How do you describe your own music to people who don't care that much about music?

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I mean, I'm in a band that uses guitars, and I'm stuck for what to say when people ask, "What kind of music do you play?" Sometimes I've said "indie" even though I don't think it's indie, just because I know THEY would describe it as indie cos of the guitars. "Pop" seems like a bland non-answer. "Rock and roll" doesn't work, you imagine that they imagine you're doing 50s covers. Most often, I've strung a few adjectives together (dramatic, malicious, sorrowful, graceful...) and known it doesn't decribe anything simply - or accurately - enough. How do you deal with the neccessity of pigeonholing yourself?

― Eyeball Kicks (Eyeball Kicks), Wednesday, 16 October 2002 23:12 (twenty-three years ago)

I say it's got hot beats.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 16 October 2002 23:17 (twenty-three years ago)

When you're saying that do you take into account what the other person would understand by 'hot beats'? Because that's so vague that their opinion of 'hot beats' would over-rules yours, I reckon. Do you care what they understand you to have said? Like, if you're in a very proudly 'indie' band (influenced by Sonic Youth and Pavement, maybe), would you say you're indie even when someone's gonna assume you're like Oasis?

― Eyeball Kicks (Eyeball Kicks), Wednesday, 16 October 2002 23:29 (twenty-three years ago)

I say 'guitar pop' and then refuse to discuss it anymore.

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Thursday, 17 October 2002 00:04 (twenty-three years ago)

"a lot of different stuff"

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Thursday, 17 October 2002 00:18 (twenty-three years ago)

"erm, well, kind-of left-field guitar noise with, ah, dance beats and funky bass, with, er, me trying to sing over the top, have you heard of MBV? No, errr, well kimd of like that anyway"

― Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Thursday, 17 October 2002 01:33 (twenty-three years ago)

We just do what we do, and if anyone else likes it, it's a bonus.

― Charlie (Charlie), Thursday, 17 October 2002 01:43 (twenty-three years ago)

David Bowie had a good answer. When Bing Crosby asked him what sort of music he played during their Christmas special, he replied, "contemporary stuff mostly."

― John Hutchison, Thursday, 17 October 2002 10:00 (twenty-three years ago)

WE MAKE SOUNDS WITH MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS!

― jel -- (jel), Thursday, 17 October 2002 10:18 (twenty-three years ago)

"You wouldn't like it, philistine."

― dave225 (Dave225), Thursday, 17 October 2002 10:27 (twenty-three years ago)

"Experimental rock." I usually find that vague enough.

― Nick A., Thursday, 17 October 2002 11:59 (twenty-three years ago)

I figure hot beats can't be a bad thing in someone's mind no matter what they're thinking of, so they can think whatever they'd like.

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 17 October 2002 17:12 (twenty-three years ago)

People usually say "Your a weirdo" or "Great more suicide music". See people in this part of Massachusetts think The Bizkit and Creed are the saviors of music as we know it. I usually tell people "You won't like it, there are no fat white rappers or white thrash in it."

― Chris V. (Chris V), Thursday, 17 October 2002 17:14 (twenty-three years ago)

I say "emo". I don't really think our music sounds emo at all, but it seems to be what people want to hear. Who am I to deny them that simple pleasure?

Sometimes I say "trip-hop", for variety's sake.

― Chris Piuma, Thursday, 17 October 2002 17:35 (twenty-three years ago)

I hate trying to describe my music. If I can, I'll let them hear some of it, and then watch in horror.

― dleone (dleone), Thursday, 17 October 2002 18:05 (twenty-three years ago)

Pop/rock works. The vaguer the better.

― aaron W., Thursday, 17 October 2002 18:32 (twenty-three years ago)

If they don't care about it, then why should you care so much to come up with a good reply?

― donut bitch (donut), Thursday, 17 October 2002 18:35 (twenty-three years ago)

"explosive motor, wind, heartbeat and landslide"

― bob zemko (bob), Thursday, 17 October 2002 19:20 (twenty-three years ago)

When I had a band I used to ask people to list some bands they know/like, and if any were remotley like we were, i'd say kinda like that.

― g (graysonlane), Thursday, 17 October 2002 19:53 (twenty-three years ago)

I'd say my music is in my head.

― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Thursday, 17 October 2002 19:59 (twenty-three years ago)

For the few (mostly elderly relatives) for whom the answer "guitar pop/rock" still elicited blank stares, the lowest-common-denominator answer of choice was always:

::big sigh::

"kind of like the Beatles"

...but slower, quieter, etc.

― Jen, Thursday, 17 October 2002 20:03 (twenty-three years ago)

Sometimes a reverse approach is good.

Them: "What kind of music do you like?"
Me: "Celine Dion, that kind of thing"
Them: "Er.. really?"
Me: "Naah, just kidding"

A feeling of instant kinship ensues.

― Alfie (Alfie), Thursday, 17 October 2002 20:18 (twenty-three years ago)

I just tell them "its a mix between Opera and Country and Western", that tends to keep them busy for about a half an hour.

― Lord Custos Omega (Lord Custos Omega), Thursday, 17 October 2002 22:04 (twenty-three years ago)

cheesy or noise, depends who is asking

― luke (luke), Friday, 18 October 2002 09:17 (twenty-three years ago)

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