R&P Post 13: Influences and Inspiration from art, fashion&culture

The Indie Style

Fashion

Here some examples of what is fashionable to wear nowadays as an Indie artist or an Indie fan.
1. Stripes

2. Retro

3. Denim

Culture
Indie genres such as indie rock and indie pop evolved from 1970s punk rock and post punk and these genres were seen as experimental and breaking the old rules when they first came out. Indie rock songs would feature ragged guitar riffs, ferocious decibel levels and unpredictable song structures whereas indie pop's conventions included jangling guitars, a love of 60's pop and melodic power pop song structures.

EXAMPLES

Early indie rock - Shakespeare's Sister by The Smiths 

Key artist/band influences on 1980s indie culture 

1. Robert Hampson of Loop
Sam Knee (indie rock aficionado): "The bowl cut barnet helped a lot back then blocking out mundane reality....the boots went with pretty much anything" This style was influential as it was expressed the bands ideas and personality. Furthermore, it enabled fans to copy the style as it was fairly easy to recreate and did not require much effort e.g. the boots.

2. The Jesus and Mary Chain
Sam Knee: "The JAMC pioneered the lether trouser look synoymous with the Creation records roster. They were threateningly cool: grotty black leather box jackets, shades and chest shirts..." This style influenced young fans because it was cool, fun and new.

3. The Sea Urchins
Sam Knee: "(Their) image optiminsed the mid -80s 'indie anorak' look - it's a factual document that captures a brief moment in UK youth fashion history. The band (had) a more militant pop art mod fashion direction not long after this." This was another new phase that indie fans went through, inspired by the likes of this band, and interestingly enough, this style has come back into fashion now.

Overall, previous movements and fashion are still relevant as it started trends which still occur today. For example many fashion styles that the above indie bands made popular are still worn by people today.

Art
I have noticed that the logos of many indie rock artists revolve around a pattern, or have a pattern within in it. Moreover, black and white is the most common colour. This suggests that patterns and black and white are key features of an indie rock brand.