‘I make the product’: Do-it-yourself ethics in the construction of musical careers in the Portuguese alternative rock scene

Abstract

The approach of do?it?yourself (DIY) musical careers lies in the premise that music is a unifying set of activities, understood as a cluster of several practices and lifestyles. The analysis of musical production is usually based on an entrepreneurial perspective about creative workers and, specifically, about the musicians. In this context, it can be useful to revisit one of the core values of the punk subculture, the DIY ethos, based on empowerment, on taking possession of the means of production, as an alternative to mainstream production circuits. It's about mobilizing DIY skills (strength, achievement, freedom, collective action) as new standards to promote employability, managing the uncertainty and precariousness of this option in terms of building a professional career. Starting from the case of two projects from Lisbon — Filho Único and HAUS — we intend to explore the relevance of DIY logics and procedures in the construction and maintenance of musical careers in the alternative rock, considering their impact on Lisbon alternative music scenes.