Indie, shorthand from independent, is coined to be a number of genres and subcultures to be independent from the commercial pop music and mainstream culture. For many of its artists Indie rock is unsigned or signed to independent record labels, rather than major record labels. It is not strictly a genre of music, but is often used as an umbrella term covering a wide range of artists and styles, connected by some degree of allegiance to the values of underground. Indie labels are mainly ran by a few people, often at homes, or garages, because of their aim to be independent. Most of the bands are forced to close down due to a lack of money, some, however, gradually become more commercially oriented.
Indie comprises myriad subgenres. The most promoted one is Indie-rock. Musicians face no limitation and therefore, can go far, employing experiments and exceeding boundaries, faced by representatives of other sub-cultures.
Indie rock hails back to the 1980s, which saw rise of underground and alternative rock. Indie rock was launched and promoted by 'Aztec Camera' and 'Orange Juice'. In 1990s American Indie rock was a lo-fi movement, spearheaded by 'Guided by Voices', 'Pavement', 'Sebadoh', 'Liz Fair' and 'Beck', which placed a premium on rough recording techniques, ironic detachment, and disinterest in 'selling out' to the mainstream alternative rock scene. More recently, the term 'Indie rock' has become a catch-all phrase and so incredibly broad that almost anything from garage rock to alt-country to psychedelic folk and hundreds of other genres can fall under its umbrella.
In the 21st century representatives of various music styles face dependence upon recording companies, as studio recording is hardly available, especially from the financial point of view. The idea is rejected only by Indie rock bands. They have made used of internet technologies to record singles and albums in order to keep to their independence.
