The Music Industry and the Indie Artist

 It is no secret that the world of music is filled with stories of mainstream artists and their rise to fame and fortune and in contrast; all those who put everything they had on the line and did not get to live out the dream of becoming a star in all the glory and fortune that has been formed around the mythical industry that is music.

But there is a part of the music industry that is far detached from the superficial façade of stardom and relies on smaller scale musicians that have a niche fan base who enjoys art that is not necessarily of the most accessible kind. This is the indie scene, where many movements that have later on become mainstream have started and is the hub for new art, ideas and evolution. 

 

My interview with Roberto García gave me a very interesting and in-depth look at this part of the industry and how even if it is not the most profitable and commercial, it still has a lot to offer to the creative industry complex and a lot of work and different kinds of jobs are directly tied to it.

García-Catalán is a Spanish drummer that has played in bands and been involved with music for the better part of the past ten years, being the drummer for Chloral, a signed band for the past three. Roberto was quick to point out the importance of the internet and putting work out there in the beginning, of the interview, by stating that even though the process of signing a contract is not easy (from a moral, creative and logistic standpoint) none of that process would have been possible if they had not been contacted by the label after they heard their first release through the Bandcamp platform. 

 

García-Catalán makes a very interesting point when he mentions his relationship with art and drumming, as it has gone from being a hobby to being part of his craft, which makes him strive for personal betterment in order to perform as best as he can now that he does it on a professional level.

The sense of commitment to art that García expressed throughout the interview was loud and clear in his words and how he manages to explain the intricacies of having a job that’s very non-traditional and can become stressful at times. Roberto mentions that being in an indie band has strange schedules and intermittent pay, which forces him to look for other ways to make ends meet or continue to study for another profession. In his words: “It’s always good to have a plan B, because its’ never easy when your art is mixed in the process.”

 

The relationship between art and commerce has been disputed many times and it probably lingers in the back of the head of anyone who considers themselves an artist, including García-Catalán but this does not stop him from enjoying his job, his work and even being able to juggle between other work and personal hobbies.