To celebrate Pride in style, I’ve enlisted of and of to join me for a special collaboration. Having followed them both across the interwebs, I enjoy their individual perspectives on pop culture and their creative synergy. We each picked three musicians whose work matters to us across the colorful, rich queer spectrum, focusing on a total of nine diverse artists. Turn up the volume and tune into A Prideful Noise.

Arca

Although I’m far from the only person who loves to talk about how the late trans legend SOPHIE’s rubbery yet metallic production reshaped pop music, I’m in a slightly smaller circle when I praise SOPHIE’s friend and fellow trans innovator Arca for the same. Her output has traversed engrossingly horrifying instrumentals, ballads so syrupy and gorgeous they feel like high works of art, rickety and sputtering and off-kilter club bangers, and production for FKA twigs, Kelela, (sigh) Yeezus, and mother herself, Björk. Arca has been involved with so much of the past 13 years’ best music, and her best could be yet to come, and I want more respect put on her name.

RIYL: liquid mercury rushing out of a compression tank, music that drips like molasses, having panic attacks on the subway, but it’s ok because nobody looks at anyone else on the subway. —Max Freedman

Read more: Arca: “We’re all transitioning: from birth to death, it’s inevitable” (i-D)

CMAT

When I saw Irish bicon ’s Philly show last month, she told the audience she was on a work visa that could theoretically be rescinded at any time, then immediately said “F**k ICE and Free Palestine” (correct!) because she’s fearless in her politics, and she’s just as fearless in her music. If you love campy theatrics, technically showy belting, hilarious lyrics, earnest heartbreak songs, political anthems, and country-pop with a wink, look no further. Or just wait five years till she’s as big as Chappell Roan and you can’t escape her.

RIYL: giving Bette Midler a fiddle, Kacey Musgraves when she’s funny, redhead drag queens, including but not limited to Jinkx Monsoon. —MF

Lavender Sound

Album Review: CMAT, 'Euro-Country'

Welcome to Lavender Sound’s end-of-year 2025 coverage! Here’s my review of CMAT’s ‘Euro-Country,’ an album I wish I had reviewed upon its release but am reviewing now since it’s among my faves of 2025…

Read more

7 months ago · 13 likes · 7 comments · Max Freedman

Durand Bernarr

When Durand Bernarr sang “I’m a bad b***h, and I’m that n***a” on his 2022 disco-soul song “Mango Butter,” genderqueer folks across the African diaspora profoundly resonated with the declaration. The fluidity of this “social media bio-worthy” statement made us feel seen. Though the Cleveland-born artist (né Bernarr Durand Ferebee, Jr.) had been steadily releasing music and going viral for memes since the 2010s, this song felt like the moment he truly broke through.

Since then, Bernarr has experienced a meteoric rise—even winning his first Grammy in 2026 for Best Progressive R&B Album and subsequently appearing on many talk shows as his newfound fame grew. He’s adored for his unabashed comedic chops, extravagant vocal runs, and show-stopping confidence. But Bernarr’s also a singer’s singer, who’s unafraid to clock in for a background vocal sesh for artists known and unknown.

Bernarr’s self-titled fifth studio album was released this spring—according to a Billboard interview, what started as a deluxe edition to 2025’s Bloom ended up becoming a project all its own. Fans can catch him supporting Kehlani on her upcoming tour.

RIYL: hootin’ and hollerin’ (complimentary), skits woven into songs, affirmations amidst heartbreak tales. —Shanté

Keith Barrow

At the height of the pandemic, I went to a “fill a box for $5” sale at my local record store. Among the albums I came across was something called Physical Attraction by an artist I’d never heard of named Keith Barrow. While listening to the album, I looked up Keith Barrow and discovered that he only recorded four albums between 1973 and 1980 before passing away in 1983 at the age of 29. Barrow was an early casualty of the AIDS epidemic, having experienced ill health since 1979.

Barrow was the son of Willie Barrow, a prominent minister, Civil Rights Activist, and the first woman to be the executive director of a civil rights organization. Despite the Reverend Barrow’s background, she was always fiercely supportive of her son, adding LGBTQIA+ activism to her many causes after he came out to her. After Keith’s death, she spoke of him in interviews and continued to fight for the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community as well as people affected by HIV/AIDS, until she died in 2015.

Barrow didn’t have much success during his lifetime. Two singles from Physical Attraction, “You Know You Wanna Be Loved” and “Turn Me Up”, were both moderate R&B hits, the only chart entries in his short career. There is no doubt he would have had a great career if it hadn’t been tragically cut short. —Mark Edward Randall

Read more: Black History Month Celebration: Remembering Keith Barrow, Chicago’s R&B Melodic Maestro (Black Alphabet)

Kelela

I can’t just mention Kelela and not elaborate further. She’s often tagged as an R&B artist, but in my eyes, her greatest impact is within the sultry side of club music, the kind you hear deep into a rave. That impact could well expand tremendously with her upcoming third LP, next month’s new avatar, on which she’s bringing shoegaze and grunge (she was in a metal band before going solo) into her sound. Based on the singles so far, the LP is gonna break new ground across multiple genres and could well be my album of the year. Leave it to a queer Black femme to lead the way forward—from music to politics and their vast intersection, history repeats.

RIYL: club tracks with some air, tricky and shifty beats, songs whose beauty largely comes from the negative space left by a lack of percussion. —MF

Read more:

• Oscar Scheller is the producer fueling PinkPantheress, Lily Allen, and Kelela (The FADER)

• Opinion: Being a visible black woman in the music industry (Kelela via Resident Advisor)

Labi Siffre

Labi Siffre has been through a lot. He was proudly gay in a time when it wasn’t legal in the UK. He survived the 80s. And he’s still with us today. Siffre has been recording for over 55 years, but the quickest way to sum up his hitmaking career is in two parts.

The first was in the early 1970s. Siffre was a folk-style singer who gradually branched out into other genres. Under this guise, he scored three hits. The best known of these was likely “It Must Be Love”, which was later covered by Madness. The band paid tribute to the original by giving Siffre a cameo in the video for their version.

After a lean period, which included participating in A Song For Europe with “Solid Love,” but not making it into the gay Olympics that are Eurovision, Siffre took up recording again. The 80s were a more political time. Notably, there was the anti-Apartheid movement and AIDS activism. Both of these were causes Siffre held close to his heart. He saw a documentary that inspired him to write an anti-Apartheid song titled “Something Inside (So Strong)”, and was rewarded with a career revival.

While his second run was also short-lived and he hasn’t recorded an album in years, Siffre continues to stay in the public eye, and his music lives on amongst fans. He is someone I intend to write about in more depth later on. —MER

Read more: Labi Siffre Announces First Album in 28 Years, Shares New Song (Pitchfork)

Lava La Rue

Londoner Lava La Rue is a one-of-a-kind sonic shapeshifter who’s embraced various characters and sounds throughout their genre-fluid discography. Tracing back to the late 2010s, their earliest work is a mystical amalgamation of neopsychedelic soul and underground hip-hop. Meanwhile, La Rue’s 2024 conceptual, Afrofuturist debut album STARFACE finds the artist invigorating these reference points with notes of funk, dance, pop, and more.

With lyrics like “my girlfriend has a boyfriend” (“LOVEBITES”), and the acronym behind their latest punk-leaning EP Do You Know Everything, La Rue has never been shy about exploring sapphic romance in their work. At its core, their rebellious music reflects the artistic evolution of someone who grew up immersed in facets of rave culture and spearheaded DIY music events during their adolescence—a student of the world who leaves no inspirational stone unturned. The musician/director is also the founder of NiNE8, a multicultural arts and music collective.

RIYL: indie psych rock with glittery textures, art with DIY punk ethos, future soul, conceptual albums with alien love stories, Lenny Kravitz, Yves Tumor. —S

Ms. Boogie

Following the announcement of her transition in 2018, Ms. Boogie (AKA Rose Isabel Rayos) released a trail of standout singles before unveiling The Breakdown, her fabulous debut album from 2024. I was first introduced to the Dominican-Colombian rapper when she appeared on the remix for Kelela’s “LMK,” featuring aligned collaborators like Junglepussy, Princess Nokia, and cupcakKe. My reintroduction came in late 2020 with the heavy-hitting single “Fem Queen,” a celebratory posse cut with Bella Bags, Miss Blanks, and Trannilish.

With her distinctly mesmerizing New York accent, raw lyrics, and signature trills, Ms. Boogie brings much-appreciated diversity to the hardcore Brooklyn drill scene. She’s also proof that artists can make an impact with one memorable moment that keeps fans hoping for more. —S

Read more: A Radical Oral History of Ms. Boogie’s ‘The Breakdown’ (PAPER Mag)

Peaches

Peaches crossed my path in the early 2000s when I was reading Canadian free music publication Exclaim. I remember thinking she sounded really crass. Then I heard about her again in the NME when Fatherf**ker came out and thought the same thing twice.

Here’s the thing. Peaches is crass. But it’s bloody awesome. She’s unapologetically Peaches. And while I wish I knew her entire repertoire, the songs I do know by her are incredibly catchy. In a better world, she would have had the career of someone like Lady Gaga. Listen to “Downtown” and try to convince me otherwise.

I’m glad Peaches is crass, part of the rainbow, and a Canadian. I’m glad she is someone who tackles ageism in the LGBTQIA+ community head-on. And that she is also someone who doesn’t believe you should act a certain way just because you are getting older. She’s unashamed of who she is, and that brings so much to the table. —MER

Read more: Peaches: ‘I want to show my body even more now it’s older’ (The Observer)

More LGBTQ+ music acts to know

With such vast music knowledge and appreciation among the three of us, it’s only right that we conclude with even more for you to discover. Here are 31 more LGBTQ+ music acts to add to your library!

Ahya Simone
Arlo Parks
Avalon Emerson
Bronski Beat
Carl Bean
Communards
Courtney Barnett
Dan Hartman
Destin Conrad
Divine
Dua Saleh
Dusty Springfield
Erasure
Hazell Dean
Honey Dijon
Jayne County
Jimmy Somerville
Joan Armatrading
Jobriath
Omar Apollo
Orion Sun
Patrick Cowley
Perfume Genius
Pet Shop Boys
Rough Trade
Sans Soucis
Soltera
St. Vincent
Steve Lacy
Syd
Sylvester

Many thanks to Mark and Max for collaborating with me on this special feature. Please be sure to subscribe to their individual publications and check out their latest work!

Musings Of A Broken Record

Canadian pop culture junkie who enjoys music and films.

By Mark Edward Randall

Lavender Sound

About music, by and for LGBTQ+ people.

By Lavender Sound (Max Freedman)

Image credits

Graphic design by
Labi Siffre, photographed by Arthur Grimm
Peaches, photographed by Suki Dhanda
Ms. Boogie, photographed by Juan Veloz
Kelela, photographed by Clifford Prince King
Arca, photographed by Ana Cuba
Lava La Rue, photographed by Amir Hossain aka Blacksocks
Durand Bernarr, photographed by Orin Fleurimont

I hope that you’re embracing the seasonal transition wherever you are. I’ve missed connecting with you all—please forgive me for skipping last month’s Medley. This is my way of making up for lost time.

While I was away, I proudly put on my music scholar hat. At the time of publication, I’m working on my final project for an online course I took titled Rhythmanalytics, courtesy of The School for Poetic Computation. I was also involved with a weekly self-guided study hall where I focused on the book The Motherlode: 100+ Women Who Made Hip-Hop by Clover Hope. Both of the aforementioned experiences have proven fruitful to my music listening, writing, and analysis. I’m excited to continue sharing what I’ve learned—more to come on that soon.

As always, the directory submission forms remain open for anyone who wants to be featured or needs to amend their existing entries. I caught up on the listings at the beginning of May, so I plan to pick back up with any new submissions within the next couple of weeks.

Initial Directory Submission Form

Directory Maintenance Request Form

And now, let’s proceed with highlighting moments from the directory chat, recapping the recent chordinnate album club meeting I hosted, and more.

Memos from the chat

Soundtracks, scores, and needle drops

My passion project, a filmless score, aligns with my goal of being a music supervisor for film & TV. As I roll out installments, I get closer to fulfilling this dream and realizing a narrative for a coming-of-age film. I recently prompted the chat to share favorite soundtracks, scores, and needle drops.

You all provided so many fabulous answers, so here’s a sample of what was shared:

mentioned that her favorite soundtracks are (500) Days of Summer (2009) and Garden State (2004)! Her explanation: “The music still holds up on both of those films to this day. Both films are instrumental in defining my music taste and getting me into indie bands!”

A few people named specific composers for their brilliant scores. gave a shoutout to Trent Reznor, mentioned Thomas Newman, and cited Bruce Hornsby (specifically for his work with Spike Lee).

offered two movies with great soundtracks: Grosse Point Blank (1997) and Angus (1995)—the latter of which was notably referred to as “very slept on.”

Jazz Appreciation Month

Though many of us honor jazz 24/7/365, April is the official Jazz Appreciation Month.

In my eyes, is a resident jazz advisor, so of course he came through with the heat. He introduced me to multi-instrumentalist Aaron Shaw, who also performs in a duo called Black Nile with his brother Lawrence Shaw.

mentioned the latest album by Work Money Death titled A Portal To Here. The song titles alone piqued my interest!

Recap: The chordinnate album club

I had a phenomenal time leading the latest chordinnate album club meeting on Bewilderment by Pale Jay. It brought me much joy to share one of my favorite albums in recent years with other music fans. If you missed the meeting, my listening guide remains a great resource to dive further into the music. I also recommend checking out the presentation I provided during the live chat.

Bewilderment Presentation (Milanote)

Resources, Reads, and Recommendations

(listed in no specific order)

It’s no surprise that the RSVP list for ’ upcoming album club meeting is full. But if you’re local to the Columbus, Ohio area, I suggest signing up for the waitlist for an opportunity to join the discussion about When I Get Home by Solange. And even if you can’t attend, the listening guide is worth exploring.

Feels Like Home

The Album Club: Solange - When I Get Home

Hey y’all…

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23 days ago · 21 likes · 5 comments · Alex Lewis

NYC folks: join for a Black Music Month celebration on June 4th. Check out her announcement for all the crucial details.

recently launched a beautiful offering called The Letter. This is a monthly mail club where she will send out “demo versions, field recordings, and acoustic explorations of songs” that will eventually shape her debut album. I received the first installment and really appreciate the care and intention that went into this curation. Visit the link below for more details and sign up to receive June’s letter!

Pay-What-You-Want 4 The Letter

The talented folks at compiled the ultimate handguide to ‘90s hip-hop/R&B soundtracks. Just about every movie from the decade that you’d expect to see is listed in this wonderful resource.

Shatter the Standards

The Handguide to ‘90s Hip-Hop/R&B Soundtracks

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a month ago · 13 likes · 2 comments · Shatter the Standards, Brandon O'Sullivan, and Phil

Singer India Shawn has always been one to watch for me, so it’s amazing to see her shine in a recent cover story for .

YAMS Magazine

India Shawn Is In Her Groove

India Shawn says that she keeps coming back to this particular Rick Rubin quote: “Don’t play to win, play to play.” She drops it mid-conversation, in the way you mention something that has rearranged a thought you’ve been carrying for years. It stuck with her because she’d been doing the opposite for so long — grinding toward…

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a month ago · 20 likes · 1 comment · YAMS Magazine and Dante Nicholas

looks ahead to warmer weather in the northern hemisphere with her latest scenic playlist titled “All Your Summer Songs.”

New Bands for Old Heads

All Your Summer Songs

We’re just coming off a three day weekend in the U.S., one that’s supposed to kinda sorta kick us off into an unofficial start of summer. Here in Philadelphia, though, it’s been cold and rainy and miserable…

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23 days ago · 42 likes · 13 comments · Gabbie

recently announced RIYL.fm, a project that profiles what a selection of college radio stations had in rotation this past semester. As a former college radio DJ (whose taste in music was heavily shaped by this season of my life), this initiative means a lot to me!

emwhitenoise

College Radio Wrapped

emwhitenoise is a monthly essay exploring the future of music through the lens of fandom, technology and culture—from Emily White, a music product builder and Spotify and Billboard alum. Welcome to the 566 subscribers who joined since April’s essay…

Read more

a month ago · 104 likes · 26 comments · Emily White

guides us on various ways to find new music. As someone who has used all of the highlighted methods, I concur!

Another Thought

How to Find New Music

One of the questions I get most often is “where do you find new music?” New music is being dropped basically every second, but with the overwhelming amount of other “content” being constantly fed to us, it can be shockingly hard to keep up with what’s coming out. But at the same time, we also have more resources than ever for finding great stuff…

Read more

a month ago · 54 likes · 23 comments · Dusty Henry

compiled a masterful playlist of “100 Beats by 100 Different Producers.” Frankly, he had me at Georgia Anne Muldrow being the first artist on the playlist.

Micro-Chop

100 Beats By 100 Different Producers

If you want to support Micro-Chop you can follow me on Spotify and subscribe to the newsletter and YouTube channel…

Read more

7 months ago · 10 likes · 1 comment · Gino Sorcinelli

is one of my favorite resources for music lists, and the latest one is all about the best album debuts of 2026 (so far). Required reading if you ask me!

The Wax Museum

The 15 Best Album Debuts of 2026 So Far

Today is a big day. In fact, it might be the best new release day of the year so far…

Read more

20 days ago · 11 likes · Jared Smith

Courtesy of : a sentimental autobiographical read by writer José Luis Ruiz regarding the impact of “It’s Too Late” by Carole King.

This Song Changed My Life

No. 143 - Carole King’s “It’s Too Late” changed my life

This Song Changed My Life is an independent music publication featuring weekly essays from people all around the world about the songs that mean the most to them. Created (and illustrated) by Grace Lilly…

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20 days ago · 2 likes · Grace Lilly

Throughout June, I have some exciting collaborations to share for this newsletter and beyond. Like last year, we’re honoring Pride Month and Black Music Month. Stay tuned. As always, I’ll leave you with some music to explore.

Melodically yours,
Shanté

Virtual Tip Jar

Subscribe now

Meeting info

The album club’s central premise is as follows: listen to the featured music asynchronously, then gather to discuss our experiences. After a recent move to Discord, the chordinnate album club has incorporated pre-discussion listening sessions. If you would like to enjoy the selected album for the first time with the group, be our guest!

Date: Thursday May 21st, 2026
Time: 6:30 PM EST for the group listening session; 7 PM EST for the discussion
Location: Discord—information for joining the server will be provided via invite. Please sign up at the link below.

chordinnate album club sign-up

A brief album synopsis

Bewilderment is Pale Jay’s debut LP. This soulful album was released in 2023 on Karma Chief Records, a subsidiary of Colemine Records. Pale Jay—a trained jazz vocalist and pianist—wrote, performed, and produced all the tracks on Bewilderment, except “By the Lake,” which features labelmates Okonski (comprising Steve Okonski, Aaron Frazer, and Michael Montgomery1). The LP has a runtime of 24 minutes with 8 tracks total.

RIYL: “dusty soul from outer space” (this description comes directly from the album’s vinyl packaging), blue-eyed soul, retro soul revival, swanky lounge music, cinematic soul with boom-bap flair, vintage jazzy sounds for easygoing mornings.

Who is Pale Jay?

With his signature bright red ski mask and bucket hat, Pale Jay keeps his true identity concealed.2 But when he sings, a vast array of influences emerges from his trademark falsetto. Considering how elusive he is, Pale Jay’s sparse press features offer a glimpse into his lore and the enigmatic person behind the mask.

“The mask is red, the songs are blue.
You don't know Pale Jay, but Pale Jay loves you.”3

In a 2024 interview with COLORS, the artist shared that he is “an introverted and private person by nature.” The COLORS interview is no longer available online, so I’ve pulled a couple of quotes from the newsletter copy in my email.4

On the significance (or lack thereof) of his mysterious appearance:

“Preferably, the music is the center of attention rather than myself, hence the mask. It doesn’t symbolize anything in particular, but I had a very clear picture in my mind of how the character of Pale Jay should look. I also always wear a bucket hat that I picked up at a tiny hat shop about 15 years ago.”

On his pseudonym:

“The name references the fact that, as a white soul musician, I am building on the rich, predominantly African American lineage of musicians who came before me. By calling myself Pale, I acknowledge the structural privileges that come with my skin tone. ‘Jay’ refers to my real name.”

Known inspirations include: Donny Hathaway, Carole King, J Dilla, Khruangbin, Labi Siffre, Nina Simone, Jon Lucien, Jon Hendricks, Madlib, Flying Lotus, James Blake, and William Onyeabor.

The listening experience

Bewilderment is available on most digital streaming platforms. I’ve embedded the full album streams from YouTube and Bandcamp below. I’ve also included some links to purchase the album and listen offline if that’s more your speed. I have a copy of Bewilderment in my personal collection, and I will do a show-and-tell during the meeting!

Bewilderment Vinyl/CD (Bandcamp)

Bewilderment Vinyl/CD (Colemine)

Recommended resources

• Meet Pale Jay, the introverted, red-masked falsetto-soul ‘vessel’ (Beat Magazine)

• Song You Need: Pale Jay’s heartfelt confession (The FADER)

• Pale Jay - Colemine Records

• Pale Jay - The Celestial Suite (EP) + 10 Questions (Wordplay Magazine)

• Pale Jay’s YouTube Channel

  • There’s a music video for each song on Bewilderment!

  • You will also find a series of shorts titled “Who is Pale Jay?” featuring folks like Colemine Records founder Terry Cole, collaborator CARRTOONS, and more, giving their playful and esoteric descriptions about the musician.

Questions to consider

• Was this your first time learning about this artist? Is this a style of music you would normally gravitate towards?

• How does Pale Jay fit into the lineage of soul music? How does he set himself apart?

• The entertainment world is no stranger to musicians with masked identities and elaborate personas—from Daft Punk to MF DOOM, Orville Peck to Leikeli47 and beyond. What are your thoughts on this artistic approach?

• What textures, lyrics, themes, and moments stand out the most upon listening? Take heed of any nuances you notice on subsequent plays.

• How do the album artwork and music videos tie in with the theme of bewilderment?

• How would you describe the album’s trajectory?

• What are your favorite tracks from Bewilderment?

Further listening

All of Pale Jay’s albums have runtimes under 30 minutes, so I highly recommend giving his entire discography a spin before the meeting.

• The Celestial Suite (EP, 2021)

• Low End Love Songs (LP, 2024)

Bonus points if you listen to the accompanying instrumental albums!

I hope to see you at May’s chordinnate album club meeting—be sure to check out Dave’s official announcement if you need any more information in advance.

the chordinnation

chordinnate album club | pale jay

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2 months ago · 3 likes · Dave L.

Melodically yours,
Shanté

Welcome back to another edition of The Medley, a musical digest. After some time off, I’m getting back into the swing of things. This weekend, I anticipate adding more names to the listed categories and updating recommendations. As always, here are the links to the submission forms if you’d like to be featured in the directory or need an update to your current listing.

Initial Directory Submission Form

Directory Maintenance Request Form

In the meantime, let’s explore some memos from the community chat and pass the mic in honor of Women’s History Month.

Memos from the chat

Your favorite new music from Q1 2026

With the arrival of Spring, I recently revived the community chat to inquire about the music that moved us in the first quarter of 2026. Some of my favorites from the year so far include:

• The Pleasure is Yours by GENA

• A Rush to Nowhere by

• keepsake by

• petal rock black by

Since that chat, I’ve also added two EPs to the list: ’s Detour and TEMESGEN by ZENA.

Here’s a selection of what other folks have been listening to.

has the latest from Haute & Freddy, James Blake, and Yebba on repeat.

put me on to “Elephant Man” by Viuta and now I’m so curious to learn more about this artist.

has been loving the cohesiveness of the HELP (2) charity compilation from War Child Records, which arrived 31 years after the label’s first installment.

Check out the following link to the chat if you’d like to chime in on the conversation.

Q1 2026 Favorites Chat

Happy Women’s History Month!

Queen Latifah and Monie Love said it best: “Ladies first!”

If you’re new here, this is where I typically would include the “Degrees of Separation” curation. But I’m switching things up to spotlight a few women making moves in music, from the curators to the musicians and everyone in between. I’ve included a mix of features written about and by women (listed in no particular order).

recently announced her sophomore album, the color of rain, which is set to be released on May 22nd! Mark your calendars 💙💙

aja monet

NEW MUSIC: we are each other's "elsewhere"

dearest kin n folk…

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3 months ago · 61 likes · 6 comments · aja monet

wrote honestly and openly about the current physical media wave and offered alternatives for folks to engage mindfully. (zilennial babe, we gotta get you in the Collectors category ASAP!)

bus ride

An honest chat about physical media consumption

Some of my favourite childhood memories are of watching my dad listening to music. He would choose a record, plug his headphones into his amplifier, and listen away with 0 distractions. He still chooses to listen to music this way today. It’s well known within my family that I inherited my deep love of music from my dad, and to me, he’s always been the …

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4 months ago · 25 likes · 9 comments · zilennial babe

Reflecting on a recent album club meeting on Beyoncé’s 4, adapted the “eat, play, love” philosophy that Beyoncé upheld during that album cycle and applied it to her own life.

TENTH

Eat, Play, Love: My Personal Year of 4

One of my favorite things about hosting No Skips Album Club is the chance to fall in love with albums all over again…

Read more

3 months ago · 9 likes · Ebanē Marquice

chatted with Joyce Wrice (a longtime favorite R&B singer of mine) to learn about her creation process and the anticipated follow-up to her 2021 debut, Overgrown. The artist was interviewed by Annabelle Kline-Zilles.

Texting Interviews

#80 Joyce Wrice

Instagram…

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3 months ago · 5 likes · [untitled]

is hosting a live vinyl listening experience on April 18th, focused on three specific icons of funk. See her announcement below for more details.

wrote about “MUSIC FOR CRUSHES” and even included some standout recommendations for books and movies too. You already know she curated a phenomenal playlist to capture the vibe (and if you don’t know, now you know!).

emma withers says new music!

MUSIC FOR CRUSHES

I have, throughout my life, taken crushes very seriously. I have yearned to yearn. I have thrilled to the the potential of the other as I go about my quotidian tasks; I have delighted in becoming a person who is a little more in love with the world for knowing that the object of my desire is roaming around in it. Crushes have made me buy strange things…

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3 months ago · 23 likes · 14 comments · Emma Withers

For , reviewed the latest Justine Skye EP titled Candy (which is in my queue for the weekend).

