I discovered 90s alternative rock during my high school years in sunny Southern California. Nirvana, Radiohead, the Smashing Pumpkins, Sublime, Weezer – these were just some of the many bands playing on the alt rock radio airwaves. We were in the midst of the Great Recession, so some quick math shows that I’d discovered these bands over a decade late. Despite that, much of the music spoke to me, and I’d happily blast 106.7 KROQ before swim practice, while picking up friends in my car, or whenever I was tired of the newer songs on my MP3 player.
Although I didn’t live through the original introduction of this genre, I fully experienced the music in my own time and place. Tracks were often contextual, evoking certain places or certain moments in time; but the mood and feelings were universal and powerful. To this day, I still get the warm fuzzies whenever I hear the familiar chord progressions and guitar tones of 90s alt rock, setting off my own memories interspersed with the memories coming from the songs themselves.
In recent years, Gen Z has exploded onto the music scene, which is unsurprising given many Gen Zers are just reaching adulthood and brimming with energy and their own ideas of artistry. So imagine my delight when in recent months I began to hear the familiar sounds of 90s alt rock once again during my music discoveries, this time coming from new names and faces.
As 90s alt rock spanned a wide range of styles, so too does this Gen Z revival of the genre. I’ve been impressed by the variety expressed in my listenings so far. Much of the new artists have sounds inspired from the mid-90s to early-2000s. It quickly became clear that like my high school self, this cohort had discovered these tracks many years after the fact and really connected with the musical styles, lyrics, and moods of the genre.
With a longing for the simpler pre-Internet times in this hyperconnected world, Gen Z artists today create songs like this Soccer Mommy track “circle the drain,” which looks like it was pulled from a stash of recorded VHS tapes from the mid-90s:
Other Gen Z artists have looked to newly-discovered role models from the alt rock years, paying homage to distinct styles while experimenting with a larger span of sub-genres. This wonderfully-named KennyHoopla track called “how will i rest in peace if i’m buried by a highway?” is a modern take on a classic Bloc Party sound (notice the fuzzy video aesthetic once again):
If you’re a fan of late 90s rom-coms and have danced to Avril Lavigne in your bedroom, look no further than the artist beabadoobee, who got her break when one of her sampled songs went viral on TikTok. Here’s another great track, “Care,” from her recent debut album:
Perhaps no other artist has been as active during the 2020 quarantine as Phoebe Bridgers, an LA native and self-described devotee of the late alt rock legend Elliott Smith. In “I Know the End,” one of my favorite songs of this year, the overall vibe channels Radiohead in “Street Spirit (Fade Out)” while the brass instrumentation has hints of Neutral Milk Hotel:
From this sampling of artists alone, it’s clear that the Gen Z take on 90s alt rock has much in common with the original genre. For one, instruments such as electric guitars and acoustic drums take center stage once again. The lyrics touch on similar themes, often providing critical commentary of the culture at large. And finally, the aesthetics are familiar, sometimes a bit too much so – with the grainy footage, skateboarders, and even the fashion trends.
It all makes sense. Every generation has looked back to earlier time periods for artistic inspiration, whether that’s with mid-century modern furniture, Ray Ban sunglasses, or pop art. And given the rise of accessible production, where anyone can load up Ableton and learn to produce from online vids, it’s not a reach that some folks would venture into more organic forms of music creation. With many of these Gen Z artists only in their early 20s, I won’t be surprised if they continue to evolve their sound through the years according to their own artistic direction. I’m hearing quite a bit of that in their music already.
Despite the similarities, a few key differences become clear with Gen Z’s second coming of 90s alt rock. This time around, the group is a lot more diverse. Just from this sampling of artists, it’s clear there’s a wider variety of racial and cultural backgrounds. The scene also appears to be more women-led, not just with singing but also with managing the band and business. And while some 90s alt rock bands grew to sell out stadiums, Gen Z alt rock is still distinctly indie. Time will tell if they cross over to the mainstream, but that seems less likely given popular music trends today.
Music remains a shining light in the shadow of the worst year in recent memory. Although technology has plenty of drawbacks, there’s some comfort knowing that even niche artists can continue to thrive in today’s online world, where people have access to thousands of musical styles and can discover new tracks through a variety of sources. It’s in this world where I’ll continue to enjoy Gen Z alt rock alongside my favorite 90s alt rock bands.
