"No Indie, just House mate" Has music died?

About 15 geezers are stood at the end of the garden at a house party and the question is suddenly asked; “alright who’s going on the aux?”. Eyes dart around the circle as people excuse themselves due to stingy data packages, as someone pipes up that they have a “fire soundcloud”. He is coaxed to plug in, and his fate is sealed by the words “No Indie, just House mate”.

It has been a long time since the band were cool in the UK. You search the charts and you hear bland pop stars, faceless Tropical House DJs and Atlanta Trap. The masses believe that guitar music hit its peak in 2007 with Arctic Monkey’s ‘Favourite Worst Nightmare’ and that anything after that really cannot be beaten. Guitars aren’t cool and nor are bands, don’t think of playing anything other than Mr Brightside. For most, indie music should remain on the soundtrack of The Inbetweeners and for teenagers that spend their days in British Heart Foundation and evenings on Tumblr. The modern Brit teenager wants to spend their weekends huffing Nos bought on Amazon, not examining the relationship between Peter Doherty and Carl Barat.

Dance music is cool. Dance music is really cool. Although always a subcultural stronghold in the UK, within the past five years we have witnessed a shift in musical mindset. The default used to be guitars, now everyone wants to be shuffling. This Summer, festival goers will not be able to avoid any genre of dance, whether it be House, DnB, Garage or anything in-between- it is everywhere. The size of this year’s Culture Clash held at the O2 just goes to prove that there is a huge market for dance music. The uniform has been set; Nike TNs, shotting bags and something from Basement- and people are following it. E is on the rise, and so are the amount of Brittish kids skanking.

Indie isn’t dead. People may not want them at their parties, but that isn’t stopping them from popping up everywhere. From the all out synth//guitar mess of Yak, the melodic bop of The Magic Gang and the Reading based swoon of Sundara Karma- there is something special just waiting to go supersonic. It isn’t just the small bands that are paving the way for an indie resurgence, the torchbearers may come from the most unlikely of Manchester bands. 18 months ago I would have scoffed at anyone who claimed that The 1975 were anything but crap. But when you listen to their new album, watch their live shows and weigh up Matt Healy as a true indie hero. Maybe, just maybe they have the clout to knock dance music of their sweaty, streetwear podium.