Can Alternative Music Still Be Belizean?

For decades, Belizean music has told our stories, from the dance floor to the family yard, from romance to remembrance. Today, those traditional sounds remain alive through artists who continue to preserve and reinvent them. But beneath the familiar melodies, another sound has been rising. Belize’s alternative music scene, still lesser known but steadily growing, is carving out space for a new generation of artists. News Five Intern Devin Sabal takes us inside that movement to find out how these musicians are blending modern expression with Belize’s cultural roots.

 

Devin Sabal, Reporting

Musicians like Viv, Duck and Messmer have been establishing an alternative music scene in Belize’s underground. They’ve introduced genres like dreampop and shoegaze but by no means are they limited to these two labels. Alternative music covers a wide range of sounds, but at its core, it is often created outside the mainstream music industry. Dreampop and shoegaze are genres of alternative music that are most often recognized for their ethereal or dreamy sound inspired by Post Punk and New Wave among others.

 

Elson Portillo, Guitarist, Messmer

“I think it’s a lot better than it was when we just started this band. I think it’s a relative difference. When we started there was only one other band here in cayo that we could play with. And now there’s about, I think I could name about 6 bands that are kind of in the scene, you know?”

 

Messmer is a relatively new band that’s been helping to build community in the alternative scene while experimenting with their sound. The five-member collective is composed of talents who met in college and set their sights on making music that they enjoy. The band didn’t feel welcome when they first started performing, but they kept going. Now, they’re encouraging others to make the kind of music that feels true to them.

 

Vivian “Viv” Marin, Multimedia Artist

“I think the biggest limitation is the fact that experimental music is a bit of a stigma in Belize, I feel, sometimes. Like it’s not, there’s not really a space built for it here. And I feel like when people are doing something different, not what people expect, the resources and the platform can feel super limited and I definitely get some pushbacks.”

 

Viv is an upcoming multimedia artist from San Pedro Town who’s bridging the gap between Belizean influences and the wider alternative music scene.  In tracks like “Integrity” and “Velvet Riddim,” she brings together her soft, dreamlike style with unmistakable Belizean flavor. She also leans into striking visuals, using her music videos to pull viewers deeper into the world of each song and give the music a life of its own.

 

Vivian “Viv” Marin

“I do everything independently, from the production to the visuals side of it. So I’m constantly dealing with budget limitations and trying to work with what I have but honestly those walls kind of, it just kind of forces me to be more creative with it you know?”

 

Some people may see alternative music as foreign or even troubling, but that is not what this scene is about. Producer Randy Sutherland has worked with artists across all genres both local and foreign. Interestingly, he revealed that there are similarities between Belizean alternative music and other local traditional genres.

 

Randy Sutherland, Producer

“Guitar I think has been one thing that’s been fundamental in Belizean genres and now it’s just that like next step right? It’s combining Belizean sounds caz for example Viv, the artist that you worked with, she has worked with Belizean producers to take that Belizean Sound: Paranda, all these other genres and combined them with indie, funk, jazzy type stuff so I think that’s like the combination.”

 

Belize’s indie scene isn’t just growing within the country. It’s also gaining attention abroad. An October 2025 Scene Report by popular music platform Bandcamp featured Belizean artist Duck’s debut EP Love Letters. Viv’s recent works with Randy Sutherland would also draw the attention of Thomas Mars, the lead singer of the band Phoenix.

 

Randy Sutherland

“He was shocked that there was even indie music in Belize or alternative music. Because he didn’t know that Belizeans even knew about that. So he was fascinated and wanted to see more of like that combination of Belizean genres because he’s heard Garifuna music, he wants to see that combined with very slow rock slash alternative slash indie music from Belize. So yeah I think that in some way shape or form Belizeans will create their own identity when it comes to alternative music.”

 

Belizean Indie music is another attempt by local creatives to show love to both the Land of the Free and the traditional sounds that brought color to their lives. While it may seem unfamiliar and different, artists like Duck and Viv are building an indie scene that’s uniquely Belizean.

 

Vivian “Viv” Marin

“I’ve met people from different cultures here in Belize in different age ranges that love my music. So like in general yeah i feel like music is meant for everyone, like if it resonates with them then it’s for them.”

 

Randy Sutherland

“A lot of the current musicians are like, you know what? If there’s no alternative scene, if there’s no indie scene, if there’s no pop punk or whatever scene we’ll make it ourselves.”

 

Belize is hosting its very first Indie Pop Festival on August twenty-first, a testament to the ever-growing community of both indie artists and fans. Reporting for News Five, I am Devin Sabal.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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