Everything Viyolens publishes on Music Genres — reviews, buying guides and how-tos written for players and producers in the UK.
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Essential House Music Albums Explained
House was built for the 12-inch single, so a genuinely great house album is a rare thing. Here are the ones that earned their place, and why they matter.
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.
Rocksteady Subgenres, Explained
Two years wasn't long enough for an official family tree, but real rocksteady subgenres still emerge once you know what to listen for. Here's the honest map.
A Beginner's Guide to Phonk
Confused by the cowbells, the distorted bass and the Memphis rap samples? Here is phonk explained calmly, piece by piece, from first principles.
Essential Rocksteady Albums Explained
Looking for a classic rocksteady album? Here's the honest answer: it's mostly a singles genre, and these are the compilations that genuinely count as essential listening instead.
The History of Reggaeton
How a Jamaican riddim became a Panamanian translation, a Puerto Rican underground movement, and finally a global pop genre — the full story, chapter by chapter.
Highlife Subgenres, Explained
"Highlife" isn't one sound. Here's a plain-spoken breakdown of the genre's real subgenres, from palm-wine guitar to international fusion.
The Ultimate Guide to Piccolo
The flute family's smallest, highest voice explained: why it isn't just a tiny flute, which material to choose, and how to tackle its trickiest challenge — tuning.
The Best Punk Rock Artists to Know
No filler, no family tree — the punk rock artists worth knowing and why each one earned their place.
Bebop for Newcomers: Where to Start
No theory required. Just five tracks, a sensible order, and permission to not catch every note on your first listen.
House Music for Newcomers: Where to Start
Forget the subgenre charts. Here's the honest, no-faff route into house music: five tracks to start with, names worth knowing, and where to actually listen.
The History of Reggae Music
A decade-by-decade timeline of how Jamaican music went from mento and ska to reggae, dub and dancehall — and how it ended up everywhere.
The History of Bachata
How a stigmatised barrio music from the Dominican Republic spent thirty years as a punchline before conquering dancefloors worldwide.
A Beginner's Guide to Shoegaze
Distortion, feedback and a pop melody buried somewhere underneath: here's what shoegaze actually is, where its odd name came from, and why it never really went away.
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 Bossa Nova Artists to Know
The names that built bossa nova and the ones who pushed it further — the essential artist list, explained.
The Best Bebop Songs Right Now
Forget the trending playlists. These are the bebop songs that actually built the style's reputation, and they're not going anywhere.
The History of Boogie
One rolling left-hand pattern, a century of borrowing, and a genuinely surprising trail from barrelhouse piano stools to arena stages.
Classic Rock Subgenres, Explained
One umbrella, several very different sounds: the strands that make up classic rock, why they blur into each other, and where to start with each.
The Best Classical Music Songs Right Now
No charts, no release dates: a mood-based guide to the essential classical pieces that keep turning up in films, adverts and concert halls.
A Beginner's Guide to Pop Music
Pop music is everywhere, but rarely explained properly. Here's what makes a pop song a pop song, from the chorus to the credits.
The Best Grunge Artists to Know
Grunge was never one band or one sound. Here's the honest rundown of who actually shaped it, from the household names to the ones history nearly skipped.
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 Classic Rock Albums Explained
The albums, not just the singles: six essentials, one pick from every subgenre, and honest advice on how to actually listen to them.
