The Evolution of Indie Pop: From Twee to Dream Pop & Beyond
Learn the influence of DIY & indie pop on the development of the pop scene.

When you think of music genres, the last thing you think of is how they have aged over the eras. One genre that has aged over the decades is indie pop. From twee pop to dream pop, there have been many types of eras for this style of sound. But how exactly has the pop genre changed?

The evolution of indie pop started in the early 1950s in the United Kingdom, where music was all about rock and roll. The term transformed every decade or two, leading to the 1980s Twee Pop and 1990s Dream Pop. Modern Indie pop is vastly different due to how the music industry is today, as it relies on individual artists not associated with a label or sound.

As you can see, indie pop is only the latest era of pop music. With that being said, let’s take a look at how this happened and trace the roots of this popular subgenre.

The Rise of Pop Music

When you think of pop music, you likely think of today’s style of pop. However, this wasn’t where it all began. If you trace back the genre’s roots, you’ll realize that it started in the mid-1950s in the United Kingdom.

During this time, pop music was often referred to as rock and roll or music produced for the youth. This was the use of the term “pop music” until the 1980s when Twee pop started to define the genre.

The Start of Twee Pop

Twee pop is a subgenre of pop music produced in the 1980s characterized by soft vocals and melodic sounds. Guitars and other instrumentals often produced a sweet yet catchy tune. The genre is upbeat and whimsical, designed to get people up and to dance.

The rise of Twee pop was necessary, as a lot of grunge and punk music became popular then. Others who enjoyed a more lighthearted and fun style of music wanted a different type of sound. So, Twee pop became more popular.

While this wasn’t the start of the pop genre, it was one of the more popular eras that started to get people into pop music. Bands such as The Magnetic Fields, Belle & Sebastian, and even Pavement released Twee pop albums that caught the attention of fans. Until the 1990s, Twee pop was the most popular type in the genre.

The Movement Into Dream Pop

After a decade of Twee pop, the 1990s introduced a new subgenre called Dream pop. Dream pop was similar to Twee, except the genre had a softer tone with dream-like vocals. The instrumentals often had synths, drums, and guitars.

The main movement into this style of music is primarily due to the change in instruments available. Synth wasn’t that big until the 1990s, and new sounds and music forms emerged with technological advancements. So, the Dream pop genre began to gain hype.

Bands such as Slowdive, Lush, and the Cocteau Twins were just some to adapt this style of music. Due to their success, others soon started to join in.

The Evolution of Indie Pop

Indie Pop is a type of music that refers to 2020 music and later. Modern Indie pop is less focused on blending with the mainstream media and is instead about creating a unique sound. However, it’s best first to take a look at what indie pop is and modern indie pop.

What Defines Indie Pop?

The term “Indie Pop” is often used to describe artists that aren’t in the mainstream. Indie means independent, and pop refers to the style of music. So, Indie pop refers to independent musicians that produce pop music.

However, Indie pop is also a genre gaining its own sound. In the digital age, most songs are more melodic and focus on producing catchy tunes that get stuck in your head. Unlike pop from previous generations, indie pop is softer, catchier, and on the tamer side.

Modern Indie Pop

Today, Indie pop music is less mainstream and allows artists from all over to showcase their talents. The focus on music is more on creating unique and catchy beats rather than just melding with mainstream pop music. So, it’s a new era of music heavily dependent upon the artist making it.

Indie Pop Music FAQs

What artists/bands today classify as indie pop?

According to last.fm, popular indie pop artists include Rex Orange County, Lykke Li, and Beabadoobee. However, plenty of other indie artists are not listed on the site. Some include Alvvays, Twenty-One Pilots, and Glass Animals.

What makes Indie Pop different from other genres?

Modern Indie pop is different from other genres because it’s up to individual artists to create a unique and catchy sound. Before, not anyone could produce music. However, thanks to platforms like SoundCloud, iTunes, and more, anyone can publish and share their music.

Where can I listen to Indie pop music?

Popular streaming platforms like Spotify, SoundCloud, and iTunes are great ways to find indie artists. However, YouTube is also becoming a popular platform for musicians to create original work.

What Instruments are used in Indie pop?

That entirely depends on the era, artist, and location. For UK bands, indie pop generally is more rock and roll, while on the other hand, K-pop uses synthetic beats, strong vocals, and drums. So, it depends on what type of indie pop you’re listening to.

The Bottom Line

As you can see, Indie pop is a unique style of music that wasn’t just created in the 2000s. Instead, it’s been around for quite some time. However, the indie pop craze just didn’t hit other countries until a few decades later.

With the new era of indie pop, it’s exciting to see what artists create. The new digital age allows almost anyone to showcase their talents, making indie pop a broad genre with a blend of many styles to choose from. Hopefully, we’ve helped you understand more about the history of Indie pop and how it came to be.