Underground culture refers to scenes (Music, Literature, Films, Art, … as well as e.g. Journalism) that exist outside of the Mainstream commercial pop culture and mass-market promotion. Underground movements frequently challenge social norms, social-economic hierarchy, political structures, corporate ethos and commercialism in general.
Underground Artists prioritise artistic freedom, personal expression and authenticity over profit, commercial success and trends.
Underground music is mostly self-produced (DIY) , created with low budgets and released independently or through small specialised indie labels. While in the past the distribution of underground music was typically done by word of mouth, by spreading cassette tapes or by performances in underground venues, it now typically relies on online communities, digital platforms but still also by worth of mouth.
Examples of Underground music styles are Psychedelic Rock, Gothic, (Hardcore) Punk, Death Metal and EBM but also e.g. Hip-Hop, House, Goa and Psy Trance and (Hardcore) Techno, even though many of these last mentioned styles eventually have been adopted by the Mainstream.
Probably one the most influential Underground record labels for the Techno scene was “Underground Resistance” (commonly abbreviated to UR), a Techno label from Detroit founded by “Mad” Mike Banks and Jeff Mills. Their rebellion concerned the rejection of the commercialization of Techno and their mission was to return Techno music to the Underground.
Just like during the illegal raves from the late 80’s and early 90’s organised in the UK, the Netherlands and the US, Underground collectives are still operating clandestinely today by various “Soundsystems” that organise Squat Parties, Free Parties and Teknivals in abandoned, empty or illegal occupied tunnels, buildings, warehouses and factories as well as in open fields and forests spread over Europe, where they are installing “Walls of Sound” – made in typical DIY style – as the visual and physical centre point of the location, to play Free Tekkno music, while keeping that location secret till the very last minute.
“Mainstream comes to you, but you have to go to the Underground.”