Genre is a term used to describe the typical conventions in a media or literature product. Genre is classified by these different conventions and the combinations from which they are arranged into. For example; Natalie Lungley is an indie/alternative artist,
this is a genre that covers a wide range of different artists and concepts.
Generally alternative artists derive their sound from folk or from
singer/songwriter music, and they gather their inspiration from various
different sources, such as Nirvana, the Beatles and Pink Floyd. The alternative
genre is very broad, and it changes depending on who the artist is inspired by. Lana Del
Rey is an alternative artist that is heavily inspired by names such as Amy
Winehouse, Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe. Her diverse range of inspirations and her
fascination with old Hollywood has given her a very unique sound and style that
many people inspire to. Lana Del Rey markets herself as the modern day Monroe, copying various performances of hers. Below there are two images taken from Monroe's and Del Rey's performances of "Happy Birthday Mr President".
Marilyn Monroe performing "Happy Birthday Mr President"
Lana Del Rey performing "Happy Birthday Mr President"
The alternative genre is so broad that it doesn't have much of a target audience. Natalie Lungley however is part of a sub genre of singer/songwriters who primarily target people in their mid teens to early thirties. On the socio-economic scale I believe the target audience would be in the range of E-C because many of her listeners are young, and may not have a job or are just starting out in their careers. The alternative genre overall is probably more appealing to western caucasians because a lot of the artists and lyrical content are aimed towards them, rather than other ethnic groups. The alternative genre can also be enjoyed by any gender, but it may become more specific depending on sub genre, for example alternative rock would be more appealing to males because of the aggression of the music and lyrics. The sound of the alternative genre is again dependant on the sub genre. Del Rey's music is very slow with muted vocals and dark lyrics often relating to drugs and Hollywood, on the other hand My Chemical Romance's songs are fast and upbeat, using a lot of rocks guitars and vocals that link into the rock genre. The lyrics of MCR's songs however are very typically alternative, talking about depression and self loathing.
Lana Del Rey
To be an alternative artist you have to have a
unique quality to your content that no one else has created before and show a certain rebellion against the mainstream culture of the time. This
becomes the selling point for the artist and every one of their songs would be
recognisable as them because of the style they’re created in. The alternative genre has emerged fairly recently as
an amalgamation of many different musical styles and in the past few years it
has increased in popularity rapidly. Alternative artists tend to target a very
specific audience who don’t
want to listen to the usual mainstream music that a lot of artists create. The
alternative genre tends to be very meaningful and every song has well thought
out lyrics and concepts that usually reflect the artists feelings or emotions
on a matter of personal subjects. The personal nature of the alternative genre
appeals to many because it allows the audience to step into the artist’s shoes and understand what they are
feeling, and it allows people to relate to the concepts that are suggested.
My Chemical Romance
One very popular alternative artist was the band
My Chemical Romance. This band was very popular throughout the thousands and
into the present, although they disbanded in 2013 to follow different musical
paths. One of the successes of MCR was how their music could be related to by
so many. A lot of their concepts were dark and talked about personal issues
such as depression, self harming, loneliness and heartbreak. All of the songs
were written, based on the experiences of the band members which made all of
the lyrics believable. By writing songs with experiences and feelings they’ve gone through, it made it easier for them
to talk about it in interviews and connect with fans on a more personal level.
This is the key difference between alternative bands and mainstream ones, they
always talk about things that matter to people, and the music they create is
from the heart, so they come across as genuine people.
Nirvana's "Nevermind" album
Alternative songs don’t really garner much popularity on mainstream radio and TV because
they’re not considered
catchy or fun compared to pop or rap songs. One exception was Nirvana, who’s breakthrough album “Nevermind”soared to the top of the charts in the 90s
with songs, “Smells Like Teen
Spirit”and “Come As You Are”. This was a turning point for the
alternative genre that saw many more artists coming onto the mainstream scene and
gathering more popularity. Nirvana was also the first band to bring together the alternative genre into a form that could be described and classified and it bridged the gap between various different forms of music that make up the genre. From that point onwards the alternative genre
expanded from its rock inspired roots to cover a range of music from folk to
dance, each artist having a unique element that separates them from the rest, but still falling under the same category of artists that didn't want to conform to the norms of the mainstream at the time. Regina Spektor is another indie artist with a very individual sound and image. Coming from a mixed background of Russian and American heritage her musical inspirations are derived from classical roots, which she explored at a young age. Spektor's musical style has matured from her early years, leaning towards a more pop sound. She is often described as anti-folk and her songs have an iconic jazzy sound to them which is often overlooked in modern music. Spektor became a prominent figure in the alternative genre after a few breakthrough tracks for movies, such as "The Call" for 'The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian' and "You've Got Time" for 'Orange is the New Black'. Spektor's latest album "What We Saw from the Cheap Seats" is her most popular yet, and could possibly be described as her most adventurous. Many of the tracks are littered with interesting lyrical twists and violent pauses in the music which adds an immense sense of drama and personality. The album is also relatable on a personal level to many people, as the songs and even the title hint at a sense of normality. "What We Saw from the Cheap Seats" suggests that she doesn't have enough money to pay for the VIP seats or even that she doesn't want to, and she's comfortable with living like everybody else. This is an important factor of the alternative genre, making sure that it's relatable to everyone, and it gives a deeper connection to the audience no matter their background.
No comments:
Post a Comment