Shatter the Standards

EP Review: Candy by Justine Skye

Since she was seventeen, Justine Skye has been signed to four different labels. Atlantic, then Roc Nation and Republic, then an independent stretch, then Warner. Her biggest song, “Collide,” came out in 2014 and didn’t go gold until a sped-up TikTok remix she had no hand in made it unavoidable eight years later. She releas…

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3 months ago · 4 likes · Shatter the Standards and Rosa Delgado

is THE name to know when it comes to celebrating women in music on Substack! Through her , she graciously captures the myriad ways that women continue to make history in the realm of music (and she does so with care all year long).

Herizon Music: Newsletter & Podcast

Herizon Music Mashup: Women's [Music] History Month

In This Issue…

Read more

3 months ago · 31 likes · 19 comments · Thea Wood

That’s all I have for now, but I’d love to hear from y’all. What are you listening to this weekend? What are you looking forward to this year—music or otherwise? Don’t hesitate to hit my line if you wanna chat. I’ll leave you with some music per usual (shoutout to for introducing me to the first song below).

Harmoniously yours,

Shanté

Virtual Tip Jar

As with last year’s feature, this playlist challenge was inspired by the following prompts from Music Listography by Lisa Nola:

• List a song that reminds you of each lover you’ve had

• List love songs you’d want to be serenaded with

• List your break-up mixtape songs

• List songs for your wedding or commitment ceremony

• List songs for your perfect makeout mixtape

The prompts were merely suggestions, and I’m excited to share with you the creative ways in which folks explored the challenge. Let’s go ahead and get into the main attraction—stay tuned for some brief announcements and a few more musical selections towards the end of this curation.

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Valentine’s Day playlists & posts from the community

keeps the focus on love with a sentimental Valentine’s Day playlist that spans genres and decades—read his feature below for anecdotes regarding his song choices, many of which relate to being in a committed relationship for nearly 37 years.

PalCinema, Television, & Music

Constructing a Valentine's Playlist

The Music Directory, here on Substack, recently posted a playlist challenge to commemorate Valentine’s Day. Since Frank and I have been together for almost 37 years, we rarely do anything significant on that day. Often, as will be the case this year, we are in different states! So, like Sweetest Day, Feburary 14…

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4 months ago · 18 likes · 9 comments · Dan Pal

Meanwhile, explores the other end of the relationship spectrum: splitting up. The Ultimate Breakup Mixtape “map[s] the non-linear nature of healing post-breakup.” Featured artists include Saya Gray, Jazmine Sullivan, Ninajirachi, Tierra Whack, and more!

What I'm Humming

The Ultimate Breakup Mixtape

I don’t have any big feelings about Valentine’s Day. I just love creatively interpreting a good music prompt. For the past three years I’ve been making Valentine’s Day-adjacent playlists. These have been 100+ song playlists that relate to love, lust and loneliness…

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4 months ago · 2 likes · 1 comment · em

provides a playlist AND a history lesson with her sublime contribution to the challenge, which highlights Appalachian murder ballads.

a mixtape from a friend

A newly-dug grave, and a spade lying by

I’ve been working on a piece I’m excited to share soon, but for now, I’m setting it on the back burner to make this little contribution to The Music Directory ’s Valentine’s Day Playlist Challenge…

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4 months ago · 6 likes · 6 comments · Jenny H.

Play: 2026.02.04 mixtape on Apple Music

With a set of carefully crafted companion playlists, examines the dynamics of love and all its glories (and woes).

WorldWideWess

Mike’s Manifesto .003

Captain’s Log #003 | 02-05-2026…

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4 months ago · 5 likes · 2 comments · Mike W

Play: When Cupids' Arrow Hits

Play: When Cupids' Arrow Misses

’s sensual NSFW playlist A Long Time Coming centers female pleasure and desire, with 18 songs by women who describe exactly when, where, and how they want it. Check the playlist out below, which includes a poem to correlate with Nielly’s submission for “perfect makeout mixtape.”

Nielly Listens

a long time coming

since ‘91 and the days before…

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4 months ago · 1 like · Nielly

Play: A Long Time Coming

graces our ears with two distinct playlists full of sultry jazz, romantic R&B, and so much more!

(yours truly) premieres a new installment of her passion project , in which she has developed the soundtrack for a hypothetical coming-of-age film. titled head over heels, the full annotated playlist officially dropped on Valentine’s Day.

a filmless score.

head over heels

happy Valentine’s Day! whether you engage with this feature on the day of love or at a later date, the sentiments of the head over heels playlist are evergreen. this installment of a filmless score comprises many of my all-time favorite songs. what more can i say…

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4 months ago · 1 like · Shanté

Play: head over heels on YouTube

Shoutout to everyone who participated in the challenge! If you missed the submission window, you are welcome to leave a link in the comments to your related playlists/posts so we can all check them out. Now, onto the brief announcements.

Thanks to everyone who has submitted a maintenance request for their active directory entries. I’ve taken care of those requests on the back end, so the changes will be rolling out to the published category posts very soon. I’m nearly done with adding all new entries—I just have a few multi-category submissions left to format. From there, I will review every category within the next week to confirm that the requested changes are cohesive across the board.

If you have completely rebranded your platform, but have not submitted a maintenance request, I will remedy this by updating the tag to your publication and pasting the current description. This ensures that folks are still featured in some capacity and allows me to update broken links. Upon publication, you may decide to send a more specific description and I will replace the placeholder text ASAP. You may also request removal if the aims of this directory no longer align with your publishing experience.

Directory Maintenance Request Form

I’ll conclude with more songs to soundtrack your Valentine’s Day—whether you’re in a committed union, mourning a relationship, focusing on self-love, or ready to mingle and start something new! Happy listening and loving xx

Virtual Tip Jar

How is the new year treating you? I’m currently in the midst of ongoing maintenance for the directory, so it’s been a little quiet on this front. Still, I didn’t want to let the month pass without offering some announcements and reflections.

Announcements

Directory maintenance will continue into the beginning of February. After reviewing a few categories, the majority of the required changes equate to updating the subscribe widgets to match new logos and descriptions. If you’ve changed your publication name in any capacity, you will likely be tagged again when the updates roll out (just wanted to give that heads up!). In terms of minor name changes and/or logo updates, I’ve already identified those adjustments, and they’re being handled in the drafts.

In the case of major overhauls, there are a handful of folks that I need to reach out to confirm whether the listed details still align. If you’re reading this and you know that you’ve made big changes to your platform since your initial submission, I advise requesting a maintenance update via the corresponding Google form.1

Directory Maintenance Request Form

If you need a refresher of what you’ve submitted, you can visit the directory homepage and search for your name/publication name to see where you’re listed. You can also look under specific categories and use your device’s search function to go precisely to your entry.

New submissions will be added in this update, so there’s time to submit if you haven’t already. I will also be rolling out another batch of recommendations very soon—someone from each of the listed categories will be featured, as I’ve primarily selected single-category submissions (except the educator category, where every entry is featured elsewhere).

Initial Directory Submission Form

Thanks for your patience as I sort through this expansive database! With interviews and chat prompts on pause, the rest of this Medley edition will look slightly different than usual—read on for an intentional event recap and a playlist submission challenge!

Refresh & Renewal: A Recap

Last month, I announced a collaborative virtual event with centered around mindfulness and music. During Refresh & Renewal, we experienced a sacred space to focus on our individual needs and desires while being held by community. Below, we offer some takeaways from the gathering with prompts that can be done individually.2

A Tarot Forecast

When I interviewed Nielly, we pulled tarot cards for each other, which guided the flow of our conversation. For Refresh & Renewal, we circled back to this divinatory practice. Combining numerology and tarot, we reflected on the energy of 2025 and forecast what’s to come in 2026. Here are the cards and keywords associated with each year.

• 2025: The Hermit (IX) — Introspection
  2+0+2+5=9

  9 = conclusions & endings, vibrations of universal spiritual laws

• 2026: The Magician (I) and The Wheel of Fortune (X) — Alchemy & Change
  2+0+2+6=10
  1+0=1
  1 = newness, new ideas, expansion

Meditation

One of the most powerful meditations Nielly has participated in was a variation of the Goal Achievement Meditation.3 Through this activity, she was able to see clearly all that was meant for her if there were no such thing as boundaries on time, money, or ambition. In other points in her life, the meditation showed her absolutely nothing. While that sounds discouraging, it was a great check-in tool for her to know that she needed to work through some blockages and overcome self-doubt.

Personally speaking, the goal achievement meditation was quite refreshing—it occurred a day before I announced my newsletter restructuring process, so the mindfulness helped with centering myself in that present moment to fine-tune my focus for the year.

Intuition

We also learned how to “hear” clear yeses and no’s that helped during goal setting. During any intuitive/somatic practices, it’s all too easy to get caught in self-doubt (Is this “correct?” Is this “enough?” Am I finished? Is there more to do?). Using muscle testing helped us to whittle down our question to a simple “Yes” or “No” and use our bodies as a guide. For anyone reading this, that specific tool may be helpful and provide a sense of clarity as you work through your goals.

Goal Setting

Vision boards. SMART goals. Manifestation. For us, forward-thinking goal setting was the star of the show; it’s a useful framework and coping skill for us to forget the past and keep it movin’. However, what many goal-setting activities miss out on is 1) intentional reflection of what did and didn’t work, and 2) making space for celebration in the grand and mundane.

Using the language of “harvest,” we reflected on the “seeds” we planted throughout 2025. Some seeds have been watered, and others were left to dry out. Some have grown and sprouted fruit, while others have sprouted weeds. Other seeds didn’t take at all, no matter how much TLC we gave them. Therefore, this form of reflection helped us decide if we want to try to grow it again.

The harvesting activity lays the groundwork for more aligned future-looking goal setting. While the language of the harvest is often associated with autumn, the framework is great for regular reflection or following life accomplishments!

Song of the Year

It wouldn’t have been a Nielly & Shanté gathering without tying in our mutual love of music and acknowledgment of its power in manifestation and self-healing. Playlists are our love language, and we made one specifically for this occasion! Our gathering empowered us to listen to our intuition to identify a song that’s aligned with our goals, rather than simply picking a song we like.

For example, in 2024, one of Nielly’s manifestation songs was “Find Someone Like You” by Snoh Aalegra. A simple reading of the lyrics relays the elation that Snoh feels when she finally finds the romantic partner she’s been asking for. But the song arrived at a moment in Nielly’s life when the “someone” she was looking for was herself. She was working toward a 2024 that left her feeling radical love. As the year passed, she found that and romantic love. The song now holds deep personal significance and demonstrates that tapping into the higher vibration and multiple possibilities of the music and lyrics can unlock a beautiful life and perspective.

Meanwhile, I am no stranger to using music as a divinatory practice—I’ve written about the concept of shufflemancy on my personal newsletter and often listen beyond the words to discern messages relayed by the music and its frequencies. As mentioned in my 5th newsletter anniversary recap, I’ve chosen the song “all my prayers” by Deem Spencer featuring Slyy Cooper to anchor me this year.

The Refresh & Renewal playlist is organized in themes:

• High vibration/manifestation: affirmation-style mantras, instrumentals, and energy. Think: how do I want my year to feel in my body?

• Lifestyle/homemaking: family, new apartments/homes, moving to new cities, going home

• Employment/work attitudes: new jobs, more work-life balance, etc.

• Leave it in the past: no way out but through

• Romantic love: personal connections, lifelong partners, affirming love

• Getting over heartbreak: take your lessons and move on

• Money: skrilla, cheddar, loot, moolah, bread, paper (you get the point!)

• Self-confidence: ain’t no love better than the kind you can give yourself—heavy on the “bad b*tch energy”

• Inner peace & divine timing: complete and utter faith that everything will come in its right time

Our challenge to you as you navigate the playlist is to not play the songs before selecting one. Try saying just the song title aloud and waiting for that zingy “yes!!” in your body. You may surprise yourself.

If you missed this gathering, we’ve bundled the tarot forecast and harvest activity into a downloadable digital item, available via Ko-fi.

Buy R&R PDFs for $4.44

Your Playlists About Love (And Heartbreak) 002

Last year, The Music Directory hosted the first community playlist challenge to commemorate Valentine’s Day. This year is no different—I am bringing back the same challenge and invite you to participate. Folks may recall that I borrowed the following prompts from a book in my collection called Music Listography by Lisa Nola.

• List a song that reminds you of each lover you’ve had

• List love songs you’d want to be serenaded with

• List your break-up mixtape songs

• List songs for your wedding or commitment ceremony

• List songs for your perfect makeout mixtape

If you participated last year, I challenge you to try a different prompt. I am accepting submissions through 2/12 at 11:59 PM EST (note: the date has been extended by a day since the initial announcement and the submission form will automatically close at that time). Please note that the playlist(s) can be compiled for streaming, or you can list and annotate the songs in a newsletter post. All submissions will be compiled and featured in a community roundup.

Submit your V-Day Playlists!

That’s all I have for now, but you know where to find me if you have any questions. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with a few songs that have been in my heavy rotation.

Harmoniously yours,
Shanté

Announcements & Housekeeping

• I’m co-hosting a virtual community gathering for the new year with ! Refresh & Renewal will take place on January 10th—I invite you to join us for 2 hours of goal-setting, mindfulness, and music! Please visit our event page on Ko-fi to learn more and register.

Register for R&R

• January will be for directory maintenance, such as checking links, widgets, and (in)activity. If your publication/description has changed, this is a great time to request an update via the maintenance request form.

Directory Maintenance Request Form

• The general directory submission form will remain open, so you can still send your info to be listed in any of the featured categories.

General Directory Submission Form

• Please note that the directory submission form above is for sending in your newsletters/websites—if you would like to share music or other material for me to review, kindly send me an email or DM instead.

Memos from the chat

Many thanks to for being December’s featured guest! If you haven’t already, check out our interview and collaborative playlist centered around EOY music curation.

Gabbie also provided us with a community chat prompt, which is as follows: What new song(s) did you hear this year that made you feel nostalgic? What did they make you feel nostalgic for?

I could choose many songs from 2025 that made me feel nostalgic, but my 1st thought was “Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party” by Hayley Williams. This title track is my favorite from her most recent album, and it made me feel nostalgic for video countdown shows, especially the way that Williams interpolated lyrics from “Waterfalls” by TLC (and borrowed their dance moves for her video).

picked the title track from spill tab’s album ANGIE (a 2025 favorite of mine as well). “It (& the album on the whole) hits the same spot as the variety of music I played in my college dorm rooms while writing papers or curating my LinkedIn, comforting but juuuuuust keeping me on my toes...,” she said.

selected “It’s Amazing to be Young” by Fontaines D.C. because “it sounded a lot like the Psychedelic Furs from the 80s.” She also linked to Joyce Manor’s “All My Friends Are So Depressed” because it reminded her of The Smiths.

Nostalgic Music Chat

Your Best/Favorite/Top Music of 2025

And now: here is a curated list of submissions, featuring the community’s favorite music of 2025!

The Abstract Observer’s Substack

Best Tracks 2025

Hi there. During this first year of activity we’ve sifted through countless independent releases, following faint signals rather than hype…

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6 months ago · 2 likes · The Abstract Observer

Hear Hear

The Best "Best of 2025" Lists

It’s the most wonderful time of year: music list season! Since I started this newsletter in 2020, I’ve used the last issue as a year-end “list of lists” — compiling all my favorite tastemakers and critics into one handy guide, and spotlighting standout songs and albums that caught my ear. (With a focus on artists I haven’t featured yet…

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6 months ago · 35 likes · 5 comments · Adam Offitzer

Chaotic Good Jazz

25 of 2025

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6 months ago · Alex Lester

Feels Like Home

32 Favorite Albums of 2025

Disclaimer: This post is too long for email, so you will need to view it in your web browser or Substack app to see the full list…

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6 months ago · 67 likes · 29 comments · Alex Lewis

Shatter the Standards

The 100 Best Albums of 2025

An artist disappears for a while, then returns with a record that refuses to apologize for the gap. Another returns with a different voice, older priorities, and a sense of what matters now. 2025 was full of that energy, comebacks that didn’t try to recreate a past version of success. Some of the best albums sounded like people stepping back into the wo…

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6 months ago · 17 likes · 1 comment · Shatter the Standards

Shatter the Standards

The 80 Best Rap Albums of 2025

Year-end rap talk loves a scoreboard. It turns albums into campaigns, turns attention into math, turns “who didn’t chart” into a punchline that’s supposed to end the conversation before it starts. This list doesn’t move like that. The “who doesn’t chart” obsession is a lazy way to avoid listening. It pretends the only music worth naming is the music tha…

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6 months ago · 23 likes · 2 comments · Shatter the Standards

Shatter the Standards

The Additional 30 Best R&B Albums of 2025 (Honorable Mentions)

After unveiling our top selections last week, let’s shine a light on the albums that circled the podium but just missed the spotlight. These records share a restless spirit—artists testing the boundaries of genre, forging unexpected dialogues between voices and writers, and trusting the power of a well-placed melody. Here you’ll find global crosscurrent…

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6 months ago · 20 likes · 1 comment · Shatter the Standards

Shatter the Standards

The 50 Best R&B Albums of 2025

If you look at 2025 R&B with a mainstream lens of the success of Kehlani, Leon Thomas, and Mariah the Scientist with their hit singles, sure, there’s not much going on, but the genre was so much more than that. This year became a sanctuary for stories we all carry but rarely share out loud. From heartbreak and healing to found family and self-discovery…

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7 months ago · 27 likes · 1 comment · Shatter the Standards

Shatter the Standards

The Best Hip-Hop, Pop, and R&B EPs of 2025

EPs in 2025 feel like laboratories that the whole scene can see in real time, and the best ones move fast without losing depth. Hip-hop sets the range, from loop-driven confessionals that sit on near-drumless beds to chaotic, distortion-tilted outbursts that test the edges of flow and feeling, with club-born jolts pushing the tempo when the mood flips. …

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7 months ago · 13 likes · Shatter the Standards

Shatter the Standards

The 50 Best Jazz Albums of 2025

As the calendar turns to 2025, jazz finds itself in exceptional form—restless, inclusive, and delightfully unpredictable. From tape-saturated church studios to high-concept chamber performances, artists are reimagining what a jazz record can feel like. This year’s highlights go beyond genre borders without leaving the music’s core spirit behind, invitin…

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7 months ago · 14 likes · 3 comments · Shatter the Standards

What I'm Humming

Em's 25 Songs of 2025

A year ago, I wanted to disappear. I felt myself shrinking so small that I wanted to evaporate into dust. Evaporating into thin air felt easier than confronting the situation I had gotten myself into. The hurt and disrespect I was self-inflicting felt impossible to end. This past January, I began the year trying to counter the claim that I was a coward…

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6 months ago · 9 likes · em

New Bands for Old Heads

The Best Albums for Old Heads of 2025, Pt. 1

Music Curation As the Deliberate De-whelming of the New Music Deluge…

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7 months ago · 142 likes · 57 comments · Gabbie

New Bands for Old Heads

The Best Albums for Old Heads of 2025, Pt. 2

Music Reviews Are Actually Spoilers…

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7 months ago · 63 likes · 43 comments · Gabbie

New Bands for Old Heads

The Best Albums for Old Heads of 2025, Pt. 3

Now You Can Start to Sweat a Little…

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6 months ago · 75 likes · 49 comments · Gabbie

New Bands for Old Heads

The Best Albums for Old Heads of 2025, Pt. 4 (& Last Post of the Year!)

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6 months ago · 96 likes · 54 comments · Gabbie

Central Tendency

Indie Scientist's Spotlight Records of 2025

Welcome back to my Best of 2025 series! In case you missed it, my last article discussed my 20 Favorite Debuts of 2025…

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6 months ago · 28 likes · 4 comments · Indie Scientist

Jon Hillcock: Atelica

Are all the end of year album lists too samey?

Don’t get me wrong; I love end of year lists…

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6 months ago · 6 likes · Jon Hillcock

On Repeat Records

2025 Was Rough. These Records Were Incredible.

Good morning…

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6 months ago · 40 likes · 40 comments · Kevin Alexander, Steve Goldberg, and Sam Colt

Lavender Sound

Lavender Sound's Favorite Albums of 2025

Welcome back to Lavender Sound’s 2025 end-of-year coverage…

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6 months ago · 13 likes · 8 comments · Max Freedman

Lavender Sound

5 LGBTQ+ Music Writers on Their Favorite Songs of 2025

Welcome back to Lavender Sound’s 2025 end-of-year coverage…

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6 months ago · 22 likes · 16 comments · Max Freedman

Musings Of A Broken Record

Musings Of A Broken Record's End Of Year Recap (Part One)

Welcome to Musings Of A Broken Record, home of Bubbling Under, Beyond The Guess Who, You Should Know About, and That Time…

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7 months ago · 47 likes · 32 comments · Mark Edward Randall

Musings Of A Broken Record

Musings Of A Broken Record's End Of Year Recap (Part Two)

Welcome to Musings Of A Broken Record, home of Bubbling Under, Beyond The Guess Who, You Should Know About, and That Time…

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6 months ago · 28 likes · 32 comments · Mark Edward Randall

Something Old/Something New

Albums of the Year 2025

It’s that time of the year when every music writer indulges in reflection and selects their choices for the best releases…

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6 months ago · 19 likes · 6 comments · Mark Hooper

Inside The Credits

The Producers Of The Year, To My Ears (Round 2)

If you’re here again, meaning you read this end of the year special last year, I’m here to say again unabashedly that I like lists. My publication is about producers, thus, my end of the year list here will always be about the producers who were my favorites and shaped my year in music listening…

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6 months ago · 5 likes · Miki Hellerbach

Music Lists Matter

Albums of the Year, 2025

Music Lists Matter because they help us make sense of an overwhelming amount of sound. They guide discovery, surface overlooked records, and facilitate conversations that span generations of listeners. From end-of-year roundups to personal playlists, lists act as cultural markers. They shape taste, revive forgotten work, and keep artists present long af…

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6 months ago · 14 likes · 3 comments · Music Lists Matter

Earnestness Is Underrated

New music for your weekend

I am not normally a source for new music, but I happened across this track yesterday and I have to share. A cover of "This Is My Country” written by Curtis Mayfield and originally released as the title track for the 1968 album by Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions…

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6 months ago · 18 likes · 1 comment · NickS (WA)

things i collected

tay's favorite songs of 2025

all of my monthly playlists have led to this moment: it’s the 5th year of compiling my favorite music on things i collected, and over a decade of building year-end recaps in general. according to Last.fm and Apple Music Replay, i’ve played nearly 6,000 songs in 2025…

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6 months ago · 29 likes · 6 comments · Shanté

things i collected

tay’s favorite albums of 2025

every year can be a good music year if you’re curious enough to explore the modern sonic landscape. as evidenced by my monthly playlists, my musical explorations covered a lot of ground. with so much music cycling in and out of my rotation, compiling these yearly recaps helps me understand what makes my ears perk up and why i play certain artists/albums…

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6 months ago · 27 likes · 3 comments · Shanté

thesovereignaudite

favorite albums of 2025 ✨

happy almost 2026! these are the albums that i enjoyed immensely this year - the number was a bit lower as far as the ones that truly stuck to my bones, but it was still an enjoyable year of genreful music regardless. to be completely vulnerable, 2025 was definitely a trying year for me, but i am forever thankful for the music that kept me through as w…

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6 months ago · 8 likes · the sovereign audite

thesovereignaudite

favorite songs of 2025 ✨

this year offered a lot of fun and also emotional songs for me - ones to make me dance until i would sweat, others that made shed a tear just by being so moved by them and everything in between. i loved hearing new songs by my usual favorites and especially discovering new artists through their releases! here are a handful that were constant repeat dur…

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6 months ago · 4 likes · 2 comments · the sovereign audite

SICK GIG!

Underrated Underground: Four Under-Discussed Albums That Deserve Your Attention

Yes, I loved the Geese and Cameron Winter records from this year, so much so that I saw them live on their most recent tour. The same is true for Clipse’s astonishing comeback “Let God Sort Em Out,” and Danny Brown’s return to the rave “Stardust.” But if you’ve found this tiny music blog, odds are you’re already familiar with these albums and have had t…

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a year ago · V.V. Hart

I hope you explore these lists and find some new music to enjoy into the new year! If you have your own year-end list, but didn’t get a chance to submit for this post, kindly share it with us in the comments!

Leave a comment

In memory of…

A moment of silence for the music folks who departed the earth this year. To honor those we lost in 2025, I recommend checking out ’ tribute section, as well as NPR’s In Memoriam feature.

Before we go, I’ve updated the directory and admin account’s profile picture to reflect my most-played albums of 2025.

Saya Gray — SAYA
Yves Jarvis — All Cylinders
Hildegard — Jour 15961
Dijon — Baby
Silas Short — LUSHLAND
keiyaA — hooke’s Law
Yukimi — For You
Flwr Chyld — InsydeOut
Kokoroko — Tuff Times Never Last

I’ll leave you with a few songs that made 2025 special. Happy new year, everyone!

Gabbie and I share a love of seeking out music beyond the mainstream and unearthing the underground. I enjoy reading her insights and observations to see where we relate and engage with music beyond my radar. In the spirit of year-end recapping, she and I met over video chat one late Sunday morning in November to get to know each other more and discuss the methodology of building our favorite music lists.2 She’s currently rolling out her 2025 best albums lists in a strategic four-part series, whereas I tend to share two lists: one for favorite albums and another for favorite songs.

New Bands for Old Heads

The Best Albums for Old Heads of 2025, Pt. 1

Music Curation As the Deliberate De-whelming of the New Music Deluge…

Read more

7 months ago · 107 likes · 54 comments · Gabbie

New Bands for Old Heads

The Best Albums for Old Heads of 2025, Pt. 2

Music Reviews Are Actually Spoilers…

Read more

7 months ago · 52 likes · 41 comments · Gabbie

New Bands for Old Heads

The Best Albums for Old Heads of 2025, Pt. 3

Now You Can Start to Sweat a Little…

Read more

6 months ago · 74 likes · 49 comments · Gabbie

New Bands for Old Heads

The Best Albums for Old Heads of 2025, Pt. 4 (& Last Post of the Year!)

