It’s not easy to define what an indie electronic artist is. The term can cover everything from pop acts like M83, Passion Pit, and Robyn to experimental artists such as Flying Lotus and Four Tet. And then there are the ones that are still pushing the boundaries, whether it’s the glitchy noise of Oneohtrix Point Never or the industrial punk of Death Grips. In short, indie electronic is a genre where there are a lot of different sounds that all fit under one umbrella.
Because of this, it’s hard to find new bands once you’ve heard some of the more established names associated with the genre. Luckily, we’re here to help. Below you’ll find over 50 up-and-coming indie electronic artists that you need to know about.
In the music industry, the term “indie electronic” refers to a group of artists who may have initially been signed to a major record label, but who have since become independent. The term “indie” is used because these artists are now independent of any major label. They are truly independent in that they are not affiliated with a large label or management company. Many indie electronic artists have moved to smaller labels that focus on alternative music and work with several other indie electronic artists.
The term “electronic” is used to indicate that the artist uses electronic instruments or sequences–such as synthesizers, drum machines, samplers, sequencers–to produce their sound. This is in contrast to an artist who plays acoustic instruments, such as a guitar or violin. Some indie electronic musicians mix both the traditional and electronic sounds in their music, while others use only electronic instruments. Some artists who fit into this genre include Moby, Isis, and Bloc Party.
Indie electronic artists are individuals or groups that compose and perform electronic music with little to no influence from major record labels. These artists may be signed to smaller independent labels or be completely unsigned.
Indie electronic music is not a specific genre, but rather a collection of many different styles of electronic music, which is why it is commonly categorized as a subgenre of electronica. The term “indie” in indie electronic refers only to the artist’s financial situation and recording label affiliation, not necessarily their sound.
Artists and bands in the indie electronic category may sound similar to other electronica genres such as trip hop, downtempo, ambient, synthpop and house. However, since indie electronic music covers such a broad range of sounds, there are often many differences between artists in the genre.
Indie electronic is a music genre encompassing contemporary electronically influenced indie rock, post-rock and dream pop with instruments predominantly using electronic instrumentation (such as synthesizers, sequencers and samplers) rather than traditional instruments.
Indie electronic often overlaps with the dream pop and shoegazing genres. The term indie rock is often associated with music that is formed or created by bands who are not signed to major record labels, whereas indie electronic music refers to any artist with an independent label, regardless of genre.
Indie electronic songs usually feature mid-range vocal melodies (often sung in an affected voice), low-mid frequency bass lines, simple drum patterns and a repetitive structure. Less emphasis is put on guitar solos and the higher register of the singer’s voice compared to other genres of indie rock.
Indie electronic is a music genre where an artist or producer uses electronic music instruments and technology, typically with the intention of creating a danceable sound. The term “indie” is used to describe artists who are independent from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries.
Indie electronic producers often use programming to create the beats and sounds for the dance tracks that they produce for their songs. Some indie electronic artists also use vintage analog synthesizers and/or samplers with modern digital effects processors to create these beats.
The indie electronic scene also incorporates artists who mix traditional rock instrumentation with more modern studio technology to achieve a unique sound.
The term “indie” is one of the most misused and potentially misleading genres in music today. While it continues to be a buzz word within the scene, what does it really mean?
The term indie, short for independent, has always been used to identify a band or artist that was not signed to a major label. However, in recent years the term has become so watered down that many artists who have never seen an indie label are being referred to as indie bands. This has led many people to believe that all indie music is created equally.
While some indie bands are signed to labels with huge budgets and worldwide distribution (Death Cab For Cutie and The Shins), many of the more up-and-coming artists may be lucky enough to get signed by an indie label with a limited budget and little distribution capability. Because these labels are able to sign bigger acts, they often tend to be run by people with experience in the music industry. This experience allows them to provide bands with more support than those on smaller labels.
Smaller Indie Labels:
On the other end of the spectrum are smaller independent labels, often run by someone who is either in a band or simply just loves music. These labels usually don’t have much money, but they
There’s an argument to be made that synth-pop is the new indie rock. It’s a bold claim but I stand by it nonetheless. In the past few years, more and more bands have been ditching guitars in favor of synthesizers. Now, this isn’t anything particularly new. Bands like Passion Pit and MGMT have been using synths for a while now and both are widely regarded as indie rock groups. So what makes synth-pop any different?
The answer is simple: accessibility. With the advent of music production software such as Logic Pro and Ableton Live, anyone with a laptop can make electronic music. This has opened up the genre to a whole slew of new artists who don’t necessarily have the means or the desire to form a band with other musicians.