Resurrecting Authenticity
The Indie Movement Rekindling the Soul of Music
I​'ve long been a supporter of the music undergound, even before I put my hat in the ring myself. Those unsigned rascals giving it a go with their friends and a few power chords have shaped how I have come to understand music evolution from words on a page and loud amps in a garage, to mainstream record labels and radio waves.
G​rowing up in the 80's and 90's, the goal was always to "hit it big". Get discovered, get signed, get a record deal, perform in arena's, and hear your songs on the radio were the hallmarks of success. Today, that has all changed. Don't misunderstand, all the money is still there, those at the top are really good at holding their ground. What they failed to hang onto though was the passion and art of creating music and lyrics from a place of authenticity.
T​ake, for example, the lyrics from Luke Bryan's song "Knockin' Boots" from his 2020 album release, "Born Here, Live Here, Die Here",
"​This truck needs a half tank , These wheels need a two lane , This radio needs three songs to play , To get me 'cross town to you , That dress needs a slip-off , That hair needs to come down , Friday nights need to do , What Friday nights need to do , That's the truth."
T​hese lyrics provide arguably the shallowest ability to articulate the clear intention of the words possible. Add the standard chord progression to the song, which stays pretty much the same through the chorus, and boom, you've got a song to send to a board room designed superstar to send out to the masses of non-thinking consumers.
T​his model works for generating profit, and profit is a clever mistress. You'll sacrifice everything, including passion and talent, if you're not careful.
H​owever, as the ankle deep music dominates our airwaves, lurking in the depths of the deep end are an array of hidden gems, like a treasure waiting for those who are willing to take the dive. Artists like John Moreland, Parker Millsap, John Fullbright, Colter Wall, Jami Lynn, Lacy Nelson, Lincoln Durham, offer up what the corporate music machine so eagerly disposed of; art and passion.
C​ontrast the lyrics from earlier with these from Moreland's song "3:59 AM" from his 2013 release "In The Throes",
"​I got the guiltiest conscience , Listening for a savior on a Saturday night , I got my ear to the ground , You got Easter Sunday in your eyes , And I apologize if I seem a little overwhelmed , I'm thirsty, but the holy keep on pissing in my well , I had a purpose and a song that was true , But I ain't ever had a lick of sense when it comes to you , So try to be patient, try to understand , I'm a child, trying to do the work of a man , My pockets are empty, I don't own a thing , But I'd take a diamond from the sky and put it in your ring"
I​t's not hard to tell which lyrics came from something deep inside and which ones were scraped up from the bottom of a trash compactor. Moreland provides a melodic fingerpick to this song that pulls the listener along for the ride while feeling every word sung from his mouth.
This is why independent music matters. As artists like these get noticed, and signed themselves, they are doing so to smaller labels, playing more intimate shows, connecting with actual fans. This is a path that is available to anyone who wants it. It's not held under lock and key by a few people in an executive board room. It's there for the taking for anyone who can prove their worth. Genuine connection with yourself and your fans will undoubtedly produce authentic music that resonates with actual human feelings.
I​t matters more than just offering paths to success though. It brings depth back to our airwaves. The full range of human emotion is found in the independent and smaller songwriters and artists, and it is something our society is in desperate need of. Where the small percentage of artists sit at the economic top of the ladder offering alms to the masses that barely scratch the surface of the human experience, the school of indie artists give us reality, in all it's pain and glory.
T​he best part about the indie artists? They are everywhere. Every town has them, at every stage of the game. Find them and support them. Your soul will thank you.