How To Get Your Mom To Listen To Indie Music

Feb 01, 2013

If you’re not sure about a certain track, go ahead and give it a try. Within reason, it’d be pretty hard to pick an indie track egregious enough to alienate your mom from indie music. So if you think she might like it, she probably will. Never underestimate the power of a good personal endorsement. Your mom probably likes you, so use that to your advantage. If you really love a song, introduce it to your mom as just that, a song that you really love. If she knows you think it’s a great song, she’s more likely to give it a chance. Find things that are close to the stuff she already likes. You say she’s constantly jamming to “Somebody That I Used To Know”? Don’t be ashamed, we can use that. Gotye has more that just that one song, and has some solid songs hidden behind that weary track. Give her a copy of Making Mirrors and make a big deal out of songs like “Easy Way Out” that are wonderful in songwriting quality and musicianship, but still accessible enough for the indie rookie.

Familiarity can play a huge role. Once you find some tracks she likes, get her to listen to them often. The more plays a track garners, the more it ingrains itself in your brain, and the easier it is to enjoy. Make your mom a playlist for her phone or iPod (or an actual CD if that’s necessary). Remove all obstacles that might impede her from embracing that new music. The first time your mom hears a track by Girls or Kurt Vile, she may not be into it. But by about the 5th time she hears “Alex” you may begin to see some foot tapping or even some singing along.

If you find your mom wearing ironic tee shirts, arguing about why Modest Mouse's early stuff was better than the newer music, or refusing to listen to the radio because it's all "pop garbage," then you've probably gone too far. Your mom might be a hipster. Stay tuned for How To Get Your Mom To Stop Being a Hipster.

1. When In Doubt, Try It Out

If you’re not sure about a certain track, go ahead and give it a try. Within reason, it’d be pretty hard to pick an indie track egregious enough to alienate your mom from indie music. So if you think she might like it, she probably will. Never underestimate the power of a good personal endorsement. Your mom probably likes you, so use that to your advantage. If you really love a song, introduce it to your mom as just that, a song that you really love. If she knows you think it’s a great song, she’s more likely to give it a chance. Find things that are close to the stuff she already likes. You say she’s constantly jamming to “Somebody That I Used To Know”? Don’t be ashamed, we can use that. Gotye has more that just that one song, and has some solid songs hidden behind that weary track. Give her a copy of Making Mirrors and make a big deal out of songs like “Easy Way Out” that are wonderful in songwriting quality and musicianship, but still accessible enough for the indie rookie.

Familiarity can play a huge role. Once you find some tracks she likes, get her to listen to them often. The more plays a track garners, the more it ingrains itself in your brain, and the easier it is to enjoy. Make your mom a playlist for her phone or iPod (or an actual CD if that’s necessary). Remove all obstacles that might impede her from embracing that new music. The first time your mom hears a track by Girls or Kurt Vile, she may not be into it. But by about the 5th time she hears “Alex” you may begin to see some foot tapping or even some singing along.

If you find your mom wearing ironic tee shirts, arguing about why Modest Mouse's early stuff was better than the newer music, or refusing to listen to the radio because it's all "pop garbage," then you've probably gone too far. Your mom might be a hipster. Stay tuned for How To Get Your Mom To Stop Being a Hipster.

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