Pop
indie sleaze
What does indie sleaze mean?
A mood of careless, chaotic, cool-kid grunge-glam decadence.
"We went indie sleaze for the night, eyeliner everywhere and cheap beer."
Origin
A retroactive label coined around 2021 for the messy late-2000s/early-2010s hipster aesthetic associated with Cobrasnake photography, MGMT, and American Apparel. Popularized on TikTok.
Frequently asked questions
What does indie sleaze mean?
It's a revival of the messy late-2000s hipster party aesthetic — harsh flash photos, smudged eyeliner, skinny jeans, leather, and chaotic cool-kid energy. The term was coined retroactively around 2021.
What years was indie sleaze?
Roughly 2008 to 2013, the peak of blog-era hipster and electro-party culture.
What music goes with indie sleaze?
Bands like MGMT, LCD Soundsystem, The Strokes, and electro acts like Justice define the indie sleaze soundtrack.
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