Indie and genres

The word "indie" is often used to refer specifically to various genres or sounds in a realm of music that runs parallel to more commercial music. During the 1980s, "indie" was synonymous in Great Britain with jangly guitar pop of the C-86 movement. During the 1990s "indie" music became more expansive and established as a

growing number of musicians and fans began seeking alternatives to the mainstream music establishment. Entire genres and sub-genres found representation from new acts, like the Red House Painters, The Sea and Cake, and Polvo. More recently, the word "indie" is sometimes used as a synonym for all "underground" music, similar in the way alternative was used previously before it actually became just a specific genre of corporate, mainstream music in the 90's. Such usages of "indie" may be considered inaccurate for various reasons: for one, stylistic qualities are often not accurately correlated to commercial independence or adherence to indie principles (this is particularly true when a sound becomes popular, its leading exponents are signed by major labels and more success-oriented bands and production teams attempt to imitate the style; this ultimately culminates in commercially driven artists sporting the same stylistic traits the "indie" artists of a year ago had). Secondly, however pervasive any style of music may become at a particular time, it by definition cannot embody all of indie music, as, by indie's nature, there will be indie artists, labels and entire local scenes operating outside of this style and its definitions.