WHERE WILL YOU GO TOMORROW, INDIE?

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A. A History of Indie’s Music Emergence

Indie was a group movement music based from anything ideas, without any manipulative. This genre could be counted as a reverse-current form for mainstream music. We could see the difference between mainstream genre and indie from the label making process. Mainstream music was a big stream having had a lot of bands under the big label, an established music industry. The mainstream genre bands were promoted spread expansively to the local and international community. The promotion dominated in all mass-media. Contrary to the mainstream genre, Indie music only located in certain community. The publishing were not routinely as a labeled-music. So, if we talked about the difference between indie and mainstream, we faced on the industry’s problem, the point was investment value produced by record company.
Indie grew up in Indonesia Naturally. Initially, in 1970s, this genre was known as underground music. It started by God Bless from Jakarta, AKA from Surabaya, Giant Step and Super Kid from Bandung, Terncem from Solo, Bentoel from Malang . In 1971, there was a festival which became the germinal scene of Indie. So, came from that situation, many bands arise from those town. In 1993, PAS Band became an active-mover of Indie music. It inspired the others youth. It was proven by selling 5000 its copy album, and sold out, after then, Puppen, Pure Saturday, Waiting Room, etc were born.

B. Let Indie Music Grows up
As we know, modern technology information, like Internet influencing indie’s music progression. It makes significant progress if we compare indie nowadays with indie in 10 years ago. Now, Indie has a big mass, fans, and group. In the beginning of its great leap, information of indie still kept exclusively. For knowing the new info, we got it from international magazine. Moreover, when we wanted to order a souvenir, merchandise like a T-Shirt, we would get it with all the primitive way. A Catalogue; filled the blank form, payment with a credit card. But, it changes dramatically right now, internet makes everything easier for find out the news, information about indie’s new release, and order the merchandise also. The infrastructure develops higher, it makes labeling of indie music (independent record) increase in a good point.

We can see the other changing in many new indie bands with their new taste which increases in a great number. Less than 10 years ago we saw a music magazine introducing trash metal trend, and after that, so many people followed the metal ways. But, now, there are no trends which dominate one another. As an example, when emo (one of indie’s new taste) being a trend, not all the people follow the way. There are still many others group of different indie, such as: pop, new wave, high octane rock, etc. We can say that music lovers being segmented right now.

The second influence is distro rising. Distro can be an adding point for the infrastructure side. The first distro built at Depok, Jakarta in 1995s, it was called Pose. Distro brings many advantages for Indie’s music. When the indie bands want to make a new release of their album, they need an outlet, a place for selling their souvenirs, products, and merchandises. According to that analysis, distro will be a good alternative retail for this community. Indie’s music brings another effect, not only in music community but also in movie community. It was proven by independent movie movement which born because of music indie.

C. The Future of Indie Music
Indie music is an attractive phenomenon. The more indie’s music festival held the more indie’s music become popular in the society. Now, many indie bands become bigger, bigger and bigger. Such as: PAS Band, Naif, Superman Is Dead, Ten2Five, Maliq & D’Essentials, Mocca, Koil, White Shoes & The Couples Company, The Brandals, The Upstairs, etc.
Capitalism attack makes Indie’s music today seen as a part of commoditization of capitalism system. Capitalism exploits the chance well, with supporting indie’s label under the major’s label. It means that indie music will lose its own characteristic. This point is seen by capitalism point of view. But, if we see Netral as an indie band, we will see as a wave of capitalism against. Their music breaks the line of capitalism market system, and of course mainstream music itself.
Basically, this writing is not focused on the capitalization thing’s side or a form of mainstream against but the point that I want to share is how to see Indie music as a culture-counter phenomenon and it brings a new wave of Indonesian music taste.

March 2nd, 2010

Resources:
www.diannebula.multiply.com, “Dampak Musik Indie Bagi Perkembangan Musik Indonesia”
www.sejarahmusikindonesia.wordpress.com, “Sejarah Musik Rock di Indonesia”
www.reinkarnasi.wordpress.com, “ Perkembangan Musik Indonesia”
Majalah Aktuil, 1971