Rachel Hughes

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 Best Alternative Music Songs Right Now

These are the tracks that define what alternative music is: songs that introduced styles, broke rules and have never stopped being played for a reason.

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 Gregorian Chant Artists to Know

No frontman, no headline slot, just devoted communities keeping something remarkable alive. Here are the monasteries and ensembles actually worth knowing.

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 Black Metal

From a Venom album title to a small, notorious Norwegian scene and on into a truly global genre, here's how black metal actually unfolded.

The History of Vaporwave

Born almost entirely online, out of shared uploads and half-formed ideas, years before anyone agreed what to call it. Here's how it actually came together.

The History of Electronic Music

It starts with an instrument nobody touches — here's how electronic music actually grew, from tape experiments to Detroit's drum machines.

The Best Deep House Songs Right Now

Some tracks never really leave. Here are the deep house records that sound just as current on tonight's dancefloor as they did decades ago.

The History of Blues Music

From unmarked cotton fields to smoky Chicago clubs to a London rehearsal room — the real, unhurried story of how this sound came together.

Essential Cloud Rap Albums Explained

The essential cloud rap albums and mixtapes, from A$AP Rocky's breakthrough Live.Love.A$AP and Clams Casino's instrumental EPs to Yung Lean's Unknown Memory.

The History of Glam Rock

The story of how a handful of British bands turned glitter and guitar riffs into one of the most influential movements in modern music.

The History of Bachata

How a stigmatised barrio music from the Dominican Republic spent thirty years as a punchline before conquering dancefloors worldwide.

Ambient Drone for Newcomers: Where to Start

Coming to the genre for the first time? Here is how to approach it, what to listen to first, and how to get past the initial strangeness.

Official Singles Chart Update: What You Need to Know

A provisional midweek snapshot, not the final word. Here is exactly what the Official Singles Chart Update is, how it works, and how to read it properly.

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 Complete Guide to Klezmer

Klezmer represents a rich musical tradition emerging from Eastern European Jewish communities, characterised by joyful energy and expressive melodies. Discover its fascinating history and contemporary...

The Best Techno Music Songs Right Now

The techno music tracks that never really went out of date, from Detroit's earliest experiments to Jeff Mills' most-played record ever.

A Beginner's Guide to Garage Rock

Garage rock is one of music's great levellers — raw, energetic, and thrilling from the first listen. Here's everything you need to know to get started.

The History of Ebm

Rachel traces Electronic Body Music back to its three real birthplaces — Düsseldorf, Aarschot and Essex — and follows the thread through to the genre splits of the 1990s.

The History of Chamber Pop

Chamber pop has a longer history than most listeners realise — tracing through baroque pop, 1990s indie, and the maximalist 2000s to the music being made today. Here is the full story.

The Complete Guide to Line Dancing Charts

Line dancing charts track the most popular songs within the global line dancing community, revealing what dancers love and what choreographers choose for new routines.

The Best Hymns Songs Right Now

Common Ai Song Generator Mistakes to Avoid

Most frustrating experiences with an AI song generator trace back to a handful of very avoidable mistakes. Here is what they are and how to sidestep them.