Trigger Warning: mentions of self-harm, suicide, bullying
Alternative (alt) fashion has been around for centuries. Terms such as emo, goth, scene, punk, and grunge are used to describe the different aesthetics.
Alt styles are usually music-based, as are various other aesthetics. While many people use the terms emo or goth to describe someone who dresses in all black and uses thick eyeliner, or someone who has a melancholy expression on their face, this does not actually make someone emo or goth.
Some bands labeled as emo include My Chemical Romance, Panic! At The Disco, Fall Out Boy, and Paramore. Many fans of these groups are affected by the emo stereotype and agree that just because someone “looks emo”, it does not mean they are.
Other bands on the “darker” side of alternative music include Palaye Royale, Falling in Reverse, Pierce the Veil, Sleeping With Sirens, All Time Low, Green Day, and even Nirvana.
Us alts have a reputation for being suicidal, self-harming, living in an unhealthy household, and having trauma, and we’re often bullied for this purely because we look and dress differently.
Many people on the Internet claim that they “want a goth girlfriend” without understanding what makes someone goth. Once again, just like every other alt subculture, goth is a music-based aesthetic and is more than just stunning black clothes and an intimidating complexion.
While many of us suffer from mental illness and have a history of unhealthy habits, it doesn’t mean our past defines us, just like everybody else.
Several of us may look scary, especially metalheads (fans of metal music), but older metalheads are some of the happiest and kindest people on the planet.
As YouTube guitarist Stevie T. said, “I think it’s because we get all of our anger and aggression out.”
For many people, music is a way to cope with emotions. Alt music has meaningful songs and lyrics that have saved many people’s lives. An example of this is Pierce the Veil’s “Hold On Til May”.
Pierce the Veil, as well as other emo and alt icons, have very significant lyrics which is part of the reason why their fanbase has a reputation for always being sad or intimidating.
Many people relate to these songs and lyrics. Several band members themselves have gone through hard times and are very open with their past, which is why they began creating music.
The members of Palaye Royale had a rough upbringing, which was their motivation for creating their 2020 album “The Bastards”.
My Chemical Romance formed after frontman Gerard Way witnessed the horrors of 9/11. This resulted in their song “Skylines and Turnstiles” with lyrics such as “you’re not in this alone” and “if the world needs something better, let’s give them one more reason now.”
While our generation can’t relate to this song as we didn’t experience the tragedy of 9/11 first-hand, alt bands are still releasing new music.
Pierce the Veil released an album titled “The Jaws of Life” in February of this year, in which most of the songs reflect how it feels to be in a toxic relationship. The lead single “Emergency Contact” is no exception.
Many teens and young adults can unfortunately relate to the emotional hardship of being in unhealthy relationships, regardless of their music taste or aesthetic.
Alternative people are human, just like everyone else, and just because we like different music, dress a bit differently, and may look scary, it doesn’t mean we deserve to be treated like we’re less than human.