Melodic Mess

A mix of music has never been more out there, but it's never been less unusual in the past. Although artists such as Nine Inch Nails are recognized for their unique combination of industrial rock, electronic, and pop sounds, they belong to a much longer tradition of artists who refuse to be limited by one category or another. Prince, for example, is often cited as being among the best genre-benders, effortlessly alternating between rock, pop, hip hop, R&B, and soul throughout his career. Such experimentation and boundary-breaking has been a hallmark of trailblazing artists for decades. The genre-blending phenomenon gained special momentum in the mid-20th century, especially in urban centers such as New York, with bands like The Velvet Underground beginning to mix rock with avant-garde and experimental sound. Synth-pop in the late 1970s and early 1980s further fragmented genre boundaries, with synthesizers and electronic production techniques being incorporated into pop, rock, a...

 Due to the nature of social media creating smaller and smaller attention span (blame Tiktok and Vine), it's no surprise that pop songs are also starting to become shorter too. Pop songs are undoubtedly becoming shorter, and the trend has picked up significantly. Chartmetric's 2024 Year in Music Report states that the average duration of a Spotify charting track is currently three minutes and 15 seconds shorter than it was in 2023 and almost 30 seconds shorter than it was in 2019. This change isn't merely a slight adjustment; it is a sign of a larger shift in the way music is produced, consumed, and profited from. One of the strongest forces behind this trend is the development of streaming platforms and social media applications like TikTok. Streaming platforms pay artists based on the number of times a song is played rather than how long it lasts. Short songs encourage repeated listening, which means they boost stream numbers and revenue. For example, Lil Yachty's 83-...

 There's something wonderfully fascinating about the exotic musical instruments, it was a rabbit hole I went through on a random Sunday night, thinking to my self: "What are the instruments I really have never heard or know more about?". showing that music is not all just about guitars, pianos, or drums. Sometimes the best sound can emerge from the most unlikely of sources. I enjoy finding those quirky instruments that you wonder, "Who created this, and why does it sound so great?" The Theremin: Playing the Air Itself Let's start with the theremin, an instrument that appears more suitable for a spaceship than a stage. You don't touch the theremin to play it; rather, you wave your hands in the air between two antennas. One antenna determines the pitch, and the other determines the volume. This produces that spooky, wobbly sound you may know from classic sci-fi films. It's cool to watch and even stranger to listen to—like music made out of thin air. Th...

      Playlists are a way for me to organize my music based on what I'm feeling that day. Today I'll be feeling some Metal, and the next day I'll be craving R&B. I can't say mixtapes were really a part of my life; the earliest media I've witnessed were VCRs and CDs. I vividly remember watching my older family members in awe as they burned new CD mixtapes in the computer, ejecting it, and organizing it for the next party. Needless to say, it's never been more convenient creating your favorite song list on a whim, compared to the previous decades.  Golden Age of Mixtapes Prior to playlists being a handful of clicks on a monitor, mixtapes were physical artifacts that required work, effort, and imagination. Back in the 1970s and 80s, cassette mixtapes were a social phenomenon. They were not a collection of songs; they were declarations. Mixtapes were made special and were made with a purpose. The introduction of portable devices like the Sony Walkman only amplif...

Music undoubtedly has always been deeply rooted in social movements and politics throughout history. Its ability to evoke emotion, inspire action, and bring people together has made it an indispensable tool for change. My favorite band in this instance is Rage Against The Machine, a notable band known for making incredibly groovy songs that call out systemic racism and classism. music has carried the voices of those demanding justice, equality, and freedom. Yet its role is more than just background music, it has often been the heartbeat of these movements, a force that mobilizes people to demand action. The Civil Rights Movement  Harmony in Resistance During the Civil Rights Movement, music became a powerful weapon against systemic racism and inequality. Songs like “We Shall Overcome” weren’t just sung—they were lived. These songs echoed through marches, sit-ins, and church gatherings, providing strength to those who faced violence and oppression. Artists like Nina Simone and Sam C...