A broad genre of guitar-driven music born from independent labels and a do-it-yourself ethos, prizing authenticity over polish. From 1980s college radio to today’s festival headliners, indie rock has repeatedly reshaped mainstream taste. Its artists often write, record, and tour on their own terms — a spirit embodied by acts like Japanese Breakfast. Its cyclical revivals keep guitar music alive as pop trends shift, with each generation finding underground heroes.