Everything Viyolens publishes on Music Genres — reviews, buying guides and how-tos written for players and producers in the UK.
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Inside Music Genres
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Articles on Music Genres
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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.
The History of Ska Music
One genre, three separate revivals a decade apart. Here's how ska actually moved from 1950s Jamaica to British 2 Tone and the American third wave.
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 Best Electro Songs Right Now
Robotic vocals and drum machines that still sound sharp today — these are the best electro songs, from Planet Rock to Fresh Is the Word.
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 History of Electro
From a 1982 block-party record to Detroit's cold machine funk — here's how electro actually took shape, city by city.
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.
Nu Metal for Newcomers: Where to Start
You don't need to know a single band name or release year to get something out of nu metal. Here's a genuinely gentle way in, built for someone starting from zero.
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 gets dismissed as "just catchy songs" more than any other genre. Here's how it actually works, and why that's not an insult at all.
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.
