Playlist: So, You Wanna Be Pretentious?
The ultimate guide to all branches of indie music. Fasten your beanie and get ready for the ride.
Written by Grace Robertson
Illustrated by Roberto Soto
In the 21st century, it’s hard to decide what kind of pretentious indie kid you want to be. While indie music itself may not have one particular style, the average indie kid usually does. Dressing like an indie kid is all about putting lots of effort into looking effortless. Do you want to be a fishnet-wearing Cage the Elephant superfan circa 2014 or do you want to buy a pair of Carhartt boots and move to a cabin in the woods to listen to Bon Iver?
'Indie' is short for independent, which refers to independently released music. The term is what makes the genre all-encompassing; instead of referring to the sound of the music, indie refers to how the music is released: outside of the three major music labels..
Learning how to be pretentious isn’t hard — it just takes the right playlist. Sandwiched between Tame Impala’s classic, “The Less I Know the Better,” and Lorde’s breakout hit (to the indie kids), “Ribs,” is a starter pack of songs to help you dive deep into the world of independent music. Listen below and prepare to feel elitist.