Calgary Alberta | Kass's Thoughts

Kass adjusted his grip on the steering wheel, the familiar hum of his car’s engine blending with the soft indie (Definition of what Indie Music is, is in the read more, this description is for those who are unsure of what it is, like I was.)  playlist he’d curated for his drives. It was a crisp March morning, the kind where the Alberta sky stretched wide and blue, with just a hint of chill lingering in the air. He was heading into Calgary again—something he did often enough that the route felt like second nature. As KassDays, his YouTube channel had grown into a love letter to the area: the sprawling prairies, the rugged foothills, and the vibrant pulse of the city itself. Today, though, he wasn’t filming. No camera rested on the passenger seat, no script ran through his mind. This drive was just for him.

The highway stretched ahead, a ribbon of asphalt cutting through the golden-brown fields still dusted with last week’s snow. Kass kept his eyes on the road, scanning for the occasional deer that might dart out from the brush, but he let his peripheral vision drink in the view. To his left, the land rolled gently toward the horizon, wide and open, the kind of vastness that made you feel small in the best way. He’d grown used to this landscape, yet it never got old. “People forget to look,” he muttered to himself, a half-smile tugging at his lips. It was something he’d said in a vlog once, a reminder to his viewers—and himself—to pause and take it in.

As he crested a rise, Calgary’s skyline came into view, a jagged silhouette against the sky. The Bow Tower’s sleek curve caught the morning light, glinting like a beacon, while the cluster of downtown buildings rose sharp and proud from the valley below. Beyond them, the faint outline of the Rockies loomed, their peaks still capped with white. Kass let out a low whistle, his hands steady on the wheel as he merged into the thickening traffic. “There it is,” he said aloud, as if greeting an old friend. The city was alive, even from this distance—cars weaving, lights flickering, a hum of energy pulling him in.

He flicked his blinker and eased into the right lane, keeping pace with the flow. The road demanded his focus now, but he stole glances at the view whenever he could. The Elbow River snaked through the city, its waters catching the sun in quicksilver flashes. The Peace Bridge arched over it, a splash of red against the urban sprawl. Kass chuckled, remembering the time he’d filmed a time-lapse there, nearly tripping over his own feet to get the perfect shot. “Gotta keep my eyes on the prize,” he said, tapping the brake as a truck cut in ahead of him.

The closer he got, the more the city unfolded—Stampede Park off to the side, the Saddledome’s iconic roof peeking out like a relic of Calgary’s wilder days. He rolled down the window a crack, letting the cool air rush in, carrying the faint scent of pine and exhaust. It was a reminder of where he was: a place caught between the raw beauty of the wild and the steady beat of progress. Kass loved that about Calgary. It was home, sure, but it was also a story—one he got to tell, one he got to live.

As he pulled onto 17th Avenue, the traffic slowed, and he let himself linger on the view a little longer. People bustled along the sidewalks, coffee cups in hand, the city waking up around him. He’d be back in his routine soon—editing videos, planning shoots, chasing the next idea—but for now, he just drove, eyes flicking between the road and the world beyond it. “Take the time,” he murmured, echoing his own advice. “It’s right there in front of you.”
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And with that, Kass turned up the music, kept his focus on the road, and let Calgary’s beauty sink in—one careful, fleeting glance at a time.

​Indie music, short for "independent music," is a broad term for music produced outside the major commercial record labels. It’s typically created by artists or small labels who prioritize creative control over mainstream appeal, often leading to sounds that feel fresh, experimental, or personal. Think of it as music that doesn’t always chase radio hits—it might be quirky, raw, or niche.
Genres under the indie umbrella vary wildly: you’ve got indie rock (think bands like The Strokes or Arcade Fire), indie pop (like Lorde or The 1975), folk-leaning stuff (Bon Iver), or even electronic vibes (Tame Impala). It’s less about a single sound and more about the ethos—DIY, authentic, and often a little offbeat. The production might feel less polished than Top 40 tracks, with lyrics that dig into personal or unconventional themes.