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6 months ago · 85 likes · 54 comments · Gabbie

Music has always been a central part of Gabbie’s life, an experience she thought everyone shared. “Everyone in my family is very musical, actually. Except me.” she laughed. Writing about the art form became a lifeline to stay connected to her passions. “I started writing music reviews as a hobby when I started college. I went to a school that has a world-class music conservatory, but I am not a musician myself. So this is my way to be creative and connect to something that actually matters to me.”

During our chat, I also learned about the story behind her social media handle, the origins of NBOH, the fragrance she’d pair with one of her favorite albums, and more.

Read on for the full Q&A. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Subscribe now

What is one of your earliest music memories?

My dad plays the accordion. He has a lot of friends who are musicians, too, and when I was a kid, they would come over to jam. Someone would play guitar, others would sing or play the piano. It was all very off the cuff. I remember falling asleep with that in the background. To this day, I need some kind of music or background noise to fall asleep to.

I can definitely envision that scenario, and it reminds me of some core memories of family gatherings. To this day, if we get together, we’re gonna be listening to my grandma’s favorite soul songs and singing along.

It brings people together. When everyone knows a song, you feel that from the inside out. We’re all family when we sing together.

Absolutely—it’s that kinship of “We all know this song, and we have all been there to sing this song.” So thank you for sharing that. Next, I’d like to know: what is the reference point for your username, “Me and Timory?”

That comes from a Ted Leo song called “Timorous Me,” about one of his fans named Timory Hyde who died very young. The song is kind of a ballad in her honor.

I always thought of it as an homage to the music obsessive fan. Ted Leo is one of the reasons that I am so emotionally attuned to music and why I started writing about music in the first place.

The name stood out to me on your social media profiles, but it’s bittersweet to learn the story behind it. When did you first hear this song?

Somewhere around the early 2000s. I was definitely in college, so I was the right age. When I found out that Timory was something like 22 when she died, I felt a stronger connection to her. She was forever young.

I think in our fantasies we’ve all envisioned ourselves as the star: the lead guitarist or the singer, right? But I always stop myself in that fantasy and bring myself back to reality. I know I don’t have the talent. This song is eulogizing the perfect audience member. The perfect fan.

“But I watched her sing along with every word
In the prettiest voice that I never heard
And I still see her dancing, wearing my shirt
Right there”

That I can relate to.

The way you described it is so poignant. It reminds me of latching onto something, and that thing defining one’s identity at a specific moment in time.3 To that same point, please tell me about the origins of New Bands for Old Heads.

It started out on TikTok, which is not a platform I really wanted to be on, to be honest with you. I’m not someone who gravitated towards making videos of myself talking, but I got sick of writing album reviews. There’s only so much you can say over and over about a record; I might get a little creative here and there and make it sound a little bit less formulaic, but ultimately people are just skipping ahead to see the score.

What I really care about is talking to people about new music and helping people who stopped listening to new music rediscover it. I realized that I was really good at comparing new music to the music that I was nostalgic for. I like that detective work—you know, hearing a little guitar lick and pinpointing the exact older track it comes from.

I much prefer writing as a medium. I get to talk about more than one record in a post instead of a little clip. It’s a lot more engaging. I get to embed music into my writing and discuss all the connections I’m making. But there’s nothing more interesting to it than that. I wish I had some sexy story for you!

New Bands for Old Heads

Get in Losers, We're Learning About New Music

Need me to get to the point faster? Cool…

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a year ago · 61 likes · 2 comments · Gabbie

I think that’s great because I gathered that you had the foundation of music writing, but then you tried a different medium and took something from that experience. It allowed you to explore music in ways that matter to you AND succinctly distill your discoveries for people who need that guidance. On a related note, how did you first get into music curation?

My goal is to get people to engage with new music again. So if I’m doing that, why am I going to tell anyone “and here are 10 albums that you shouldn’t give your time to” when people are already overwhelmed by how much is out there? I thought that the best way is to only talk about what they should be paying attention to. So curation versus criticism is where I landed. It seemed like a natural next step.

I didn’t really have to name that because my “if you like X, then you’ll like Y” formula was already doing it for me naturally. Whatever little blurb I write to accompany that is criticism enough.

Sometimes I’ll do a deep dive on a famous record that everyone’s already talking about and critique it because it’s already in the cultural ether. I think that is the proper forum for criticism. But I focus about 90% of my attention on underground, unknown music. Why am I going to give some tiny indie artist with 1000 Spotify listeners a month negative attention? That sucks! I’m just not gonna mention them at all if I don’t like them.

New Bands for Old Heads

New Music Discovery 101

One of the complaints I hear most often when I recommend new music is “I don’t know where to find any of this stuff on my own…

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2 years ago · 143 likes · 29 comments · Gabbie

Agreed—there’s something for everybody. So someone will find value in the music and express that from their perspective. What are some qualifiers you consider when building your end-of-year list?

I don’t even know where to start with this question, honestly. I can’t fully buy in to that “best of” concept. I truly can’t. And ranking them on top of that—How are you actually deciding that? Maybe for a number one, because people have such an emotional connection with that one record or that handful of records. But how are you truly differentiating between number 23 and number 47? When I pull together a list at the end of the year, it’s essentially just an assortment of albums that struck me as most interesting over the course of the year, after listening to many hundreds. I used to have it down to a science, but I have given up on that.

New Bands for Old Heads

Suggestions for More Honest Album of the Year List Titles

Honest Album of the Year List Titles…

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2 years ago · 95 likes · 36 comments · Gabbie

Trust me, I can relate! I prefer the language of “favorite” because that is something I can more fully qualify. I’ve been using Last.fm to track my listens since I was a teenager, which helps. I also decided that I will only rank 12 favorites. However many months there are in a year, that’s how many albums you’re gonna get.

That’s nice. Do you do one per month, or is it just 12 because there are [that many] months per year, so this seems like a good spread?

It was the latter at first. Since I’ve started posting about albums that I listen to on a monthly basis, I’ve made it easier on myself by choosing a #1 play of the month. Then that allows me to ask when I build the EOY list: am I still going to include this, or will I opt for something else?

That makes sense.

So I’ve kind of developed my own methodology for it, but I do agree that the language of “best” and “top” just doesn’t resonate with me. It’s favorite because it’s more personal.

Yes, and no one can fight you on that. So for you, “favorite” implies frequency of listens?

Yes!

The reason why that’s harder for me is that the records I listen to the most are the ones I’m writing about, regardless of whether or not I actually like them. So that gets scrobbled a gazillion times and ends up being my top listen, even if it wasn’t necessarily something that I cared for that much. Also, I sometimes am obsessed with a particular song and not the rest of the album—even though I am usually a staunch full album listener.

Then my Spotify end-of-year list tells me I’m obsessed with one particular artist when in actual fact it’s just one of their songs.

I know, right?? Since Last.fm skews things, I’ve gotten used to comparing Apple Music Replay to Last.fm. I’ll take a screenshot of the top plays on both platforms and see where they compare. So it’s not about solely relying on the data—it’s also me informing it with my own perspective.

I appreciate that you have a system and that you’ve kept that system consistently for a long time. I don’t. I am very inconsistent. I used to keep a spreadsheet. Every time I’d listen to an album, I’d score it out of 10 and that would be my rubric throughout the year.

I noticed that the scores weren’t helping me. If you look at those aggregators, like Album of the Year or Metacritic, close to 90% of them are ranked 70 out of 100 or more. It doesn’t even make sense. The scores I gave were really similar.

Is every single album that comes out good? I wasn’t able to distinguish each 7 out of 10 that I gave. That’s not helping me when I’m trying to go back and discern which of these belongs on an end-of-year list. So I stopped. Scoring was useless to me.

This year for the first time ever, I haven’t looked at an aggregator. I haven’t read any reviews. I’ve just been looking at new release calendars to see what’s coming up so I can look at what to listen to. Then I’ll make my little playlists every month to track what I like. It’s been incredibly freeing.

New Bands for Old Heads

Album Scores Are Meaningless

There are a few reasons why I stopped writing music reviews…

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a year ago · 125 likes · 103 comments · Gabbie

On the topic of new releases: who are you currently listening to? Who are you always listening to (i.e. your music DNA)?

One brand new record that everyone’s been talking about that I have not loved is Snocaps, and everyone’s going to eat me alive for that. I’ve also practically memorized the new Lily Allen record, for better or worse, but only because I wrote about her.

I have been listening to a debut album from a band called CIEL, which reminds me of early 2000s Metric, and I’ve been really enjoying it.

As for what I always listen to? Actually, it’s a little bit sad, but I don’t think I can answer that. I always want to go back and listen to older music, but because of this new music world that I’ve thrown myself into, I find that I don’t have time. It’s depressing. In fact, if I don’t go back and listen to the songs and the music that I grew up with, or alternately, go back and listen to all my own musical gaps from past decades, I am only listening to new releases. That really bums me out.

I totally identify with that feeling, and I think that’s why I prefer having playlists to track what I’ve listened to each year/decade. On that note: is there an artist/album from 2000 that you’ve grown to appreciate over time?

The best answer I can think of off the top of my head actually is The Avalanches. This is more of a “I didn’t know about them at the time” answer; it wasn’t on my radar back then. I didn’t start listening to them until way after. Since I Left You is the album that I started with and know the best.

I recall you once mentioning that you curate experiences related to fragrance when you travel. If you could pair one of your favorite albums (from this year or beyond) with a fragrance, what would that pairing be?

One of my favorite albums this year was Smerz — Big city life. I’ve talked elsewhere about how it reminds me of the heat wave of the first summer I spent in Philadelphia: the late nights I’d spend out dancing, the cigarettes I’d smoke on stoops and in bars (because we still could back then!), and the sticky un-air conditioned concert venues I’d frequent. I didn’t wear any perfumes when I was in my 20s, so this isn’t a memory association, but I would pick État Libre d’Orange’s “Fin du Monde.”

This fragrance smells like an afterparty to me. It has this very strange, sticky popcorn note mixed with cigarettes or gunpowder. It’s like smelling perfume on somebody else’s clothes a few days after they sprayed it - present but not at all overpowering. Definitely a “wake up in somebody else’s bed” feeling, which is 100% the Smerz vibe. It’s certainly the closest I can think to bring me back to that time and place of my early adulthood without actually being able to recall a specific scent to anchor me there.

Is there anything else you'd like readers and listeners to know?

My big message about listening to new music is just to stay open-eared and open-minded. Don’t dismiss music just because it’s not what you’re used to!

If you like [x], then you’ll like [y]

Gabbie’s hallmark series offers new music recommendations based on older bands or genres that people already enjoy. We collaborated on a version of this format to compare albums from 2000 and 2025, essentially analyzing the evolution of music over the last 25 years. Our personal histories prompted two different experiences in terms of revisiting music from 2000.

New Bands for Old Heads

Yes, Another Teen Movie (Soundtrack)!

Growing up in the ‘90s, I’m not embarrassed to say that movie soundtracks were one of my biggest sources of music discovery…

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9 months ago · 65 likes · 39 comments · Gabbie

Born in the ‘90s, I knew some singles from a couple of the albums we analyzed together (especially if they were radio or countdown show hits), but I was mainly looking to the past for discovery. I was curious to know how certain sound essences transcended time. Like I do with my own EOY lists, I sought to understand the consistency of feelings evoked by the music—similar to the ethos Gabbie described behind her music curation formula.

By comparison, Gabbie was a teenager at the turn of the 21st century, so she was able to look back to rediscover and reminisce. In conversation, we observed that the following pairings were not wholly reliant on their sonic similarities, but rather a holistic analysis of the music and what surrounds it.

Shanté’s picks

If you like Mama’s Gun by Erykah Badu, then you’ll like Devotion & the Black Divine by anaiis

What these albums have in common is that they are sophomore albums with overlapping themes of motherhood, soulfulness, and timely social commentary. Erykah Badu and anaiis became mothers in the interim between their first and second studio albums. They emerged back into the spotlight with even stronger conviction of their creative foundations and perspectives. There’s a beautiful expansiveness to these records where they just allow things to breathe, flourish, and grow—listening makes you feel warm and cozy. Both Mama’s Gun and Devotion & the Black Divine also make great use of vocal repetition that becomes incantations, like spells that mesmerize the listener.

If you like Voodoo by D’Angelo, then you’ll like Baby by Dijon

During our chat, I began to preface that this comparison wasn’t a 1-1 when Gabbie mentioned that it was my strongest pairing—a compliment that filled me with pride! Both D’Angelo and Dijon grew up in the DMV area and have honored their roles as descendants of specific musical lineages—synthesizing their influences into something that simultaneously revives the existing sounds and takes on a life of its own.

From the sustained gospel notes and breathy crooning to the analog quality, this is reference-heavy music that’s as raw as it is refined. Both of the songs I’ve selected as examples (“Feel Like Makin’ Love” and “Another Baby!”) are also about lovemaking. Kinda goes without saying, but Prince's inspiration is palpable on Voodoo and Baby—thematically and instrumentally. Additionally, they share Pino Palladino as a collaborator.

If you like Stankonia by OutKast, then you’ll like BLACK’!ANTIQUE by Pink Siifu

When comparing a 2025 hip-hop album to OutKast’s Stankonia, it seems that the obvious and easy choice would be JID’s God Does Like Ugly, considering that both he and the aforementioned rap duo are from Atlanta. JID was also featured in OutKast’s tribute performance during this year’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. However, I believe that BLACK’!ANTIQUE by Pink Siifu is a closer match to OutKast’s brand of funky, left-field Southern hip-hop. The degrees of separation between the two are minimal, since Dungeon Family’s very own Big Rube is a frequent collaborator of Pink Siifu—both Stankonia and BLACK’!ANTIQUE conclude with his signature spoken word narrative features.

In addition to various all-star appearances from contemporaries, both albums also share potent rhythms to dance to, pearl-clutching vulgarity, raw lyrics that prompt reflection on life, and the stoic black-and-white/greyscale cover art. Although many rap groups and collectives have come and gone in the wake of OutKast’s departure, I will admit that no modern Southern rap duo has picked up exactly where they left off.4 Still, Pink Siifu channels that creative energy and a reverence for dirty south music at large.

If you like Spirit They’re Gone, Spirit They’ve Vanished by Animal Collective, then you’ll like SAYA by Saya Gray

File under: avant-garde, neo-psychedelic, mystical freak folk from some of my favorite musicians of the last 25 years. Both Animal Collective and Saya Gray make music that’s not easy to pin down under one genre, but the results are heady and curious and keep listeners on their toes!

If you like De Stijl by The White Stripes, then you’ll like All Cylinders by Yves Jarvis

From Detroit to Montreal: I recommend both of these albums if you like rock with heavy bluesy guitar, experimental DIY flair, and hyper-focused themes (on the surface, Yves Jarvis was inspired by his love of driving music, whereas The White Stripes named their album after a Dutch art movement). While The White Stripes always leaned heavily into roots music and Yves Jarvis takes a definitive “all of the above” approach, both De Stijl and All Cylinders incorporate a wide array of influences and lyrics that invite deep study. They achieve a goal of paying homage without being too derivative. Visually, the album artwork and packaging share the color scheme of black, white, and red. I also couldn’t pass up the opportunity to link the songs “Why Can’t You Be Nicer to Me?” and “I’ve Been Mean.”

Gabbie’s picks

If you like Mass Romantic by The New Pornographers, then you’ll like Straight Line Was a Lie by The Beths

Mass Romantic is my favorite New Pornographers record. It’s so completely of its time, and I’ve never been able to find a great modern analogue for their brand of high energy, high production power pop.

This album was such a big deal to me when I was in college, and I wanted to see what would capture that big joy of this record. The key of The New Pornographers was how big it was and slick in its sound, but most of what taps into their influence these days misses that specific mark.

When I heard The Beths’ new record, I felt the closest approximation of the joyful, sweeping, emotional resonance of Mass Romantic. A little ironic that “No Joy” is the song that brought me the most joy!

If you like All Hands on the Bad One by Sleater-Kinney, then you’ll like Chores by SHAGGO

If you’re into the more melodic and accessibly fun side of riot grrrl, it’s not a long stretch at all to recommend a band that names this genre—and Sleater-Kinney specifically—as a direct influence on their work. I had the pleasure of hosting a listening party with SHAGGO on the New Bands for Old Heads Discord server just before they released their debut record this past summer, and they are so passionate about reviving the homemade punk aesthetic of the ‘90s.

There are many Gen Z bands who are influenced by their Gen X parents’ music, but SHAGGO embodies the ethos as much as the sound, and they are all in. I hear so much promise in their music, and I want more people to listen to it and hear them come into their own.

If you like Since I Left You by The Avalanches, then you’ll like Release the Beast by CV Vision

I gave myself a very difficult assignment trying to find a modern match to Since I Left You, and I’ll be the first to admit there’s nothing quite like it. The CV Vision record sonically goes in different places than The Avalanches, and it’s perhaps not as layered or complex. But give it a try if electronic musical collage sounds like your cup of tea. Both records have a similar controlled chaos that connects them.

If you like Quality Control by Jurassic 5, then you’ll like Magic, Alive! by McKinley Dixon

There has been a lot of excellent hip-hop in recent years, but much of it has been either raw, heavy, and introspective (think billy woods) or over the top, outlandish, and experimental (like JPEGMAFIA). Jurassic 5, maybe even moreso than other conscious or “backpack” rappers and producers in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, had very laid back, feelgood vibes. They didn’t make you feel the weight of the world; they were for blasting outside on a hot and sunny day. McKinley Dixon may not sound quite the same, but his music certainly serves the same purpose. It’s joyous and uplifting. It makes you excited to be alive.

Thanks Gabbie for this insightful and enjoyable chat! Please follow along with her work below. We also made a playlist of our picks—available on Spotify and Apple Music.

New Bands for Old Heads

New music recommendations for people who don't keep up with new music.

By Gabbie

Have you already compiled your favorite/top/best music of 2025 list, or is it still a work in progress? Either way, I invite you to submit your EOY recaps to be featured in the December edition of The Medley. I’m accepting submissions through December 28, 2025, at 11:59 PM EST.

Submit your EOY lists here!

• the interviewees who participated in the 2025 featured guest series

• each connection I’ve made in this virtual space

• every person who has submitted their publication

• every subscribe/share/comment/restack

• the thoughtful engagement and participation in the chat

• the music I’ve been introduced to (and reminded of)

• last, but certainly not least: your ongoing support, grace, and understanding

Thank you for witnessing me evolve in my creative purposes and expand my capacity through this labor of love. Before it gets too mushy, I’ll save the “looking ahead to 2026” thoughts for the December digest.

Subscribe now

Announcements & Community Housekeeping

The general submission form remains open for anyone who would like to be listed in the directory! I have linked this form and the directory maintenance request form in the “All About Forms” post (which is also pinned to the website’s navigation bar).

Please note: the directory is optimized to be viewed on a web browser, not necessarily for the Substack app. The categories are visible on the homepage and there’s also a category tab in the navigation bar.

For our end-of-year digest, I am accepting submissions for two topics. The first is a collection of our favorite/top/best music of 2025 lists. This roundup will be similar to the community post I published at the end of 2024.

If you need further inspiration, the final TMD interview of 2025 will include a focus on EOY lists and the methodology that can go into building this type of recap—be on the lookout for this feature to arrive the second week of December. You may submit your EOY lists via the following button:

Submit your EOY music lists here

I would also like to include an “In Memory Of…” section in the December digest. If you have written a tribute to honor any music folks we lost in 2025, you may submit links via the button below—there is also space on the form to include brief quotes or anecdotes in lieu of full write-ups.

Submit "In Memory Of..." tributes here

Both submission windows will remain open until December 28th at 11:59 PM EST.

Memos from the chat

Much love to for being my featured guest during November. As she said, our conversation “was less an ‘interview’ and more two people getting to deeply connect about a shared passion.”

Nielly graciously provided each of the community chat prompts for this month, so here’s a recap of what we collectively discussed.

Harvest Time

The prompt: Fall is for harvesting all the seeds you’ve planted and grown. Which song represents your harvest? And which song represents what you intend to plant next year?

For songs that represent my 2025 harvest, I chose a full EP: Fall Be Kind by Animal Collective. I revisit this each fall and the sonic trajectory reminds me of reaping what we’ve sown. For planting next year’s seeds, I selected Clouds of Joy by Badge Époque Ensemble—specifically the songs “Conspiring with Nature” and “Zodiac.”

picked “Vital Transformation” by Georgia Anne Muldrow, stating that it was “the seed and the harvest” for him.

returned to a favorite from 1998, a 4-disc collection of timeless classics titled A Jazz Romance: A Night In With Verve.

noted that Autumn often leads him to Bon Iver’s music, so he chose “There’s a Rhythmn” from the artist’s most recent album SABLE, fABLE.

“[It] speaks with reflection, questioning, and learning from your past…in a way that encourages internalization and finding my own ‘rhythm’,” he said.

Meanwhile, Christiansen introduced me to a new song I enjoyed with his choice for planting seeds in 2026: “Make Way For The Sun” by O & The Mo.

Harvest Time Chat

Guilty Pleasures

The prompt: whose albums are you clutching onto with your cold, dead hands (embarrassment be damned!)?

Personally, I find myself being less embarrassed about the media I enjoy as I get older, especially if it was something I was fond of in my formative years. My answer was MGMT—it’s not that I’m uneasy to admit that I like them, but rather that I don’t follow their career as closely as I once used to. This band was an entry point for me into genres like neo-psychedelia and freak folk; they meant a lot to me during my adolescent music discovery phases.

The general consensus of the chat was that life’s too short to feel guilty about the things we like! said it best: “I have no shame. I gave up caring what others thought of me or my taste ages ago. I am sure a lot of my music taste is considered out of fashion. Don’t care. You do you, I will do me.”

concurred with a profound statement: “There is only pleasure. I don’t have time for ‘guilty’ pleasures. Found that out when I woke up one day and I was older than I’d ever been, but felt younger.”

agreed that she’s never liked qualifying things as guilty, admitting to “a soft spot for the uncool 90s country music I grew up on—no matter how corny it might be.” She continued, “And speaking of corny and unhip, I’ve definitely been listening to a whole lot of xmas music lately. I’d argue that you need a little bit of “bad” taste sprinkled in to truly have “good” taste. It reminds me of how even some of the best chefs like a trip to Taco Bell every now and then.”

I will also show solidarity by admitting to playing out music from bands like Kings of Leon and Coldplay (both of whom Nielly name-dropped in the interview) when the time calls for it. Y’all may or may not know how fond I am of long songs, so “Knocked Up” by KoL gets played on repeat whenever I’m in the mood.

Guilty Pleasures Chat

Musical DNA

Nielly and I discussed the concept of music DNA—simply defined as essential artists and genres that have informed one’s taste. She mentioned rock music as a whole, but also included influential music of various genres that family members introduced to her.

The prompt: Which song or album is a part of your musical DNA? Can you tie it to a person or memory?

I recently wrote about Mama’s Gun by Erykah Badu for its 25th anniversary—I grew up knowing the singles “Didn’t Cha Know” and “Bag Lady.” I also included an anecdote of dancing to the latter during a family Halloween party as a child. The album is one that has become more impactful to me as I get older.

things i collected

Mama's Gun by Erykah Badu

there’s a well-documented origin story that’s been etched into the stone of Black music history: at the turn of the 21st century, a group of talented, forward-thinking musicians were all working on albums at Electric Lady Studios in New York City—including Common’s…

Read more

7 months ago · 35 likes · 4 comments · Shanté

chose all three discs of The Eternal Dance, a 1992 compilation by Earth, Wind & Fire. “I remember the first time we heard that orchestration, the energy, and the harmonies. It was on a road trip and that music hit just right. ‘Fantasy,’ ‘Boogie Wonderland,’ ‘After the Love has Gone,’ it was just too good, even the instrumental solos,” she reminisced.

recalled a song that she heard during a first date: “I’ll go with ‘You and Me’ by Lifehouse, which I remember hearing in the restaurant my first boyfriend and I went to on our first official date. (Thanks, Cheesecake Factory???),” she said.

Music DNA Chat

I hope you have enjoyed this community digest! I’ll conclude by sharing more songs of gratitude, many of which were previously featured in a related video playlist on my personal newsletter.

Until next time,

Shanté

Support my work via Ko-fi

At the time of our conversation, Nielly was preparing to co-host her first live listening experience called Crate Digest with fellow directory member . She recently shared a summary of the event, which took place in Los Angeles and evaluated the theme of masculinity in music with an exploration of the five senses.

“We took a deep dive into masculinity and vulnerability in music. In the process we learned that [Miki] and I really provide a balance and depth that not only makes facilitation meaningful for the attendees, but personally fulfilling. We both got to shine and share our gifts in a really fun way.”

Music as Literature with Nielly

let's all go in a circle and share what we're grateful for

abundance begets abundance…

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7 months ago · 7 likes

“Personally fulfilling” also describes the conversation that she and I had back in early October, in the midst of spooky season. Our chat began with us pulling tarot cards for each other, which loosely informed the flow of questions I asked during the interview. Throughout the call, we also reviewed our compatibility on Last.fm (spoiler alert: it was super), talked about the origins of Nielly’s newsletter, and recapped some of her favorite concerts she’s attended (she’s seen The 1975 perform 8 or 9 times across continents).

Music as Literature with Nielly

Now Playing: redrum

good witch | bad witch…

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8 months ago · 3 likes · Nielly

After a brief survey of the decks we owned, I shuffled and pulled cards from the Black Power Tarot deck by musician King Khan and artist Michael Eaton. It’s a reimagined version of the Major Arcana and a tribute to Black history. Majority of the featured individuals are significant to Black American music. The first card that appeared was The Tower, which features Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry. On the surface, I thought the card signified things being shaken up (in a good way) and us exploring new paradigms of relationality through our conversation and Nielly’s event with Miki. But with the aforementioned musicians being instrumental to the origins of rock and roll, this got us thinking about our personal music DNA.

I define music DNA as essential artists and genres that inform one’s taste and listening habits. Considering Nielly’s newsletter name, I also asked her to come prepared with texts that helped inform her understanding of music as literature.2 “I think that part of the reason Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry came out is a lot of the music I do listen to is rock-based. So one of the books that I pulled to share with you is A Brief History of Rock, Off The Record by ,” Nielly said.

Read on for the full interview, which has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Subscribe now

I’m getting chills because Wayne is featured in the directory.

