UPM Book Series on Music Research, No. 6, 2014 – ISSN 2289-3938. Idealism and Meaning in Local Indie Rock Music Frank Ong The primary aim of this study is to determine, describe and interpret the reality of Indie Rock bands in Kuala Lumpur through the following questions: − How do the local Indie musicians understand and approach the concept of Indie Rock music? − What kind of musical concepts and elements are used in Kuala Lumpur’s Indie Rock music productions and performances? − How does the audience respond through specific behavior during live performance of local Indie Rock music? − How Indie Rock musicians interact with the audience? − What are the controlling factors in the live sound and production business of Indie labels in the local market? In search for answers on these questions, various key problems will be defined and offered for further discussion. They are the idealism of local Indie Rock music, the ideal sound, characteristics and concepts, more detailed musical elements within these concepts, and some thoughts on creating and perceiving musical meanings from it. Additionally, the complex insights on the localization of Indie Rock music in Kuala Lumpur has to be mentioned, in which live Indie Rock music plays a very important role as well as controlling factors within the Indie Rock Music market. Idealism Looking back to the initial idea of being independent with concepts like ‘Do It Yourself’, ‘Authenticity’, ‘Non-Conformism’ and ‘Freedom of Expression’, these concepts have provided local Indie Rock musicians directions and a specific idealism during the period of their perceived alienation and marginalization from the music industry. The idealism finds its 12