Music's Important Ingredient: Nostalgia

Over the years music has changed vastly. I think that is something that everyone can agree on. Although it has taken on immense tweaks and changes of the sorts, I believe it's safe to say that one very important detail has engraved itself into society, as well as music culture.

Nostalgia.

With artists today in the Indie music scene such as Lana Del Rey, Florence + the Machine, BORNS, and many more, we can hear something very similar in all of their music. It has this power to transcend us beyond this place that today's generation is almost 'too' used to being in. Now, this is not a hate article on modern or mainstream music, but if you're reading this article then it may be because you're curious about this subject and why it is you enjoy music so much that sounds like it was birthed from a completely different decade.

Fleetwood Mac, The Who, Elton John - these are all just a fraction of the artists that I consider, and most will agree, the greats of music. What do they all have in common? Organic material. These bands weren't over produced, because most of these techniques didn't exist in the classic rock/pop era. This was back in a time when music itself was written and produced on pure feeling and with the intent to get the artist's message out there and alive. I think this is something we lack a lot of in mainstream music.

Nostalgia has made quite the impression on music in one way or another. Music fans who are in touch with varied genres, I find, love that Indie music today has a touch of something that has been lost from music for awhile now. The organic feel and love that music needs in order to breathe. Musicians in the Indie scene provide this effortlessly, because why? They're different. They strive to sound different, to perform different, and to accelerate their art. And most importantly, they know what it takes to make a song relative to their audience. Something I find mainstream artists at times have trouble achieving.

“Someday my pain will mark you” ― Justin Vernon

Bottom line is, people love the idea of leaving their current state of mind. Nostalgia allows them to do this. Reminiscing about something makes people happy, so when you can see or hear that through art, it tends to do the trick and get you hooked.

The Indie genre as a whole provides this for those who seek a different feeling from music than what is typically spoon fed to us. It's derived from music that made people feel something.

More Indie artists are making their way into mainstream music, which means a whole different type of music is being presented to today's youth. Lorde being one of them, whose music was different enough to get people obsessed and current enough to make them stay interested.

So there you have it ladies and gentlemen. In a society where generic everything is shoved down our throats, it's good to know that there's still something fresh and meaningful left in our time. So if you've ever wondered why you're currently loving Lana Del Rey or maybe Bon Iver, then perhaps you are really digging the intense feeling of real music and what it means to actually feel it.

While not always achievable, it is out there. You just have to listen a little harder.