Back to alphabetical overview – click here
Indie Music – Definition
Indie music is a broad category of music that originated with artists and record labels operating independently of the major commercial music industry. Today, the term also describes a range of musical styles and aesthetics associated with independent artists.
What is Indie Music?
The term indie is short for independent. While it originally referred to the way music was produced and distributed, it has also become associated with certain musical characteristics, including creative songwriting, distinctive production styles, and a willingness to experiment beyond mainstream conventions.
Indie music encompasses many genres, including indie rock, indie pop, folk, and electronic music. As a result, there is no single harmonic, rhythmic, or production style that defines all indie music.
How is Indie Music used in piano playing?
Pianists performing indie music often use open chord voicings, broken chords, sustained textures, and repetitive melodic patterns. The piano may serve as either a rhythmic accompaniment or a central melodic instrument, depending on the style.
Because indie music covers a wide range of sounds, piano arrangements vary considerably, reflecting the character of each individual song rather than a fixed set of performance techniques.