Indie Rooftop (2023) Series Review
The Chicago skyline serves as the powerful backdrop for a very interesting project. In fact, few backgrounds are as significant as the massive concrete jungle where the corporate rules are written, followed upon, and of course, broken. In front of us, a slew of independent musicians perform with blunt honesty and shoestring budgets to do what musicians do best: tell their story through the difficult art of music.
Indie Rooftop is a collection of episodes, each telling a musician’s story and portraying heartfelt performances. It’s a set of interviews mixed with performances that take place literally on a greatly positioned rooftop. They vary in style and talent, but it’s proof of how diverse independent music can be. No studios, and no producers. No contracts or rules. Only a sincere expression of talent that could engage people into trying to find out more about these brave artists. Personally, I went beyond and googled some of them to understand more of their music and what they aim to do.
What’s even better about the docuseries’ concept is that from its conception you don’t get the feeling there’s someone trying to sell an idea, or even music. This is an open window towards an unwritten future that can be seen more clearly in some cases. On this stage, talent is too relative.
A bit hard to describe beyond its structure and simple narrative, Indie Rooftop will surely be more interesting for some viewers who understand the dynamics of the music industry. It’s not a documentary series for everyone because it consists of many genres mashed together, and it’s expected that not all of them will like everything.
At the forefront, Fana Hues opens up and shares her story and background while performing beautiful pieces that will shatter you heart, illuminate you, and downright make you celebrate what happens in the music backroom where artists begin and no one is known. What a star!
