Everything Viyolens publishes on Music Genres — reviews, buying guides and how-tos written for players and producers in the UK.
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- 124 articles
Inside Music Genres
All 64 topicsThe 12 most-searched of 64 topics. The full index is at the foot of the page.
Articles on Music Genres
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The Best Reggaeton Artists to Know
The reggaeton artists who actually matter, from the genre's Puerto Rican founders through to the global names dominating it today.
The History of Classic Rock
From blues covers to concept albums to a radio label: the decade-by-decade story of how the sound came together, and who got left off the shortlist.
Rocksteady for Newcomers: Where to Start
You've probably heard rocksteady already without knowing its name. Here's the gentlest way in: five songs, a few myths cleared up, and no homework required.
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.
The History of Highlife
From Ghana's coastal palm-wine circles to E. T. Mensah's golden-age dance bands: the full story of how highlife came to be.
Classical Music for Newcomers: Where to Start
A friendly, no-pressure starting point: three pieces to try first, honest concert etiquette, and where to listen without any special knowledge required.
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.
The Best Flamenco Songs Right Now
The essential, enduring flamenco songs worth building a playlist around, from Entre Dos Aguas onward, organised by palo rather than passing trends.
The History of Bossa Nova
The real story behind bossa nova — a contested first recording, two very different geniuses, and the album that took it worldwide.
The Best Phonk Songs Right Now
Ten listeners, ten different lists, but these are the phonk tracks that keep earning their place. A listening guide, not a chart.
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 Best Highlife Songs Right Now
Forget the charts — these are the highlife songs that have earned decades of staying power at parties, weddings and radio stations.
Essential Phonk Albums Explained
A short, scrappy shelf of records carried a Memphis underground sound into a global genre. Here are the essential phonk albums, explained one by one.
Phonk Subgenres, Explained
Half a dozen labels, one confusing mess of overlapping names. Here's what actually separates each phonk subgenre, explained without the fluff.
A Beginner's Guide to Soundtrack
Score, source music, underscore — the words can sound technical, but the ideas behind them are simple once someone walks you through them slowly.
Flamenco for Newcomers: Where to Start
A proper, no-nonsense route into flamenco for beginners: listen first, feel the rhythm, pick one palo, and avoid the common early mistakes.
The Ultimate Guide to Sitar
There's far more to the sitar than its famous drone. A grounded guide to how India's great long-necked lute makes its sound, where it comes from, and how to start.
Phonk for Newcomers: Where to Start
Forget the subgenre chart and the history lesson. Here's the fastest, least overwhelming way to actually get into phonk, step by step.
A Beginner's Guide to Glitch
Clicks, stutters and digital hiccups turned into music on purpose — here's a gentle, no-pressure way into glitch for anyone starting from scratch.
Punk Rock Subgenres, Explained
Punk rock split in a dozen directions almost as soon as it started — here's what separates each branch.
The Best Highlife Artists to Know
A guided tour of the highlife artists worth knowing, from the genre's first international star to the band that took it global.
Soundtrack Subgenres, Explained
"Soundtrack" isn't one thing. Here's what actually separates orchestral, electronic, hybrid, song-driven, game and musical scoring — no waffle.
The History of Punk Rock
From CBGB's sticky floors to a mainstream breakthrough decades later — the real story of how punk rock happened.
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.
