Gemma Phillips
Gemma is from Coventry, the birthplace of 2-Tone, and grew up proud that her city gave ska and reggae a very British twist. That heritage shaped her love of rhythm and music with a message. She writes about genres, music history and the culture behind the sound.
The Complete Guide to 1979 Christmas Number 1
Pink Floyd's 'Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)' became the 1979 Christmas chart-topper—a remarkable achievement for a serious rock song with political content. This wasn't a novelty record but a gen...
A Beginner's Guide to Speed Metal
Speed metal combines extreme technical skill with heavy metal melody. Discover the genre's history, its demands on musicians and why it remains influential across metal subgenres.
A Beginner's Guide to Acid House
A gentle introduction to acid house: what makes that squelching sound, where it came from, and how to start recognising the genre with confidence.
A Beginner's Guide to Hip Hop Music
Hip-hop is both a music genre and a cultural movement born in the Bronx fifty years ago. A guide to the four elements, the evolution from block parties to global phenomenon, and why hip-hop still matt...
The Complete Guide to Official Singles Chart Top 100
The Official Singles Chart Top 100 represents British music's most important weekly ranking, tracking which songs resonate most powerfully with audiences through multiple data streams.
Baroque Pop Subgenres, Explained
Baroque pop is not a single unified sound. Here is a breakdown of the key approaches within the genre, from the harpsichord-centred Left Banke style to the chamber pop revival.
The Best Bhangra Artists to Know
The unsung dholis who drive the room, the British-era pioneers, and the crossover names the world actually knows. Here's who matters, and why.
Essential Art Pop Albums Explained
Not a definitive canon — nobody could honestly hand you one for a genre this loosely defined — but the records that keep coming up, in order.
A Beginner's Guide to Electro
Robotic vocals, drum machines and a bassline built for a car boot — here's what electro actually is, where it came from, and which records to hear first.
The Black Pearl Soundtrack Subgenres, Explained
The Black Pearl score combines several distinct approaches. Here is a breakdown of the key musical strands and what makes each one distinctive.
The Complete Guide to Killing In The Name Christmas Number 1
The 2009 campaign to make Rage Against the Machine's 'Killing in the Name' the UK Christmas number 1 became a landmark moment in fan activism and online coordination.
The Best Surf Rock Songs Right Now
From Dick Dale's Misirlou to The Surfaris' Wipe Out and the Beach Boys' early singles — these are the surf rock songs that defined the genre and still hold up.
Baroque Music for Newcomers: Where to Start
No theory, no jargon: five pieces and two listening habits to get you properly into Baroque music this week.
The Best Soft Rock Songs Right Now
Forget chart position or release date. These are the songs that keep getting played at weddings, in kitchens and on long drives, decade after decade.
The Complete Guide to 90S Music Grunge
Grunge emerged from Seattle's underground scene in the early 1990s to become a global cultural phenomenon. Driven by Nirvana's massive success and defined by bands like Pearl Jam and Soundgarden, 90s...
Essential Dancehall Albums Explained
The album isn't always the natural unit here, but a handful of genuine landmarks are essential. Here's what to hear, and why each one matters.
Essential Latin Music Albums Explained
There's no official canon here, just genuinely landmark records - each one a proper entry point into a different corner of this music.
Trance Music for Newcomers: Where to Start
Trance has grabbed you and now you don't know where to begin. Forget learning it all at once, here's a proper starting path, one step at a time.
New Techno for Newcomers: Where to Start
Forget the charts and the history lesson. Here are the three moves that actually get you into new techno tonight.
Essential Vaporwave Albums Explained
No press campaign, no radio plugging — just a run of releases that quietly rewired a whole scene. These are the vaporwave albums that actually matter.
Disco Lights for Beginners: A Complete Guide
No technical background needed: here is exactly how to set up and place your very first disco light before the room fills up.
The History of Gregorian Chant
Centuries in the making, passed voice to voice long before anyone wrote it down. Here's where Gregorian chant actually came from, and how it survived.
The Complete Guide to Black Finish Pianos
Black finish pianos are the professional standard for concert halls and studios. We explore why this finish dominates, how to maintain it, and what alternatives exist.
The Best Fado Songs Right Now
This isn't a fleeting chart — it's the small, hard-won canon that every new fado singer keeps adding to.
What Gemma Phillips covers
Classic
Classic is a broad discovery label for enduring recordings, standards and widely admired music.
Country Music
Country music combines storytelling lyrics, melodic hooks and acoustic-led band arrangements.
1 topic
Fender Jazz Bass
Fender jazz bass models deliver comfort, clarity and versatile low-end tone for rehearsals, recording and live gigs.
1 topic
Grunge
Grunge blends heavy guitars, raw vocals and dynamic songwriting for an intense, unpolished rock sound.
14 topics
Hard Rock
Hard rock delivers loud riffs, strong drums and big choruses for powerful live and studio rock.
Heavy Metal
Heavy metal combines powerful riffs, heavy drums and dramatic vocals for a loud, precise rock sound.
2 topics
House Music
House music delivers steady club rhythms, soulful grooves and adaptable electronic production for DJs and producers.
Rod Wave
Rod Wave-inspired music gear for emotional vocals, beat-making, recording and modern performance setups.
