The advent of underground music

Having gone through an elaborate era of Rock bands burning the stage, pop stars baring it all, Revolutionary reggae beats, the next stop is at the Underground music junction. The stage is more than set for underground music as the world seems to be moving towards a new genre and the birth of a new generation.

Underground music does not have any specific roots although most people say that its origin lies in the subways and clubs of UK. Underground music is not a part of mainstream music and hence the name sounds appropriate. Underground music is a fusion of various other genres like the Ethnic Fusion music, the rave, the trance, tribal house, alternative, indie rock and electronica. It is a heady and heavy mix of all of the above. Now even sufi beats have got added into the extreme fusion of underground music.

When Alternative Dance married brash, realistic and rebellious lyrics, underground music was born. Although there is a melody in the music and it also has a strong structural base, yet it is referred more as fusion music of sorts. Unlike Rock or pop, underground music has no clear demarcation in terms of the type of sound or lyrics. Some people would like to call it a concoction of electronic beats that are foot tapping as well as carry a political or social message. There will probably never be one single definition for underground music because of the kind of experimentation it goes through. Starting from Sufi to bhangra and rock, and starting from guitar to the violin or sitar, underground music seems to encompass all.

Underground music is mostly associated with the club culture of UK and is a far cry from disco dance based music. Although there is a strong cult of underground music lovers but more often than not, it is regarded as a niche area. Some of the more popular underground music bands or artists are Transglobal Underground, Asian Dub Foundation, Talvin Singh, Nitin Sawney, Natacha Atlas etc. Natacha Atlas is more famous for creating afro Arabic fusion music. She was the lead singers for Transglobal Underground. From Diaspora to dangerous, she has many albums to her credit. Another good underground music band is the Bedouin Ascent though they are more obscure than any of their underground cousins.

Tags: music, underground, UK, Underground music

» Asian Dub Foundation: Enemy of the Enemy
As usual they have their fingers on the pulse of everything that touches the marginalized members of our world - asylum seekers, battered wives, mistreated prisoners, everyone gets a voice.

» Transglobal Underground: Dream of 100 Nations
The transglobal conglomerate have always attempted to mix influences, but still manage to remain fresh and appealing. Many East/West crossovers just take a simple beat and play tablas over the top, but Transglobal Undergound try any instrument they can get their hands on, and back it up with some of the most magical vocals you are likely to hear - and you can still dance to it!