
The Rock Music is a type of popular music accompanied by vocal melody that is prominent, with instruments like guitar, drums and bass. There are different styles of rock music and according to their type the other instruments vary. Keyboard instruments such as organ, piano or synthesizers are found in rock music. It usually has a strong back beat, and has more of electric or acoustic guitar.
Rock music is traced back to 1950’s era of Rock and Roll and Rockabilly. The different kinds of rock music started in the 1960’s with the folk music blending with rock to form a new category called folk rock. Likewise rock was mixed with blues to create blues rock, with jazz to get jazz-rock fusion and psychedelic rock which has proved to be a hit over time. Rock was introduced to soul, funk and Latin music in the 1970s. After this another set of different styles of rock came out like soft rock, hard rock, progressive rock, heavy metal and punk rock. In the 1980s glam metal, synth- rock, thrash metal, hardcore punk, and alternative rock. Grunge – style rock , Britpop, Indie rock, piano rock, and nu metal.
Elvis Presley, Bill Haley and the Comets, Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash are the few who started off the Rock and Roll music trend. In the United Kingdom this was started by John Lennon’s The Quarry Men. "Move It" was one of the first British rock ‘n roll hits which was by Cliff Richard.
The total new style of rock called the pop punk rock acme into being with the entry of Kurt Cobain and his band called Nirvana. The other bands which went on to make this type of music and made it big in the music industry are Green Day, The Offsprings, Sum 41 and blink -182. The style of rock music that became very famous among the young crowd recently is nu metal. The bands which have established themselves in this type of rock music are Red Hot Chili Pepper, P.O.D., Korn, Deftones, Linkin Park and Limp Bizkit.
Music is probably as old as humanity is or even older than that. Humans have a special empathy for music, which explains why a dose of genuinely melodious piece of music can refresh a person far more than any known artificial refreshing drink.
Music 4 Youth is a Driffield based organization that is unique in that it offers an opportunity to aspiring musicians to test their talents and abilities and to develop a sense of music performance in a real life setting. Chris Pittaway, chair of Music 4 Youth, said that it was vital for young people to chance their arm at playing on stage. Since its inception, about a year ago, Music 4 Youth has aided many a band to grow and improve. True to its objective, the organization imposes only one condition – that the band members should be on the younger side of 19. This weekend many youth bands will play live at The Tribfest – a music festival meant for all the seasoned campaigners as well as those who are picking up their favorite instrument for the first time. The bands selected to perform here have been selected by this rookie inspiring organization. Some of the Driffield based bands set to perform at the Tribfest are Edmund Kemper, Spacegrace, Parkmoor and Upon Dying Skies along with 14 other young bands from across East Riding. Among these, Edmund Kemper deserves a special mention and in the words of Chris Pittaway, the band has been really spreading its wings and has already performed in York and Grimsby. He also mentioned that the band has put a CD together and won the Battle of the Bands. Mr. Pittaway further mentioned that he was quite confident that the bands in the program would put up a good show even though some of them were taking to the stage for the first time and many had not worked before with Music 4 Youth.
One of the first, and probably the most difficult, problems faced by artists is to get that one break which will launch them at the center stage. The Herculean task is converted into a cakewalk by Music 4 Youth and if the organization continues to grow so will the hopes of the rookies.
Anthony Wilson, the Manchester musical legend and the founder of Factory Records died on the 10th of August. He was 57 years old and died of Cancer. Anthony Wilson was the man behind the success of several bands in Manchester. Anthony Wilson passed away on Friday evening. Last year, Wilson was diagnosed for Kidney cancer, and had undergone an emergency surgery to remove a kidney, in January.
Wilson, born in Salford as often been dubbed as ‘Mr. Manchester’. He was often referred to as the mastermind of Manchester’s music industry. Wilson started out as a broadcaster, but he managed to influence almost every aspect of the music industry. His influence was not limited only to the music scene in Manchester but extended even to the wider UK music scene. In fact the bands New Order and Happy Mondays were launched by Factory Records. He was also responsible for the launch of Hacienda nightclub.
Phil Saxe who worked at Factory Records with Anthony Wilson had this to say while glorifying the greatness of Wilson,
"Part of me, part of Manchester, part of modern British music has died tonight. I really don’t know what to say. Tony was a genius, basically. I know people say he wasn’t a great businessman, but they’re missing the point. He was a visionary in that he helped bands, who otherwise wouldn’t have made it, who were a bit out of the ordinary. He helped them realize their dreams and through that probably realized himself to be Mr. Manchester".
Stephen Morris had this to say while he paid his tribute to Wilson, "New Order wouldn’t have came to be what they are without Tony and the Factory Record label because he was very passionate about music and he believed the band should have total freedom. He was I think, the only person in the music industry that didn’t believe in contracts. You’d see him do deals with record companies and the whole thing was done on the back of his hand. You could literally do what you want."
Anthony Wilson was truly a great icon and had inspired many around the world. Hundreds have paid tribute to ‘Mr. Manchester’, and his loss has certainly come as a massive blow to both Manchester and its music industry.
Tribfest is a place not only for the seasoned and the well-trained musicians who don’t mind doing any from of a stunt on the stage. The Driffield Showground held this weekend was the largest tent that was equally open for young bands that were might be picking up their instruments for the first time in front of the audience. One of the biggest events in the music world was held this weekend, the Music 4 Youth.
The bands that played this weekend were helped with the selection part by the Music 4 youth themselves who gave their full potential to nurture these young talents to lead them to fame and fortune. The aim of the organization is to give these aspiring musicians an opportunity to test their abilities and thereby develop a sense of live performance. Chris Pittaway who is the chairperson of Music 4 Youth said that it was vital for young people to have a go at playing on stage and since the time Music 4 Youth was formed around one year ago, he has watched some of the bands really grow and improve. So what is the harm in continuing the growing process?
Some of the Driffield bands who were all set to perform included Edmund Kemper, the Scapegrace, Parkmoor and Upon Dying Skies. Along with was another 14 other young bands from all across the East Riding. And the best part was that Pittaway was confident about the performance of all of the bands involved, he believed they would put their all into every performance and really make their most of this opportunity of being live on a festival stage. He was appreciative of Edmund Kemper who has been one of the popular ones who has been working hard recently and spreading their wings. They had already performed and rocked in York and Grimsby, and have put a CD together as well. They’re doing really well and have luckily won the “ Battle of the Bands.”
Tags: music, indie, independent music, indie music
