Read These 5 Music Blogs and Impress Your Friends
Welcome to Blog Profiles! Each week, we select a topic and handful of blogs that do a great job contributing to the conversation. Have you had the same music on your playlist since 2012? This is your intervention. This is the week we break that cycle and expose you to new genres through music blogs. Do you have a blog that deserves recognition? Tweet our writers at @BeyondBylines.
In a world dominated by subscription-based music platforms like Spotify, Pandora, and YouTube Music, our exposure to new music is calculated by an algorithm based on our habits. While a brilliant tool, we are slowly becoming slaves to predictive analytics. This lack of discovery can negatively impact your brain. Hearing new music creates new neural pathways in your brain, but where do we even begin?
Fear not, for we have compiled this list of five music blogs to help you step out of your comfort zone and regain your freedom! Give these blogs a try. You just might be a hero at your next awkward house party.
1. K-pop – EnVi Media
What is it? What started out as an NCT fansite has blossomed into an authority on all things K-media. To the modern-day Koreaboo, K-pop is a lifestyle. Envimediaco has stayed true to its roots; it’s managed by fans, for fans.
Why you should read it: It’s extremely trendy. If WFH has left you feeling out of the loop, this will help.
You may have heard of BLACKPINK, whether you are familiar with this genre or not. Here is a recent announcement about this girl quartet to get your feet wet.
The feature on TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT) highlights the hype and drama of the boy band’s successful year of touring, and it is so captivating that if you are not a fan of them, you might become one within five minutes.
It is also worth mentioning that the site features a great deal of artist diversity and inclusion. See the Formation page for proof.
Follow @envimediaco on Twitter.
In an exclusive interview, Tiger JK gets candid about his celebrity crush behind “POV,” fighting for respect abroad, and working with SEVENTEEN’s Hoshi. Explore the rapper and CEO’s artistic vision by @chyandblack.@DrunkenTigerJK @gHoodmusic_ #TigerJKhttps://t.co/IF2K7qIBGF
— EnVi Media (@envimediaco) August 14, 2022
2. New-Age Soul – The Blues Project
What is it? This is a curated musical gallery of new sounds from up-and-coming artists. You can discover new music, watch exclusive behind-the-scenes videos, and add upcoming events to your calendar.
Why you should read it: The main mission is to support Black talent and give them a platform to help them achieve the recognition and appreciation they deserve. The blog also covers festivals and hosts events to create a community, which is the best customer retention tool. If you’re in London, there might be an upcoming JÓ event (it’s Yoruba for dance!) to check out. They showcase some extremely talented artists, and the atmosphere feels like a house party with good vibes all around.
The recent feature on Maxi Millz is inspiring and refreshing. We often find in mainstream media an abundance of superficial messages of money, fame, and romantic conquest grossly minimized by sophomoric lyrics and unimaginative chord progressions. Millz unveils the emotional depth and influence behind his story in the commentary.
This year, there has been a song to fit every mood. If you don’t care for tracks of the week, The Blues Project has filtered through everything for you and highlighted the best R&B/Soul tracks of this year (so far). There’s something unique about each one, and the multifaceted analyses will justify your new obsession.
Follow @bluesproject_co on Twitter.
🚨 FLO PIXTAPE 🚨
We sat down with the most exciting group of 2022 @flolikethis for our latest PIXTAPE 🔥
Get to know these R&B girls fast-becoming icons, hear the story of #FLO. Plus their fave music picks
🔔Premiering on YT Sunday. Get notified👇https://t.co/uqBypZTk2t pic.twitter.com/UGS7n88XGd
— The Blues Project (@bluesproject_co) September 16, 2022
3. Lofi – Widen Island
What is it? Over the last decade, the sounds of muffled rainstorms, warped piano melodies, and chill beats have gained quite the cult following. It’s called lofi, and it’s the perfect auditory wallpaper. On Widen Island, you can find curated lofi playlists, listen to its own station or others, and even submit your own lofi music.
Why you should read it: Most music blogs focus on news and giving artists exposure, but this one goes the extra mile and even gives advice on how to, for example, curate your own Spotify playlists if you’re interested in becoming an influencer.
Have you ever wondered how to create your own 24/7 radio station on YouTube? How is Lofi Girl from YouTube so successful when all she does is study with her cat 24 hours a day? Widen Island has cracked the code.
Follow @widen_island on Instagram.
4. Classical – Alex Ross: The Rest is Noise
What is it? Author and critic Alex Ross of The New Yorker shares cerebral musings of classical music in a more academic format. This is very much a classical musician’s blog. Ross dives deep into composition, history, and opinion. It’s excellent material if you desire to become more involved in the arts or develop more of an appreciation for music in general.
Why you should read it: What stands out about Ross’s commentary is that it isn’t so focused on SEO, marketing, or merchandise, but rather thoughtful prose on Street Symphony’s rendition of Bach’s Cantata No. 82, their humbling backstories, ominous neoclassical excerpts of Anna Korsun, and a very interesting connection between theoretical physics and improvisation in classical music.
Ross is not on social media, but he was a recent guest on Alec Baldwin’s podcast “Here’s The Thing.” Have a listen if his content intrigues you.
5. Indie – Obscure Sound
What is it? If Billboard or Rolling Stone were underground, this would be it. The blog features all genres, the dreamy, abstract album art you crave, and a plethora of artist interviews. Plus, the blog takes submissions (it’s very selective, though – only 6.6% of submissions have been approved).
Why you should read it: This is perfect if you are looking for music that’s created by those who truly encapsulate the meaning of the word “artist.” As mentioned before, the staff behind Obscure Sound are extremely picky about the content they share from submissions, so these are not songs that you would find on Billboard’s Top 40.
The interview with Bel-la is so descriptively and eloquently written, and this is the type of voice you can expect to encounter throughout the blog. They appreciate her for her artistry and ask meaningful questions about her vision, inspiration, and creative process.
If you feel like you were born in the wrong decade, read the highlight about “Monsoon” by Astral Orange. Many indie artists tend to borrow from classic rock; after all, it’s dubbed classic for a reason. Obscure Sound explains it well.
There is a subgenre within indie music called shoegaze. Obscure Sound has selected “Where Do We Go?” by Reals as a worthy introduction and explains which auditory factors fit the quality of said subgenre.
Follow @ObscureSound on Twitter.
Wowing with its hooky, synth-fronted psych-pop sound, “Monsoon” is a standout new track from Astral Orange. The track’s beginnings arose in 2020 on a retreat in a Northern Arizona cabin. https://t.co/BBS5xnRJ1y
— Obscure Sound (@ObscureSound) September 22, 2022
P.S. Ever wonder how we come up with ideas for our blog profiles? Our handy list of industries and subjects on PR Newswire for Journalists stays top of mind. If you’re a blogger or journalist looking for music news, let us know. We can customize a newsfeed for you.
Logan Tierno is a Customer Content Specialist for PR Newswire and contributor to Beyond Bylines. She sits at the forefront of press release distribution and works with clients on increasing engagement and providing editorial support. You can find her off-duty doing yoga, engaging in some sort of artistic endeavor, or relaxing with her family.
