The conventions within an Indie band. A2 Media Studies

1. Conventions in an Indie
music video

2. Clothing
Typically in Indie/ Indie Rock music videos the band wear very laid back casual (sometimes
scruffy looking) clothing to go with their laid back sound. A typical piece of clothing worn in
these videos would be a leather/denim jacket and Doc Martins can sometimes be worn as they are
considered ‘different’.
Arctic Monkey’s ‘why do you only
call me when your high’ video shows
the lead singer in a leather jacket.
Lead singer of 1975 wears both a
leather jacket and Docs in their
music video ‘Girls’
The band of Imagine Dragons wear
both casual and scruffy looking
clothing in their video ‘Its
Time’

3. Framing, expressions and props
The framing of an Indie Band typically shows the lead singer central and at the front. Around him
is then the rest of the band as they tend to stick together promoting themselves as a whole.
If not at the front the band is almost
always (At some point) shot together in
their music video.
The 1975 – Chocolate
Facial expressions in indie
bands music videos tend to be
minimal. Instruments in a band are very
important. Most bands tend to
use, guitar, drums, vocalist
and bassist. However not all
bands what to be seen in their
music videos as that’s not
what their music is about.
These bands tend to stick to
pure narrative based music
videos.

4. Camera shots, editing, Setting
Close ups of the lead singer tends
to be used in Indie music videos,
associating them with their style of
music and showing of their facial
expressions. Close ups of other
members can also be used for example
the drummer playing.
Long/Medium shots showing of the whole
band. Showing a unity of the band and
their style of music.
Settings if Indie music
videos tend to be more
Urban, e.g. backstreets
and brick walls. The band
can also be seen to
perform in a high key
studio, recording studio
or pub.
Straight cut editing is
extremely common in Indie
bands and are used
repeatedly. Some indie bands
will play with the speed of
their editing using
slow/fast motion within a
narrative part. Black and
white is a repeated theme
throughout Indie music
videos.

5. The different types of Indie music videos
1. Pure band.
This style of video will show the band in a
studio practising/playing, it may also show
them out doing normal things (e.g. in a car/
shopping). This style of video is pure hand
held and looks like it has been filmed by the
band itself. Many indie bands use this style
so their music video focuses simply on their
sound.
2. Both performance and Narrative.
This style of music video is the most common
from an Indie Band. The band will be seen in a
studio or on location (e.g. against a wall or
ally), the band will play their instruments.
Other shots will follow some kind of narrative
usually not including the band itself but other
actors, this usually follows the theme of love
showing a couple, or youth showing a party.
3. Pure Narrative
A pure narrative based video doesn’t show the band
at all (it is unlikely they will act in this video)
the theme will be based upon love, youth or a main
theme linking with the lyrics. This video will be
more like a short story than a music video.