When thinking of the term "band" what do you think of? I think of indie rock and pop genres of alternative music. I also think of my favorites bands; specifically, Twenty-One Pilots and The Neighbourhood. These groups embody the term "band" and they describe what it means to be a part of the alternative music genre.
Starting with Twenty-One Pilots; who’ve been together since 2009. The people that make up this duo are vocalist Tyler Joseph and drummer Josh Dun. Tyler came up with the group’s name while studying "All My Sons" by Arthur Miller; he was inspired by the moral dilemma of the story. On December 29, 2009, they released their self-titled album "Twenty-One Pilots."
Following the release of their self-titled album they released "Regional at Best" on July 8, 2011. This was their last self-released album because they were signed to Fueled by Ramen in 2012. This label has launched the careers of Paramore and Fall Out Boy. After being signed they released their debut album "Vessel" on January 8, 2013. Following the release of "Vessel"; Twenty-One Pilots released "Blurryface" on May 17, 2015.
Their career accomplishments speak for themselves, but what makes them different from other alternative mainstream bands? It’s their ability to combine hip hop, electro pop, rock, and indie pop. The way in which they combine these genres allows for them to have a wide array of people attracted to their music.
Additionally, their ability to ignore the mainstream music and focus on what their writing and creative abilities in music is amazing. In an interview with FaceCulture, Joseph stated “…instead of trying to figure out what you know the mainstream music or radio stations…we’ve met these people who are fans…” This statement by Joseph shows how they care more about their fans opinions than the media’s.
Moving forward to The Neighbourhood; who’ve been together since 2011. The people who make up this group are vocalist Jesse Rutherford, guitarists Jeremy Freedman and Zach Abels, bassist Mikey Margott, and drummer Brandon Alexander. They chose the British spelling of ‘neighbourhood’ because they wanted to distinguish themselves from a band who was using the American spelling. The band released their first extended play (EP) "I’m Sorry…" in May of 2012, with their lead singles “Female Robbery” and “Sweater Weather” appearing on the album.
Following the release of "I’m Sorry…" they released their second EP "Thank You" in December of that same year. The lead singles on that EP include “Let It Go” and “A Little Death." After the release of their second EP the group was signed to Columbia Records and they released their debut studio album "I Love You" on April 22, 2013. This album included the lead singles from both EP’s and bonus songs.
In November of that following year the group released a mixtape titled #000000 & #FFFFFF. The meaning of this titled is the HEX color code for black and white. This mixtape was a mix of rock and hip-hop; with features from artist such as French Montana and G-Eazy. After the release of this mixtape; they released their second studio album "Wiped Out!" On October 31, 2015. The singles on this album were “R.I.P 2 My Youth,” “Prey,” and “The Beach."
The Neighbourhood’s ability to combine R&B, hip-hop, and rock makes that the embodiment of alternative music today. Vocalist Jesse Rutherford’s voice gives off an electric vibe and allows for a listener to hear and visualize the song story. They place their souls and personal stories into the music they write; which allows them to connect with a wide array of audiences. The Neighbourhood is currently on a world tour and showing the world why they are here to stay.
These two bands embody what it means to be a part of a genre that embodies real music. These bands have the ability to ignore mainstream media and focus on what is real to them. Lastly, these bands inspire young people to write what is true to heart and about what life truly is.
