flo.wav, Jolie, Remedy Tree, sleepless
The Independent Spirit. Local Indie bands take on… Indie.
Remedy Tree
(This was answered by Gabriel Acevedo)
What does Indie Music and the Indie Movement mean to you?
It means everything. There's an appreciation for the process as a whole that is only gained when you're indie, because you as an artist are involved in every little step and detail of the operation. It's such a movement of growth. As the operation grows you start to delegate, and sometimes its hard to let go of those tasks, but it's necessary to be able to focus on the art.
Why is the Indie Movement important?
Simply, I think it creates better people. It takes an enormous amount of disciple and drive to build anything from the bottom up successfully. At the end of the day an indie artist has a broad understanding of how an engine of success runs.
Are there reasons you would remain Indie?
Creative control. I won't promise I'll be indie forever. Indie life is hard traveling. Regardless, being indie the past 5 years and probably the next 5 is allowing me to explore my sounds and discover myself as a writer. I wouldn't have it any other way. As a side note, I'm a multitasker, and being an indie artist constantly pushes me to keep learning, and I love that.
Name some of your musical influences.
I started with bluegrass. Names like Doyle Lawson, Dailey and Vincent, and Ricky Scaggs. Then I ventured off into folk sounds like Peter Bradley Adams, Matthew and the Atlas, and even Mumford and sons (I know). My current musical inspirations linger with the bluegrass and acoustic spectrum with bands like Mandolin Orange, Avett Brothers, Greensky Bluegrass & Infamous Stringdusters.
How do you describe your musical style?
Thats always been a hard one. I always dreamed of being a bluegrass boy but every time I wrote songs they didn't fit a typical bluegrass chord pattern. Today I call my music lyric driven progressive acoustic music.
Jolie
What does Indie Music and the Indie Movement mean to you?
Growing up, I always thought "making it" would entail signing to a big music label, but I definitely think now more than ever there is a big push for artists to publish their music independent of the big labels. For me, indie music means creating your music your way, on your terms, and when you want. It means having the freedom to be more hands-on with your music and to be your own boss in many ways.
Why is the Indie Movement important?
I'm not saying getting signed to a label is completely out of the cards, there are some pros and cons to every situation. But instead of letting that be the only way to success, I think a lot of people are realizing they can really take control and do things by themselves. With being a part of the indie music wave, I can keep a big chunk of my income, which is important to me since this is what I do for a living full-time. So much money is saved when you're not splitting your income various different ways. It's also really important for me that my music sounds exactly as I intend it to. This is something I love about being independent. I'm forced to create a vision for each song, and by the time I'm finished I can honestly say I'm proud of what I'm listening to.
Are there reasons you would remain Indie?
I feel like getting picked up by a label is more rare than common. You don't just have to be talented, but you have to be in the right place at the right time--AKA luck. This isn't saying that it's impossible because crazy things happen all the time, so if something like that did cross my path, I'd definitely consider it. But to be candid, while being independent does require a lot more work on my part, there's something so freeing about having the reins in your own hands.
Name some of your musical influences.
Two of my biggest musical influences are Birdy and Tom Odell. Both of these artists are piano-based, and both of their voices are very unique. It's nice to see successful people doing what I want to do because I know if they're able to do it, then so am I. I've seen both of them perform live and it's truly an experience, something I definitely strive to provide at my own shows. Birdy started out very independent, but eventually signed with Warner Music. She broke through the music world by releasing covers, and then later published her own works. I see this strategy and realize it's in many ways where I'm at now. My original material is next to be published. Tom Odell is a wizard on the keys. He was actually signed to a big music label pretty early on in his career, but he still had a small start as an independent artist as well. While neither of these artists are huge stars like Taylor Swift or Beyonce, they're still super successful in their own way. Success takes on many different forms!
How do you describe your musical style?
My sound personally is more of an indie pop. To me this means my music is pop, but not the cookie-cutter fluffy pop that you hear on the radio. It's different in the sense that my music has a very organic, real feel to it. I strive for my music to be relatable and tell a story, both in words and melody. And I'm sure my sound will constantly be evolving as I grow as an artist, which seems really refreshing. Wherever my music takes me in the future--independent or not--I'm looking forward to the journey.
sleepless
We’re sleepless from Jacksonville, Florida. We’re an Off Pop band who’s songs will probably remind of something painful you’ve been through but in a catchy sing-a-long way.
What does Indie Music and the Indie Movement mean to you?
Indie to us just means the DIY scene and the DIY scene in Florida means everything to us. It’s an incredibly vibrant and strong scene that deserves the world's attention.
Why is the Indie Movement important?
Indie is important because it just means that anyone can do this. As kids we didn’t exactly see a lot of people who looked like us blowing up in the music we listened to. Indie is important because it allows the free expression and representation that mainstream music often doesn’t.
Are there reasons you would remain Indie?
Definitely control over our art but also because the DIY scene has been nothing but amazing to us and taking us so many cool places in just a year. Having the power to go where we want, when we want and to do things that we want with our own image and art is worth staying indie.
Name some of your musical influences.
All of us combined have really varying music tastes and influences but the ones we have in common and especially the ones that drive this band are; My Chemical Romance, Mom Jeans., Joyce Manor, Vampire Weekend, Paramore, and Remo Drive.
How do you describe your musical style?
Off pop/emo. Basically just music that is catchy and poppy but not in a mainstream way. We love a chorus, but we try not to beat anyone over the head with it. You’ve never heard such a boppy sad band before.
flo.wav
What does Indie Music and the Indie Movement mean to you?
It’s like a corporate food place versus a small mom and pop shop food place. It’s not over saturated and perfectly polished it’s a more genuine and vulnerable but tasteful in its own way.
Why is the Indie Movement important?
Because it’s original and putting yourself on the map is the best feeling. The movement is encoring to young driven artists trying to do things on they’re own.
Are there reasons you would remain Indie?
It’s genuine and real. No limits and polished material, just straight up raw talent from the heart.
Name some of your musical influences.
Mutemath, Twenty one pilots, Anderson.Paak, Underoath, Justin Timberlake, Kendrick Lamar and Linkin Park to name a few.
How do you describe your musical style?
Flavorful. A mix of Alternative/Pop/Hip-Hop/Rock. We call it genre fluid.