August 16, 2012

A Rock 'n' Roll State Of Mind

So what’s happened to rock 'n' roll? As record sales decline and the controversy of illegal downloading becomes more of a problem than ever, what does the future of the music industry look like?

photo via LA Times

One counter reaction to this growing issue is the rise in music festivals making noise across the country, with more than 20 new major concerts this year alone. It’s not only about the music but the entire experience. One of the largest music franchises on the west coast, Coachella, is making some waves and setting sail on the Atlantic Ocean at the end of this year. The first S.S. Coachella voyages will depart in December from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to two separate destinations, one to The Bahamas and the second to Jamaica. These music excursions will host about 20 bands and by incorporating travel and music together, create an intimate community experience between musicians and their fan bases.


Firefly Music Festival, which debuted last month, had a jam packed itinerary of live music, hot air balloon rides, an arcade, brewery, wine bar, shopping, and food venues. Not to mention, the festival even launched it’s own app that featured the complete lineup, a map, a camera with Firefly themed filters, a customizable schedule, and access to notifications and updates. Just like other over saturated industries, it’s about standing out among fans as they actively have to make decisions about where to dedicate their time and money. Today, it's more than just a compilation of talented musicians but a way to appeal to the changing demands of Generation Y by incorporating technology to enhance the entire performance.

photo via Rolling Stone

Speaking of technology, look at what social media platforms have done to the industry as a whole. Anyone can be a rockstar. Idealized fame is disappearing as the amount of independent artists out on the scene is greater than ever. Not to mention, the way artists introduce and market themselves has completely evolved, whether they are up and coming or completely mainstream. For example, Lady Gaga who recently launched her own invite only social network, Little Monsters has just gone public. The site brings together Gaga fanatics to chat, share, purchase tickets, and share photos with one another. The chat rooms are even equipped with instant translations for multi-lingual conversations among users.


With that said, we've talked about how technology is affecting the industry but what about how the evolution of music is changing fashion? Looking back at history, music has always influenced how we dress from the performers to the fans and lately, there has been a bit of a re-emergence of spunky rock 'n' roll inspired clothing. Observing the streets to the runways, everything from studs, spikes, tie dye, leather, skulls, and grunge are making a comeback.

photo via WWD

The upsurge in festival culture alone has sparked major fashion trends among the different music driven events. For instance, according to WWD, at Lollapalooza in Chicago, there was a huge presence of hipster inspired clothing like neon colors, boho dresses, denim cutoffs, and Converse's infamous Chuck Taylors. Looking to the west coast at Coachella, it was all about flat and low heeled boots in cowboy or motorcycle designs. With music culture making such an impact on what we wear, each festival, with its unique location, lineup, and exclusive amenities is creating its own specific following.

From the streets of New York to Berlin here are some of our favorite looks that we've captured showcasing some rock 'n' roll flair!








The music industry will live on and just as it has, will continue to adapt to the changing market and fresh demands of fans across the world. However, as for fashion, keep a look out for emerging trends inspired by this rock 'n' roll state of mind!

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