“Just the color of my skin made me alternative.”

From Depeche Mode to The Smiths, Charles and my father fell in love with the 80s alternative music scene, enthralled by the emotional resonance they found in the music's passionate and vulnerable lyricism. Depeche Mode drew influence from multiple genres, combining the sounds of synth-heavy electronic dance music with the emotions of (psychedelic) rock legends like Neil Young and The Beatles. On the other hand, The Smiths took a more traditional-rock approach to alternative music, with Johnny Marr's jangly guitar riffs perfectly juxtaposing Morrissey's sorrowful and poetic voice. Such UK alternative bands were incredibly influential in the formative years of my uncle and father, speaking to their otherness while also laying the foundation for their future love of dance music.