International Indie Music
 

I'm always looking to discover new music trends in communities and cultures OTHER than in North America. I don't only do this to compare American underground to that being made in other parts of the world, but unfortunately, since I'm a broke college student, I obviously can't afford to go to these places to actually submerge myself in their local music scenes so this is the closest I get. It's always interesting to hear what indie musicians are producing in Asia, South America and beyond because it really makes me realize that a lot of the bands I listen to from N. America draw a lot of their inspiration and creativity not just from other N. American bands but from other parts of the world. My recent find let me to uncover an amazing music scene in Beijing where a photographer (Matt Niederhauser) has been photo-documenting the Chinese indie music scene for the past few years. I found some pretty amazing bands through him so I'm posting the link below to some of his photography and an article :)


EDIT: I posted 2 recommendations below, if any one else has any international indie bands that they'd like to share, I'd love to take a listen!

any recommendations on what bands to check out?

From China, my favorite so far is a band called Carsick Cars: Carsick Cars Myspace
I especially like the track "Dear Friends"

I also like a band called Hedgehog: Hedgehog Myspace
Specifically the track "Tell Them I Love You"

These bands, at least in my opinion are amazing, I wish they would tour here. Let me know what you think of them!

I'm listening to Carsick Cars right now and my first impression is that it's a pretty damn good album.

The only negative for me is that I don't know Chinese so I can't understand the lyrics and I have no idea what the song titles are, but that'll hardly stop me from listening to them.

I couldn't find Hedgehog's album (Their names to popular) any chance of an upload?

I've been searching for their music for a few weeks now. Unfortunately, I've encountered the same problem you have. I can't find it anywhere so I've just been enjoying them on Myspace. Apparently you can order one of their albums here: MOD in MOD but I haven't been able to find the one I want.

I just found a site that I think you'll love. Over 500 chinese albums and yes Blue Day Dreaming is there.

Check your PM's.

I have an album of Chinese pop from 07, I'm pretty sure theres a Carsick Cars track that's in English.. can't check at the moment but I'm fairly certain. It's called Look Directly Into The Sun: China Pop 2007.. if you like them you might be interested in hearing it.

Thanks, I'd love to hear it. Any chance of an upload though because so far my search has been fruitless.

Yeah not a problem, I'll get it up'ed as soon as I get home tonight. It's much better than I had anticipated honestly, sure there's a few throw away tracks but from the most part it's golden.

Thanks. I really appreciate it. If you'd like the link to the site I pm'd to chrissgerraty let me know. There are a ton of albums so hopefully this album will give me a good starting spot to start working my way through them.

I'd post it in the thread but I've already recieved a warning for posting links to full albums and I'm not really clear if that includes a link to a site that has full albums.