Front Page
Inspiration for Emerging Artists
Finding Your Sound: DJ Miss Milan
The Fairy Vibe Mother talks early influences, working with Doechii, and how “the music has always been within me.”
Inspiration: Martox
The Dominican duo finds it in taking breaks and a little-known rhythm.
Finding Your Sound: cktrl
The multi-instrumentalist, DJ and producer discusses sleep as an indicator that his work is complete, how mixing a DJ set can influence mixing an orchestra, and his debut album, ‘spirit.’
New Arrivals
Quick Mix: DJ Miss Milan
Rapid-fire questions for quick-thinking DJs.
DJ Gear Is the New Guitar (And That Means More Than You Think)
From the underground to a universal language.
Finding Your Sound: Curtis Harding
The contemporary soul icon gets inspiration from bass, Afrofuturism and the “mixture of vibes and area.”
How To
How to Cover a Song
Vocalist José James and bassist-vocalist Meshell Ndegeocello, who between them have covered everyone from Erykah Badu to Sun Ra, explain what draws them to other people’s music, and how to step inside another artist’s song.
How to Get the Gig
Bassist Anna Butterss and drummer Nate Smith, of Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit and Brittany Howard’s band respectively, discuss diving into the world of high-profile touring acts and why it’s important to keep your own style when helping others to realize their own.
How to Make a Live Album
With a new document of his onstage world out now, neo soul vocalist Bilal considers what goes into making an LP in front of an audience.
Rock
Common Sense Says It’s by Design: Fugazi’s ‘Repeater’ at 35
Four years after forming, the D.C. post-hardcore legends issued their enraged yet optimistic debut.
Finding Your Sound: The Beths
Lead singer Liz Stokes talks the simplicity of rock, losing a pandemic sanctuary, and actively seeking inspiration in Los Angeles.
The Highway’s Jammed with Broken Heroes: Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Born to Run’ at 50
The Boss worked on his third album like it was the last one he’d ever make. It paid off.
Jazz
Finding Your Path: Charles Tolliver
The influential ’70s jazz label Strata-East is now on TIDAL. Its co-founder talks artistic freedom, releasing music by Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson, and the “organic spirit” that made the company sing.
Finding Your Sound: Salin
With her second album out now, the “Afro Thai Funk” drummer talks morlam, playing in nature and swimming with — not against — life’s hardships.
Finding Your Sound: Rafiq Bhatia
The Brooklyn-based guitarist talks dreams, nature and music’s ability to transport you to a different place.
Hip-Hop and R&B
Magic & Loss
Twenty-five years ago, Big L’s The Big Picture was released posthumously, as a living testament to his enduring brilliance
Finding Your Sound: Madison McFerrin
A lifetime in music has led to a Tyler, The Creator feature, a Tiny Desk Concert and an epic new solo album — all within the span of three months.
Finding Your Sound: Taylor Bennett
The Chicago rapper on footwork, defying expectations as a Black artist and what his coming out experience has meant for others.
In Memoriam
Eddie Palmieri: A Man of the People
The virtuosic pianist — and Latin music legend — died this week at age 88. His songs, like “Vámonos Pa’l Monte” and “Harlem River Drive,” live on.
Phil Lesh: Professor of Improvisation
The Grateful Dead bassist, who died last month at 84, mentored younger players and led one of the most influential jam bands of the early 2000s.
Dickey Betts: Nobody Knows
A reflection on the life and musical legacy of the Allman Brothers Band guitarist and vocalist, after 30 years of interviewing and writing about him.
Celebrating Icons
André 3000 Turns 50
Now firmly in his second act as a cosmic jazz musician, the ATLien remains as original as he was in his Outkast days.
The Subtle Eternity of Roberta Flack
On albums like 1975’s ‘Feel Like Makin’ Love,’ the soul great gave the music the space it needed.
