I was 13 when my father put Disorder by Joy Division on the car stereo. I can still remember the crisp bassline and the drums of the song creating an atmospheric sound. The rain outside disappeared, replaced by this new, unfamiliar sound that instantly captivated me.

It wasn’t the 90s, it was the mid-2010s, and most kids my age were listening to pop, R&B, or hip-hop. My father, who was in his late 40s at the time, introduced me to a whole new genre I hadn’t known existed.

Although Joy Division was a band from the late 1970s, its influence endured into the alt-rock scene that began in the 1990s. During that time, rock music that fell outside mainstream culture was considered alt-rock. This was the music of my dad’s youth.

I spent hours on YouTube discovering bands like Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Cure, The Chameleons, and Killing Joke.

By 15, I had access to Spotify, which opened up even more music to me, including my favourite genre, shoegaze. My father would reminisce about CDs and vinyl records being his music sources, but I felt lucky to be part of Gen Z, with music so easily accessible at my fingertips.

Now, as a young adult, my father and I still share this bond over music. He’s the one who buys my concert tickets, records, and band merch. Sorry, Dad, but you did introduce me to this!

I recently attended a concert by The Jesus and Mary Chain and The Psychedelic Furs at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Toronto. Both bands are currently on their North American tour. 

The crowd was a mix of young listeners like me, and an older generation who had likely been following these bands since the ’80s.

It was surprising to see some younger fans in the audience. Why do we, as Gen Z, keep going back to these sounds that seem so distant from our time now?

The power of nostalgia in music

Nostalgia plays a big role. Many of us grew up hearing this music at home. My own connection to alt-rock is rooted in my father’s love for the genre.

Music has a unique way of transporting us back in time. Many experts have written about the psychology of nostalgia, linking it to positive emotions. Constantine Sedikides, a professor of psychology at University of Southampton, explains in a 2021 journal article published in the Psychology of Music, that music can unlock memories and emotional experiences tied to specific times in our lives.

For many Gen Z listeners, post-punk and alt-rock feel familiar and nostalgic, as these were the genres their parents loved during their own childhood and youth.

Post-punk, which emerged in the late 1970s, is characterized by its rejection of the raw aggression of punk rock. It embraced a more experimental sound, and introspective lyrics that have a darker and more atmospheric tone.

The genre laid the foundation for what we now consider the alternative music scene. The genre started with bands like Joy Division, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and The Cure, and continued to evolve into the alt-rock movement of the ’90s, the era of our parents.

At the concert, when The Jesus and Mary Chain played Reverence, I was reminded of my teenage years, when I first discovered their music. Growing up in a Christian family, the band’s name felt rebellious and even blasphemous, especially with lyrics like “I wanna die just like Jesus Christ.”

My conservative mom wasn’t a fan of that song, but it had a lasting impact on my youth.

I went through a phase where everything I owned was black. I had short micro-bangs, piercings my mom hated, and I would wear my black Dr. Martens boots and fishnet stockings every day. I wouldn’t leave the house without my black eyeliner.

For a young, angsty teenager who couldn’t express her feelings, these bands saved me from many anger outbursts. Their heavy drum work, atmospheric vocals, and strange, wailing guitars made sense in a world that didn’t.

These songs speak to me in terms of relationships, whether with family, friends, or the crushes I had. I vividly remember listening to 40 Days by Slowdive on repeat when I was heartbroken over a crush. In retrospect, it may seem cringeworthy, but that’s a part of being young — going through heartbreak and getting lost in the music that carries us through those moments.

Growing up in an Asian household, it wasn’t unusual to feel emotionally disconnected from my parents. In a way, these songs helped me. When I wasn’t on speaking terms with my mom, I would play the heavy alt-rock songs she despised. It was my silent way of signalling my anger, because I couldn’t express how I felt.

When I listened to this music, it transported me out of the chaos of my mind. One of my favourite Slowdive songs, When the Sun Hits, evokes a tidal wave of feelings that washes over me with the line, “It matters where you are.”  That feeling calms me, and reminds me that I’m alive amidst the chaos in my tiny brain. I even got a Slowdive tattoo last year, as a reminder of how much this band helped me.

Having received my BPD diagnosis, I now understand my past much more clearly than I did as a teen. And yes, I remain an alt-rock girl at heart.

Alt-rock influence on modern indie music

Another reason alt-rock remains relevant is its lasting influence on today’s indie music scene.

Many modern bands have carried forward the sound and themes of alt-rock, reinterpreting them for a new generation of listeners. This revival is evident in bands like Preoccupations, IDLES, The Strokes, Car Seat Headrest, Fleeting Joys.

Eddie, 21, a fellow Gen Z alt-rock fan, explains why this music resonates with us.

“I think it’s relevant to us because a lot of us feel alienated and sort of sheltered from society in different ways. I know a lot of Gen Z has had a really rough time adapting and transitioning to adulthood, and I, for one, have definitely experienced that. Both of these experiences are reflected in much of post-punk’s themes and lyrics.”

Like Eddie, I’m still discovering myself and trying to make sense of the world around me. Getting through the complexities of adulthood is more bearable with the help of this music. 

He enjoys the recent post-punk revival. “I enjoy a lot of current post-punk revival stuff that’s been happening for the past handful of years, like Dry Cleaning, Yard Act, Viagra Boys, Parquet Courts, Priests, and Gustaf,” he said.

Music connects us despite our age

One of the most interesting aspects of alt-rock is how it brings together fans from different generations. A study by Pace University found that rock is the second-most listened-to genre among young people today.

Shaun Bondoc, 17, another Gen Z fan, said the unique sound of alt-rock is what makes it still relevant today. “Most artists nowadays don’t have that same sound,” he said.

He listens to bands like Creed, Smashing Pumpkins, Incubus, and Alice in Chains. Bondoc also plays in a local Toronto band, Facelift, and regularly goes to local indie rock shows.

Emerging alt-rock bands like Cutsleeve, who are influenced by punk bands like Bikini Kill, feel that this music still speaks to younger people.

“There is a lot to be angry about in this society, and everyone internalizes harmful, shameful ideas from birth. So, music that acts as counterculture and affirms this rage is important,” said Hillary, the bassist of the band.

As a young adult now, I wouldn’t say life has become easier — such is the nature of growing up. We all face challenges, and with the help of therapy, I’ve learned to manage my emotions a bit better. Still, alt-rock remains my go-to source of comfort.

I may not be the grunge kid in all black anymore, but I still turn to the songs that have seen me through life’s ups and downs.

Whenever I slip on my headphones, I’m transported back to those car rides with my dad, where music filled the air and drew us close together. These familiar songs take me back to a time when, even though the world didn’t make sense, everything felt simpler.

Alt-rock is a soundtrack of my life, a reflection of my teenage angst, and a reminder that I’m never alone in a confusing world.