Lately I've been listening to a lot of Passion Pit and Owl City. Some of you may recall that both of these acts were huge circa 2008 through 2011 or 2012.

They both still make music but they seem to have somewhat disappeared from the spotlight, right around the time Bruno Mars, Miley Cyrus, Lorde and others began to take off. It seems the same could be said of indie rock and indie folk - they should have defined the 2010s. Does anyone else get this sense for either of these genres? What do you suppose happened?

Lately I've been listening to a lot of Passion Pit and Owl City. Some of you may recall that both of these acts were huge circa 2008 through 2011 or 2012.

They both still make music but they seem to have somewhat disappeared from the spotlight, right around the time Bruno Mars, Miley Cyrus, Lorde and others began to take off. It seems the same could be said of indie rock and indie folk - they should have defined the 2010s. Does anyone else get this sense for either of these genres? What do you suppose happened?


it did happen lol

I meant what happened as in why indietronica didn't become the definitive 2010s genre.

I meant what happened as in why indietronica didn't become the definitive 2010s genre.


it morphed into a more imagine dragons generic sound

it morphed into a more imagine dragons generic sound


This, but I would include music from Selina Gomez, Halsey, Sia, etc. They incorporate "indietronica" in their songs.The aspects are usually just more generic and heavily recycled.

Maybe it was meant to be the sound of the late 2000's / early 2010's instead.

Maybe it was meant to be the sound of the late 2000's / early 2010's instead.


This too. A lot of genres are more popular during the turning of decades than through the entire decade.

EDM is the definitive sound of this decade but indie is popular too.

Lately I've been listening to a lot of Passion Pit and Owl City. Some of you may recall that both of these acts were huge circa 2008 through 2011 or 2012.

They both still make music but they seem to have somewhat disappeared from the spotlight, right around the time Bruno Mars, Miley Cyrus, Lorde and others began to take off. It seems the same could be said of indie rock and indie folk - they should have defined the 2010s. Does anyone else get this sense for either of these genres? What do you suppose happened?


A lot of people did predict that.  However, Owl City fell off a cliff after Ocean Eyes.  I was a big fan but it seemed that mainstream popularity ruined him.  He went from thoughtful, intelligent lyrics like..

"The stars lean down to kiss you
And I lie awake and miss you
Pour me a heavy dose of atmosphere
'Cause I'll doze off safe and soundly
But I'll miss your arms around me
I'd send a postcard to you, dear
'Cause I wish you were here"

to...

"Whoa oh oh oh, whoa oh oh oh,
It's always a good time
Whoa oh oh oh, whoa oh oh oh,
We don't even have to try, it's always a good time"

He has a new album coming soon but from what I've heard I'm not impressed.  The only thing that comes close to his early stuff was his 2014 EP with Lindsey Sterling.

I miss early Owl City.  His music was integral to that era of my life.

A lot of people did predict that.  However, Owl City fell off a cliff after Ocean Eyes.  I was a big fan but it seemed that mainstream popularity ruined him.  He went from thoughtful, intelligent lyrics like..

"The stars lean down to kiss you
And I lie awake and miss you
Pour me a heavy dose of atmosphere
'Cause I'll doze off safe and soundly
But I'll miss your arms around me
I'd send a postcard to you, dear
'Cause I wish you were here"

to...

"Whoa oh oh oh, whoa oh oh oh,
It's always a good time
Whoa oh oh oh, whoa oh oh oh,
We don't even have to try, it's always a good time"

He has a new album coming soon but from what I've heard I'm not impressed.  The only thing that comes close to his early stuff was his 2014 EP with Lindsey Sterling.

I miss early Owl City.  His music was integral to that era of my life.


They say you have a lifetime to compose your debut work and only a fraction of that time to follow it up. He had years, maybe even a decade or two, to refine Ocean Eyes. I guess he just can't follow up in a pinch.

Indie never truly faded away here in Australia. In fact, it's remained as popular as it was in the Early 2010s. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ernVvrYH9vg

^ This is actually a German song. Interestingly enough, it managed to peak at #10 here in Late 2016/Early 2017, but it didn't even chart in the US, UK or New Zealand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXXD1Qxpisw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKlgCk3IGBg

Maybe it was meant to be the sound of the late 2000's / early 2010's instead.


So glad you mentioned, that’s probably my favorite period of music in general. I enjoyed a lot listening to MGMT, Foster The People, etc. in those years

This Naked & Famous’ song is one of my anthems of the early 2010’s

0YuSg4mts9E

I don't honestly hear Owl City influences in Sia or Selena Gomez. I might be missing something obvious, but Owl City's music had that early 2000s Space Channel 5 vibe to it.

I don't honestly hear Owl City influences in Sia or Selena Gomez. I might be missing something obvious, but Owl City's music had that early 2000s Space Channel 5 vibe to it.


Owl City is kind of a unique act.  "Indietronica" is probably the best genre description but he is kind of his own thing, both in the sound and the lyrics.  One thing that sets Owl City apart, on his early albums at least, was how deep and complex the lyrics were.  Owl City was most known for using unique, memorable adjectives to describe common things.  For instance, "Peppermint Winter," "Vanilla Twilight," or "Alligator Sky."  I can't think of anything else I've heard that sounds similar.

Owl City is a late '00s/early '10s fad that people loved to hate back when it was popular but everybody remembers fondly today.

Was it really popular to hate them? I dunno, I kinda liked the debut album from the get-go.

Was it really popular to hate them? I dunno, I kinda liked the debut album from the get-go.


A lot of people did but wouldn't admit it, especially guys. Thinking of my current guy friends, there is no way I would put on Owl City in their presence.