That’s incredible. This particular book was introduced to me in a music history class in college. Just an elective because my undergrad is actually in psychology. The thing is, I’ve always loved music. I love doing music the way that I’m doing it now as an adult, but I just never spent actual time and money doing it as a career until now.

So the book was assigned for the semester and I specifically remember—the semester was over, grades had come in, and I emailed the professor. I was like ‘I really thank you for teaching this class—assigning this book—because I didn’t know until sitting in this classroom with you that so much of the the music that I love actually originated in Black music and Black history. So I learned a lot about myself and music in this class. And I just really appreciate that.’

When I think of this book, that was probably a moment where I realized, ‘Oh, it’s not weird for me to like the music that I like because it is my music!’

It absolutely is! To that point, what are some essential genres and artists that influence how you listen to music?

Everything is coming to mind, but in different snippets. When I think of the music that my uncle shared with me, a lot of his taste is based in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Like Radiohead, The Cure, The Clash. I think what I learned from that exposure of his taste is lyricism and emotionality—you can also say emo—but I’m using it very deliberately; the emotionality of musical male expression and then it does segue into emo as a subgenre. He took me to a record shop for the first time and he was like ‘I know you keep listening to a lot of this emo crap.’ At the time, it was probably Panic! at the Disco and Taking Back Sunday or whatever. And he’s just like, ‘this is some real emo’ and he passes me The Promise Ring. Then I’m listening to that like ‘oh perfect, I’m actually already depressed and this album fits right in line with that.’ (laughs)

Then my dad, having grown up in the late ‘60s/early ‘70s, showed me a lot of the origins of hip-hop and soul and music that his mom shared, like Al Green. So what I’m learning from that is also lyricism. There’s times where I listened to OG Fresh Prince and Rakim and everything. My dad would actually sit in the car with me like, ‘listen to what this man is saying.’ Or when it’s Fresh Prince, it’s “Summertime” and it’s like ‘oh yeah, I love this song because we would actually do that as a teenager. We’d be rolling down the block trying to pick up some shorties if the weather was great.’

So I felt like I could actually connect with him that way because I’m reminiscing with him. Saying all of that out loud, maybe it’s less about genre or specific artists, but like the memories that are attached to certain exposure of things and what it means to who shared that with me.

I’m getting chills again because I said music DNA and you actually went to people in your bloodline, so that’s a very beautiful answer. Thank you for that. I’m always curious how people with diverse taste arrive at that place. The next cards are Justice featuring Eartha Kitt; the Hanged Man with Tupac on it; The Star card with Alice Coltrane; and the Lovers card featuring James Brown, Irma Thomas, and Etta James.

I’m gonna need this deck.

You definitely should check it out—it’s one of my favorites because it’s just the Major Arcana. With the Hanged Man, I’m thinking about a flipped perspective, similar to The Tower card. I’ll have to sit with the Star card and The Justice card will come from the conversation. But with the Lovers card, I’m thinking about the relationship between things—which also makes sense because we talked about our Last.fm compatibility. For the next question, let’s pair one of your favorite books with an album and explain why.

One of my favorite books is Dracula and I recently—as in the last year or two—had read it. It’s the vampire lore—the stuff that we know as vampires probably originated from this book. One specific part of the lore is vampires not having a reflection. So the non-Dracula dude, he’s only been in the house for a couple of days, and he’s in the bathroom trying to shave and he’s like ‘Oh, there’s no mirrors in here. So let me use the reflection’ of something in his duffel or whatever. And the way this is just all written word—I literally got a jump scare from this book, because he’s just like, ‘Oh yeah, I’m trying to shave. And all of a sudden I just felt this presence,’ and he turned around and there [Dracula] f*cking was. I had never experienced a jump scare from literature like that before. That’s why it stands out. So I’m chasing that high or something trying to pair that with an album.

I’m thinking it’s less about the spooky; it’s more depth and surprise. This artist ivri, I discovered them as an opener for Dreamer Isioma, [who] I featured on one of my Show & Tells. ivri just came out with an album this past August. The whole show of ivri and Dreamer Isioma was surprising because I had basically listened to Dreamer’s album and I was like ‘oh hell yeah’ and then I just go to the show—I had no other parasocial relationship with this artist. I had only heard this one album, like maybe a couple singles from other stuff. I show up completely shocked by the people that show up to the show, mostly because they’re 15 years younger than me on the high end and the fashion is different. It kind of brought me back to me being a teenager watching shows, where it’s like 30 of us and the venue was way too big for how many people actually showed up. But it didn’t change their vibe at all. They were just going at it.

Lyrically and sonically with ivri, she really stood out to me because she kind of has this girlypop, paper doll speaking voice and style, but she can wail. It’s not wailing like Mariah. She’s a vocalist, but she’s like straight up hollering something from the depths of her spirit. And the music is kind of like raucous and loud, but when you sit back and actually listen to the lyrics, there’s lots of contemplation and stuff going on. Then I paired her performance style with stuff that was like happening outside the walls and this whole generation. Her music feels like a representation of today’s youth—it’s kind of all over the place, but they have something to say. They just don’t say it in a way that maybe I understand. I would recommend her latest album, the theory of you.

Music as Literature with Nielly

Show & Tell: Dreamer Isioma

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a year ago · 3 likes · 2 comments · Nielly

As someone who reviews live shows, what are some of your favorite concerts you’ve attended?

The reason I love going to The 1975 shows is—I think at this point they might be my Taylor Swift if I’m being honest. There might come a point where they do something and it’s just like, ‘I can’t.’ I think because I listen to so much music, I can listen to an album of theirs—like their latest album, garbage, I hate it—but I will still go to the show and sing my heart out or whatever. But I like going to the shows because at this point, I’ve been a fan of theirs for over a decade. I understand part of the lore of them. Like, I get why if somebody’s coming in fresh to them, they’re like, ‘Who is this misogynistic a-hole that does blah, blah, blah.’ I’m not saying he’s not, but he’s also trying to push you on purpose, like he’s an antagonist. I kind of understand that showmanship style of his performances.

One reason I just like the band generally is because they’re actually a pretty good sonic representation of everything I like to listen to. They put in deep house and jazz and 90s R&B and just straight up pop music—they’ll go balls to the wall rock on an album and then they’ll get political and put Greta Thunberg on there. It’s perfect because I can listen to all the genres I love in one album. Straight up: if I cannot decide what to listen to? 1975 shuffle, and it hits all the little fuzzy spots and we’re good to go.

How did you come up with the name Music as Literature?

Honestly, I feel like I’m kind of in a bad marriage with Music as Literature. When I first started Substack, it was after hours, maybe very short days of researching where I would put my stuff. I was like, ‘I don’t even know what to call this thing. The closest description is Music as Literature. That’s what I’m doing.’ But I when I first started it, I feel like I knew at the time that it wasn’t what I actually wanted to end with. So I tried my best to actually label my stuff. That’s why I started latching on more to the Nielly moniker—seeing if I could stick with that, knowing that the Music as Literature part might leave one day. But I don’t know. I just don’t have a good attachment to it. I just know that it’s descriptive and it helps right now. And I haven’t had that zing of what is actually this thing? Because right now—to explain the three key parts of my blog—I primarily started it to write the longform essays. I noticed I wasn’t holding myself accountable to creating content. I’d have an idea, but then it would take me a month to write, and then it would take me two months to write the next thing or whatever.

So eventually I was like, ‘Okay, in order for me to get in the habit of just creating more frequently, what else can I do? Well, I go to shows a lot. Let me write about that.’ That’s where Show & Tell was born. I’m constantly discovering new music. Might as well share that. That’s where Now Playing was born. So now it’s actually at a pretty decent cadence where Now Playing will come every week, Show & Tell will come whenever I go to a show, and then I still try to do the longform essays once a month. But I’m still not great at that. Because I get so hyperfixated on my thing where I’m researching. And it’s fun—I learned that that part’s actually the fun part. I get to learn about a thing that I chose to learn about instead of being forced to learn about it. But it almost seems like the Music as Literature is too narrow for everything that I create. So that’s just where I’m at with that right now.

I think that’s a beautiful part of the discovery, especially when you are putting yourself out there creatively. Knowing that when you choose a name and it’s so specific, you are choosing the branding and people are going to identify you with it. It makes sense that on your blog, you’re using Nielly as the wordmark versus Music as Literature because it’ll give you the opportunity to shift from that. I think it’s a dope name, but I totally understand if you don’t want to be tied to that forever.

Yeah, I feel like there’s so much more available to me. I think you saw the note where I was like, ‘Yo, I’m just listening to the radio and not to diss radio DJs’—it’s actually the opposite. It was just like, ‘Oh, I’m actually talking about music at the same level these people that are getting paid to talk about music. I could do that sh*t.’ I did record “Apocalypse Now or Never”—the longform piece—as a radio piece. And this feels way better than YouTube because the labor is lower. I can be a little bit more cartoonish with my narration. And first and foremost, I can play the whole song versus having to clip 10 second clips to avoid copyright and then get demonetized and do all this crap. Maybe this whole path was for this part. So we’ll see.

Music as Literature with Nielly

Apocalypse Now or Never

On an otherwise cloudless and sunny Fourth of July, I saw a perfectly symmetrical circle-shaped cloud above me. I joked with uncomfortable ease, “Oh! Is it finally time…

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a year ago · 7 likes · 2 comments · Nielly

I’m curious to see what you come up with the future, but I know it’s gonna be very dope! Who are you currently listening to?

Honestly, a great question because I don’t know if you struggle with this problem as a playlister—I feel pressure to find new music sometimes, so that I have something fresh to offer that I haven’t been able to actually, sit with stuff like, ‘Oh, I really vibe with that. Let me go back and just listen for my own pleasure.’ I think that after I post the October stuff, it might be a winter silence of just letting me actually enjoy things. Some albums that I have come back to though: probably because of his great marketing, Leon Bridges has been top-played in my house this year. Not only is [Leon] a no-skip beautiful album, but he and his tour partner Charley Crockett, they’ve just really got stuff to say this year, so they’re really keeping my attention.

I LOVE Leon Bridges! Who are you always listening to?

When I just need something familiar—and that could just mean I’m going for a drive, I don’t need to think about what I’m listening to, I just want to sing along or whatever—low stakes, low energy, low mental expenditure on trying to find something, I always go back to definitely The 1975, Kings of Leon always just hits, Coldplay’s best hits. I’m just looking at my Apple Music favorite songs—“I Have Confidence” from The Sound of Music soundtrack. This one’s funny: “Int’l Players Anthem” by UGK—every time it comes on, I can’t skip it. It’s so good. Then, obviously the sample that it’s from “I Choose You” by Willie Hutch. Sometimes, I go from “Int’l Players Anthem” and straight to that one. I wish I did know more about music theory because I could describe it you explicitly. It just has the right tempo to relax and feel joyous.

Speaking of music theory, I recall you mentioning that you would be learning piano again. Are you wanting to learn music theory as an interest or to play music professionally?

Not quite there. So as a kid, I actually played piano. I just didn’t keep it up. As if I needed more hobbies, that’s why I’m kind of pursuing that: I just want to learn how to play an instrument again. I think you and I are both students of life. I just love learning, asking questions, deep diving into stuff. As I’m writing my pieces, a lot of the questions I wish I could answer on my own like, ‘I am hearing this sequence of sounds—what is the word for that?’ It could be that simple.

I know that there’s some people, like the Charlie Puths, the Jacob Colliers of the world—the music students who make that kind of music—there’s songs from each of them that I can enjoy. But in their bodies of work, it’s clear that they’re way overthinking about their stuff, right? So I hope I don’t fall into that slippery slope. But for me right now, my intention is to be able to define—because I’m writing about it—what is the thing that I’m hearing? So I can feel more confident in my own written work. As far as performing or playing music, we’ll just see what happens. There’s something that’s kind of shifted in the last couple of months where it’s like ‘I’m just gonna make the art.’

When we were talking about me hearing the radio, and I’m just like, ‘I could do that.’ Okay, then go do it. Or the fact that I even have videos on YouTube. Whether or not my goal is to be a YouTuber—it’s not—I developed a skill and I had fun doing it. I’m gonna learn how to play piano, and if I learn how to write a song, hell yeah, somebody’s gonna hear it. That’s just kind of where I’m at. Hopefully, my life is long and full of things I create.

Yes, doing things for the plot! What are some other hobbies/interests that inform your worldview and taste?

One of my other side quests was learning how to be a certified yoga instructor. When I tell you, I just collect adventures. As far as it informing my music taste—interesting enough, the school that I went to taught us to teach without music. So I actually am used to practicing in complete silence. So me going to a yoga studio where they’re blasting any kinds of music or even music in śavāsana is one way to piss me off. But a lot of these yoga studios will play music, so I have to just close my eyes and go completely inward to try to ignore what’s happening, especially for songs that have lyrics.

Part of the reason I hold that feeling is something I was taught in the school, but also experienced for myself. A lot of the time when you go to places, you’re being shared music, and a lot of it has lyrics or there’s timbre or a feeling that it evokes. In a practice like yoga, the yoga asana is the actual physical movement of it. If you read the first couple verses of the yoga sutra, the point of the yoga asana is to prepare your body for meditation. That’s the purpose of that movement. So tying it to the music, it’s like you don’t want to be playing “Back That Azz Up” during down dog, because what is your subconscious trying to teach you about that moment? If it’s ultimately trying to get you to this place of meditation, which in the yogic and Buddhist-related philosophies, it’s trying to get you to enlightenment.

So they kind of seem disjointed; some schools of thought might straight up just tell you it’s disrespectful. So I try to hold space just for my personal practice of giving myself the time to meditate through movement. With that same kind of thought—leading to the blog and stuff—one of the values I hold for the work that I create is to do all of this in service of creating a better and more kind world. Through all of this, I hope that people receive my work and learn something about themselves, learn something about their communities, learn something about the person sitting next to them, so that we can all just be generally better and not live whatever we’re living right now. Through music, I do pay a lot of attention to lyricism and how music feels.

I don’t want to put out into the world something that also has terrible vibration. So that’s kind of where the yoga comes in—I learned that sort of respect and what that feels like to move in the world and try to implement that in my writing.

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exquisite corpse vol. 1

When I approached Nielly to be a part of my interview series, we agreed to collaborate on a playlist. I had previously developed an “exquisite corpse” playlist with a friend on my personal newsletter, and it’s an engaging exercise that offers a moment to think differently about our music libraries. Since Nielly and I both share playlists that span the genre gamut, this seemed like a great opportunity to revisit that format.

What is an exquisite corpse? It’s an intuitive artistic practice stemming from the Surrealist movement of the 20th century, in which artists add their own contributions to one artwork without knowing what another person previously contributed (the concept can also be done with writing). For instance, if I draw a lion’s head, I would pass the folded paper to the next participant and they might draw a women’s torso. The following person might add on a whale tail and so on until the image is complete. Ultimately, you’re left with a bizarre and abstract creation representing a medley of styles and influence.

With the playlist, it’s something akin to word association and the goal is to build a poem from the song titles. Here’s what we came up with!

The decision to do an exquisite corpse playlist proved to be very serendipitous to our card pulls as Nielly used a tarot deck with imagery from Salvador Dali’s oeuvre. With Dali being one of the most prominent figures of the Surrealist movement, the stars really aligned here (maybe that’s why The Star card popped out early on). That being said, I’ll do a brief breakdown of our song choices. I was mainly going off of the song titles, whereas Nielly leaned more into each song’s subject matter. Ultimately, it became a hopeful tale of someone seeking guidance & relief and another person offering that point of refuge.

I started off with “Something’s Going On” by Kokoroko. I wanted to stir up some suspense with this vague song title from one of my favorite albums, Could We Be More. Nielly followed up with a psych-rock classic, The Flaming Lips’ “Do You Realize??” Next up, I picked “I Feel Different Every Day” by chlothegod (an angsty choice on my part), and Nielly chose “Angels All Around Me…” by Kali Uchis. On my next turn, I stayed on the heavenly theme and went with MorMor’s “Heaven Only Wishful.” This theme persisted with Nielly’s following choice: “Like A Prayer” by Madonna.

I was thinking of silent prayers, so I opted for “All the Words We Don’t Say” by Hiatus Kaiyote. Meanwhile, the slightly religious connotations continued with Nielly’s pick: “Speaking in Tongues” by Black Eyes. To conclude the playlist, I used a song that I nearly included earlier in the sequence: “Can’t Believe The Way We Flow” by James Blake. The final song had us walking on water: “waves” by Miguel, but Nielly chose the remix featuring Kacey Musgraves. This was a specific nod to her heritage (like Miguel, Nielly is Black and Mexican) as well as her affinity for country music.

exquisite corpse vol. 1 on Apple Music

Thanks Nielly for such a wonderful, enlightening chat and the collaborative playlist. Check out her work below!

Music as Literature with Nielly

Deep dives into music history, culture, and composition to learn about yourself & the world around you

Headshot and YouTube still image courtesy of Nielly

Tarot card scans provided by Shanté

Announcements & Community Housekeeping

• I’m in the process of compiling my third interview, which will roll out next month! I’m excited to share the delightful conversation I had with the lovely featured guest and I will reveal who it is soon enough. Here’s a hint including a play on their newsletter name: “sound as composition.”

• I’m also conducting my final interview of the year over this upcoming weekend with a very special curator that many folks in the music newsletter community know and love. This interview will debut in December, ahead of our end-of-year music roundup (are you also thinking about what albums and songs from 2025 you’ll rank??)

• Circling back to this pro-tip I previously shared as the community has grown considerably since then: when browsing the directory, I suggest using the search function on your device/browser to find the type of work you’re looking for within the directory (Ctrl + F for Windows and Command + F for Mac; on mobile browsers, use the “find in page” feature). For instance, I searched “jazz” on the Musicians page and got 6 different profiles to check out. You can also reach out to me if you need more direction or suggestions.

• ETA: the directory is optimized to be viewed on a web browser, not necessarily for the Substack app. The categories are visible on the homepage and there’s also a category tab in the navigation bar.

  Categories

• For submitters: I recommend including genres and areas of focus in your directory submissions so people looking for work like yours can discover your publication!

• Please make sure that you submit a link to a publication that you run or co-author. I am happy to link to articles and websites you’ve been featured on throughout your entry, but the link you submit for the overall listing needs to be one you personally manage—it does not have to be a Substack publication for inclusion.

• You can submit your publication to the directory here or via the button below! I’ve gotten the updating process down to a science, so I’m currently up-to-date on submissions.

  Join the directory!

• If you’ve already joined the party, but your profile has changed since you first submitted to the directory, you can request an update via the directory maintenance form.

  Directory Maintenance Request Form

Recap: The Community Song Challenge

Little Door

The Song in Your Bones

A Creative Invitation…

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9 months ago · 31 likes · 15 comments · Kate Ellen, Shanté, and The Music Directory

Special thanks to for curating the first community song challenge! I definitely hope to host another one in the future and I highly recommend giving the meditation and prompt a try, whether you’re a songwriter or not. During the meditation, you can meet and sit with different aspects of self—your younger and older selves might have a message to assist you with your creative endeavors and inspire the breakthrough you need in this season.

For more inspiration, check out the submissions for the challenge below. If you missed the timeline to be featured here, but still want to share your reflections and/or demos, please do so in the comments!

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“A gentle riff on the fear of being seen” by Caroline in the Garden

Though released her first song in June 2024, the Atlanta musician expressed in her challenge submission that this was her first time releasing a demo! Caroline thoughtfully reflected on the fears of being seen/heard and the power of honoring one’s ancestral lineage—even invoking the names “Annie Nancy Sarah and Jane.” From her powerful vocal delivery to the imaginative lyrics, I feel like I now know a bit about these women’s stories.

Kinda Conquering Creative Fear with Caroline

A gentle riff on the fear of being seen

Greetings gang…

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9 months ago · 11 likes · 10 comments · Caroline in the Garden

“Inside” — A New Demo by Little Door

Next, Little Door offered a heartwarming demo and anecdote that ties together the experiences of participating in a beach ritual with her sweetheart to reading the book The Smell of Rain on Dust by Martín Prechtel and metaphorically returning to the womb space. I’ll be meditating on the phrase “liquid love” for the foreseeable future!

Little Door

Inside — A New Demo

We hiked out to a hidden cove on the Sonoma coast on a sunny Sunday afternoon a few weekends ago, my sweetheart and I traipsing down the cliffside as the pelicans hovered in a V-formation overhead. The purple lupine and white yarrow clung to the rust flavored earth as we found our footing, landing on a small stretch of beach covered in pungent seaweed p…

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8 months ago · 6 likes · 2 comments · Kate Ellen

“Waiting” by dignissimosclementia

In the comment section of the challenge post, poignantly mentioned that she felt a sense of freedom while engaging with her 5-year-old self, whereas her 80-year-old self prompted her to write something “exquisitely beautiful”—and that she did. I really love the echoes and vocal layering in her demo “Waiting.”

“pot of gold” by stella333 ()

I can’t lie: I almost posted my reflection without sharing a demo. But after receiving the final submission and attending Kate’s inaugural album club meeting about anaiis’ latest record Devotion & The Black Divine, I knew I needed to challenge myself and be vulnerable—plus everyone else shared a demo, so this was a chance to rise to the occasion and not chicken out.

Here’s my experience with the meditation: my younger self offered the message to “honor our uniqueness.” I got a vision of myself as a child riding across a bridge in Chicago towards the South Side where I was born. There was a rainbow over the bridge. Meanwhile, my older self drove through the desert and left me with this sage advice: “Trust yourself. You’re free from the chaos.” When it came to physical sensations I experienced, there was a tickle in my throat that felt constricting.

This was clearly a sign that I needed to use my voice, so I spent 11 minutes after the meditation vocalizing via my voice memo app. Yesterday at 4:44 PM, I revisited that session and re-recorded a verse that stood out to me. I was inspired by Kate’s inclusion of her handwritten lyrics so I have attached mine with the brief demo below [alt-text included]. It’s raw and imperfect without any instrumentation, but I know it’s something I can develop more in the future!

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Memos from the chats

All of the October chat prompts were inspired by my conversation with Little Door; she also provided the first prompt to kick things off! You can chime in on any of the chats by clicking the button below each section.

Songs of the Universe

The prompt: If consciousness itself had a soundtrack, what would be on that playlist? What music feels like the universe dreaming itself into existence?

My answer: Many inspirational artists come to mind for me—Ganavya, Cleo Sol, Sade, Solange (just to name a few). One song that’s been on repeat for me as of late that fits the prompt is “Love” by Ami Taf Ra featuring Ryan Porter. Honestly, anything from her debut album The Prophet and The Madman would work!

chose a 7-minute track called “Space Kitchen” by the experimental Belgian duo Trance Plantations. The song title is very fitting and I dig the trippy album art!

thought of the album ( ) by Sigur Rós. An album title with simply brackets and all untitled tracks leaves a lot of interpretation up to the listener in the best way. I played ( ) while drafting this digest and entered a portal of endless possibilities.

mentioned that the following artists would be on the playlist of consciousness and I concur: Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder, and Lupe Fiasco. For Mike, “their music speaks to my soul in ways most other musicians don’t.” This response showcases three different generations of talent, but each person represents expansiveness in various ways.

evoked such beautiful imagery with his answer: “If you’re going this cosmic, I would say the sound of the rapids on the Colorado River (without any rafters), the quiet lull of the trout streams in the Beaverkill at dawn in the western Catskills, NY, the swish of the pirogue making its way through the Bayou Falange in Louisiana. The music Neilah service that ends Yom Kippur just before sundown, before the doors to heaven close,” Robins said.

The Consciousness Soundtrack Chat

Flowers for D’Angelo (1974-2025)

Usually, I share an “in memory of” section at the end of the newsletter. After learning the news about D’Angelo (né Michael Eugene Archer) on October 14th, I pivoted from the chat prompt I originally had planned that week to honor his memory. Since Little Door and I both share a reverence for his music, it felt right. She included Voodoo on her list of essential albums and I included Black Messiah on mine—I wrote about both albums this past winter for their milestone anniversaries considering that he’s one of my top five favorite musicians.

things i collected

Black Messiah

as i reflect on albums i enjoyed in 2024 (and prepare that draft for publication), i’d also like to tell you about one of my favorite albums of all time: D’Angelo and the Vanguard’s Black Messiah, which celebrated its 10th anniversary over the weekend…

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2 years ago · 35 likes · Shanté

things i collected

D’Angelo’s Voodoo

last month, i spotlighted D’Angelo’s third album Black Messiah on its tenth anniversary. for this month’s collectible, we are stepping even further into the past to discuss Voodoo in the wake of the album’s 25th anniversary this past weekend (1/25…

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a year ago · 27 likes · 8 comments · Shanté

This chat provided a moment to express communal grief and share our favorite D’Angelo songs, interviews, anecdotes, videos, memories, performances, etc. Covers of his songs and his covers of other artists were also welcome.

wrote a stunning sonnet that reminds me of how it feels to listen to D’Angelo’s music.

shared archival footage of D’Angelo performing a cover of Bill Withers’ “Use Me” with musicians like David Sanborn and Eric Clapton circa 1998. She admired the mutual respect portrayed and acknowledged the moment as a reminder of how thin the line between soul and rock is.

provided a gem in documentary form from the Voodoo era. It took me a minute to get the link to work, which lets me know that others were running the video up as we all experienced shock from the sudden news.

linked to a 2016 video of D’Angelo performing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon with the band Princess (comprised of Maya Rudolph and Gretchen Lieberum) as a tribute to Prince. They played the song “Sometimes It Snows in April”—a Prince cover band and one of his most identifiable musical progeny performing a song of his that also references the month he transitioned? This one got me in my feels for a multitude of reasons.

(The video only seems to be available on Facebook: watch it here)

In Memory of D'Angelo Chat

Music discovery beyond streaming

The next chat prompt was inspired by Little Door and ’s collaborative how-to guide on ghosting Spotify. The question: what are some of your favorite ways to discover music outside of streaming?

