Natalie Brooks
Natalie came up through Norwich's tight-knit DIY scene, where bands book their own tours and press their own records, and that self-made spirit shaped how she thinks about music. She champions the acts working outside the mainstream. She writes about independent music and the culture around it.
Essential Flamenco Albums Explained
Three landmark flamenco albums, explained plainly, plus how to build your own collection out from them by palo rather than by name.
The Best Rocksteady Artists to Know
From Alton Ellis to the too-often-overlooked Phyllis Dillon, here are the rocksteady artists whose Kingston studio sessions genuinely built the bridge from ska to reggae.
The Best Sea Shanty Songs Right Now
No trends, no filler — just the sea shanty songs that have earned their place at every singaround for the best part of two centuries.
Reggaeton for Newcomers: Where to Start
A low-pressure starting guide for anyone new to reggaeton — no Spanish, no history and no prior knowledge required, just a sensible listening order.
Essential Americana Albums Explained
Not a chart, just the records that keep getting handed down between fans and musicians because they still hold up on a tenth listen.
A Beginner's Guide to Punk Rock
Punk rock explained without the jargon — what it is, where it came from, and what to listen for first.
A Beginner's Guide to Classic Rock
What the term classic rock really covers, where the sound came from, and the names, strands and records worth knowing before you dig deeper.
A Beginner's Guide to Reggae Music
The bass carries the tune, the guitar skips the beat, and the whole thing still somehow feels relaxed. Here's what reggae is and where it came from, in plain terms.
Classic Rock for Newcomers: Where to Start
A genuinely gentle way into classic rock, built for absolute beginners: six songs to start with and no test at the end of it.
Glitch for Newcomers: Where to Start
A patient, in-order listening path for anyone new to glitch — five records, why each one comes where it does, and what to do if a step doesn't click straight away.
Essential Highlife Albums Explained
Highlife's golden age ran on singles, not albums. Here's how to build an essential highlife albums collection that's actually honest about that.
Punk Rock for Newcomers: Where to Start
A step-by-step listening path for anyone new to punk rock — seven records, in the right order, and why each one comes where it does.
A Guide to Electro Harmonix
From the LPB-1 to the Big Muff, here's what Electro-Harmonix actually is, how its pedals work, and why the name still carries so much weight on a pedalboard.
A Beginner's Guide to Reggaeton
Reggaeton, unpacked from the ground up: the dembow rhythm at its core, the three-country story behind it, and where to press play first.
