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From cigarettes to dance music with synthesizers, are we witnessing the resurface of the 2000s with the Indie Sleaze aesthetic, & and do we welcome it?
Indie Sleaze lived from the mid-2000s to 2012. Many will argue it lived longer, but they’re mixing up the Tumblr era with Indie Sleaze. The pursuit of pleasure was all these people were in search of. Indie sleaze’s hedonistic nightlife was a pushback to the 2007 recession; it stems from the revival of New York indie rock. Everything from the music to the fashion had roots to the 80s electronic/dance culture & he punk movement. Abnormal hair, bright-colored tights, second-hand clothing, & even fedoras (painfully) were everywhere & the staple for many. The fashion had no requirement & was spontaneous, sloppy even.
The music defines this era as a movement in the culture. You can hear the richness of the anger & the need for change through these songs. The songs have a dreamlike sound & an otherworldly vibe. Even though some songs came before Indie Sleaze was at its peak, they still heavily influenced the era. Some songs are:
● The Strokes: Reptilia
● Interpol: Evil
● Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Heads Will Roll
● LCD Soundsystem: Dance Yrself Clean
● Justice: D.A.N.C.E
● Daft Punk: One More Time
● MGMT: Time to Pretend
● Digitalism: Pogo
● Washed Out: Feel It All Around
● The Rapture: Echoes
● Passion Pit: Sleepyhead
● M.I.A: Paper Planes
● Grimes: Genesis
● Phoenix: 1901
● Crystal Castles: Vanished
● Sky Ferreira: Everything is Embarrassing
Due to the pandemic in 2020, many are saying a revival of the era is coming from the surface
of society because of the isolation we went through. However, I don’t believe Indie Sleaze can ever fully come back. It was a once-in-a-lifetime event. It was a beautiful moment in our culture that happened & ended too soon. Gen Z romanticizes experiences that we didn’t live through. So, the “new” Indie Sleaze will not be the same. But that doesn’t mean that the new version is bad. We’re making our interpretation of Indie Sleaze. Partying & smoking, whatever the hell people are smoking now, is actively creating another movement in the culture. One example that’s been big in the media is Charli XCX’s latest album, Brat. The album can arguably be considered a part of the “new” Indie Sleaze revival because of its electronic dance songs & features with The Dare, Yung Lean, & A.G. Cook.
The only thing that could help us get closer to an actual Indie Sleaze revival would be
another world-shocking event like one more insane recession that would scare people so badly that it would make them live more freely. Though we’ve already been through many world-shocking events, it hasn’t pushed us to our breaking limit of carefree dancing & “shit-posting” on Instagram. The 2007 recession took a lot away from the people & they felt unsure & scared of what the times would bring them in the future, so they always partied like it was their last.
The romanticization of the era today has brought many artists to light because of their
similar sound & aesthetic: Snow Strippers, The Dare, The Hellp, Suzy Sheer, MGNA Crrrta, Damon R, Salum, & 2Hollis, to name a few. They touch more on the electronic dance music side & their styles are rooted in the ever-so-skinny jeans & tight everything. For the users of the Indie Sleaze aesthetic, their outfits have stayed pretty much the same
with just additional layers. However, I don’t believe they fall as effortlessly as the ones during
the era. Short shorts, fur coats, & vintage Diesel boots are all overly priced on Depop because of the new rise in popularity. We’ve taken what we like about the 2000s fashion & have left what we judge. The smeared party girl makeup, side part, micro bangs, & a cigarette in hand are just the finishing touches. (Smoking a cigarette is cool again, by the way.)
The “revival” of Indie Sleaze will always be questioned. However, it’s the output &
execution of the youth’s hunger for reliving the past that makes this question be brought up
frequently. The era was so beautiful & will never be topped in the sense of community &
understanding between the people. It was a matter of circumstances where everything happened at just the right time, bringing artists to light that changed the trajectory of our lives forever. Indie Sleaze influences are everywhere if you look hard enough. I’m sure we’ll talk about another Indie Sleaze revival in ten years, but that time, it’s romanticizing the form of Indie Sleaze in 2024. So yes, I guess I could say Indie Sleaze is back, but was it ever gone?
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