Sleepy township: Perth indie rock in the 1990s

Abstract

Indie rock came of age in the 1990s, transitioning from its status as an industrial classification, a set of stylistic markers and a form of sub-cultural identification to a recognisable branding tool for major labels and mass media. In Perth, Western Australia, this process was framed through specific geographical and socio-cultural circumstances including the city's isolation and the existence of a strong middle class, which gave rise to a regionalized articulation of specific identity politics. Utilizing interviews with artists, promoters, managers and industry personnel who occupied key roles in the Perth music industry in the 1990s, this article discusses the various factors that contributed to the popularity of indie rock in Perth throughout the decade and explains the prominent role that the city played in articulating and influencing Australia's national music culture during this time.

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