Little Door

Ghosting Spotify: A How-To Guide

Spotify, much like social media, has become one of those corporate structures so deeply embedded in our daily lives that it’s hard to imagine a world without it. It’s the soundtrack to your morning commute, the background noise to your workday, and the curated vibe for your weekend hangouts…

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a year ago · 456 likes · 165 comments · Kate Ellen and Seth Werkheiser

My answer includes word of mouth, my TikTok FYP, playlist curators on Substack, college radio, Bandcamp, following musicians on Instagram, and browsing the lineup of record labels and imprints I enjoy—for instance, I love soul music so I periodically check for new releases and artists on labels like Colemine Records, Daptone Records, and Big Crown Records.

knows that mail is still an important source for music discovery. “My album of the week was mailed to me by the label,” he said. The record in question? Tuesday Paper Club, the debut album from Scottish folk-punk band Brògeal.

mentioned another one of my favorite reference points: “Soundtracks from movies and TV shows!” I’ve resonated with many songs I’ve heard in popular media, but I’m gonna insert “Be My Baby” by The Ronettes here because 1) it was featured on the Dirty Dancing soundtrack and 2) it’s such a classic and moving song.

has found new music and artistic kinship through her sonic exploration pathways! “I love listening to internet radio to discover new songs. As well as discovering artists and curators on Substack. As an artist, I’ve combed the Free Music Archive and randomly found a band I love (whose email was still active) and have collaborated on a couple of projects,” she said.

Discovery Beyond Streaming Chat

Songs for spooky season

This year, Halloween is on a Friday! Whether you’re dressing up in an fancy costume and going out on the town or staying in to pass out candy to trick-or-treaters, here are a few thematic songs to match the scary vibes.

Thanks for reading the 6th edition of The Medley! Feel free to share any reflections on the song challenge, flowers for D’Angelo, scary songs, or related thoughts in the comment section.

Kate’s artistic outlook is infused with intentionality and that shines through everything she touches. For instance, she has been very vocal about ditching both Spotify and her smartphone in pursuit of a slower pace and prioritizing human interaction. We chatted for a little over an hour and realized we have much in common. Of course, we both champion music and creativity, with considerable overlap in our preferred genres—namely, Kate grew up listening to a lot of hip-hop, reggae, and R&B with influence from her dad who loved jazz and her older sister who enjoyed anything new and cutting-edge.1 But the two of us also discovered that we both value meditative embodiment practices and studied topics like birth work, reproductive health, and herbalism.

Little Door

Point, Click, Let Go

When I opened my batch of film scans, I wept…

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a year ago · 9 likes · 3 comments · Kate Ellen

In her past career ventures, Kate was a sex education teacher and case manager for HIV-positive women who pivoted into making fine and bridal jewelry; she owned a shop in Oakland, California before moving to Sonoma County. At present, she has transitioned from that business into making music. Musically, Kate considers herself a late bloomer—she’s releasing her debut album in her mid-40s and took her first vocal lesson in her 30s. The day that we chatted, she was preparing to attend a local open mic in Sebastopol, California. She’s found inspiration, encouragement, and community support as she further embraces her musicianship.

Through exploring her trajectory into making music under the moniker Little Door, I further understood what Kate meant in her submission for the directory by describing herself as an “explorer of what happens when you treat music as consciousness technology.” Even the name Little Door signals this appreciation for divine entryways and operating through one’s innate divinity: “I believe music is a portal, creativity is consciousness work, and am endlessly fascinated by what happens when we’re brave enough to let ourselves be be who we are,” she explained in her directory description.2

Read on for the Q&A. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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When did you first decide you wanted to make music?

I wanted to make music ever since I was a kid, but it just felt impossible. It’s weird to say, but I was ashamed of wanting it. Like, other people seem to have natural talent and ability. Also, I came from a family that didn’t have a lot of money. To me, music was associated with class. So I was like, “Well, that’s for them and not for me.” It always just kind of felt a little outside of what I could have and then the age thing just progressed. Because you see you know your friends and people who had all that support and they’re just getting older and better.

It felt really hard to get started and I didn’t have the support. Part of me feels reluctant to say that because one of the things I’ve been trying to undo in my own psychological system is to let go of the story of the underdog. Let go of that and be like “That does not have to be my story and does not have to be what makes me special.” But it is true that that’s what held me out for a long time.

I love what you said about not needing that to be the story. Even if that is part of the story, it doesn’t have to fully define your journey. It could be something that you’ve overcome and explore. To that same point, what instruments do you play?

I play guitar. I taught myself how to play guitar and I tried learning how to play guitar multiple times in my life. And I didn’t actually finally figure it out until I was 40, when I took mushrooms for the very first time for my birthday. The mushrooms told me that if I really wanted to learn how to sing, I needed to learn how to play guitar. They were like, “If you really want to do it, you’re going to have to learn. You’re going to have to sit down and learn the chords yourself. You can’t rely on anyone else to play the instrument. You’re going to have to learn how to do it yourself. If you want your voice to open up, you’re gonna have to do it yourself.”

I went home, I downloaded a guitar app, and I just started. I’m still a rudimentary guitar player, which is fine because that wasn’t really my goal to become a ripping guitar player. What I wanted to become was a singer and be able to write songs and that I have done in spades. So that’s what I can do. And then I can play a little bit of piano for the purpose of songwriting or to practice singing.

Those medicinal allies will just come in and change your whole trajectory about something. Having access to the instruments and maybe understanding the keys and understanding how you can work with them versus [being at the] most proficient level, I think that’s a part of the discovery, so that’s really cool to hear how you arrived at that place.

Yeah, it’s a totally different way of thinking about using your instrument. I can play guitar well enough now that I can go to an open mic, and I can support myself and play guitar and sing at the same time. Ultimately, when I picture myself as a performer, I don’t want to play guitar—I want to sing.

I think that there’s almost like something that’s kind of off limits of even dreaming up something like that. Because you’re supposed to play your part in the band. I never decided to pick up guitar because I want to be a guitarist, I want to be a songwriter, I want to be a singer, that’s my dream.

I see myself the same way—I would be fine with being in an ensemble or being a background singer, but I want to sing, dance, play the tambourine. So I love that vision you just portrayed.

Yeah, there’s something [to] really dreaming the actual dream. Not like the 80% dream or the 70% dream. Going all the way up to your 100% dream—what you actually want—we’re often not encouraged to go all the way up there. We’re often counter-negotiating ourselves, even in our imaginations. No, I’m not doing that because that’s not what I want. I think, especially with women, that we’re really taught not to go full board, even in our imaginations. So I’m like, “Just go all the way. What’s the real thing you want? Say the actual thing.”

So interesting how the patriarchy also infiltrates the imagination in that way—you’re onto something! It robs us of really fulfilling those dreams. I want to move into the next question, which is: how do your broader interests and hobbies inform your sound (if at all)?

That’s a great question. I’m super into plants and animals. I studied permaculture and I spend a lot of time outside. I do a lot of meditation. I also do a lot of somatic work—it’s a lot of thinking about the body. So I think that that shows lyrically. A lot of metaphors and attunement to my relationality to the whole web of creatures, all my kin. What else? Gardening, hiking—also, I tend to start a lot of my writing sessions pulling a card.

I have five or six different sets of cards, so I usually intuit based on what my writing session is going to be on which one might feel like the right deck to use and then I’ll pull. I’ve got an alchemy deck, an archetype deck, a women’s oracle deck, a traditional tarot deck, an animal deck, [a] botanical deck—just kind of depends on what thing I’m dealing with and I find it really helpful. Usually I feel spirit’s like, “Yes, here I am. Here are all the little symbols you need” and little things that unlock my brain and get me to think about things differently and sometimes direct imagery that I need.

I also use that sometimes when I go into my recording sessions with my producer. Sometimes that just helps shape the energy between the two of us to get us in the mood. So we’ll just do a little reading before we start.

We can continue with that theme—how do you approach songwriting?

I have a really very cool support group around me that I have developed over time. My vocal coach [Karen Joy Brown] ended up turning into a songwriting coach. She runs . What she and her business partner [Katie Phillips] are doing is super rad. They have a podcast, and basically they run the open mic here in Sebastopol. It’s just for women, which is super duper awesome because most open mics are very male-heavy. Female performers often get off stage and a dude will come up and give you advice on what you should do with your set.

So this is a totally different space where women of all levels can get up there and perform without that vibe. I take vocal lessons with her, but then also whenever I’m writing a song, I come to her and we’ll sometimes work out lyrics, melodies, and then they also have an online song salon. So if I have stuff that I want to bring to group, which sometimes can be helpful—because you just don’t really know what’s working in your song—to throw it to six or seven people [who] can quickly identify what is working.

It’s a miracle every single time. They’ll be like “This line right here.” And you’re like, “Oh, okay, that’s where the heat in the song is. I can work around that piece right here.” That’s been a major support and all the women that I’ve met through there. What I’ve really learned more than anything is that I’m actually much stronger and better than I think I am. You know, the critical voice is essentially much heavier and duller than it needs to be. All I need to do is usually just stick with a song long enough and trust that it’s going to get there and it will. Each one kind of has its own timeline, but some of them zip through really fast and some of them are kind of a slug, but they all get there eventually.

Little Door

The Body Knows What Your Music Should Sound Like

The Alien Song Machine…

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10 months ago · 22 likes · 8 comments · Kate Ellen

How do you approach collaboration (music or otherwise)?

I’m working with a producer for my recordings, and he and I are figuring out our rhythm, but we just have a lot of fun together. It’s a lot of slow experimentation and he lets me be as perfecting as he would be on his own music, which is nice because I think that that’s not generally accepted or allowed from female musicians. I’ve heard and somewhat experienced a sense of working with certain people and they want to rush you through or tell you “This is good enough” or “Just let this be” or “I know better.” And if you’re just sitting there going “It’s not right yet just we haven’t gotten to the sound yet just need to go a little bit further.”

There’s a difference between nitpicking something because you’re just insecure or digging deeper because you just haven’t found it yet and you know that there’s something better. You’re just like “It’s close but it’s not there yet” and being able to discern that as a creative is kind of a fine line. But I know myself as a creative—I’ve been working as a creative person for many, many years and I know what that is. So I’ve found someone I can do that discerning work with and he gives me the space to do it. It’s been really fun. There’s moments that are spontaneous and we’re like “yes, wow, good!” Then there’s other moments where a certain sound, it’s just not right yet. And he’s like “Okay, let’s try something.” He’s not like “No, I think it’s good enough, let’s just move on.” He’s not taking it personally. There’s no power dynamic in that.

There’s that empowerment to explore because it’s truly collaborative work—I love to hear that. The communities you have sound really supportive! Do you have favorite songs to perform? (your own or covers)

Today, I’m going to go perform at an open mic. The open mic that happens once a week at the big bar here invited the girls’ open mic to come perform. So we’re all heading over there tonight and I’m going to perform a new song that I just wrote called “Lover,” which I’m very excited about. And then a song that I’m almost done recording called “I Want It All.” Both these songs are going to be on my debut album so it’s fun to play them out live.

Covers-wise, I cover mostly country tunes because my guitar skills are pretty limited to cowboy chords, (and also I love country and folk). “All Around You” and “Turtles All the Way Down” by Sturgill Simpson, “Fruits of My Labor” by Lucinda Williams. I also love “Till the Moon Don’t Shine” by Female Species as performed by Tobacco City, and “The Night We Met” by Lord Huron.

Little Door is such a rich name as it lends to its purpose as the entryway to portals. What grounds your creative expression and perspective?

Essentially that we all have access to something bigger. The bigger thing is that we’re all one. Not just humans, but all of it—our animal kin, our plant kin. Even the stuff that doesn’t seem like kin, like cars and material things that don’t seem like they’re related to us. It’s all one consciousness. These little portals that help us open our consciousness into understanding and seeing that, even just little glimmers of that’s what I think music can provide us, right? It opens up our heart space, our mind space, our third eye space into seeing that. For different people, that little door is accessed in different ways and through different sounds.

My hope is that more people tap into it. Even people who I have nothing in common with. Maybe they’re not getting it through my music, but I think there’s a lot of people out there who are deeply, deeply suffering who have political lifestyle things that are just so misaligned with how I see the world, but I see them as suffering and trying to see that through a lens of compassion. The way that I was dealing with things up until this point in my life has been in this sort of paradigm of things are happening and then you resist them. Now I’m like “what if you just build something new instead? What if you just create another paradigm instead or you create another opening instead being in resistance to the thing you don’t like? What if you just opened a door to something else? That’s my weird Aquarian vision.

I’m a Leo and our signs are sister signs, so I get it. I really appreciate how you talked about how we’re all part of this ecosystem and we have a role to play. We all impact and inform each other. I think a lot about mirrors—what you see in someone else is also present within you, whether you tap into it or not. So thank you for sharing that. You’ve been documenting your journey as a “late bloomer” to music making. What advice do you have for someone who wants to start something new?

Start.

And, the thing that broke barriers for me was finding key people who helped me on my path, who served as both inspiration, mentors, teachers, and community. Those people don’t necessarily have to be people you pay, they might be peers, but they are people you have to have deep affinity and trust with and you need to vet them for any competitive energy. There can be none of that. They have to be people who wholeheartedly want for your success. I think doing it entirely alone is a myth, parts of it are absolutely a journey you complete on your own, but so much of what I have to tell about my journey is essential love letters to the people who helped me overcome limiting beliefs I had been carrying around like an albatross.

How have you been adjusting to life sans smartphone? What has been the toughest adjustment? The easiest?

Life without my smartphone is surprisingly easier than I thought it would be. It’s just life. I think we’re hyped on how hard it will be and turns out it’s just not true. I’ve written at length about the benefits—emotional, spiritual, mental, creative—and recently I realized I also have been spending a lot less money because I’m not being advertised to all the time. I’m the type of person who tends to hoard online courses that I never take and impulse buys silly beauty products at 11:30 at night. I haven’t done that once since abandoning my smartphone. The toughest adjustment has been not listening to on-demand music on my device while in my car because my car doesn’t have Bluetooth—sort of a dumbphone + dumbcar sitch. I’ve learned to enjoy my local radio stations, but sometimes I just want to listen to my own tunes and I can’t, not because my phone can’t do it but because my car can’t.

I really dig your trippy style!3 How do you determine what to portray visually with your articles?

Part of where that comes from is a sense of playfulness. I just think it’s fun. I was in the luxury space for so long—doing fine jewelry and being in the wedding sphere, you have to be on this f*cking tightrope. You can’t veer off of it. Even though I was a little bit alternative, I just felt like I couldn’t color outside the lines ever. Finally I just feel like I can be my full self and bring all my little weird aspects. I’m kind of odd and silly and goofy. I’ve only done psychedelics a couple of times—I pretty much live a sober lifestyle as a mom. But my psychedelic experiences have deeply informed my worldview. Also, I would say childbirth—when I did psychedelics for the first time, I was like “I’ve been here before. I was already here when I gave birth to my daughter.”

I love that you returned to that portal. From that perspective, I do understand how motherhood really unlocks something within you.4 What are some literary, musical, and/or mystical inspirations of yours that serve as a portal into your world?

Literary-wise, the stuff I’ve woven into this debut project is bell hooks and Robin Wall Kimmerer, [author of] Braiding Sweetgrass. Between the two of them, I would say there’s a lot of themes that impacted my life over the last few years that changed paradigms of how I thought that are present in the songs about relationality and understanding love in a different way. There’s actually a line in one of my songs that is completely from one of the books.

Let’s talk about the guide to ghosting Spotify. What has been your favorite way to find new music as of late?

I am super into NTS Radio—I became a member and I’m considering submitting a proposal for a show myself. I’ve always wanted to be a radio DJ so maybe this is my moment. They have incredible shows and if you’re a member, you can click a button to track the songs you like, which is important to me. If something lights up my ear, I always want to capture that.

I also have found a ton of music on Substack. I am nosey AF. I snoop on what other music writers, musicians, and curators are talking about and I go listen. I’ve discovered a lot of incredible music this way. And I will say my local radio station, The Krush, is wildly supportive of the local music scene and I’ve learned a lot about local musicians by listening to the radio!

Little Door

October Portal Playlist

⚡️So. Much. Stellar. Music. ⚡️…

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9 months ago · 7 likes · 3 comments · Kate Ellen

Who are you currently listening to?

I go on these curiosity dives. That’s why when I make my portal playlists, they’re authentically what I’m spilling into. Today, I’m going to post something about disco. Then I have another playlist that’s all funk. Last month, I was listening to all these sad songs. I just kind of spill into a vibe and get obsessed with it. I’ll listen to the same thing on repeat over and over and over again. Then I’ll get curious about something else and I’m just constantly doing that—I don’t know if that’s how other people listen to music, but that’s how I do it.

Sometimes, it’s a specific artist. A few months ago, I discovered Mk.gee and dorked out hella hard. My friend Fieldress released her album and I think it’s amazing, so I’ve been listening to that a bunch. I listen to a lot of different stuff. I’ll just get curious about something and go down rabbit holes. I’m very attentive to if something perks my ear up, I don’t ignore it. I always save it.

Who are you always listening to?

Artists who have been with me like air (besides catalogue artists…yawn!): I thought about this long and hard and there is one who stands out—Alela Diane. I started listening to her when I was probably just graduating from college, and so I feel like she’s been soundtracking my adult life. She has a vocal style that is uniquely hers—a bit haunting, a bit angelic. I’ve seen her perform only twice, once in Oakland, and once here in Sebastopol—and I feel like her songwriting has gotten more beautiful and sophisticated over time, it rips my heart to shreds.

Anything else you want readers and listeners to know?

When it comes to singing, specifically, there is a lot of social conditioning that we all receive around singing—what makes a good voice, who should sing and who shouldn’t, what sounds are ok and what sounds are not ok. I think it serves systems of oppression to keep us divided against our own voices. Song is the original technology—spiritual technology—we are each born with, just like dance. I wanted to sing so bad for so many years, but even admitting that out loud felt like a shameful secret. If you think you’re not a good singer but you like to sing in private, or have fantasies of singing on stage, or huddled in a choir—I urge you to pay attention. My life was irrevocably changed when I went toward this desire.

Many thanks to Little Door for chatting with me and curating our community song challenge. Subscribe to her newsletter to learn more about her upcoming debut album!

Little Door

The Song in Your Bones

A Creative Invitation…

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9 months ago · 26 likes · 7 comments · Kate Ellen, Shanté, and The Music Directory

Polaroid photos, “Girl” (DEMO), and “Lover” live video included courtesy of Kate Ellen.

Little Door

Human Curated Music — Portal Opening Soundtrips for Cosmic Hitchhikers.

By Kate Ellen

It’s been a year since I sent out the inaugural post announcing open submissions for the directory! I witnessed an increasing need to curate an inclusive hub for the burgeoning music newsletter community, and so many of you answered the call. To date, I have received around 300 submissions, hosted 19 lovely chat discussions, expanded to 11 categories, and curated a few playlist challenges—time really flies when you’re having fun. I believe that there’s still so much possibility for what this community can accomplish together. Thanks for rocking with me and cheers to us all.

Community Housekeeping

Before we get into our normal order of operations, let’s have a heart-to-heart about housekeeping. In light of some recent discoveries and hiccups with the directory, I want to offer some more transparency around my process for curating, moderating, and maintaining this project.

Earlier this month, I attempted to update the directory listings in the same manner that I’ve done since the first round: I add names by the amount of categories a person will be featured in and include subsequent entries based on the overlap between categories.1 This time around, I encountered a technical issue that prevented me from updating three of the most populous categories: Writers/Journalists, Playlist Curators, and Reviewers/Critics.

During troubleshooting, myriad notifications were sent out to folks featured in those categories. Based on the draft history, the Playlist Curators page was affected the most as the support team worked heavily from this category. It seems that every time there was an attempt to publish an update, this pushed out a new mention notification. I sent an email to subscribers once this was brought to my attention, and I appreciate your patience while these kinks were sorted out. At the time of publication, this technical glitch has finally been resolved!

I was also informed that folks should not be receiving subsequent notifications regarding directory mentions each time I make an update.2 I’m not sure why this was happening before (for reference, my personal account was only notified the first go-round), but I hope that the engineering team patched it out with recent updates to the platform. Just in case, I am limiting listing updates to one or two weekends a month (unless I get a random influx of requests requiring more attention). I will continue to send out chat prompts at least two weeks a month.

Next, I want to issue a friendly reminder that participation in the directory is voluntary. Submitters are not required or obligated to follow, subscribe, or participate in the community chats to be featured in the directory. However, blocking the admin account is uncooperative and incongruent with the aims of this communal project—once blocked, I am not allowed to tag your accounts in any capacity and this may affect the functionality of existing entries.

Therefore, accounts that block will be removed from the public listings upon discovery.3 I don’t anticipate this being a recurring issue, but this is a boundary I must set out of respect for my time, efforts, and labor. If you no longer want to be listed in the directory, I prefer that you formally request removal via the directory maintenance request form. Please also use this form if you need an update to your existing directory listing in lieu of sending a new submission on the original intake form.

Directory Maintenance Request Form

On a lighter note, I am excited to announce that my interview roster is full through the end of this year. I really enjoy getting to know y’all through your submissions and the weekly chats, so the interviews have given me more of an opportunity to connect with folks one-on-one. Special thanks to for being first in the series!

The Song in Your Bones: A Community Song Challenge

Speaking of interviews, my conversation with debuts next week. Kate and I kicked off our month-long collaboration with a community song challenge! She curated a divine meditation and prompt for songwriters to engage with. Please check out the details in the linked post below. All submissions and reflections will be featured in the October edition of The Medley.

Little Door

The Song in Your Bones

A Creative Invitation…

Read more

9 months ago · 19 likes · 5 comments · Kate Ellen, Shanté, and The Music Directory

We will moderate the comments of the post for any inquiries you may have. If you would like to participate, you may tag my personal account () and Kate in your posts or notes related to the challenge so we can both follow along. If you prefer to email your contributions, kindly send them to musicdirectory123@gmail.com. The Medley typically rolls out the end of each month, so let’s aim to send any entries you want featured by October 26th at 11:59 PM EST.

Message The Music Directory

Musician Spotlight

In conjunction with the community song challenge, here are some examples of ways that musicians are using their newsletters to share their creative flows and highlight new music.

shared the process of writing her original song “Down In The Blue,” including lyrics and a video of her performing the song.

Little Door

Down In The Blue

A couple quick housekeeping things before digging into the meat of the song I'm sharing with you today…

Listen now

a year ago · 15 likes · 10 comments · Kate Ellen

After previewing the artwork and theme, recently debuted her first single “KTGB!”

Fear of Music

KTGB!

Note from Riri: Listen to “KTGB!” on your streaming platform of choice or buy/steal the song on Bandcamp…

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9 months ago · 45 likes · 61 comments · The Ririverse

offers meditative piano recordings via his platform music heals.

music heals

Pay attention the first time you hear something unfamiliar.

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9 months ago · 7 likes · 1 comment · David Levine

shares a new original instrumental song each month.

Fog Chaser

equinox

Welcome to the latest edition of the Fog Chaser newsletter—sharing a new original instrumental song & photos every month. (previous issue: night sketch…

Listen now

9 months ago · 156 likes · 97 comments · Fog Chaser

has a 4-track tape series, in which he sends out a new song every month.

Music & Memory

Where You Are (Volume 1, Track 8)

This year, I’ve been undergoing an experiment in sharing and releasing music. This song is the eighth instalment on that adventure…

Listen now

10 months ago · 22 likes · 16 comments · Matthew Joel Vanderkwaak

In addition to recommendations and reflections, recently chronicled the development of the album dyschronometria.

Hum, Buzz, & Hiss

dyschronometria is out now!!

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9 months ago · 5 likes · 1 comment · Melted Form

just dropped a new beat tape titled for now, we’re here.

jade tree

for now, we're here

This beat tape is a collection of twelve beats I made during a stretch when I was sitting down and creating a few beats every day. They’re songs I like, songs I’m proud of, and together they capture a moment in time: chasing rhythm, texture, and the details that make a track feel alive. The sound lives in dusty drums, warm melodies, and head-nod grooves…

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9 months ago · 9 likes · 4 comments · jade tree

Memos from the chats

All of the September chats were inspired by questions and moments from my interview with T.R. Kingston.

Love an album? Pass it on.

In conversation, Kingston mentioned that Pirates by Rickie Lee Jones is an album he feels inclined to buy for anyone younger who he encounters while perusing a record shop.

The prompt: what influential album would you purchase for someone younger to introduce them to the music? Perhaps it’s something that brought you a deeper understanding of yourself and the world around you.

My 1st choice is Corinne Bailey Rae’s self-titled debut. I previously wrote about the album for its 15th anniversary and I still find it enriching all these years later.

things i collected

honoring Corinne Bailey Rae’s debut album: 15 years later

Leeds, England native and singer Corinne Bailey Rae has an instantly recognizable lilt and vocal timbre. somewhere, whether by your own volition or in a department store, you’ve heard those honey-dipped vocals before — accompanied by a sweet acoustic guitar that puts you at ease upon listening. as someone who has cherished the singer’s debut album since…

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5 years ago · 8 likes · 3 comments · Shanté

chose The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, which I totally understand due to the grip this album had on me as a teenager.

Max of picked Madonna’s Celebration, citing the following reason: “In this circumstance, I might actually lean toward a greatest hits compilation — a way to introduce someone to the variety of an artist’s work across their output, not just one pivotal work that may or may not move them,” they said.

opted to introduce someone to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Sound with three choices: “Mint Condition’s From The Mint Factory, Prince’s self titled album, & a few tracks of greatest hits from Jimmy Jam + Terry Lewis.”

Influential Albums Chat

Covers

The prompt: What’s a cover song that you really enjoy? Perhaps it introduced you to an older song or gave you a greater appreciation for the original.

My choice: Elizabeth M. Drummond’s cover of Love My Way (originally by The Psychedelic Furs).

picked Nina Simone’s cover of “Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues” (originally by Bob Dylan). His reasoning: “an entirely fresh take on a song that’s more mood and feel than melody, instrumentation, or voice. Pretty otherworldly.”

chose Denzel Curry’s cover of “Bulls on Parade” by Rage Against The Machine, which was recorded for triple j’s Like A Version series. Pierre’s second choice was Lalah Hathaway’s rendition of “Angel” by Anita Baker—Hathaway really made that song her own.

picked Nirvana’s take on “The Man Who Sold The World,” a version of David Bowie’s song that was recorded for Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged session.

Covers Chat

Collaborations

For the last chat of the month, we discussed collaboration.

The prompt: Tell me about a musical pairing that either surprised you in a good way or felt so divinely aligned that you almost can’t believe it’s real. It can be between musicians or an artist/producer collab you enjoy.

