Even with stigmas against certain music genres, people are still able to express themselves musically. Mainstream genres emerge from popular taste and trends that are accessible through social media. Apps such as TikTok cause certain songs to catapult into mainstream music.
Underground music, however, may not have much influence on the public, but it can influence an individual’s self-expression. Students at SCHS remarked on how less well-known music gives them the freedom to be unique and authentic.
Theater director and teacher Angelo Reyes reflected on how underground music has developed. When Reyes first thinks of underground music, New York City rap is his first thought. He reminisced on how artists used to sell cassette tapes from their cars.
“It kind of started like that, initially, because I don’t think society was ready for rap music. They weren’t hiding there, but they just could not get publicity and producers,” Reyes said. “They would just sell tapes to the neighborhood, or to people that like that type of music.”
Comparing underground music to mainstream music, Reyes acknowledged that popular music is more accepted throughout society, and genres like rap have now become more well-known.
“Rap was more in your face and talking about the struggles of the neighborhood and the people in the neighborhood. They were cursing in their songs,” Reyes said. “Mainstream is clean and more accepted by society as a whole. And even today, rap is a lot bigger and a lot more popular.”
Apart from mainstream music’s societal acceptance, Reyes discussed how the music in his local area was more relatable because it talked about the struggles people were experiencing in his time.
“If it wasn’t my neighborhood, it was like my neighborhood, more raw and more in your face, and more talk about police officers, and the stuff that they do that they shouldn’t be doing and politicians,” Reyes said. “I think that people just weren’t ready for it at the time. Now it’s huge.”
Junior Samira Ahemed had a different perspective of underground and mainstream music in terms of the different themes it has.
“I guess the difference between underground and mainstream music is mostly stylistic and then also the type of people and the amount of streams that it has. I guess stylistically, it tends to be more experimental,” Ahemed said.
Another major aspect of music is the symbolism and meaning that come with the lyrics. Ahemed emphasized how there are different elements in underground music that listeners can relate to.
“Indie and rock definitely have a lot of themes of feeling lonely. The other thing to talk about that I can relate to, especially when I was younger, is about mental health issues,” Ahemed said. “That’s something that happens for a lot of people.”
Finding underground music has its own ways, and for Ahemed, it is exploring whatever comes her way through different platforms. As a child, she was online a lot and was able to expose herself to music that was not popular then but is now.
“I have a lot of online friends who are interested in the same music as I am,” Ahemed said. “There’s other platforms like Last FM… and even on Spotify recommended.”
Along with Ahemed’s preferences of music from different areas, freshman Mikey Yuan lived in China, which impacted his taste in music.
“I mostly listened to just English songs, but I sometimes listen to Chinese songs, but I can’t find them anymore in the U.S.” Yuan said.
In general, music can mean something different for each individual. Yuan mentioned how he puts on music in the background, so it is not as meaningful for him.
“For others, it might be a way to express their thoughts. For me, I like different playlists with different feelings with them,” Yuan said. “I just play them, like what I’m feeling for the day.”
Senior Kabir Sahni discovered underground music by listening to music during car rides. When with his parents, he found material that is not popular among Generation Z. Sahni acknowledged that the type of environment one is surrounded by influences what kind of music one listens to.
“Spending time with different people you know, you have to dedicate time towards finding underground music, like doing some internet searches, surfing YouTube, things like that,” Sahni said. “When you’re doing homework or you’re busy with something, you’re gonna want to stick to your traditional 20-song playlist.”
In addition to mainstream music, many believe there might be a perceived stigma against popular music. Sahni emphasized how if he listened to mainstream music, he might receive backlash from certain people.
“Because they’re like, ‘Everybody listens to that.’ You may be considered superior in a different club if you listen to music that not everybody else typically listens to,” Sahni said. “I think that it’s also important to listen to mainstream because from the mainstream, you can branch out into underground music.”
Yuan had similar opinions to Sahni about mainstream music and the stigma surrounding it.
“I think the reason why a lot of people have a lot of stigma towards mainstream music is because they’re played very frequently. If you listen to them every day, it will definitely get annoying,” Yuan said.
Freshman Lucas Ackerman also believes it is difficult to keep up with mainstream music trends because they are always changing. He believes people should not give much thought to trying what is popular at the moment.
“If people don’t like it and you like it, then do your own thing. Listen to it,” Ackerman said.
With underground and mainstream music, Reyes mentioned that it is important to be open to various aspects of entertainment.
“I think it’s a good thing to expose yourself to all types of things, especially music and food and other things that can open your appetite to other things,” Reyes said.