Gemma Phillips

Essential Classic Albums Explained

Classic rock's greatest achievements exist as complete albums. Here are the essential records that defined the era and still resonate today.

A Beginner's Guide to Idm Music

IDM music — Intelligent Dance Music — is one of electronic music's most technically elaborate genres. This guide explains what it is, how it developed and who made it.

Trip Hop for Newcomers: Where to Start

No history lesson, no subgenre chart — just three albums in the right order and a bit of encouragement to stick with it.

A Beginner's Guide to Dubstep

What dubstep actually is, how it works, and where to start listening — the plain-English guide for anyone new to the genre.

A Beginner's Guide to Progressive Metal

Progressive metal rewards patience and repeated listening. Here's what it is, who the essential artists are, and where to start.

Acid House for Newcomers: Where to Start

A practical way in, not a history lecture — your first three tracks, what to actually listen for, and a sensible path for exploring further from there.

The Best Dream Pop Artists to Know

From the Cocteau Twins' foundational ecstasy to Beach House's contemporary dominance, these are the artists who define the genre.

Essential Blues Music Albums Explained

These records didn't just document the sound — they built it. Here's why each essential blues album earns its place.

Chart Show Bbc Radio 1: What You Need to Know

Nearly sixty years on air and still the place the UK finds out what's number one. Here's how the show works, and how it got here.

The Complete Guide to Retrowave

Retrowave is a genre born from sincere love of 1980s aesthetics and synthesiser sound, creating atmospheric electronic music paired with distinctive neon visual imagery and cinematic storytelling.

Post Punk for Newcomers: Where to Start

No jargon, no homework — just a sensible order to listen in if you're new to post-punk, and permission to skip whatever doesn't grab you first time.

The Complete Guide to Rod Wave

Rod Wave has become one of the defining voices of melodic trap, blending emotional vulnerability with sophisticated production to create deeply resonant hip-hop that has captivated millions worldwide.

Electro Harmonix: A Complete Buyer's Guide

One brand name covers fuzz, phase, delay and more. Here's what to actually check before buying an Electro-Harmonix pedal, from power specs to vintage pitfalls.

The History of Alternative Rock

Alternative rock didn't arrive overnight. It's the story of parallel underground scenes on two continents that finally collided in 1991.

Heavy Metal for Newcomers: Where to Start

Essential Ebm Albums Explained

Gemma runs through the EBM albums that actually matter — from DAF's stripped-down beginnings to Front 242's engineering and beyond.

A Beginner's Guide to Future Funk

Future funk transforms sampled funk and soul through digital production, creating joyful, nostalgic-yet-futuristic music. This guide explores the genre's origins, key artists and how to discover new m...

Essential Punk Music Albums Explained

These essential punk music albums aren't just historical documents — they're the best way to understand what the genre can actually do. Here's what each one teaches you.

The Best Blues Junior Amps for the Money

Same core amp, three very different price tags. Here's which Blues Junior edition genuinely earns the extra spend, and which doesn't need to.