Rachel Hughes
Rachel is a Glasgow lifer who grew up on a live scene famous for spotting talent early, and spent her formative years crammed into the front of small venues across the city. She still believes there's no substitute for seeing a band in the flesh. She writes about live music, guitar bands and emerging artists.
Gear for Music: What You Need to Know
Gear4music has just posted its strongest year in ages. Here's what's actually behind the numbers, and what it means for the next time you're filling a shopping basket with gear.
The History of Phonk
A raw, unglamorous Memphis sound that nearly disappeared, then came back louder than ever. Here is phonk's history, told properly, era by era.
The History of House Music
A converted warehouse, two rival DJs and a handful of homemade records changed dance music forever. Here's the story of how house music actually happened.
The Best Punk Rock Songs Right Now
The songs that mattered at the time and the ones that still stop you in your tracks today — the essential punk rock tracks, explained.
The Best Classic Rock Songs Right Now
Not a chart snapshot — the classic rock songs that keep earning their spot on jukeboxes, dance floors and long drives, decade after decade.
The History of Grunge
How a damp, overlooked corner of the Pacific Northwest turned secondhand amplifiers and DIY singles into one of rock's defining sounds.
Common Electro Harmonix Mistakes to Avoid
Most Electro-Harmonix disasters are avoidable. Here are the mistakes guitarists make most often, from the shop to the stage, and the fixes that prevent them.
The History of Soundtrack
A French composer, a Disney album and a synthesiser that out-argued a full orchestra — the story of how film music actually got here.
The Best Sea Shanty Artists to Know
Solo singers, harmony groups and centuries of uncredited shantymen — here's who actually built and rebuilt sea shanty music, before and after TikTok.
The History of Bachata
How a stigmatised barrio music from the Dominican Republic spent thirty years as a punchline before conquering dancefloors worldwide.
The Best Glitch Songs Right Now
No fake top ten here. Here's why "song" is the wrong word for most of this genre, and the handful of genuine standout pieces worth pressing play on anyway.
The Best Reggaeton Songs Right Now
Forget the weekly chart — these are the reggaeton songs with genuine staying power, from the genre's dancehall roots to its current global hits.
