Genre Research

 Genre Research - Alternative music

Me and Olivia's chosen genre for our song 'Under The Table' is 'Alternative', with different online sources varying in results for this song, including subgenres such as 'Alternative Pop/Rock' or 'Indie'. Originally, alternative music emerged as a genre of rock in the early 1980s and was then widely popular in the 1990s. The name was coined in the 80s to describe punk rock-inspired bands that were on independent record labels which didn't fit into the mainstream genres of the time. Though the genre is considered as 'rock', some of its subgenres has also been influenced by other aspects such as folk music and jazz. Overall, the genre is largely defined by its rejection of the commercialisation of mainstream culture as generally these bands played in small clubs and spread their popularity through word of mouth. Therefore, there is no set musical style or sound of alternative music as a whole, although most songs are often associated with the sounds of either distorted or jangly guitars and often meld other genres of music that were popular at the time.

Main influences

Some earlier main influences of the genre include...

- U2

- The Cure

- Nirvana

- The Smashing Pumpkins

- The Cranberries

- Arctic Monkeys

Fashion

Generally in alternative bands, fashion is often treated as something unique to each band member. In some examples, such as The Cranberries (above), the singer is dressed in clothes that stand out from the rest of the band. Here, Dolores O'Riordan stands out quite obviously from the other members of The Cranberries, as she is represented in light colours with her dress and hair, unlike the other band members who are shown in mainly black and blend in with the background. 

An example of unique alternative fashion that quintessentially presents the genre overall is the 1990s/2000s virtual band Gorillaz. Created by the English songwriter and member of the band 'Blur', Damon Albarn and illustrated by the comic artist Jamie Hewlett, Gorillaz often present alternative fashion in an exaggerated and creative way, through the medium of cartoon characters. Each band member looks completely different from the other and the fluidity of art and 2D animation means that each character can stand out and the conventional fashion styles can be emphasised as the band members aren't actually real. Similarly, the artist can change the features of the characters how they please, whether this is done comically or stylistically. An example of this being done stylistically is the band's singer, 2D, who has blue hair and is often presented as having either plain white or black eyes. This choice of style can be done to show a unique side to the band and emphasise the conventional looks of the artists this band was inspired by, such as dyed hair or creative makeup looks.

 Another example of the band using the previous conventions of alternative bands before it is the green-skinned bassist character, Murdoc Niccals, who is based off the Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards. Overall he represents the party and drug culture of alternative music, hence his appearance. Altogether, this band takes the appearance and fashion of alternative bands that came before it and creates a new aesthetic for the genre moving forward, while still using the DIY culture of alternative bands, who often dress this way when they perform in small clubs or bars. Again, this is a rejection of the commercilisation of their music, and Gorillaz still uses this to some extent with its characters, despite the fluidity of cartoons, to represent British alternative culture to its audiences.

Communities

When looking at what communities and scenes there are for alternative music, I found that the genre originated in local scenes such as Leeds and Manchester in the United Kingdom. Specifically in Manchester, the musical and cultural scene named 'Madchester' was developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s. I believe these are considered the key scenes and communities for this genre of music and its sub-genres because a lot of the bands that define it are from Northern British cities such as these. For example, the bands 'The Smiths' are from Manchester and 'The Arctic Monkeys' are from Sheffield. 

TV and Film

I searched for any examples of films or TV shows which featured music of my genre as a soundtrack, and used them to search for a theme that correlates with 'alternative' music's communities or style. 

'Six Different Ways' - The Cure (It, 2017)

A scene from the 2017 remake of the 1990 horror film 'It' (Dir. Andres Muschietti). Here, The Cure's 'Six Different Ways' is used more to induce a sense of nostalgia for the audience, rather than a relation to the music genre. The film being a remake of an original story means that it focuses on 1980s nostalgia and culture, especially as the film is adapted from the first part of the original novel, with the second part taking place in the contemporary audiences' timeline. However, the song could also be used here as a nod to the emerging 'alternative' genre of the time, especially with the scene revolving around a group of kids who are beginning to adapt to 'teen culture', this including music. Similarly, the video correlates with The Cure's original aesthetic and style, with the tone of the video being slightly comical (like a lot of The Cure's music) as the upbeat song is used over clips of the kids cleaning up blood.

