Journal

The waltz is one of classical music’s most recognisable dances, yet its story is more complex than its graceful turns and lilting three-beat rhythm suggest. It…

Classic rock guitar is built from recognisable voices. A single bend, chord shape, rhythmic figure or carefully chosen effect can identify a player before the…

The early years of the new millennium marked a turning point for guitar-driven melodies, bedroom production, and the kind of earnest lyricism that major labels…

Walking into a bar in Newtown on a Friday night, you might catch the same song played twice in different styles, and neither version feels accidental. Jamaican…

The first months of parenthood often arrive wrapped in wonder and exhaustion, and caregivers in cities from Sydney to Perth regularly swap stories about…

Electronic dance music has always borrowed freely from the world around it, yet the last decade has seen a striking acceleration in this exchange. The familiar…

Country music has always treated the song as a small, vivid piece of lived experience. A railway town, a family kitchen, a lonely highway or a crowded bar can…

Jazz changes character after dark. The sharp edges of a busy day soften, leaving room for brushed drums, warm trumpet tones, walking bass and unhurried piano…

Music discovery becomes far more rewarding when genres are treated as connected neighbourhoods rather than sealed-off categories. A country guitar can lead to…

Some songs become bigger than the bands that recorded them. Their opening guitar riffs, unforgettable choruses and restless lyrics attach themselves to school…