Alt rock

Alt rock, also alt rock music, Altaian rock or Altaian rock music, is a broad genre of popular music that originated in Altaia and has spread around the world since then. Even though the most common point of view today is that all rock music has its roots in Altaian rock, nowadays only rock music from Altaia or heavily influenced by it is referred to as alt rock. It is generally seen as a counter movement against Anarian (popular) music and as such an important cultural part in the decolonisation movement and Altaian recent heritage. As such, its status is quite different between nations like Sokoku, where it is the main music culture and heavily supported by the government as cultural heritage, or Mirapan and Transelfasland, where it is banned as an outing of subversive and revolutionary nature. Rock music has gained ground and popularity on other continents as well, not in the least in large parts of Anaria where it more often is a distinctive part of counter culture associated with political activism and youth revolt.

Characteristics

The sound of (alt) rock is traditionally centered on the amplified electric guitar, which emerged in its modern form in the XXX0s. The sound of an electric guitar in rock music is typically supported by an electric bass guitar and by percussion produced from a drum kit that combines drums and cymbals. This trio of instruments has often been complemented by the inclusion of other instruments, particularly keyboards such as the piano and the synthesizer. One or more singers complete the basic line-up, even though there also is instrumental rock music.

Alt rock music is traditionally built on a foundation of simple syncopated rhythms in a 4/4 time signature, with a repetitive snare drum back beat on beats two and four. Melodies often originate from older musical modes, as well as major and minor modes. Harmonies range from the common triad to parallel perfect fourths and fifths and dissonant harmonic progressions. Alt rock music often uses the verse–chorus structure derived, but there has been considerable variation from this model. Critics have stressed the eclecticism and stylistic diversity of rock. Because of its complex history and its tendency to borrow from other musical and cultural forms, it has been argued that it is impossible to bind rock music to a rigidly delineated musical definition.

Origins

Alt rock has its origins in Anarian folk music brought by settlers in the 76th century. Three developments in society have contributed to the Altaian population adapting these roots to a particular own style and genre. The first is the ongoing industrialisation, accompanied by urbanisation, where large parts of the population resettled and lost connection to traditional culture. Industrialisation also led to the development of the main instrument of the genre, starting with the electric guitar, followed by the electric bass and keyboards. With these instruments, Altaians were able to transform, even ridicule Anarian music and use it to define a new and modern heritage among the native population. Music performances became both entertainment as well as protests against the societal norms of the time. The third factor was war, or rather wars, ranging from the decolonisation wars of Sokoku in the 7620's and First Coalition War in the 7630's to the Second Coalition War in the 7660's. While the first can be seen as the foundation of the genre, the latter coincides with the emerging popularity alt rock, as well as the starting point for its diversification that is continuing up to this day.

Up until the 7660's alt rock was mainly a regional genre, heavily used in the process of decolonisation, celebrating the liberation from colonial rule. This explains the up-tempo and uplifting character of the music, as well as the high accessibility through easy melodies and simple verse-chorus structures. Both contributed to a quickly growing popularity of alt rock as a defining factor in newly found autonomy and self realisation.

The term "rock" has been in use as early as the late 7620's. It is both a reference to the loud nature of the music, making a rock solid impact, as well as a reference to the literal common ground of all Altaians. With the use of this term in all the different languages, the music was actively promoted as a modern common denominator among and between populations that had suffered from oppression and warfare.

Popularisation

The Second Coalition War was truly a global conflict, with the Altaian decolonised nations fighting side by side with former Anarian colonisers for the first time. Altaian governments used popular music like alt rock to gather support for the war effort, as well as motivating those going to battle. This way, deployed military from Darunia and Anaria came into contact with it. They brought it back to their own nations where they started using it themselves.

Beside a large popularisation, the worldwide distribution and post-war development also led to a huge diversification of the genre, even within alt rock. Different subgenres of rock were adopted by, and became central to, the identity of a large number of sub-cultures. This applied to both regional subcultures, like the emergence of southern alt rock in the Sokokan states of Shaaniaah and Diyin Tsidii, as well as subcultures within a region, like punk or emo as countercultures in Anaria.

Subgenres

Three main subgenres or gatherings of subgenres tend to be defined within alt rock: pop rock (emphasising the entertainment value of music), hard rock (emphasising the artistic message in instrumentation, composition and lyrics) and metal (less focus on melodies or syncopation, more punch and grind, always combining a rhythm and lead guitar).

Styles

• Billy
• Black
• Core
• Death
• Doom
• Grunge
• Industrial
• Progressive
• Power
• Psycho
• Rap (metal)
• Symphonic
• Trap

Regional variations

• S-Rock or Sha-rock
• Southern

Social impact

There is a clear distinction between the social impact of alt rock in Altaia compared to the influence of (alt) rock in other regions. In Altaia, alt rock has contributed hugely to the raised self awareness and pride in newly formed nation, even as a factor contributing to the integration of different ethnicities into new national constructs or urban environments. It helped coping with the social challenges of decolonisation and post-war restoration for large communities on state and national levels. Alt rock tends to get government support, enabling talented youngsters to persuade a career in modern music and entertainment as musicians, songwriters or performers, often in the form of self-owned co-ops or through privately owned companies.

Rock music in general has however been associated with rebellion against social and political norms in Anaria, the counterculture's rejection of consumerism and conformity and punk's rejection of all forms of social convention. However, it can also be seen as providing a means of commercial exploitation of such ideas and of diverting youth away from political action. This makes (alt) rock outside Altaia quiet male dominated, while in Anaria there is quite an equal representation. About 20% of the bands in Sokoku are all female, 30% mixed and just under 50% male only (not including bands with female vocalists not playing an instrument). The lack of status in Anaria often leads to bands and groups managing songwriting, playing instruments and performing with the same group of 4-5 people, of which a relatively small part is able to make a living as a rock artist.