Indie Sleaze is Back??

Beth Whitehead

Music Journalist

It’s 2025, but for some reason, it feels like 2015. Party photography is on the rise. There’s been a resurgence in thrift shopping within the last decade. According to Official Charts, vinyl sales saw their 17th consecutive year of growth in 2024. What better to blame than the revival of indie sleaze? Indie sleaze is a movement deeply embedded in many alternative cultures. Specifically, the original indie sleaze era was centered around indie rock and electronic music that was released from 2006 until roughly 2014.  Part of what made this era so influential was its authenticity in both fashion and music. Fashion-wise, high-tops, thrifted clothes, and, unfortunately, skinny jeans are making a comeback.

For music fans, indie sleaze is defined by one of two things: the electronic dance floor anthems of the late 2000s to early 2010s, or rock bands with riffs that are eerily like the Strokes. The hits of the original indie sleaze movement remain some of the most memorable in alternative music. Bands such as LCD Soundsystem, Justice and Daft Punk were held in high regard for their dance hits, whereas bands like The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, and The Libertines were favored for their nostalgic riffs. We are seeing this comeback in both genres. In the world of dance music, recent releases from artists such as The Dare, Coco & Clair Clair, and F***ers, remind listeners of indie dance hall days. All three of these acts have released a record this past summer, potentially paving the way for a potential indie sleaze comeback.

These artists bring a new meaning to the term “indie sleaze.” While some argue that today’s society can never truly revive the original indie movement, today’s indie scene certainly pays homage to its humble beginnings. With the release of The Dare’s “What’s Wrong with New York?” listeners are immediately transported to the sleazy, electronic sounds of acts of late aughts New York. The Brooklyn-based artist, also known as Harrison Patrick Smith, dropped his debut album on Sept. 6 of last year. On the same day, New York trio F***ers released “Baggy$$,” a six-track EP that calls upon listeners of other electronic artists such as M.I.A. and even house artists such as The Chemical Brothers.

Finally, CoCo & Clair Clair are probably the most talked about artist of the three, according to Chartmetric. Their second album, “Girl,” was released in August of last year, and their songs give listeners that nostalgic feeling of 00s electronic music. Electronic music isn’t the only genre experiencing a revival, however. Recent events in both older indie rock acts and newer indie rock acts have turned a few heads. Newer acts such as Fontaines D.C.’s third album, “Romance,” which also came out last summer. The album’s most popular single, “Favourite,” was certainly the song of the summer for fans of the band. In an interview with Hives Magazine, Fontaines frontman Grian Chatten called the single, “a continuous cycle from euphoria to sadness,” The album was even nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Album.

Specifically, it’s the Brooklyn indie rockers that are having a revival in the scene. Last year, Brooklyn band Interpol embarked on a cross-country tour for the 20-year anniversary of their album “Antics.” Another Brooklyn band, LCD Soundsystem, announced a short tour of the U.S. in honor of the 20th anniversary of their self-titled album. The tour kicks off in April with a three-show run at Emo’s in Austin. So, what is the consensus? Is indie sleaze back for good? The signs from today’s indie artists seem to point to yes. Regardless, it’s safe to say the original indie sleaze movement left its impact on alternative culture and music as we know it.