Remember when hearing voices used to be a bad thing? You don't have to worry anymore. It's okay to listen to the voices; that's assuming they aren't coming from the neighbor's dog and commanding you to do bad things that any true man's best friend would never ask you to do. Hearing and listening to the voices can be viewed as a badge of honor and serve as validation that you march to the
beat of a different drummer, unless that drummer is the neighbor's dog. Listening to the voices is your statement to world, that you're capable of independent thought and ideas. This independence is especially important in the music you choose to listen to and share with your friends. Thanks to the Internet and by extension social media, your choices of music no longer have to be limited to what is dictated by commercial radio and the music industry.
The Internet is often legitimately criticized for its dark side - the breakdown of interpersonal communication, harassment, the end of civility and decency, and the rise in hate speech and bullying. However, this same kind of deplorable behavior occurs in real life too, most likely perpetrated by people who are a little too easily influenced by what their neighbor's dog has to say. The Internet, like "real life," can also be a positive and progressive environment, a collective community, an all-access, barrier-free venue for creative voices that have traditionally been muffled by the clamor of commercialism and its ensuing passive herd mentality, especially when it comes to music.
Thanks to innovations in technology, from the comfort of your own home or at your fingertips from almost anywhere in the world, at any hour of the day or night, you have access to independent music voices of your choosing, telling their stories and singing their songs. These are the voices it's okay to listen to. They are voices in touch with every day people because they come from every day people, speaking up, singing out, and echoing shared sentiments and experiences. They are voices that aren't diluted, distracted or ruled by profits, downloads or clicks. They are the voices of the masses, uninsulated and unencumbered by fame, riches or privilege and all of their accompanying hollow perks. They are voices like yours, fueled and inspired by real-world concerns and desires - holding relationships together or letting them go, coping with life's edges, searching for answers in the shadows, and trying to make ends meet - economically, emotionally, and interpersonally. Listen to the voices. They are the voices that matter and they have familiar stories to tell.
Click on the videos below to hear the voices of five independent musicians and the stories they have to tell.
Breakdown by Ila Minori
Ila Minori is an independent singer songwriter from San Antonio, Texas. You can hear more of her music on her Bandcamp page and on YouTube.
Bullet Holes by Morgan B
Morgan B is an independent musician from British Columbia, Canada whose weapon of choice is the ukulele. You can hear more of her original music and cover tunes on YouTube.
Kirvin Streetman's Sugar Bride Blues by The Prof.Fuzz 63
The Prof.Fuzz 63 is an indie rock band from Dallas, Texas. You can hear more of their music on their Bandcamp page.
Cobain by Chain of Lynx
Chain of Lynx is an Indie rock band from Newfoundland, Canada. You can hear
I Hope You Die Screaming by Octopus/Caveman
Octopus/Caveman is an independent musician from Huntington Beach, California with several albums to his credit. You can hear more of his music on iTunes and on YouTube.