Born essentially as a break from industry norms on how to make music, the indie style was conceived by musicians who were tired of being tied to a capitalist style of producing and consuming art. This revolution was much driven by the 70s punk movement happening in the US and UK, that later on would bring this type of “do-it-yourself” music to Brazil, between the 80s and 90s. Small music labels and low budget music-making are the epitome of these productions. Derived from the word “independent”, being indie is counterculture, and goes far beyond music: it can involve fashion, identity and political ideology — it means being independent from an oppressive system, making art by themselves just because they can and want to.
Later on, this way of making music began to be directly associated with alternative music, since the majority of indie ways of production were adopted by alternative artists. And with that, the indie style quickly transformed itself into a music genre: songs that were far away from the mainstream hits. To this day it is very difficult to label an artist, a song or a production as indie — what exactly has it turned into? This type of discussion is a very heated debate in the Brazilian music scene, mainly because people tend to worry if something is “indie enough”. It’s hard to make a final decision, but maybe that’s exactly what makes art so special and subjective.
Taking a closer look at Brazil’s history with indie music, comparing the present days to some years ago, it’s possible to notice an increase in the number of independent artists, especially indie bands. With production costs getting lower, including the materials needed to make music, it’s easier to bring ideas to life. Spotify and other music platforms also deserve credit for that: everyday, people easily discover new artists and are free to explore and float between their songs. As more people enter the industry as independent artists, it’s easy to see why this musical style is becoming so popular — all kinds of musicians become interested in the freedom to create and explore different styles of indie music.
After understanding how this genre is present in Brazilian music-making, take a look at some of the best names in Brazilian indie!
O Grilo
Since its debut in the industry in 2017, O Grilo has explored almost all the diverse genres that Brazilian music has to offer: blending rock, pop, samba, MPB and even some funk beats, this band is one of the most famous in the indie scene. Their work is based on Brazilian identity, using the captivating rhythm to compose lyrics that range from cultural insights to a deep dive into existentialism and even exploring the beauty of nonsense.
“We used to joke that the best time to exchange references was in Teixeira’s [O Grilo’s drummer] car on the way to the music studio”- that’s how Pedro Martins, the vocalist, described the band’s musical repertoire development and a possible creative process during an interview for Her Campus Casper Libero, when talking about their first album Você Não Sabe de Nada.
They present themselves as a band that truly isn’t afraid to experiment, even though they’re already established as a staple of Brazilian indie. The song Me Deixe Só, is the opening track from their album Tudo Acontece Agora Pt.1 and reflects their creative way of exploring metalanguage in music making:
Varanda
Early before releasing their first album, Beirada, in 2024, Varanda has been forming their way through the music industry since 2021, releasing singles that flow between indie pop, alt rock and MPB. Beyond the evolving instrumental, what really catches eyes (and ears) are the lyrics: poetically describing everyday life, the band captivated the indie lovers from the very start.
With intimate songs and rhythms, some of their influences come from Milton Nascimento and Lô Borges, but bringing a more contemporary side of the nuances of romance and love itself. Creating an almost “dreamlike look and sound” to their productions, the name of the group (Varanda, which freely translates to “balcony”) even matches their aesthetic: “The associations appeared — that sunnier, landscape-like vision — but that was a coincidence”, as described by the band, in an interview for the news website Vou de Grade.
In this song, Bahia e Aviões, Varanda radiates authenticity and emotion when talking about memories in a heartfelt way:
Sophia Chablau e Uma Enorme Perda de Tempo
It’s nearly impossible to talk about indie music without mentioning Sophia Chablau e Uma Enorme Perda de Tempo. Their first team up was during a live performance at Rio de Janeiro, and after this initial experience, the chemistry between the artists was way too strong to ignore. So, they decided to team up beyond the stage, straight to the studio. Eclectic and experimental, the band is a major standout on the indie scene, mainly due to their focus on production and commitment to explore all the different genres Brazilian music has to offer.
Their references split off from the eurocentrism found in most musical productions. Where many see disruption and oddity, Sophia Chablau e Uma Enorme Perda de Tempo sees an opportunity to stand out by using the different peculiarities as a political and sincere way of making rock music.
And their political activism isn’t limited to their music: during a concert in São Paulo, the band faced censorship when they displayed the words “Free Palestine” alongside the country’s flag on the big screen. “Rock is defiance; it’s transgression. We’re sad because our show has always been political” are the words of Sophia Chablau about the boycott. This proves once again that alternative music as a whole is not limited to the artistic field, and that its political dimensions are just as important as the musical productions themselves.
With metaphorical lyrics that mix poetization and raw language whileen exploring themes such as love and the essence of living, Sophia Chablau e Uma Enorme Perda de Tempo brings a thrilling expressiveness to their music. In this song, Embaraço Total, the band deep dives into the dilemmas in a relationship:
Clara Bicho
A truly multifaceted artist, Clara Bicho is a musician, visual artist and journalist that manages to include all of her artistic skills in her songs. Clara explores romantic lyrics about introspection, mixing peaceful rhythms with an edgy climax on a synth pop production, making her own version of indie alt rock. She’s also a multi-instrumentalist who makes full use of her skills, bringing even more authenticity to her works.
A recurring theme in Clara Bicho’s songs is the everyday beauty: in an interview for Noize magazine, the artist admitted she likes to “take a closer look at what goes unnoticed”, appreciating the simplicity and charm of daily life.
Being a many-sided artist helps to enhance her musical production, building visual aesthetics that complement the sound experience of her works.The music video for the song Telejornal Animal uses the visuals to convey the playful aspects of the lyrics, complementing the message of bringing lightheartedness and affection to escape monotony:
Glote
Focusing on well-designed instrumentals and building their major strength on musicality, Glote isn’t afraid to explore the musical world beyond lyrics. The band has a significant influence from video game soundtracks and 90’s anime, using digital sound effects to create a glitchy immersive setting in the technological and almost dreamlike productions.
In the group’s description on Spotify, writer Yael Carvalho Torres characterizes Glote’s songs as “an unstable interval between tamed notes”, perfectly portraying the route the band takes when connecting sensations and building the song’s narratives in an almost sinesthesic and unsettling way. In live performances, the band’s visuals are also an important part of the show, guiding the audience’s gaze along the same path as the ears.
Among the few lyrics that compose some of the songs, the beauty in exploring life’s subjectivity and melancholy is Glote’s main theme. In this song, WXNDY, the band features a more romantic instrumental arrangement with verses that express the lightness of finally giving over to love:
The future for indie remains bright
With a wide range of references and representations, Brazilian’s indie scene remains one of the most diverse in global music. That’s exactly the most fun part, which is so characteristic of this music style: wandering from rock and alternative sounds to samba and MPB, a mix between established musical fundamentals, genres that originated in Brazil and anything that might come up in the process.
In a conversation with Danislau, member of the band Porcas Borboletas — which began their productions in the mid-2000s —, the artist reveals that this new generation of musicians is “very much fearless and full of hope”. For Danislau, this is one of the best things that could have happened to strengthen the Brazilian indie scene: “it’s the freedom to create without major constraints; that’s pure art”.
The article above was edited by Eloá Costa.
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