First up: Thundercat and Remi Wolf just makes SO much sense if you’re familiar with their individual discographies!

selected one of his desert island discs: case/lang/veirs by Neko Case, k.d. lang, and Laura Veirs, which he described as “absolutely magical.”

offered two choices: “Home” by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony featuring Phil Collins and The Moon and The Melodies, a collaborative album by Harold Budd and Cocteau Twins. His thoughts on “Home”: “Rather than just clearing the sample for them, [Collins] not only sang the hook, but agreed to appear in the video because he liked their music so much. It genuinely solidifies Phil Collins in my heart as one of the greatest musicians of all time.” Regarding the latter choice, Jones said “his dreamy ambience with their ethereal pop is a mind-blowing combo.”

was pleasantly surprised by a few collaborations:

• Come As You Are, the joint album by Terrace Martin and Kenyon Dixon (2025)

• What Kinda Music by Tom Misch & Yussef Dayes (2020)

• Black Focus by Yussef Kamaal, the duo comprised of Yussef Dayes and Kamaal Williams (2016)

• Victims & Villains, a collaborative album by Musiq Soulchild and producer Hit-Boy (2023)

Collaborations Chat

In memory of

Brett James (1968-2025)

Diane Martel (1962-2025)

Shatter the Standards

The Best Music Videos Directed by Diane Martel

Diane Martel was an American music-video director and choreographer whose work shaped pop, R&B, and hip-hop visuals for more than three decades. Born in New York City in 1962, niece of the legendary Joseph Papp, Martel’s early path involved street art and dance documentary, grounded in the city’s energy. She directe…

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9 months ago · 7 likes · 1 comment

The interview was conducted via email, where we sent myriad notes, songs, and links back & forth. At one point, Kingston reached out after listening to Wyclef Jean’s The Carnival on the deck at his cottage. He explained why he was fond of Jean’s debut solo album, namely the track “Sang Fézi.”

“The Haitian creole mojo with the organ and then Lauryn [Hill] coming in. OMG.”

We also spoke about his inspirations and the first time he encountered Nina Simone’s music. “When I was in university, I walked into a record store and bought Nina Simone’s Broadway-Blues-Ballads based on the cover. I had never heard of her or heard her sing before. That album changed my life. The way she expressed herself was a revelation. So dramatic, emotional, angry, sad, goofy and fun. Everything,” he shared.

Kingston cited Simone as one of many female singers he connects with most. “Chrissie Hynde, Rickie Lee Jones, Mary Margaret O'Hara, and Christine McVie too,” he said. He had previously mentioned that Pirates by Rickie Lee Jones is an album he feels inclined to buy for anyone younger who he encounters while perusing a record shop. Having not heard the record before, I played it and understood why Pirates might have such resonance. It’s often billed as a breakup album, but it’s so much more expansive than that.

Expansive is also how I’d describe both Kingston’s music and his writing—he explores music with the same depth that he writes about sports, literature, and electoral politics. From bands to solo work, Kingston has an exquisite musical archive that goes beyond genre and touches on many aspects of the human condition. His lyrics generate feelings that are simultaneously universal and personal—the musings of both the observer and the active participant of life in all its richness and complexities.

North of Summer was one of Kingston’s early formative bands. The band’s name comes from a book of poetry by Al Purdy. “A good amount of my early catalogue was actually as that group,” he explained. Over time, I learned more about the music in his catalogue that still impacts him heavily, such as “Warning Shadows” on the Jazz Asteroid LP. “[It’s] a song I still really connect with. That album is a real breakaway project in my musical journey. I'm proud of it. I recorded it with Dave Draves in Ottawa at Little Bullhorn Studios. It's a piano ballad, Broadway-ish sorta LP. Challenging and conceptual,” he said.

Read on for the full Q&A.

When did you first start making music? What instruments do you play?

A real piano is a portal to another dimension for a kid. The sustain pedal shoots you across the galaxy. It's a pretty common family story. My dad played all day long. So piano first, in utero. The saxophone starting at about 8 years old, until now. “Muppet Show Theme” in school band. I used to play “I Just Called To Say I Love You” by Stevie Wonder to my old Irish grandpa. He loved it.

I noticed that you’ve begun sharing your archive of writing about sports like hockey and tennis. You’ve mentioned that athleticism is an artform; I find that music and sports are connected by the elements of commitment and entertainment. How do your broader interests and/or hobbies inform your sound (if at all)?

I grew up around a lot of old Anglican matriarchs. We say Anglican in Canada, meaning Church Of England. They were war brides. Flappers, you know. Amazing independent women. Really tough and curt, but also very cultured. Lots of time outdoors getting dirty and then singing hymns and drinking tea and sherry. I suppose the men mostly “played” the sports, but sports in general wasn't separated from the rest of culture. Renaissance ideals, I guess. Everyone canoed, skated, played hockey, baseball and you were a watercolor painter and played an instrument. I don't know when everything got so compartmentalized, maybe in the 1950's? Sports and art share a “Don't think” element. But ya also practice and determination.

Your initials spell an abridged version of the word “track” which I find pretty cool. What’s one of your favorite tracks that you’ve worked on in your career? Perhaps there’s a lyric or theme that you continually draw inspiration from?

Hey, that's cool. Is that a texting thing? I'm the worst judge of my own recordings. I second guess everything right after. I think that's why performing live is so important if you can. Recorded music doesn't hold its place in culture like it used to, so you have to get over yourself to do it. We're all poets now. “I Am Not Afraid” was really fun to record and keeps coming up in my life.......“Into The Light,” “Don't Wanna Be Right” & “InnerTube” from The Independent LP are these wonderful indie accidents before I “knew” what I was doing. “Come & Gone” has a lyric I come back to a lot that feels prescient.

'All this coming and going is the seed of invention

prehistoric telescope

shadow shapes of light

goodbye segregation politics

those old emotions

hello transient expressionism

life improvised

it's the rhythm you're chasing

that's not from a nation

and at the train station

you're waiting

for what's come and gone'

I’m excited to learn that you will be embarking on performing music full time! There’s a dynamism to your recorded music that I imagine translates directly to your live shows. Tell me about your first live performance experience as a musician. Is there something that occurred during that moment that you’ve carried into your subsequent performances?

I did the coffee house folk song show first, like a lot of people. My first time on a proper stage with a band was one of those youth nights at a local non denominational church, but not till my 20's. I was a late bloomer to that type of music in that way. I always wrote songs on a tennis racket or piano but never had the idea to perform them. The confines of rock really made it difficult to find my way on stage. It felt performative in the way we get stuck in the genre of music we grew up with. 3 years or so ago, I started singing and performing with jazz musicians. That was such a big bang moment and opened up a whole new and very natural way of being on stage for me.

Do you have favorite songs to perform? (your own or covers)

I don't do covers. Maybe I should. There is a new album I'm mixing and taking too long with called Shape Of Days. There are some songs on there I love to perform like “Land In Between,” “Burning Hearts” and “A Different Window.” Sometimes I play “Lake Of Many Winds” on my guitar and it feels really good. I wish I could perform “One More Time (For You)” like it sounds on the album, but that would involve the whole rock thing again.

“Be On The Breeze (Michael Stipe)” is the song I enjoy performing the most right now. It has a positive energy that really connects with the audience.

Your music explores a vast array of topics and insightful outlooks of the world. The depth of humanity is tangible through your lyrics. What grounds your creative expression and perspective?

Wonder and amazement at being alive and all we know and have created. It's such a hippie thing to say, but I mean it more formally. My best pals are the people I share an appreciation of things with. I mean Little Richard...really?! Leonard Cohen?! How does that happen? It's all so fantastic. Maybe it's a Thoreau type of thing. Ralph Waldo Emerson has a line I love. “The great shadow pointing always to the sun behind us.” Bishop Desmond Tutu was a huge influence on my teenage mind. It just seems so sad that we can't get our shit together at this moment in history. Like we don't have enough going for us that we are at once perfectly aware of. I guess I've made it my mission to never forget that. Live by it. Ubuntu. I am because we are.

You mentioned being an idea man and an organized person. How do you approach songwriting?

I don't. I'm a blank canvas writer. My curiosity informs my subconscious. So I'm organised in my curiosity. Follow the notes. I've never 'written' a song. You know the way that a good first line writes the whole story? Writing has never been a problem. Figuring out how music and the vagaries of the business fit into life seems incomprehensible to me. The day I stopped letting the need for acknowledgment into my creative process was a very happy day. You never fully stop. It's human nature to check and see who's watching. Maybe that's a sports thing too. Remembering how to play the game like you were a kid again.

Sometimes It Rains

The Best Game You Can Name Is A Canadian Football Game

Mosaic Stadium - Saskatchewan Roughriders - Canadian Football League…

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10 months ago · 1 like · T.R. Kingston

How do you approach collaboration?

As a songwriter, I generally defer to the musicians I'm playing with. Musicians play better when they are being themselves. Otherwise, it gets bossy. I suppose if I was able to employ musicians at a level where I could expect certain things I would. The older jazz players kinda solve that tho. They started playing when music was more fluid, in the 50's and 60's. These players played like a thousand shows before they were 25! So when you wanna take the music somewhere and are referring to an album or song they have first hand experience of hearing it when it came out and then playing in a high school gym or bar band or something. Those players can really take the music somewhere else. Find them in your neighbourhood before they're gone. Seriously!

I think there’s something quite cinematic about your music. Songs like “Innertube,” “Face 2 Face,” and “Into the Light” (just to name a few) spark visual scenes in my mind. There’s also a beautiful vintage quality to the artwork you use to accompany your sound—how do you determine what to portray visually?

Old pictures are my biggest influence in all that. Before everything was a selfie, pictures were all over the place and full of accidents. My mom took these pictures of her brothers when she was like 12 in the 1950's and they blow my mind. I think growing up on the Anglican Hymn book really informed my inner sound. When Garth Hudson from The Band died, the obit said he grew up on the Anglican Hymn book too. I grew up in that movie and music video generation too. Maybe we were always seeing the sounds in some way.

The quote on your website alluded to Donovan, The Kinks, and Bob Dylan (we’ve also previously discussed The Kinks as a touch point of inspiration for your music). What are some literary and musical inspirations of yours that listeners might be surprised to discover?

Who knows what people hear in your music. Nothing against Donovan. Pretty sure that reviewer was an older Gen Xer and they have a very unique sense of music history. The best sense in a lot of ways. They were always the cool open minded liberal types that we all looked up to. I think there are a generation of young people who don't understand how caring and inclusive those Gen Xers were and are. The assholes get a lot of attention but there was a really great thread of minding your own business, letting people be themselves and being caring in that generation. There was also this moment in the 90's when I was in my teens when grunge and hip hop lived in an indispensable harmony on the high school dance floor. “Dressed in yellow, she says hello, come sit next to me you fine fellow....” Hip hop was everything. The Carnival by Wyclef Jean is a masterpiece, start to finish. Yele.

What are you currently working on (music or otherwise)?

What's worse than musicians talking about their kids? Mine are getting older so I have a lot of time to focus on my art with some resources and wisdom. Performing full time with the time to do it. Hello booking agents! Showcase me. Writing articles and stories feels good.

Anything else you want readers and listeners to know?

Find a river or a lake and swim in it. Listening to records is a thing. It's not everything, but it's a big deal, so if you can, when you can, you should. I think we should stop compartmentalizing ourselves from each other into cliques. Vast parts of the internet and digital culture are fads and toxic. Use it to share an appreciation of things. Use it according to the task. Take long, long breaks. Talk to your neighbours. Ask the checkout worker how their day is. Positivity is contagious. Nature is miraculous. Sometimes it rains.

Thanks to T.R. Kingston for the chat! Subscribe to Kingston’s writing over on Sometimes It Rains and North of Summer. Be sure to check out his Bandcamp page for more music.

All photos included courtesy of T.R. Kingston.

Sometimes It Rains

Day To Day Stories On Sports - A Seasonal Calendar Of Life & Games

By T.R. Kingston

North Of Summer

Essays & Articles. At times impressionistic, yet of the moment and clear eyed.

By T.R. Kingston

The Music Directory is a submission-based project! Please check out the general submission form to be featured in any of the listed categories.

Hey directory members,

So we meet again! I’m back with a monthly digest featuring memos from our community chats and a curated selection of posts I’ve engaged with lately. Before I get into the nitty-gritty, here are a couple of updates and helpful tips regarding the directory itself.

If you have not had a chance to submit your name and publication to the directory yet, I suggest reviewing the categories to gauge what you should include in your submission, as well as the following posts for general community housekeeping.

Additionally, your newsletter does not have to be hosted on Substack to be featured—the only difference is that I won’t be able to embed a “subscribe” widget under your entry, but I will still link directly to your publication!

General Directory Submission Form

I will be updating the page recommendations over this upcoming weekend and rolling out the first interview I’ve conducted for this platform on Monday September 1st! So far, I’ve spoken with two amazing artists about their music and creative expression. As The Music Directory expands, I hope to interview someone from each of the listed categories. More to come on this later.

For now, please enjoy the following media curation! And as always, thanks for rocking with me.

Subscribe now

Memos from the chats

Music about the weather (storms, clouds, and rain oh my)

Throughout the month of August, there was a period of consistent rain in my region. This prompted me to revisit one of my video playlists titled “stormy weather”, so I posed the question of favorite weather-related songs in the chat. The prompt was broad, but majority of the responses yielded towards rain and storms.

things i collected

stormy weather

what follows is a video compilation of songs relating to the rainy and stormy weather we’ve been experiencing lately (at least where i am). i have quite a few deadlines to catch up on, so i’ll be focused on that most of the week. i’ll be back friday with the leo season playlist…

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5 years ago · 7 likes · Shanté

’s very first post on Substack from 2019 was about this exact topic! I’m also including the link to the “Rain…” playlist she made on YouTube to accompany the writing.

All the Things She Said

I Can't Stand the Rain

Honestly, I enjoy a good storm. It’s my daughter that can’t stand the rain…

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7 years ago · 1 like · Kristin DeMarr

“Stormy Monday” got a couple of mentions from and —there are multiple iterations of this song, but T-Bone Walker is the originator.

picked a fabulous choice with Sade’s “The Sweetest Taboo.” Whether the song is about innuendos or reminds us of the Quiet Storm style of R&B, it’s fitting for the theme.

“There’s a quiet storm and it never felt like this before.”

moved me to tears with his stirring original song “Storm Prayer.”

Stormy Weather Chat

Sunshine songs

The following week, I circled back to the weather to gauge more responses on the sunnier side of things—I shared a live performance from 1969 of The 5th Dimension singing “Aquarius (Let the Sunshine In).”

inspired this approach, as he included songs about different types of weather in his response for the prior week, such as the classic Roy Ayers Ubiquity track “Everybody Loves the Sunshine.” He returned to the chat with another stellar recommendation: “Golden Time of Day” by Maze featuring Frankie Beverly.

also invoked the essence of the late Mr. Roy Ayers, this time with a cover of the aforementioned track by Takuya Kuroda.

shared “Don’t Take My Sunshine” by The Soul Children. He said that “it might have a sadder vibe than [I was] after, but it makes [him] happy!” (note: this editor is never gonna frown about hearing old school music, no matter the disposition.)

Tangentially, I would like to draw your attention to Dave’s newsletter: . I have been attending his album club for the past two sessions. The first time I joined, we discussed music from _by. ALEXANDER. The last meeting involved a comparison of Bon Iver’s first and most recent records. The next album we’re listening to is To Myself by Baby Rose—one of my favorites from recent years! Check out the note below to get on the mailing list for more information.

Sunshine Songs Chat

Artists/Regional Sounds/Genres you want to know more about

The most recent chat is an open forum to bring forth artists, regional sounds, and genres that folks are curious to learn about. That way, anyone who has more insight into the music in question can chime in with suggestions.

I brought up reggae, of which I have a surface-level understanding. Yet, I’m seeking more information about its origins and modern sound. I got some helpful responses from , , and .

Walk on the Wild Side

Immigrant Songs

All of these stories are about change — about how a small neighbourhood in central London has evolved as different people and communities have passed through it, leaving their mark. For some, the neighbourhood offered islands of liberty and liberation: spaces where they could become who they wanted to be, cre…

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a year ago · 22 likes · 4 comments · Mike Press and Jackie Hopfinger

Next, Rhapsody mentioned that she still hasn’t found a modern or upcoming country artist she likes yet; with that genre not being my ministry, the only modern country artist I could name that I’ve really given attention to is Kacey Musgraves.

Also, Max of is hopeful to learn more about the influences of genres like Afrobeats and gqom. “Some music that I listen to has traces of these genres but still feels really U.S.-oriented (Amaarae, for example, blends Western club and pop sounds with Afrobeats), so I can't always pinpoint these influences in this sound, and as a music journalist, I really want to,” they said.

shared standouts like Rema and Asake, whereas Rob de Greeuw named his favorite Afrobeats artist Frenna. He said “that’s not because he is Dutch,” with a winky-face emoji.

If you have any suggestions for the aforementioned inquiries or seek answers for your own musical curiosity, I invite you to hop into the chat!

Artists/Genre Discovery Chat

Degrees of Separation

I really enjoyed exploring connections between posts I’ve read in the first edition of The Medley, so I have returned to this format. First up is with his inventive series “WORD(PLAY)LIST!” Here’s a description of the challenge:

“WORD(PLAY)LIST is a musical word search series in which you’ll need to find ten words (or short phrases) that share an underlying musical connection. Once you’ve solved the weekly puzzle (whether by sheer willpower or by using the “hints” feature), you’ll be directed back to the comments section where you can make your best guesses for the musical connection.”

Joy in the Journey

WORD(PLAY)LIST Volume 1

WORD(PLAY)LIST is a musical word search series in which you’ll need to find ten words (or short phrases) that share an underlying musical connection. Once you’ve solved the weekly puzzle (whether by sheer willpower or by using the “hints” feature), you’ll be directed back to the comments section where you can make your best guesses for the musical conne…

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10 months ago · 8 likes · 11 comments · Mark Nash

It reminded me that I generated a similar game on my own newsletter last year called “the category is…” using video playlists. Nash’s series takes this concept to the next level with puzzles, one of my favorite pastimes! He recently announced a brief hiatus from posting; while he’s away, let’s all wish him well and show some appreciation for the hard work he put into developing “WORD(PLAY)LIST.”

Joy in the Journey

WORD(PLAY)LIST Volume 2

WORD(PLAY)LIST is a musical word search series in which you’ll need to find ten words (or short phrases) that share an underlying musical connection. Once you’ve solved the weekly puzzle (whether by sheer willpower or by using the “hints” feature), you’ll be directed back to the comments section where you can make your best guesses for the musical conne…

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10 months ago · 5 likes · 41 comments · Mark Nash

Speaking of new series, just launched a thematic focus on upcoming artists titled UP NEXT! The first installment is the “Girlie Pop Edition,” featuring rising pop stars like JADE, Jae Stephens, and flowerovlove.

thesovereignaudite

UP NEXT!: Girlie Pop Edition

welcome to the first installment of UP NEXT! ✨…

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10 months ago · 9 likes · 3 comments · the sovereign audite

I’m keeping it femme-centric with this next mention. did a guest post over on ’s newsletter that posed the following question: “What New Bands Belong on the Lilith Fair Stage in 2025?” The comment section is vibrant with so many recommendations (see my own comment below).

I could have kept editing my comment to add artists I enjoy like Warpaint, Baby Rose, Nilüfer Yanya, and , but instead I fine-tuned my “femme ephemeral” playlist, which is full of songs that spark transcendent feelings (it’s currently available only on Apple Music). I still haven’t figured out each stage lineup, but I can say with certainty that Anna Wise would be a main stage act—when I’ve seen her live, she dedicated time to bring all the women and femmes to the front!

New Bands for Old Heads

What New Bands Belong on the Lilith Fair Stage in 2025?

Hi! I’m Caroline…

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10 months ago · 57 likes · 75 comments · Caroline in the Garden

Girls are still on my mind after reading ’s “Now Playing: chapstick”—the title reminded me of the lyrics to “I Kissed A Girl” by Katy Perry and the tagline “let’s go, girls” sparked memories of Shania Twain’s “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!”

Music as Literature with Nielly

Now Playing: chapstick

Music as Literature is a reader-supported publication. Every like, share, and repost keeps my spirits high and grows my mission to spread love and exploration through music 💚…

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10 months ago · 6 likes · 3 comments · Nielly

Also: Nielly and are co-hosting a live listening event titled Crate Digest in Los Angeles this fall. More details in the linked post below.

Music as Literature with Nielly

Music as Literature & Inside the Credits Present: Crate Digest

Nielly & Miki, the creators behind Music as Literature and Inside the Credits, are coming together to bring our online worlds to life—on stage, in real time, with you in the room…

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10 months ago · 6 likes · Nielly and Miki Hellerbach

On the theme of location, I was enthralled by ’ essay “Fear the Turtle,” in which he draws parallels between his own Maryland roots and that of singer Dijon (whose sophomore album Baby is a phenomenal listen). I really appreciated how Lewis poignantly explored the merits of taking one’s time to develop thoughtful work—something that he, Dijon and I all have in common.

Feels Like Home

Fear the Turtle

My grandma used to drive me to elementary school. Sometimes, we’d stop at Subway on the way, and I’d always get the same thing: ham and cheese on Italian bread with lettuce, tomato, mayo, salt, and pepper. There were also times we’d stop at Burger King. But we’d always pass Centennial High School in Ellicott City, Maryla…

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10 months ago · 59 likes · 39 comments · Alex Lewis

takes us back in time with the indie nostalgia of his Such Great Heights newsletter—his debut book of the same name just released this week! The work explores the evolution of 21st century indie rock, a musical phenomenon that coincides with my own coming-of-age and formative listening history. DeVille’s newsletter serializes the chapters of Such Great Heights: The Complete Cultural History Of The Indie Rock Explosion with precision, encapsulating just how much thought and research went into the book’s development (there’s also playlists!). I look forward to picking up a copy.

Such Great Heights

Chapter 6 Soundtrack: The Ballad of Bloghouse and Indie Sleaze

My book SUCH GREAT HEIGHTS: The Complete Cultural History of the Indie Rock Explosion is about how indie rock changed the mainstream and the mainstream changed indie rock in the 21st century—or, to put it another way, how indie rock went pop. It’s out ridiculously soon, so…

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10 months ago · 9 likes · 2 comments · Chris DeVille

Staying on the topics of 21st century music, nostalgia, and coming-of-age, I’m glad that shared a link of his recent essay “albums that accompanied me, vol. i”. Beginning with Frank Ocean’s Channel Orange, the writer reflected on albums that brought him comfort in high school, which he attended from 2012-2016.

Dee Norman

albums that accompanied me, vol. i

I don’t think there’s a day in my life that I haven’t listened to music…

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10 months ago · 43 likes · 4 comments · Dee Norm

Norman’s post above explores the memories he’s collected of music from his past. Therefore, the next link in this chain of reads goes to , who recently did “a self examination” of his reasons for collecting records. Henry also has a book coming out this fall titled 20th Century Ambient—it’s currently available for pre-order.

Another Thought

Why Collect Records? (A Self Examination)

I’m running out of shelf space. Again…

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10 months ago · 38 likes · 6 comments · Dusty Henry

I’ll conclude with ’s guide to record collecting titled “My Expert Hacks for Buying Vinyl Online.” ’s mission statement is to “up the quality of your vinyl collection,” so Smith is a trusted and knowledgeable resource on the topic!

The Wax Museum

My Expert Hacks for Buying Vinyl Online

Vinyl prices have gone from hobby to highway robbery. The average LP is 25% pricier than it was just five years ago. New releases regularly hit the $40–$50 range, and even common used records flirt with $25. This collector’s habit has become a financial liability…

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10 months ago · 25 likes · 2 comments · Jared Smith

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The Music Directory is a submission-based project! Please check out the general submission form to be featured in any of the listed categories.

Hello music friends,

Welcome to the July edition of The Medley! May this message find you soundly, wherever you are. In today’s digest, we’ll review community submissions for best/top/favorite music of the year so far, as well as select memos from the chat. Before we get into the details of it all, here are some quick announcements and friendly reminders:

• The general directory submission form remains open for anyone who would like to join the party! We have nearly 300 featured publications across 11 categories.

General Directory Submission Form

• Speaking of party, let’s celebrate that The Music Directory recently surpassed 1500 subscribers! For perspective, that’s 2.5x the capacity of my favorite music venue, Terminal West in Atlanta. WOW! Thanks to everyone who has subscribed, submitted their newsletter to be featured, and tagged the page across social media for others to check out. Cheers to our vibrant music community.

• As mentioned in previous newsletters, I updated the website recommendations this month with a selection of 15 different newsletters (the process was detailed in the note below).

  The Music Directory Recommendations

• The information in each directory listing is copied directly from the form submissions. If your bio needs a tune-up or you want to be added to an additional category, you may request an update via the directory maintenance form. If you no longer want to be featured in the directory, you can use the same form to request removal.

Directory Maintenance Request Form

That’s all I have for announcements, so now it’s time to explore the sounds and sensations that directory members have enjoyed this year so far.

Your best/top/favorite music of 2025 (so far)

Here are the submissions for 2025 mid-year music recaps, listed in the order they were received. Much gratitude to everyone who sent in their top picks. As always, please leave your post or playlist link in the comments if you didn’t get a chance to submit so we may check it out!

shared his favorite albums from the year so far in alphabetical order, featuring artists such as Annahstasia, Destroyer, and Sugar for the Pill. I’m definitely curious to see what he picks for the latter half of the year with such exciting and diverse taste!

Something Old/Something New

Albums of (the first half) 2025

As the calendar flips into July, I’m sharing a bonus post with a playlist featuring highlights from my favourite albums of the first half of the year…

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a year ago · 2 likes · Mark Hooper

Raremarc sent over a Spotify playlist with over 400 tracks! I recognize many of my own favorite artists (Greentea Peng, Little Simz, and SASAMI among them), but also SO much variety to be explored.

revisited her New Music Friday picks to provide a list full of exquisite R&B and rap. Featured artists include DUCKWRTH, Vayda, Chase Shakur, and billy woods.

