Define Indie Meaning

The term: Short for independent rock. In terms of music it would be independent of major labels/mainstream stuff.

History: grew out from 60s garage, 70s punk, and 80s post punk it started in the mid 80s as alternative/college radio music. Once nirvana hit big the alternative genre split: the popular side was just alternative(Smashing Pumpkins, Hole, No Doubt, etc.) and the other half that wasn't mainstream(by choice or not) became indie rock(Pavement, Sebadoh, Built To Spill, etc).

Some bands have signed to major labels but are still considered indie(Modest Mouse, etc.). Go figure.

Sound: In the begining indie sounded like alternative(because it was) but it grew more experimental and weird. In Britain indie has more of a typical sound like Radiohead, Muse, etc. rather than a definition based on 'the scene.'

The scene: if you really think all indie kids do is try to be cooler than other people then... well.. you're mostly right. The main point is, don't take the scene and the whole hipster attitude seriously. No one does. And if you do, well, then I'm cooler than you.

independent music. The anti-"emo". (well, maybe like emo's second cousin twice-removed with more talent, skill, and IQ)

the state of being "indie":

1)being unable to talk to anyone about your music.

2)but knowing that, in the process, you're way cooler than the kids you try to talk to about it.

It's so hard to be truely 'indie' these days, isn't it? Its seems every time you try not to conform, you're conforming to something else - the non-conformists! Confusing!
But the only way to be indie in a small way is to just do what YOU want, dress how you want, listen to the music you like and everybody else can bugger off. The world doesn't have to see you as cool, there are always some people who think you are.
Nothing to do with scene kids, emos or whatever the hell constitutes as 'indie' these days.

Used to describe 'individual' or unsigned bands, but also, strangely, a genre (usually rock n roll or similar) that may or may not be mainstream.

indie is cooler than emo.

1. Music released on an independent label
2. Any music slightly left of mainstream
3. Not always about lost love, sometimes about Christmas in Zoos and other things often seen while smoking funny stuff

(n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.

it's a word shortened from independent for a reason. indie isn't something you can copy or try to be and it's not supposed to be a sterotype. you can't try to dress like an indie kid because then you'll be a poser. and there's no real definition because indie is whatever everyone else isn't and whatever you are. everyone is trying to make it into a style and it's about the music anyways, and originality

A genre of music derivitive of punk, but recently has become as broad as to encompass electronica and pop, as well as rock.

FACT: Most indie bands are signed to small record labels. Notable exceptions are The Flaming Lips, and Modest Mouse.

FACT: Not all people who listen to indie have to be elitist assholes, although a few are. Such as myself.

FACT: Most indie bands are obscure, whcih makes people who listen to them feel special. Very special.

FACT: Best damn music on the market.

Although often defined as a certain musical category, technically indie would apply to all types of music without a record label. So a person rapping on the corner of a steet without a record label could easily be considered indie just as some weird obscure band. But most people are dumb and dont realize this, so the word indie in general usually applies to rock bands no one heard of.

as a mindset, a movement that revolves around choosing music, clothing and general culture based on their individual benefits and 'pros' so to speak; also could be incarnated in one who isnt overly pretentious because of someone else's opinions. Not to be confused with indie yuppies who are typically malinformed rich white kids, elitist about their tastes whilst not quite having the intellect to back up their own opinions.