It’s always a challenge for an artist working on the periphery of a genre to cultivate a strong commercial following while retaining their unique personality — and to not be too well-defined by…
Pop-punk captures the mercurial, petulant mindset of teenagers better than any other genre. The fact that almost nobody except teenagers listens to it — at least after entering their twenties and beyond —…
John Mayer emerged fully formed as an artist from an era that was almost bygone when he debuted — one of muscular, catchy, unthreatening pop rock — so to hear him tap…
At 22 minutes, Vince Staples’ new self-titled album runs barely long enough to qualify as an EP. But in an era frequently defined by maximum output, minimum effort, the three-year wait…
Unknown quantities no longer exist in popular music, but Sault is probably the closest — and best — thing to one in a media landscape inundated in promotion (and self-promotion). In a…
Doja Cat is a quintessentially Generation Z artist. She began releasing her music on Soundcloud as a teenager, promptly landed a record deal, and went viral when her song “Mooo!” became an…
In the age of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), sampling is a lost art form, but you wouldn’t know it from “Call Me If You Get Lost.” Not only does…
Based on at least five good years of wall-to-wall coverage of H.E.R., leading to numerous chart appearances, collaborations, guest spots, ten Grammy nominations, four wins, and an Oscar, it seems impossible that…
There are few artists who can convincingly take on the role of cultural ambassador, as few possess skill sets so comprehensive and voices so resonant as to warrant any posturing suggesting representation of…
Maroon 5 may have seemed like a flash in the pan when they released “Songs About Jane” back in 2003, but it shouldn’t surprise anyone that they’ve endured, and flourished, since then.
Considering how much powerful music is born out of struggle, the relative dearth of songs devoted to the expression of joy, at least within the indie sphere, should come as no major surprise.
Folk music history may not be as rich or storied with Black singers and songwriters as it should, but Canadian poet and musician Mustafa is trying to change that. Working with the…