Related note: Rhapsody mentioned that I would like billy woods’ latest album GOLLIWOG, and she was right about that! I listened in awe.

rhapsology

Shoutout To Tops (Diner)

I thought I never made a favorites list when I read one of Shanté’s latest posts…

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a year ago · 10 likes · 4 comments · Rhapsody

consistently delivers on the assignment! Below, you’ll find their all-encompassing list of 50 best albums from the year so far, as well as a more precise focus on 2025’s best rap and R&B to date.

Shatter the Standards

The 50 Best Albums of 2025 (So Far…)

If 2024 felt more dynamic, it is partly because several legacy figures—Taylor Swift with the release of Tortured Poets Department, Beyoncé with her genre-bending pivot on Cowboy Carter, Kendrick Lamar with a world-tour document that’s now underway since the surprise-release of…

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a year ago · 10 likes

Shatter the Standards

The Best Rap Music of 2025 (So Far…)

Rap’s 2025 scorecard so far looks like a split-screen. At the top of the charts, major-label campaigns continue to push bigger rollouts, yet they yield forgettable music, while just below the surface, a fleet of self-directed projects is thriving on craft, community, and Bandcamp Fridays. A chorus of fans is already calling this the weakest commercial h…

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a year ago · 10 likes · 1 comment

Shatter the Standards

The Best R&B Music of 2025 (So Far…)

The first half of 2025 has felt like a deep breath after 2024’s nonstop sprint. The marquee names who dominated last year’s headlines, from Beyoncé’s Grammy-hoarding Cowboy Carter cycle to a flood of mid-tier comeback records, have mostly gone quiet, leaving the mainstream calendar unusually thin. Yet the lull hasn’t meant stagnation. Instead, a crop of…

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a year ago · 11 likes

’s femme-centric mid-year playlist, featuring PinkPantheress and Oklou among many talented ladies, is one after my own heart. She described it as “a sugar rush of girl pop with indie and folk twists.”

put a spotlight on mixes from trusted sources such as Stereogum, No Expectations, and David Byrne’s radio. Talk about a treasure trove of beautiful and thoughtful curation!

Hear Hear

Summer sounds & semi-secret playlists ☀️👀

Greetings from Newark Airport, where I’m taking advantage of a 5-hour delay to finally write a new issue! As usual, it’s been impossible to compile all the essential music from the last month, since there’s so much good stuff released every week. (And since I’m distracted by NYC’s mayoral race & America’s unhinged executive branch…

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a year ago · 34 likes · 6 comments · Adam Offitzer

’s playlist reminded me of so many gems I need to replay from the year so far, including the latest from Magic City Hippies, Model/Actriz, and Gelli Haha.

equitably shared his wealthy list of “can’t miss” albums in the order they were released. He reminded me of a few albums I’d like to hear again, such as those by Emma-Jean Thackray, Kelela, and Alabaster DePlume.

Chaotic Good Jazz

25 Can’t Miss Albums from the First Half of 2025

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a year ago · 22 likes · 7 comments · Alex Lester

’s newsletter offers a keen focus on music from China. Tap in with his fine-tuned list to discover (or rediscover) artists such as Wu Zhouling, 攬佬SKAI ISYOURGOD, and DeadTrees.

Concrete Avalanche

Best of 2025 so far + nouveau riche rap

Hello and welcome to Concrete Avalanche, a newsletter about music from China. Thanks very much for reading…

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a year ago · 17 likes · 4 comments · Jake

For my own mid-year list, I employed much of the same methodology as my year-end recaps to feature 11 standout albums, two EPs masquerading as one album, and 25 songs on repeat. You’ll find music from artists I think deserve more attention, including Saya Gray, Bathe, YEYEY, and Silas Short.

things i collected

tay's favorite music of 2025 (so far)

fancy meeting you here! on this occasion, i’m delighted to share another music roundup featuring the songs and albums i’ve enjoyed the most from the past six and a half months. if you’ve been here before—anytime between 2021 and now—then you likely know that the…

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a year ago · 15 likes · 2 comments · Shanté

Memos from the chat

On most Wednesdays, I send out a thematic chat prompt for us to reflect on and discuss. Here are some moments from the most recent chats, which are linked throughout and remain open so you can join the conversations anytime!

Songs that remind you of summertime

“Summertime, and the livin’ is easy.” This lyric has been sung and reworked many times—by Ella Fitzgerald, Janis Joplin, and Sublime to name a few—yet the essence remains the same. There’s much to ponder and reflect on during the summer’s long days. I inquired about songs that remind you of the warm season and got an array of responses—my choice was “Summertime Clothes” by Animal Collective.

brought a smile to my face with his pick “In the Summertime” by Mungo Jerry.

resurfaced memories of Summer 2017 with “Slide” by Calvin Harris ft. Frank Ocean and Migos.

“I remember distinctly about seven years ago when this song came out, hearing it come out of a Honda Accord while I was standing on a downtown corner, with the sun kissing my face, and in those few seconds saying to myself, “Oh, Summer is here.” It genuinely feels like the last consummate summer jam I’ve heard, and it’s hard for me to explain why over text. But I feel very very passionately about this song.”

chose The Go-Go’s classic debut album, Beauty and the Beat. Her kind instructions? “Pick a song!” I’m gonna go with “Our Lips are Sealed” because it’s a really strong album opener!

Summertime Songs Chat

All about band names

The following week, I had band names on my mind. The prompt involved three questions to ponder:

• What are some of your favorite band names and why?

• If you are a performing artist, how did you decide on your band/artist name?

• If not, what band name would you choose?

I’m a singer, but I haven’t established myself as a performing artist quite yet. In my hypothetical music career, my moniker of choice (stella333) takes inspiration from Daft Punk’s animated film Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem.

I didn’t share this in the chat, but Daft Punk is a band name I have always appreciated. Other favorites of mine: Earth, Wind & Fire, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, A Tribe Called Quest, 79.5, Say She She, Grizzly Bear, Noname, A/S/L…the list goes on.

mentioned that he prefers simpler band names, such as Crowbar, Acid Bath, and Judas Priest. “The shorter the better because then it sticks in your brain,” he said. For his own solo metal project, he went with the alias FaceStealer—a delightful nod to Avatar: The Last Airbender!

concurred with Alex Barnard’s preference for simple names. His hardcore favorites included Thursday, Frail, Reds, Nora, and Strife. “The only downside is sometimes it makes searching for their stuff 1000x harder haha especially when it's an older band,” Mandelli admitted.

Band Names Chat

Favorite concerts/live shows/festivals

The latest chat is all about live performances! I’ve attended my fair share of concerts and recently scanned in a few ticket stubs to share on my personal newsletter in the following post.

things i collected

memory digital

for years, i’ve been accustomed to using my phone to scan and photograph artifacts. now that i actually have a scanner, i’ve been examining what it feels like to document other collectibles besides my physical media assortment. through exploring paris…

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a year ago · 13 likes · 2 comments · Shanté

In the chat, I mentioned Solange’s festival performance at Afropunk ATL in 2017. I may not have a ticket stub for this moment, but the memories are just as valuable.

Meanwhile, is preparing to see Imagine Dragons live for a third time and mentioned the band’s alluring visual effects. “I like the way they do the images on the screen behind them to make a bigger experience,” she said.

Next, reflected on seeing Dawes win over a crowd while opening for Bob Dylan! “They came out to a half-empty venue of people in their chairs into multiple standing ovations,” he shared.

Favorite Live Performance Chat

In memory of

Last but certainly not least, a moment of silence for the musicians who recently departed this earthly plane. Condolences to their families and loved ones.

Connie Francis (1937-2025)

Robbie Pardlo (1978-2025)

Malcolm-Jamal Warner (1970-2025)

Ozzy Osbourne (1948-2025)

I’m back with another submission request for The Medley and a few other updates. This will be a fairly quick announcement, so I’ll go ahead and get right into it.

July’s submission request

Since many of us write about our favorite music releases of each year, the next Medley will be a roundup of best/top/favorite music lists of 2025 so far. I am accepting submissions for this upcoming post through July 18th at 11:59 PM EST. It will be similar to 2024’s year-end post.

Submit your lists here

More updates

• After much consideration, I have decided to turn on paid subscriptions. The toggle switch coincides with this message’s delivery. The directory resource itself will remain free as I have no intention to use paywalls to restrict posts, comments, or chats. Opting into a paid subscription supports my ability to sustain this resource. In exchange, I would like to offer paid subscribers priority access to do month-long curatorial takeovers for the directory if they desire (i.e., picking the chat prompts/Medley theme, artist spotlights, publishing exclusive work—the options are endless).

• Look out for updates to the page recommendations! I originally intended to do so on a monthly basis, but the frequency proved to be a little unsustainable. I don’t have a specific criteria in mind, but I want more folks to have the opportunity to leverage that kind of visibility. So I will utilize a number generator to randomize the selection process for the next round.

• I am open to collaborative work and commissions, whether for the directory or my personal newsletters. Let’s chat if you have something in mind.

• The original submission form remains open if you would like your publication featured in any of the listed categories.

Join the directory

That’s all I’ve got for now. I have quite a few albums to play and replay before I make my mid-year favorites list, so that’s where I’ll be in the meantime. I’ll leave you with this new Lady Wray track that’s a staple in my current rotation.

Talk soon,

Shanté

“It’s been a long time, [I] shouldn’t have left you without a dope beat to step to!”

These words from Aaliyah’s “Try Again” hold much relevance for me as I resurface this month with a new edition of The Medley. I won’t belabor the point of this intro with too many personal details, but I’ll just say I’m glad to be back here.

In the background, I’ve still been adding names to the directory and performing maintenance on the website. For instance, you will now find a link to the general directory submission form on each category page/tab for ease of access. The form remains open for those who want to be featured.

Join the directory

In this month’s jam-packed digest1, I offer select memos from the most recent community chats. I also sent out a note and email regarding submissions for Pride Month and Black Music Month; you will find those entries in this roundup as well.2 If you missed the submission window, the comments are waiting for you—feel free to drop a link that celebrates Pride and/or Black Music Month.

Leave a comment

Plus, all of the chats are linked throughout, which offers another chance to get in on those conversations. There’s a lot to explore here, so I suggest you dive into this resource over time. With further ado, enjoy The Medley!

Memos from the chats

Songs that remind you of springtime

As those of us in the northern hemisphere prepare for summer, here’s a look back at some of the songs that remind us of spring.3

I was inspired by the phrase “April showers bring May flowers.” honed in on the first part of the phrase by recommending The Blackbyrds’ “April Showers.” looked forward to the bloom as she recommended “Mayflowers” by Ashley Monroe.

reminded me of a track I adore: “CEREBUS” by Biking with Francis, stating that “it sounds like flowers.”

brought in the classic tunes with “It Might As Well Be Spring” by Rodgers & Hammerstein (as a former drama kid, I get it completely!)

Springtime Chat

Songs that makes you feel empowered

I was in a bit of a mid-week slump, so I reached out to ask for songs of motivation. You all delivered on the assignment!

took me back to my adolescence with “Typical” by Mutemath. She also recommended “Spread Your Wings” by Queen and “Chasing Kites” by ionnalee.

also prompted nostalgia with the hit “Optimistic” by Sounds of Blackness.

referenced “Top Notch” by Z-Ro, acknowledging that it was a different change of pace from the rapper’s usual rhymes. “He raps so often about his losses that when he does finally rap about winning, it feel so earned…Song makes me feel taller fr,” Jones said in the chat.

And here’s a really fun one from 1965, courtesy of : “Wooly Bully” by Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs.

Empowerment Songs Chat

Songs about dancing (or that inspire you to dance)

I always have my dancing shoes on. I led the selection with “Sweetie” by Kokoroko (I’ve mentioned elsewhere that I’m planning to have a “Kokoroko summer” and you are welcome to join me).4 My second track was “Hate Dancin’” by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard.

reminded me of this gem from last year: “God Gave Me Feet for Dancing” by Ezra Collective featuring Yazmin Lacey. Always true to his platform , his second rec was the electric journey “Casino Danceteria” by Peter Gordon & Love of Life Orchestra.

also spoke my language with “My Love for You” by ESG…as I shared with her, this song always finds its way back to me!

hit the nail on the head with these two choices I love: “Modern Love” by David Bowie and “Wide Awake” by Parquet Courts. DJs, can we get a mix going with all of the aforementioned tracks?? I thank you in advance.

Dancing Shoes Chat

On repeat (again)

I’m imagining that Kylie Minogue was referring to the following earworms when she sang “Can’t Get You Out of My Head.” My song on repeat for the week in question was “Teach Me” by Reuben James.

was “completely obsessed” with “Messy” by Lola Young (honestly, same!)

teased excitement for “an imminent Lorde Summer.”

recently started his own record label and shared a couple of high-energy tracks that enveloped me with their groove.

For this prompt, I’ve made a playlist with the suggestions from both heavy rotation chats.

(Heavy Rotation on Apple Music)

Heavy Rotation Chat (Pt. 2)

Share something you’re proud of

Simply put, this community inspires me. I wanted to offer a moment for us to be seen and witness others in their authentic expression. Some of the mentioned achievements include:

Dr. Bob Beatty () worked on his magnum opus Play All Night for 30+ years, and it was the catalyst for his newsletter!

Long Live the ABB: Conversation from the Crossroads

Conversation from the Crossroads of Southern music, history, and culture from historian Dr. Bob Beatty, author of 'Play All Night! Duane Allman and the Journey to Fillmore East'

(who performs as mothershout) shared a new original song titled “Gravity,” with intimate details of the songwriting and recording process.

mothershout on substack

Gravity

There are two ways to start a project. You can begin with an idea, start working and see where it goes, or you can imagine the end result and figure out how to get there…

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a year ago · 2 likes · 1 comment · ben

made an awesome personal discovery regarding a musical offering from the past: “Roughly 15 years ago, I created guitar tabs for a song I loved but for which tabs did noy exist. Recently, I revisited those tabs and found they'd been favorited by a handful of others and had more than a thousand views. Just cool.”

collaborated with the band Twilight Gallery and created video artwork for their song “Drifting in America.”

"I'm proud of..." Chat

Your favorite album covers

I was reflecting on album art and specifically thought about repeating motifs in artwork. Namely, I was thinking about being submerged in water—as seen on Thundercat’s Drunk and Pale Jay’s Bewilderment (both of which are in my personal collection). So I solicited your thoughts on album covers you enjoyed.

took us to 1989 with De La Soul’s debut album 3 Feet High and Rising, noting how bold and colorful the artwork is. “it really matches the energy of the album too, which i always appreciate,” she said. (This editor personally loves the contrast between the colorful graphics and black-and-white photography).

With choices such as This is Our Music by Ornette Coleman Quartet and There’s A Riot Going On by Sly and the Family Stone, perfectly summed up why album art matters: “I've always thought that any album review should have at least a few sentences on the choices made for the album cover. It is part of the package, and thus should be considered holistically with the music.”5

picked Pink Floyd’s The Wall and his succinct quote says it all.

“Iconic. The stage show matched.”

Album Art Chat

Featured Submissions

Pride Edition

shared an original track titled “Drag Queen” and I have posted a screenshot of the poignant lyrics below. T.R.’s Bandcamp is also linked so you can check out more of his music (including the newest single “You & Me”)!

shared a beautiful essay regarding his coming out experience. This tagline he submitted definitely drew me in: “How the Bee Gees set the stage for my coming out story.”

Incidental Music

You Should Be Dancing

When I finally came out to my parents in my mid-20s, I did it by sending them a letter…

Read more

a year ago · 9 likes · Keith Bacon

My contribution is the queer Black futures playlist, featuring 25 songs from modern Black LGBTQ musicians across genres. There’s so many artists I could add here, so I expect to update this playlist over time.

(queer Black futures on Apple Music)

Black Music Month Edition

I’ll kick things off with my afropsychedelia video playlist series. Check out volumes 1 and 2 at the links below.

things i collected

afropsychedelia vol. 1

what is afropsychedelia? it’s the forward-thinking, mind-bending, likely possibly substance-induced, oft-hypnagogic, sometimes hallucinogenic sound of it all. it’s rock, funk, soul, R&B, jazz, and everything in between — it’s a perpetual groove that transcends genres and generations. this is my primary frequency of choice; if you get it, you get it…

Read more

2 years ago · 7 likes · Shanté

things i collected

afropsychedelia vol 2.

what is afropsychedelia? it’s the forward-thinking, mind-bending, likely possibly substance-induced, oft-hypnagogic, sometimes hallucinogenic sound of it all. it’s rock, funk, soul, R&B, jazz, and everything in between — it’s a perpetual groove that transcends genres and generations. this is my primary frequency of choice; if you get it, you get it…

Read more

a year ago · 11 likes · 2 comments · Shanté

shared a dance mix of his track “Stacy,” a modern reminder that electronic music is Black history!

offered the following regarding his inspired share: “It is both a celebration of a legendary genre bending artist (Prince) as well as highlighting the efforts of a burgeoning female artist to pay homage to his legacy.”

The Signifyin(g) Review

A Fitting Tribute to Prince's "Purple Rain"

Genia Crush…

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a year ago · 4 likes · 4 comments · J.D. Housley

, David Nathan, also graced the submission form with his presence and offered a few moments to dive into.

The British Ambassador Of Soul, David Nathan

A Jubilant Personal Appreciation of The Music of Aretha Franklin

(Backstage at Radio City Music Hall, New York City, October 2014, forty years after I saw Aretha at the same venue in the same month on my very first visit to America…

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3 years ago · 8 likes · The British Ambassador Of Soul

The British Ambassador Of Soul, David Nathan

BRITS LOVE CLASSIC SOUL!

I intended to write a new post this past Sunday. After seeing the ever-consistent Jean Carn perform at The Forge club in London on Friday (March 8th), I had an inkling of the subject for this latest post, focused on the reverence and respect that certain American artists get in the UK (and beyond) often not accorded them in quite the same way in the US…

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2 years ago · 6 likes · 3 comments · The British Ambassador Of Soul

The British Ambassador Of Soul, David Nathan

Nina Simone: Tellin' It...As Only A High Priestess (Of Soul) Could...

(David Nathan, 21, and Nina Simone, 33, at Trader Vic’s in London, 1969…

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3 years ago · 2 likes · 1 comment · The British Ambassador Of Soul

shared a series of playlists—everything from music for the revolution to soul ballads to modern R&B! Check out his website for more (once you’re there, click the featured images to access the additional playlists).

In memory of

Last but certainly not least, here’s a collection of flowers and eulogies for the ones we’ve recently lost. Condolences to their families and loved ones.

Ananda Lewis (1973-2025)

Look Ma, No Hands!

My Dear Friend Ananda

It’s been a strange week. Lots of ups and down. I got a call last week from an old friend I hadn’t talked to in years. We met when he was driving for Lyft and got into a conversation about music since he was a singer and I invited him to come through to my pad to jam. At the time I had just started my weekly music hang which was just called “Thursday night jam” being that it was on Thursday night. Not the most creative name, but it stuck. This was probably late 2015 or early 2016. We were a small crew that got together in my apartment living room and for two or three hours we would just PLAY. Anything went. It was a completely safe space to explore and be creative. I had just gotten back into playing my bass after a ten year hiatus and it felt so good to be playing with other folks while meeting new people. Being the consummate networker I am, I would tell anyone and everyone about our jam. Even folks that weren’t particularly musical, I would say “come through and just be a part of t…

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a year ago · 9 likes · 6 comments · B. Earl

Brian Wilson (1942-2025)

Today is June 20th, so happy birthday Brian!

Nate Spins Vinyl

5 to Remember Brian Wilson By

Born nearly 25 years after they originally formed in Hawthorne, California, I still love The Beach Boys. Heck, my eight-year-old son loves them. He was singing along to “Fun, Fun, Fun” as a toddler…

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a year ago · 19 likes · 18 comments · Nate Miller

The Honest Broker

Brian Wilson Is My Brick

I keep a brick on display in my home. Visitors are puzzled to see it, especially because it holds a place of honor…

Read more

a year ago · 769 likes · 140 comments · Ted Gioia

Sacha Jenkins (1971-2025)

Shatter the Standards

How Sacha Jenkins Rewrote the Culture

Sacha Jenkins never stopped treating hip-hop as a living, breathing neighborhood. From the moment he Xeroxed the first issue of Graphic Scenes & Xplicit Language in 1988, one of the earliest magazines devoted entirely to graffiti, he insisted that the people who create the culture should also be the ones who write, film, stage dive, and argue about it. …

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a year ago · 16 likes · Blackpolitan and Brandon O'Sullivan

Sly Stone (1943-2025)

The Mixtape

Rest in Funk, Sly Stone

Sly Stone died in LA during Black Music Month while there was a riot going on. He was 82…

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a year ago · 31 likes · 2 comments · Michael Elliott

Black Music and Black Muses

Abridged elegy for Sly Stone

The decomposing lullabies on Sly’s There’s a Riot Going On (1971) accomplish what I wish mumble rap would, if it could dismantle its nightclub ego; they stall and extend the resonance of an illegible confession of unconditional love. My backlash against cultural necromancy is not a backlash against grieving, but a way of encouraging a collective retreat…

Read more

a year ago · 96 likes · 5 comments · Harmony Holiday

I’m excited to introduce The Medley, a new feature for the directory newsletter that will serve as a community digest of sorts.1 With The Medley, I will offer updates regarding progress of the directory, as well as a curated roundup of posts from the community at-large.

At the time of publication, the directory is up to date! Over the last few weeks, I have added the Educators section to the webpage, featured 30+ new folks in the listings, and completed any pending maintenance requests. With my new streamlined process for updating the listings, I did not have to close the form between submission windows, so it remains open. I hope to keep it this way. To have your publication listed in the directory, click the “Join the Directory” link button below.

Join the Directory!

Currently, there’s over 1000 of us in this community! Thank you all for joining me on this ride. Since the subscriber count does not directly translate to the amount of people featured in the directory, let’s update the breakdown in numbers compared to the inaugural live directory announcement. To date, I’ve received over 250 submissions (give or take with respect to duplicate submissions). This equates to:

• 176 writers/journalists

• 100 reviewers/critics

• 91 playlist curators

• 80 musicians

• 76 historians/scholars/researchers

• 37 DJs/selectors

• 29 collectors

• 29 producers

• 28 composers

• 16 podcasters

• 11 educators

• 10 radio hosts

I think I’m sticking with these categories for the foreseeable future, but eventually, I hope to have a list of independent record shops featured on the site! All I need are three interested shops with newsletters to get the category going. Please comment if that’s you :)

Leave a comment

Now that our community has been established for some time, I recently opened up the chat feature for this publication. Read on for moments from our weekly chats.

Songs to describe your newsletters

The prompt: If you had to pick one song to describe your newsletter, what would it be and why?

Although no one mentioned the Carly Simon song linked below, the lyric “I bet you think this song is about you” seems fitting for the theme (hence the tagline for this post).

Here’s how I kicked off the chat discussion:

“I'll start: To pair with my newsletter , I'm going with “Things I Imagined” by Solange. I'm choosing this song because it is the opener for her 2019 album and listening to it feels like the unveiling of a dream. Similarly, starting my newsletter was the catalyst for so many creative opportunities to flourish for me.”

I also picked this song because of the similar title phrasing — if any music producers want to help me make a jingle for my newsletter in the vein of this song, holla at me!

Other community members cleverly picked songs that correlated with their newsletter’s name, some even being the direct inspiration for their chosen title. Such as:

• The name of Lori Christian’s newsletter is in reference to a 1979 song by Paul Collins’ Beat.

• Dan Harrison’s takes influence from a song of the same name by The Weakerthans.

• Kristin DeMarr’s very apt title, , recalls a song by Simple Minds.

I received quite a few poetic responses, like ’ answer for choosing “Strings of Light” by Yussef Kamaal.

“One hopes, the ad-hoc releases showers a string(s) of light.”

chose “Paprika” by Japanese Breakfast for a similarly thoughtful reason, noting that she almost named her newsletter after the track.

“The song is about the rush of creating music. “How’s it feel to be at the center of magic, to linger in tones and words?” My goal has been to convey the magic that I feel from the music I listen to in what I write (and the art of writing is a bit of a rush in and of itself).”

This is just a selection of the conversations that transpired and I made a playlist to commemorate this first chat. Check out the entire chat thread at the link below.

Newsletters as Songs Chat

Your Desert Island picks

The prompt: If you were stranded on a desert island and had limited access to music, which 3 artists would you want to listen to and why?

This is a fantasy question, so try not to overthink the logistics too much lol. Just keep in mind that you would have access to these artists' full discographies to keep you company (for what could be eternity). You can choose 3 artists or less, but not more.

I know, I know — I put everyone on the spot here! I got some really fun replies to this question and it allowed me to understand more of the ethos behind folks’ listening habits. The selections were varied, but here are some of the names that appeared more than once:

• Bob Dylan

• Bob Marley

• Stevie Wonder

• The Beatles

• Sade

Many of us were thinking in terms of how vast certain musicians’ discographies are, with deciding factors such as nostalgia and avoiding boredom. In addition to picking Nina Simone and Herbie Hancock, wisely opted for Leon Ware’s entire songbook, meaning she would have access to all of the hits he wrote for other artists. “They are part of my blueprint in becoming a musician,” Harris said. Well played!

Whose music would keep you company if you were stranded? Keep the convo going in the chat linked below.

Desert Island Chat

Favorite artists from your hometowns

The prompt: This is a chance to rep your city: name your favorite artist(s) from your hometown.

If you would prefer to broaden the inquiry by naming artists from your state/region/country, that's fine too! And if you identify more with your current residence than where you were born, feel free to pick that place instead.

I really enjoyed learning more about y’all with this question! Some of the locations mentioned are as follows:

• started us off strong with two talented ladies from The DMV area: Rico Nasty & Ari Lennox.

• Meanwhile, represented for Portland, Oregon, entering esperanza spalding and MAE.SUN into the chat.

• took us to Berlin with World Brain (she noted that the artist himself is French, which was allowed :))

• showed up for Philly! She wavered between Japanese Breakfast and Spirit of The Beehive as her favorite artists from the city, before ultimately deciding on Mannequin Pussy (to which I replied “OF COURSE!”)

