English Indie And Its Influence

Nuria Solano Navarro - English Indie and its influence.
1º A Bachillerato de Investigación - 2011/2012
English.
1. Introduction.

In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used
to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an
autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing. It was born from therejection
of the big music labels to produce Cd’s that, from their point of view, wouldn’t reach a wide
public. These artists, needing a way to produce their music, founded their own music labels, in
order to produce their own music, and other little artists’ music, too.

This movement has some special features that distinguishes it from other styles: it has
more creative freedom, as therearen’t any executive giving them guidelines to compose,
in order to get more audience; most of their work can be found on the Internet, to be more
accessible to their followers; they have developed an individual style, symbology and
personality; and they don’t usually appear in big crowded events, such as concerts or CD’s
signatures.

Indie has a wide variety of sub-styles: lo-fi, post-rock,math rock, indie pop, dream pop,
noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrr... It has its roots in styles as grunge, punk, postpunk and rock, and in bands as Sex Pistols, Joy Division, Echo & the Bunnyment, etc. Later
on, we will talk about three groups, and analyze their influence and influences: Oasis (Britpop),
Kasabian (Indie Rock, Neo-Psychedellia, Space Rock) and Arctic Monkeys (IndieRock, PostPunk Revival, Garage Rock). Let us know them.

2. Methodology.

In order to learn more about these groups, we will search for them in specialized blogs
and magazines, and we will talk with music experts. In the final section of each chapter, we will
see how they all have influenced in actual Indie Rock. Besides, in the Annex 1, we will analyze
some of their lyrics, to findparticularities. We will see too a sample of their videoclips, to prove
their irreverent spirit.

1

Nuria Solano Navarro - English Indie and its influence.
1º A Bachillerato de Investigación - 2011/2012
English.
3. Oasis.

3. 1. Their Origins.

Coming from a previous band, Paul McGuigan, Paul Arthurs, Tony McCarroll and Liam
Gallagher formed Oasis in 1991. Liam’s brother, Noel, thought whenhe first saw the band
that, although they didn’t sounded particularly spectacular, they could play some songs he had
already written. The band knew them a long way to success, that finally arrived, with Whatever.
After a trajectory plenty of fights between the members, and attempts to leave the group from
several members, they resurged in 2005 with Don’t believe the truth, wich was generouslyreceived by the critics. Dig out your soul was their last studio album and tour. After some
declarations from Noel, the band separated in 2009. It was the end of Oasis.
3. 2. Their Inspiration.

Several members of the band have mentioned a huge list of influences and inspirations for
them. Some of the most highlighted would be The Beatles, Sex Pistols, The Who, Nirvana, Jim
Morrison, TheVelvet Underground, Led Zeppelin...

3. 3. Their Songs.

We could mention celebrated songs such as Cigarettes & Alcohol, Lyla, Stop crying your
heart out, Don’t look back in anger, and maybe one of the most known songs from them:
Wonderwall. Some of them have a touch of football anthem, a hymn for hooligans, but some
others try to reach the intimacy from deep basses and soft harmonies. Thelyrics are careful,
representing the work of a mind with a clear purpose: reach the heart.

3. 4. Their Influence.

Several bands have recognised Oasis as a source of inspiration for their work. Their legacy
reach from The Killers, to Kasabian, Arctic Monkeys, The Kooks, The Strokes, The Coral, etc.
Apart from this, four of their albums have been recognised as ones of the most influents...