'Dreams' - The Cranberries (Derry Girls, 2018-2022)

The use of The Cranberries' song 'Dreams' is a little more relevant to the genre than in 'It' when it is used in the TV show 'Derry Girls'. Similar to It, the TV show also takes a nostalgic look at a specific time in the late 20th century, with this being The Troubles in Northern Ireland, something that took place in the 1990s. Throughout 'Derry Girls', the song 'Dreams' is used repeatedly in significant scenes that show historical moments during The Troubles, such as the declaration of peace. The song is also used when the main characters, the 'Derry Girls' are shown growing together or 'coming of age'. This is relevant to the theme of the show, as the show often presents a parallel between the conflict going on around the characters and the conflict they experience as they grow. Here, it is significant as this is the last scene of the show altogether, with the song signifying how they have grown together as they vote for their future in Northern Ireland. The content here is relevant to the genre as the show focuses on the people living through The Troubles, rather than the war itself. This relates to the 'alternative' genre and its communities of people who feel powerless against what happens in their country, especially since The Cranberries are an Irish band, with another one of their songs, 'Zombie', being used in the show alongside footage of peace rallies.

More examples:

'Paper Bag' - Fiona Apple (Bridesmaids, 2011)

'Born Slippy' - Underworld (Trainspotting, 1996)

Radio and TV stations

When researching potential radio stations people listen to when searching for 'alternative' music, I found out about the concept of 'Campus Radio'. This is a type of radio station that is run by the students of a college or university. This may be created and produced solely by students or may include contributions from the local community of the station. These exist either to train professional radio personnel, who are the key personalities that promote this music, or to provide an alternative to commercial broadcasting or government broadcasters. Because many radio stations need licenses to broadcast commercial hits, Campus Radio stations are often associated with emerging music genres, such as punk, indie rock and 'alternative' music. Because of this, Campus Radio stations often provide promotional exposure for new and emerging local artists, whilst also offering a station for enjoyers of alternative music. 

Magazines and Fanzines

When looking at which magazines people use to read about 'alternative' music or to find new emerging artists, I found a magazine called 'The Wire', which was originally founded in 1982 and was known as an independent music magazine, reflecting the 'alternative' music genre and its rejection of the commercialisation of music. The magazines focuses on the experimental, as well as jazz, hip-hop and improvised music, with it stating that it "wages war on the mundane and mediocre". Since the 1990s, the magazine has given away CDs called 'The Wire Tapper', which feature a variety of sounds to promote artists and their music from festivals. The magazine is still releasing issues as of now in November 2022, and despite new technologies overtaking the use of CDs, it still promotes the underground and emerging sounds of 'alternative' music, not just limited to large countries such as the USA and UK. 

Club nights and Gigs

In terms of clubs and gigs that play 'alternative' music, across the UK there are many clubs that have been playing this genre of music since it emerged in the early 1980s. These clubs also often host nights for alternative subgenres, such as Indie or Punk music, for example Camden Rocks At Firewater in Glasgow hosts an Indie rock party every Thursday, in tribute to the Home of 'Britpop'. In general, each major city for alternative music has its most popular clubs for the genre, with some of them focusing on older songs. An example of a club that plays old and new artists is Pressure at Rescue Rooms in Nottingham, which is known for playing bands such as New Order and Prince alongside Arctic Monkeys and Bombay Bicycle Club. Nowadays, these clubs are often advertised on social media, a lot like mainstream clubs and bars, as this is an easy way for them to bring in new customers. However, before the introduction of easier advertising through the internet, these clubs often spread their word through zines handed out on highstreets and posters. Generally, people who attend these clubs wear a variety of styles, with some subcultures being represented on the clubs' posters, such as goths and punks. However, the biggest similarity between people who go to these types of clubs is that they take inspiration from older styles and appear very androgynous, something reminiscent of the emergence of 'alternative' music. 

Activities and lifestyle

In terms of lifestyles that are associated with 'alternative' music, the genre's main sphere of influence is young people, therefore the activities and lifestyles it influences revolves around a lot of youth culture. This includes an initial influence on drug use in the 1980s, as the artists themselves took part in this, however this has been something that has been controlled and discouraged in the last couple decades. However, 'alternative' music mostly encourages a partying lifestyle, like other genres, with an emphasis on creativity and being unique. As a lot of the alternative bands and artists do not use mainstream labels or companies, they often write a lot about political views and the perspectives of those who grew up in working class families - as they are less likely to have to censor any of this with their label companies. Because of this, their music often speaks to those from similar backgrounds or with similar opinions, therefore their lifestyles correlate with the music they are listening to, and this becomes the type of lifestyle associated with 'alternative' music.