Music news and show business news — fresh events from the world of music | Page: 9

Big Beat — broken beats, ’90s funk and rock energy: genre history, signature sound, key artists and releases, how it differs from breaks/house/hip-hop, production tips, and a starter playlist.

Big Beat is a powerful, dance-floor branch of electronic music from the mid-to-late 1990s, born at the crossroads of breakbeat, hip-hop, funk, and rock riffs. Its hallmarks: fat sampled drums, aggressive bass, shouty scratches, “dirty” guitars, short vocal hooks, and unbridled dynamics built for big rooms and festival stages. Short definition Big Beat is the “big-room sound”: heavy broken…

Dark ambient — the dark architecture of sound: the genre’s history from industrial roots to cinematic ambient, subgenres (ritual, black ambient), key artists and releases, production techniques, listening tips, and a curated album list.

Dark ambient is a subgenre of post-industrial and ambient music built on slow drones, deep sub-bass, long reverberations, and sound textures that create a sense of place—from deserted halls to underground chambers. It took shape in Europe by the mid-1980s as the “dark” branch of ambient and quickly developed its own aesthetics and circle of creators. What it sounds like Foundation: sustained…

Roland TR-808 — the iconic 1980 drum machine that defined the sound of hip-hop, electro, techno, and pop. History, facts, and its impact on global music.

Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer — it’s not just a drum machine. It’s a cultural phenomenon whose sounds forever changed pop, hip-hop, electronic music, and the entire sonic landscape of the late 20th century. Released in 1980 by the Japanese company Roland Corporation, the TR-808 became a symbol of an era — from the underground to the global pop stage. Creation story After the success of the…

Breakstep — a subgenre of the late-1990s UK electronic scene that fused garage, breakbeat, and drum’n’bass. History, key artists, and its influence on dubstep.

Breakstep is a subgenre of the UK electronic scene of the late 1990s and early 2000s that fused 2-step garage, breakbeat, and drum’n’bass. It served as a transitional stage between old-school UK Garage and the new direction — dubstep — shaping its rhythmic foundation and bass power. Origins and evolution Late 1990s, London. After the heyday of UK Garage, DJs began experimenting with a…

Euro trance is a genre from the late 1990s and early 2000s that combines the melody of eurodance with the euphoria of trance. Discover its history, key artists, and the golden age of Europe’s club scene.

Euro Trance is one of the most recognizable subgenres of electronic music from the late 1990s and early 2000s. It fused the melodic flair of eurodance, the atmosphere of trance, and the powerful energy of Europe’s club scene. This is music of euphoria and light — with melodies that send hands into the air and beats that hit straight to the heart. Origins and evolution Mid-1990s — trance…

Deep Techno — an atmospheric subgenre of techno that blends minimalism, space, and meditative rhythm. History, artists, and the philosophy of sound.

Deep Techno is a subgenre of techno built on deep atmosphere, spatial textures, and minimalism. It does not strive for aggression or speed — instead, it is about immersion in sound, where rhythm becomes meditative and music turns into sonic architecture. Origins and Philosophy Origins: Late 1990s – early 2000s. Deep Techno emerged from Detroit Techno, Dub Techno, and Ambient. Main influences:…

Indietronica — a genre that combines indie guitars and electronic synthesizers. History, artists, and the aesthetics of lo-fi and retro-futurism. M83, CHVRCHES, Hot Chip, and more.

Indietronica is a genre that fuses independent guitar music (indie rock, indie pop) with electronic textures and synthesizer-driven sounds. It emerged at the turn of the 1990s and 2000s, when indie bands began experimenting with digital technology and electronic aesthetics while maintaining a sense of melancholy and organic performance. Origins and Development Roots: In the 1990s, after the rise of Britpop…

Blues — a genre born in the southern United States among African Americans. The history of the blues, key performers, styles such as Delta, Chicago, and Texas blues, and its influence on rock and modern music.

