Indie Pop is pop music through a lo-fi, DIY lens. It contains a blend of influences from bands that made music under independent backing.

Indie pop emerged from post-punk in the late 1970s and 1980s under the creation of Twee Pop, which took rock structures and added whimsical, melodic studio experimentation. This movement was marked by its focus on simplicity, often featuring jangly guitars, gentle vocals, and a sense of lyrical authenticity that set it apart from mainstream pop. This early set of indie pop is embodied by the famous C86 compilation. Bands like The Smiths, who rose from this scene, became one of the most significant influences on the ‘indie’ sound, shaping the genre.

In the ‘90s, indie pop evolved by drawing inspiration from the lush, ornate sounds of 1960s genres like sunshine pop and baroque pop, leading to the creation of chamber pop.

The most recent addition to indie pop’s sonic palette is bedroom pop, a subgenre born from artists creating intimate, personal music in non-studio environments.

Artists:

• Cat Power
• Purity Ring
• Sufjan Stevens
• dodie
• Tessa Violet