Genres: Finding Your Sound in the Indie Music World 🎵

Rock, Pop, Jazz, Blues… and so on. Genres help a listener, DJ, distributor, radio station, or record company quickly understand your musical vibe.

Most distributors have a selection list of main genres you can click through on their sites. The same goes for most radio stations—they want to know “where to put you” so to speak, and it compartmentalizes your music personality.

That’s fine and good, but here’s the thing—Indie artists often mash different styles within a single song, let alone an entire album! We might be cross-genre and niche-oriented at the same time. So… what’s an Indie to do?

At Keltstache Music, we like to think of ourselves as an “Indie Stew” of cross-genre goodness—a recipe full of musical tidbits, vibes, and beats. Unfortunately, “Indie Stew” isn’t a checkbox on most distributor sites. With the constant evolution of new sounds, especially in the indie music community (because we do love to experiment, don’t we?), describing your musical personality—whether for a single, an album, or your overall sound—can be a real challenge.

These days, we believe Indie is a genre in its own right—not just a label for artists who aren’t signed to a major. “Indie” now translates to a style that’s independent, boundary-pushing, and free of an overlord’s scowl. It’s a base word you can use to describe your art if you choose.

Then there’s the world of sub-genres—the secret sauce that gives clarity. Take Metal, for example: there’s Doom, Death, Melodic, Black, Viking, Psych, and more. Country has its own branches—Country Rock, Country Swing, Country Western, and so on. Adding a sub-genre not only narrows the description but paints a clearer picture for your audience.

For my own band, we vacillate between “Indie Alt Rock” and “Eccentric Alt Rock.” Those two seem to satisfy everyone (so far). Sure, we could go with “Indie Eccentric Alt Rock” or “Alternative Eccentric Melodic Indie Rock,” but that’s pure overload. Sometimes, one well-chosen tweak—like Eccentric—can do a lot to set the vibe. And yes, we still use our “Indie Stew” phrase when it feels right.

Will we stick with these two main descriptors forever? Probably not. Each tune has its own flavor, and every artist is different. You know your music better than anyone, so pick your main genre, sub-genre, and maybe a little custom twist—then roll with it.

As always—you’re INDIE. Go with your gut. It’s all good, fam!
– Kimbo 🎸