It seems as if the genre of "alternative" music is constantly growing, and more and more people are becoming a fan. But what exactly is "alternative" music?

Is it music that mom and dad didn't like, but your 20-something-year-old neighbor absolutely adored? Is it that one song that's super catchy, but you wouldn't really listen to it besides in the one car commercial you see three times a day? Or could it possibly be the artist that wants to make it big, but just big enough that they can lead a normal life after their done? I've been a fan of alternative music for almost my entire life, and I still can't pinpoint what it exactly is.

And I think that's largely because its always changing. Like, every day. Seriously.

What other genre can say that they've had heavy rock guitar's strumming out loud, full power chords in the same genre as soulful saxophones jamming out on a track? Radio stations go from distorted keyboard chords to melodic, gentle piano riffs.

If you don't believe me, go to Spotify, Apple or your music streaming program of choice (here's looking at you Kanye, you stingy guy), and listen to an alternative playlist. I can almost guarantee that you will not hear two songs that sound the same. There's a fair share of hip-hop, pop, rock and everything else, but there's just something about it that sets it apart from a regular run-of-the-mill genre.

If that doesn't do it, go listen to Andrew McMahon in The Wilderness, fangirl about those six months in eight grade when you listened to Jack's Mannequin that you didn't want anybody to know about, then go listen to Brick + Mortar, and that should solidify it. If not, continue on to alternative icons Mumford and Sons, and realize that all of these have been considered that of the alternative genre.

The moral of the story is this that alternative music is for alternative people. It's not that we don't like J. Cole, Drake, Adele or Taylor Swift. It's that we enjoy music that you might not have heard. We like finding music that defines ourselves, and that's that.

P.S. That doesn't mean we're all hipsters.

P.S.S. I still don't like Taylor Swift.