Indie music is defined by its spirit of independence, experimentation, and boundary-pushing creativity, rather than by a specific sound or style. As such, it's common for indie artists to draw inspiration from a wide range of musical influences and incorporate elements from various genres into their work.

As a genre term, "indie" may or may not comprise independently produced music. Many independent music artists do not fall into a single defined musical style or genre, with their self-published music being able to be categorized into diverse genres without the expectations associated with commercial music.

Characteristics. The term indie rock, which comes from "independent", describes the small and relatively low-budget labels on which it is released and the do-it-yourself attitude of the bands and artists involved.

Indie rock combines the guitar-based, driving rhythm of rock with that signature gritty indie sound. This subgenre usually follows a pop form but doesn't try to appeal to mainstream trends or commercial demands.