• recalled a valuable crew of artists from his hometown (and made it look easy as he typed his response during halftime of a women’s basketball game):

  “Representing Queens, NY, and its abundance of musical riches: Run DMc, LL Cool J, and all of Hollis hip-hop; the Ramones; Walter Becker of Steely Dan; Cyndi Lauper; Paul Simon and Mr. Garfunkel; Louis Armstrong, and a whole bunch of other jazz greats to this day; Gene Simmons of Kiss (not responsible for content); the Vagrants with Leslie West; Al Kooper and the rest of the Blues Project; the Cleftones; Jay Black and the Americans, after Jay left Brooklyn; Scott Ian from Anthrax; and from the local neighborhood, the Fleshtones; Johnny Thunders from Astoria; that’s just off the top of my head at halftime of LSU-UCLA women’s hoops.”

Now’s your chance to tell the community about your hometown heroes by clicking the following button.

Hometown Heroes Chat

On Repeat: Music in your heavy rotation

The prompt: What new releases are on repeat for you right now? It could be a song/album that dropped within the last few months or music that's new to YOU.

I plan on making this a playlist in the future. More to come on that later.

In the meantime:

• I explained that SAYA by Saya Gray remains in my heavy rotation because “I listened to this album so much upon release and now it randomly plays on repeat in my mind.”

• shared the track by “Stars” by Fright Years from this past October (following this rec, I listened to their recent EP and thoroughly enjoyed it).

• picked his album of the week, Arp Frique’s The Gospel Of Jesamy. I replied that this funky gospel record seemed like my kind of vibe, which proved to be true!

And so many of you mentioned artists that are in my current listening queue, as well as musicians I hadn’t heard of but look forward to checking out. Perhaps you’ll find your new favorite song in last week’s chat.

Heavy Rotation Chat

Degrees of Separation

Before we wrap up this medley, I’ve rounded up a few posts that I recently read to create a music chain. Think of the “six degrees of separation” concept, where these reads are linked by what they have in common (in way less than six degrees). Hope you like it!

First up: continues his imaginative “Life Told Through Rap” series with a focus on the design element of color, with respect to Jamie xx’s album In Colour…

John Noire

Life Told Through Rap - In Colour

Author’s note: This is a work of fiction. The only thing real about this story is the music…

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a year ago · 10 likes · 4 comments · John Noire

offers another intriguing color story, with keen insight on cover art for 2025 albums captured in black & white. One of which is Pink Siifu’s BLACK’Antique…

The Art of Cover Art

2025 is Black and White

The Art of Cover Art is and will continue to be a free resource for all readers. If you have the means this month, consider upgrading to a paid subscription to support my work. A small donation to my ongoing coffee fund is also always appreciated. Happy reading…

Read more

a year ago · 50 likes · 7 comments · Rachel Cabitt

Myles of reunites with Pink Siifu to discuss his most recent album, as well as where he’s going and where he’s been creatively…

Occasionally Outside

“I Got So Much More”: A Conversation With Pink Siifu

There is no facade to Pink Siifu. No ventriloquistic figure pulling strings. No machine behind the man. Matter of fact, he is the machine — the writer, rapper, vocalist, sometimes producer, always world-builder…

Read more

a year ago · 16 likes · Myles

spotlights the music of a recent Pink Siifu collaborator, Atlanta’s very own Vayda. Rhapsody traces Vayda’s roots from musical engineer to modern rap phenom…

Rhapsology

Vayda

Happy April! A new month means I spotlight a new artist on my website, Rhapsology. I’ve decided to start sharing them directly here on Substack, as well. You can read the article on my website by clicking this link…

Read more

a year ago · 12 likes · 9 comments · Rhapsody

compiles a compelling narrative around female-centric production, including standout times where women sampled other women….

is thoughtfully dedicated to women in music, with a new list of offerings from women we love…

Herizon Music: The Newsletter

New Music From Women We Love, April 2025

We’re back! This issue spotlights new releases from trailblazers and rising stars as a follow-up to last week’s list. Gotta keep the length of each issue digestible, as my mother so astutely reminded me…

Read more

a year ago · 22 likes · 4 comments · Thea Wood

recently concluded a stellar four-part series for Women’s History Month, covering a wide range of musicians and genres…

Zapato's Jam: Music without Borders

Women’s History Month: Part I

From classical and jazz, to rock and metal, women have played a bigger role than our “official” musical histories would have you believe. Some of the major stars of the 1920's and ‘30’s were women, but after the Second World War they were retro-actively erased from official accounts of the time. Many of them were members of ethnic minorities, which just…

Read more

a year ago · 7 likes · 6 comments · Charles in San Francisco

Whereas provides a nuanced perspective on one of the most recognized women in music, Beyoncé…

The Coldest Truth

Identity Consumption

There are two Beyonces. There is Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter, the artist, entrepreneur, mother, wife, and student of history. We do not know this woman, but we think we do. Then there is Beyoncé. Deliberately singular. The conglomerate, the Beyonce that is an identity crafted from the hands of songwriters, poets, artists, historians, musicians, finan…

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a year ago · 3 likes · 2 comments · Carmelia

Meanwhile, ’s most recent “Now Playing” feature pays respect to a few talented women who have had decade-spanning careers…

Music as Literature with Nielly

Now Playing: Better Late Than Never

Mar. 29 - Apr. 05…

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a year ago · 3 likes · Nielly

A relative music newbie, reminds us of the beauty of outsider music and explores music making through the lens of a beginner as she created an album of her own…

The Museum of Small and Important Things

Let's Make an Album

I always thought it would be cool to release an album. I’m inspired by the DIY nature and story of artist h hunt’s 2016 album “Playing Piano for Dad,” which he originally recorded as a Christmas gift for his dad. It’s cozily underproduced, so you get to hear receipts of the artist making the song, like false starts and deep breaths. In all of its handma…

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a year ago · 88 likes · 15 comments · Allie Sullberg

Then, reflects on the power of independent music tastemaking, featuring a shout out to The Music Directory and this project’s ability to “curate the curators”…

emwhitenoise

The next generation of independent music tastemakers

There's a counter-movement brewing against algorithmic music discovery…

Read more

a year ago · 117 likes · 34 comments · Emily White

It goes without saying that excels at curating the curators, with the Herb Sundays series that explores well-crafted playlists from various cool folks in music and culture…

Herb Sundays

Herb Sundays 146: Panda Bear

Herb Sundays 146: Panda Bear…

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a year ago · 42 likes · 8 comments · Sam Valenti IV

Herb Sundays

Herb Sundays 148: DāM-FunK

Herb Sundays 148: DāM-FunK…

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a year ago · 20 likes · 7 comments · Sam Valenti IV

Speaking of cool folks, recenters the love of curation as a personal practice by talking with fellow music lovers about organizing their online music libraries…

emma withers says new music!

How to organise an online music library. Part 1: Gabbie from New Bands for Old Heads

I like things to be organised. My books are sorted perfectly by fiction and non-fiction and then the authors last name. I have a hard drive full of films organised by directors name, movie title and year. Even my clothes are organised by colour, but when it comes to having an effective system for keeping track of my music it’s a little chaotic. I decided to ask a few people, who I know are listening to a huge amount of music on a daily basis, how they keep track of it. Is it based on genre, vibe, albums? Everyone is doing it differently, and using the systems that work best for them, and for the most part no one has it totally figured out, but they all have helpful tips and insights to share, so over the next few months I’m going to be sharing those with you…

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a year ago · 43 likes · Emma Withers

Last, but certainly not least, ’s latest curation upholds music and archival work as an everlasting conversation with one’s ancestry (familial, artistic, or otherwise).

The World of Dust-to-Digital

The Music Always Around Us

In his new book of vintage, music-related postcards, Hal Rammel cites Walt Whitman’s “The Music Always Around Me” as a key inspiration. The poem, which surveys the musical landscape that Whitman witnessed during his mid-1800’s travels, begins by describing the “music always round” him as “unceasin…

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a year ago · 35 likes · Dust-to-Digital and Lance Ledbetter

I hope you’ve enjoyed this chat dispatch and curation of posts! The weekly chats are initiated each Wednesday afternoon (Eastern Standard Time). I look forward to catching y’all in the next one. As always, I’ll leave you with some tunes.

The Music Directory is submission-based! Please check out the submission form to be featured in any of the listed categories.

• “The Blue Music Reviews is a music journal for the genre agnostic — a place where critical listening and dedicated fandom collide. The name comes from a lyric in Talking Heads’ “Once in a Lifetime” — an ode to genre-bending music. I started this project to think through the music that moves me — the sounds that linger, provoke, confuse, or comfort — and to distill that emotional noise into something legible. With a background in popular music studies, aesthetics, and cultural theory, I bring an academic lens to the work — but I write like the fan I am: focused, curious, and forever spiraling into the next sonic rabbit hole. Whether it’s sad girl pop or experimental rock, ambient drone or indie folk, I’m less interested in categorizing music than in understanding what it feels like and why.”

• see also: Writer/Journalist, Playlist Curator, Reviewer/Critic, Historian/Scholar/Researcher

the blue music reviews

Celebrating music old and new, bright and blue.

By theblue

Brian Gardner writes

• “My substack is a combination of jazz instruction, especially about improvisation, and musical commentary.”

• This educator also wants the class to know: “I've been a jazz musician and teacher for over 50 years. I've also written and published books and articles on other topics, which may come up as I settle in to this form of publishing.”

• see also: Musician, Composer, Writer/Journalist

Life is like Jazz

Life is lived like an improvised solo. I write about music, especially jazz, and other thoughts when they have merit.

By Brian Gardner

Charlotte Botterill writes

• “The purpose of my page is to demystify the composition process. I give detailed breakdowns of how I composed existing pieces alongside realtime updates on projects which I am currently working on. My aim is to take the fear out of starting a large scale project, to give strategies to cope with feeling overwhelmed by said project, and to talk honestly about the challenges as well as the successes. I will also share my sources of inspiration.”

• This educator also wants the class to know: “My work has appeared in five publications and has been performed internationally. I also work as a piano and music tutor. I love travelling and take a lot of inspiration from my trips.”

• See also: Composer

How The Page Got Its Dots

Demystifying the composition process and building a creative community

By Charlotte

Charyn Harris writes

• “I provide a mix of vlogs and blogs about music culture called Deep Cut Masterclass, aiming to highlight those who have been largely under-represented in larger circles. As a musician starting my career in NYC in the early 1980’s, there was no social media and some videos are hard to find. I’m hoping I can share a slice of life as someone who was fortunate enough to be either in the room or adjacent.”

• This educator also wants the class to know: “I am also in artist management and a Professor/course designer of music industry studies.”

• see also: Podcaster, Musician

Tha Soul Shed W/ Charyn Harris

A community for musicians and music lovers to discover, create , connect & express

• “Cue Burn is your insider look at the people, the culture, and the industry that keep vinyl spinning. Each month we take a deeper look at the most relevant stories from around the vinyl record industry, and publish exclusive interviews with key figures shaping the discourse around vinyl.
  
  In the world of records, “cue burn” is the telltale crackle that comes from a track that’s been played over and over. It’s a mark of love, use, and real-life music history etched into vinyl. That’s the spirit that Cue Burn draws from, capturing the ideas, stories, and shifts shaping vinyl today. Whether you’re spinning, pressing, or selling records, Cue Burn is your monthly hit of insight from the world of vinyl.”

• These educators also want the class to know: “Cue Burn is your essential newsletter for the vinyl record industry, brought to you by the Vinyl Alliance team.”

• see also: Writer/Journalist, Historian/Scholar/Researcher

Cue Burn

Your essential newsletter for the vinyl record industry, brought to you by the Vinyl Alliance. Stay informed with the latest insights. Plus interviews with leading vinyl voices.

Eric Pan writes

• Evergreen music-imagination adventures — plus scenes from life as a touring, recording, trans-disciplinary artist — flown to your postbox pronto 🌮

• This educator also wants the class to know: "I’d love to introduce the Piano Liberation Workshop: teaching improvisation to students of all levels, even from scratch <3"

• See also: Composer, Musician

Campfire Sparks

Evergreen music-imagination adventures — plus scenes from life as a touring/recording artist — flown to your postbox pronto 🌮

By Eric Pan

• “Where Black music and culture converge in a groove-infused haven, dive in for bold perspectives, archived interviews, and the stories shaping tomorrow’s sound. Join us and be part of the conversation—because the future of music is already here.”

• This educator also wants the class to know: “At its core, GROAVEN is a thriving, community-driven hub that blends culture, innovation, and soulful storytelling. If you love fresh discoveries, forward-thinking editorial, never-be-seen interviews/commentary, and rich perspectives on everything from hip-hop to R&B (and beyond), become part of a groove-infused haven dedicated to Black music's excellence, history, and bright future.”

• see also: Historian/Scholar/Researcher

GROAVEN

Where Black music and culture converge in a groove-infused haven, dive in for bold perspectives, archived interviews, and the stories shaping tomorrow’s sound.

• “Exploring the best of electronic music from the past and present. Ongoing monthly installment shares forward thinking music from a range of genres, focusing on producers who sit outside the mainstream spotlight.”

• This educator also wants the class to know: “I also publish album reviews and reflections.”

• see also: Writer/Journalist, DJ/Selector, Reviewer/Critic, Historian/Scholar/Researcher

Jack Wild

Jack Wild is a New Zealand born Melbourne based dance music enthusiast. Unrestricted by genre, he has a passion for digging deep to find forward-thinking records.

James Bridge writes

• “Formally releasing polished music is wonderful but can be overwhelming. With Notes Unfolding I've given myself the freedom to share iterations of original music without the pressure of that lofty end goal. It's also a space for reflection on the creative process, often presented as food-for-thought for fellow musicians.”

• This educator also wants the class to know: “Experiential educator, one-time piano instructor.”

• See also: Musician

Notes Unfolding

The idea itself is the creation

By James Bridge

Jon Tanners writes

• “Applied Science is my attempt to cull a lifetime and listening and nearly 15 years of experience working as a manager, A&R, and writer into a usable insights for anyone trying to navigate the treacherous waters of the music business.”

• This educator also wants the class to know: “I wrote for Pigeons and Planes for half a decade. I manage artists and producers who've won Grammy's, racked up billions of streams independently, and made some of the most influential records of the last decade. I am proudest of the beef bourguignon I make for my family every Christmas, but I am also very proud that I have been able to survive in a very strange, often quite terrible business for a decade plus. I am just trying to leave the music business less shitty than I found it.”

• see also: Writer/Journalist, Collector

Applied Science

One guy's experiment in thinking and writing about the music business.

By Jon Tanners

Joseph writes

• “a bi-weekly digest of reviews, interviews, and special features dedicated to experimental and instrumental music.”

• see also: Writer/Journalist, Musician, DJ/Selector, Reviewer/Critic, Historian/Scholar/Researcher, Collector, Podcaster

a closer listen

a bi-weekly round up of writing on experimental music

Ken writes

• “I write specifically about Canadian artists and music of the 80s. My purpose is to provoke some nostalgia for a song you haven’t heard in a while or to introduce you to an artist that is new to you.”

• see also: Playlist Curator, Historian/Scholar/Researcher

Maple Mixtape

Are you nostalgic for CanCon music of the 80s? Yeah, us too! 🇨🇦

By Maple Mixtape 🇨🇦

Kim Hankins writes

• “I am a professional chamber + orchestral musician and a trauma-informed yoga teacher interested in musicians wellness. My substack offers wellness ideas for musicians to explore, monthly free meditation sessions, and personal anecdotes about my own wellness journey. As musicians, we are often asked to push past our limits and sacrifice ourselves for our art. I hope my readers recognize their strength in doing the opposite, feel empowered to prioritize their wellness, and advocate for themselves and their music communities.”

• This educator also wants the class to know: “I’ve been a featured Yoga for Musicians teacher at conferences, music festivals, and universities. I have also appeared as a guest speaker on musicians wellness issues on various podcasts, conferences, and universities. I am glad to see that times are changing and more musicians wellness resources are becoming available to students and professionals! You can learn more about me at: alignedmusician.com”

• see also: Writer/Journalist, Musician, Playlist Curator, Composer, Podcaster

Aligned Musician

I help you prioritize yourself, your wellness, and your musicianship by sharing practice strategies, ways to avoid injury, musician-accessible movement classes, musicians wellness, and so much more. Subscribe and lets move, breathe, and meditate together!

By Dr. Kim Hankins

lucie nezri writes

• “a bi-weekly newsletter on experimental music composition, lightly punctuated with personal stories and bad jokes. sometimes, the newsletter dives deep into the work of a specific composer/artist, and sometimes, it just highlights great music to listen to.”

• this educator also wants the class to know: “my writing is imbued with my experience as a composer/research, and a womxn with a diverse background.”

• see also: Playlist Curator, Reviewer/Critic, Composer, Historian/Scholar/Researcher, Musician

dis ce que

train of thoughts on experimental music composition, analysis & much more

By lucie nezri

• “Magical Dancefloors describes dancefloors that enchant us. These are places where relationships blossom, barriers break, healing happens, dancers come to know (or forget) themselves or their pasts, and that inspire us to imagine new futures and dream new dreams.”

• This educator also wants the class to know: “Former journalist for Bloomberg News and AOL who loves a good dance marathon of 6+ hours.”

• see also: Writer/Journalist, DJ/Selector, Reviewer/Critic, Historian/Scholar/Researcher

Magical Dancefloors

Obsessive writing about dancefloors by a former Bloomberg News journalist.

Marc Barnacle writes

• “A free publication that explores the impact of music in disability, dementia, and mental health settings. I also share experiences and lessons learned as a music charity founder, company director and full-time musician - including how I turned my own passions into a sustainable career. My aim is to inspire others to build confidence, express their creativity, and launch meaningful projects or businesses of their own.”

• This educator also wants the class to know: “Me and my charities aim is to highlight the many therapeutic benefits that music participation has, for people of all, ages, abilities and backgrounds - but with a particular focus within disability, dementia & mental health. Any help to support this cause is greatly appreciated!”

• see also: Musician, Composer

Creative Confidence

A free publication from a music charity founder. Exploring the impact of music in disability, dementia, and mental health settings.

By Marc Barnacle

Marcela Hofman writes

• “A personal essay about how a VHS tape handed to an 11-year-old in 1991 sparked a lifelong love for Pink Floyd, a love that wove itself through language learning, grief, tattoos, and eventually, a son.”

• This educator also wants the class to know: “Brewed Beginnings is my brand new space for essays, poetry, and observations that don’t fit neatly anywhere else. I am a Brazilian-Dutch lecturer, metalhead, and Pink Floydian living in the Netherlands, and I write between personal memoir, cultural criticism, and the occasional research detour — from music and personal accounts to sport and media.”

• see also: Writer/Journalist, Historian/Scholar/Researcher

Brewed Beginnings

Between teaching and meetings, between one country and another, between gigs and motherhood - this is where these words live. Essays, research detours, amateur poetry, and observations I couldn't keep to myself.

By Marcela Hofman

Marcos López Larsen writes

• “I support guitarists who already play but feel they don’t really know music in building freedom through improvisation and the fundamentals of musical language. Thirty years spent trapped in shapes, fingerings, and classical training support this path. The primary language of my newsletter is Spanish (I’m from Argentina), but I’m considering writing in English as well once I validate the content and the structural format.”

• This educator also wants the class to know: “I speak about things I’m also going through myself. From Guitar to Music is an almost initiatory journey for me. It’s not about methods, schools, or textbook exercises; it’s about sharing processes of guitar exploration within a community, sharing real experience and craft, and meeting people who share the passion for learning music—especially the guitar—in the sense of *speaking* music: being able to improvise and to understand, by ear, what is happening in musical language.”

• see also: Composer, Musician

De la Guitarra a la Música

Un camino de-construcción musical para guitarristas autodidactas o de formación clásica. Lo conceptualizado, lo escuchado y lo gestualizado se encuentran en lo visualizado.

Por Marcos Lopez Larsen

Mark Ruffin writes

• “My Jazz Life is all about deep-dive reviews and sharp reflections on the pivotal moments connecting jazz, travel, and cultural perseverance. Be part of a community of people who share your interests.”

• see also: Writer/Journalist, Playlist Curator, DJ/Selector, Producer, Reviewer/Critic, Historian/Scholar/Researcher, Collector, Radio Host

My Jazz Life

The essential Substack from two-time Emmy-winner Mark Ruffin. No-frills stories from decades on the mic and the page. Exclusive scoops, deep-dive reviews, and sharp reflections on the pivotal moments connecting jazz, travel, and cultural perseverance.

By Mark Ruffin

Michael DeMarco writes

• Keeping Score on Substack

  • The Business of Live Music & Performing Arts

  • Plus, a curated mix of behind-the-scenes stories, sharp perspectives on music, performance, and live entertainment

  • Backstage Pass: A 12-part series on becoming & succeeding as a music talent agent

  • Profiles of conductors, composers, and performers that impact my life in music

• “I keep score in several ways. On a macro level, with writings about the live music industry and performing arts trends. Micro, with profiles of shows my company, Celebrity Direct Inc. produces, and more literally about the score itself… the orchestral instructions given by the composer, what happened at the premiere performance and if conductors today are keeping the composer’s intentions preserved.”

• This educator also wants the class to know: “As a CEO, Music Agent, Conductor & Music Business Instructor, I bring a unique combination of experiences together. Whether through University-Level Courses, Guest Lecture Talks, or Academic Writing, I enjoy developing practical solutions for music business challenges and performing arts administration effectiveness.”

• see also: Writer/Journalist, Musician, Producer

Keeping Score

Mastery is revealed through the lens of music, giving you tools to use in your life and work. Through my analysis of the live music business, from composers to rock stars, each deep dive exposes the forces behind exceptional success.

By Michael DeMarco

Michael Johnson writes

• “Music and the musicians that devote their lives to creating it.”

• see also: Musician, Producer, Composer

Frequencies

Music and the musicians that devote their lives to creating it

By Michael Johnson

Mr Figaro writes

• “Your friendly guide to classical music on a Saturday morning without the fancy jargon or stuffy attitude. Discover amazing pieces, learn what makes them special, and find your way into a world of classical music that's been waiting for you all along—no tuxedo required.”

• This educator also wants the class to know: “Each newsletter delivers hand-picked classical music recommendations with the stories behind them, insider listening tips from a former opera singer, and the perfect recordings to start with. Whether you're classical-curious or already a fan, I'll help you discover music you'll love without the intimidation factor. Come explore everything from Bach to modern composers in bite-sized, enjoyable formats that fit your everyday life.”

• see also: Musician, Playlist Curator

Who's afraid of classical music?

Your friendly guide on a Saturday morning to falling in love with classical music, minus the stuffiness and intimidation.

By Mr Figaro

• “The mechanics and philosophy of modern music. Professional production workflows and high-level creative insights from an award-winning musician, producer and SAE Senior Lecturer.”

• see also: Musician, Producer, Composer

The Music Factory with Dave Johnston

The mechanics and philosophy of modern music. Professional production workflows and high-level creative insights from an award-winning musician, producer and SAE Senior Lecturer.

By Dave Johnston, DMA

Oliver Picken writes

• “According to Making Music, over 228,000 music makers take part in nearly 4,000 leisure-time music organisations across the UK. In a world where people’s time and attention are precious commodities, these people choose to devote a set period of time per week to music-making, for they know the positive, life-affirming joy that it brings them. My newsletter is all about celebrating the act of recreational and leisure-time music making and is aimed at music educators, leisure-time players and aspiring conductors. However, everyone is welcome and if you believe in the power of music in your local community then I think you will like the posts I have in store for 2025! Thank you for reading!”

• see also: Writer/Journalist, Historian/Scholar/Researcher, Composer, Musician

Picking Up The Baton

A Companion and Community for Music Educators, Leisure-Time Music Enjoyers and Aspiring Conductors.

By Oliver Picken

• “All things music and creativity, including how to release your music on Substack.”

• see also: Writer/Journalist, Musician, Producer, Composer

Release Your Song

Everything about writing and releasing songs.

By Jeff “H” Harrington

• “I’m a 40-something electronic musician getting started later in life. My goal is to share practical advice to help people begin to create their own music quickly and inexpensively while sharing my own compositions.”

• see also: Musician, Producer, Composer

RomHead Creative Technologies

Join us on our quest to prove that making music doesn't have to cost a fortune. We'll share the wins and losses as we navigate through the minefield.

By RomHeadTech

Sal Treppiedi writes

• “My goal is to bring music to the ears of as many people as possible. Through my newsletters, my radio show and my classroom, I hope to bring the wonders of discovery to more and more people.”

• This educator also wants the class to know: “My show, Sounds From The Superhighway, airs Wednesdays from 2-5pm Mountain Time with a replay on Saturdays from 4-7pm MT at kupr.org. My tag line is “Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, and, DEFINITELY, the Blues.”

• see also: Writer/Journalist, Reviewer/Critic, Collector, Radio Host

  Sounds From The Superhighway

  I host a radio show called "Sounds From The Superhighway" at www.kupr.org every Wednesday from 2-5pm MT. The show's stage line is "Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, and, Definitely, The Blues." Hope you get a chance to tune in.

Sam writes

• “New Favorite Album helps music lovers refine their taste with quick reviews from a Gen-Z lens. Every week, you'll receive 2 or more ALBUM REVIEWS with a score out of 10. Every Thursday, you'll receive a NEWSLETTER sharing ALL my favorites releases within the past week + my most anticipated music for the next week. This page is designed to save you hours of time stuck replaying the same songs, while building a never-ending library of modern music history.”

• This educator also wants the class to know: “It's brand new, it's here to stay, and it's completely FREE this summer!”

• See also: Writer/Journalist, Playlist Curator, Reviewer/Critic

New Favorite Album

Helping my friends (you) discover your music taste every week.

By Sam

• “A touring musician’s honest, psychologically grounded take on life in the music industry. Unfiltered explores creative sustainability, mental health, perfectionism, identity, and the emotional realities of building a long-term career in music. Blending real tour stories with thoughtful reflection, it’s for musicians who care about their craft and want to build careers that are not just successful, but sustainable.”

• This educator also wants the class to know: “Diversity and inclusion are deeply important to me, both in music and in life. I believe the music industry is strongest when it reflects the full range of human experience — across gender, race, sexuality, age, culture, ability, and background. I’m committed to contributing to spaces that are equitable, respectful, and safe, and to amplifying voices that have historically been overlooked. Representation isn’t a trend; it’s essential to building a music community where everyone has the opportunity to be seen, heard, and valued.”

• see also: Writer/Journalist, Musician

Unfiltered by Vanessa McGowan

Essays by a Kiwi bass player touring out of Nashville. Exploring identity, mental health, and what it takes to build a sustainable creative life in music.