Blues — one of the oldest and most influential genres in modern music. Emerging in the late 19th century among African Americans in the southern United States, it became the foundation for rock, jazz, soul, R&B, and a huge part of global musical culture. It is music that speaks of pain, hope, and inner freedom — through simple words and deep emotion. Origins and History Late 19th century,…

Ska is a Jamaican style that blends offbeat rhythm, brass instruments and the raw energy of street music. From 1960s Kingston to 2 Tone and ska-punk — its history, artists, culture and influence.

Ska is a lively and upbeat music genre that emerged in Jamaica in the late 1950s. It became the predecessor of rocksteady and reggae, and later gave birth to styles such as 2 Tone and ska-punk. Ska is the music of dancing, brass instruments, syncopated guitar offbeats, and a smile you simply can’t hide when that signature “skank” rhythm starts playing. How Did Ska Begin? Late 1950s, Kingston,…

Eurodance — a genre that blended techno, house, and pop. Discover its history, artists, and influence on the 90s dance scene — from 2 Unlimited and Haddaway to Corona and Culture Beat.

Eurodance is a genre of electronic dance music that emerged in early 1990s Europe. It combined the rhythms of techno and house, the vocals of pop music, rap verses, and melodic synthesizers to create a unique sound that became the symbol of the disco, cassette, and MTV era. History and Formation Late 1980s – Early 1990s: Eurodance evolved from Italo disco, Euro disco, and house music. The first pioneers…

Roland TB-303 Bass Line — the iconic synthesizer that became the symbol of acid house. Learn its creation story, fun facts, influence on music, and modern clones.

Roland TB-303 Bass Line — the legendary synthesizer and sequencer released by the Japanese company Roland in 1981. Initially designed as a compact bass accompaniment for guitarists, it became the instrument that defined an entire movement in music — acid house and techno. History In the late 1970s, Roland was actively experimenting with portable electronic instruments. The TB-303 was conceived as an…

Nu Jazz — a modern style combining jazz improvisation, electronic music, and soul groove. History, key artists, and its influence on the lounge and downtempo scene.

Nu Jazz (also known as electro-jazz or future jazz) is a modern genre that blends jazz improvisation with electronic music, funk grooves, and a lounge atmosphere. The genre emerged in the late 1990s as both a response to the renewed interest in jazz and to the growing popularity of the electronic music scene. History and Formation Late 1990s: In Europe and Japan, DJs and producers began experimenting with…

Electronic Body Music — a powerful fusion of industrial sound and dance rhythm. A journey from Front 242 and Nitzer Ebb to today’s new body techno.

Electronic Body Music (EBM) is a genre of electronic music that emerged in the early 1980s, combining industrial harshness, mechanical rhythm, and the dance energy of synthesizers. It is a style where body and machine merge into one, and music becomes a ritual of movement. History and Origins EBM was born in Europe (mainly in Belgium and Germany) as a response to the cold, detached aesthetics of industrial…

Ambient House — a style that fuses ambient and house. Soft rhythms, atmospheric synths, and a philosophy of sound that balances stillness and motion. History, artists, and modern influence.

Ambient House is a genre of electronic music that blends the meditative atmosphere of ambient with the rhythmic structure of house. It emerged at the intersection of club culture and sound art in the late 1980s, becoming the soundtrack for chillout rooms, sunrise moments on the dancefloor, and relaxed after-hours gatherings. History and Origins Late 1980s – early 1990s: The term ambient house appeared in…

Beatboxing — vocal percussion and the art of creating music using breath, lips, and tongue. From Doug E. Fresh to Dr. Peacock — history, techniques, artists, and the modern scene.

Beatboxing is the art of creating music and rhythms using only the voice, lips, tongue, and breath. It’s a form of vocal percussion where the human body becomes a living drum machine — capable of imitating drums, basslines, samples, and even melodic instruments. History and Origins 1980s: The first elements of beatboxing appeared within the hip-hop culture in the United States. The term “beat…