Archive: 2025/03
African Music Influences: How the 1970s Shaped Global Sound
In the 1970s, African artists fused funk, soul, and jazz with traditional rhythms to create afrobeat, juju, soukous, and mbaqanga-sounds that reshaped global music. Fela Kuti, Manu Dibango, and the Mahotella Queens led a revolution that still echoes in today’s hits.
Country Record Labels: RCA, Columbia, and How They Defined the Country Sound
RCA and Columbia Records shaped country music in opposite but equally vital ways-Columbia captured its raw roots, while RCA built the polished Nashville Sound that took it national. Their legacy still defines the genre today.
How 1990s Music Videos Became Essential Marketing for Every Artist
In the 1990s, music videos stopped being extras and became the backbone of artist marketing. MTV drove sales, directors became brand builders, and hip-hop turned fashion into culture. No video meant no career.
Cro-Mags' The Age of Quarrel: The Album That Defined Crossover Thrash
Cro-Mags' 1986 debut album 'The Age of Quarrel' fused hardcore punk and thrash metal to create crossover thrash, becoming one of the most influential records in punk and metal history. Its raw energy, street-level lyrics, and relentless riffs still inspire bands today.
1990s Synthesizers and Workstations: Triton, JD-800, and Studio Standards
The Roland JD-800 and Korg Triton defined 1990s electronic music with their unique sounds and workflows. The JD-800 offered hands-on control and warm digital tones, while the Triton brought full workstation power. Both remain studio standards today.
The Role of the Producer: Guiding Artists and Sound in the 1970s
In the 1970s, film producers were visionaries who shaped cinema by backing unknown talent, working with tiny budgets, and fighting for creative control. This was the last era where one person could make a classic film - and win an Oscar for it.
Seattle’s 1990s Live Venues That Shaped the Grunge Sound
Seattle’s 1990s grunge venues were raw, cramped, and unpolished-exactly why the music sounded so powerful. From the Central Saloon to the Paramount, these spaces shaped Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden’s sound. Many are gone, but those still standing are sacred ground.
Boz Scaggs' Silk Degrees: The Definitive Soft Rock Masterpiece of the 1970s
Boz Scaggs' 1976 album Silk Degrees defined the LA sound with smooth vocals, jazz-infused grooves, and flawless production. A five-times platinum masterpiece that still sounds timeless today.
Producers Behind 1980s Glam Metal: How Gloss, Grit, and Radio Hooks Built a Sound That Dominated the Charts
Discover how producers like Mutt Lange shaped the glossy, gritty sound of 1980s glam metal with layered guitars, stacked vocals, and radio-ready hooks that dominated the charts-and still influence music today.
Rush's Technical Complexity: How Canadian Prog Rock Mastered Innovation
Rush combined technical mastery with mainstream appeal, turning complex time signatures and intricate instrumentation into chart-topping rock anthems that still influence musicians today.
How Soft Rock Shaped Modern Pop Music with Quiet Sophistication
Soft rock’s quiet sophistication shaped modern pop through emotional restraint, jazz-influenced chords, and warm production. Artists like Carole King and Gordon Lightfoot laid the groundwork for today’s indie pop and singer-songwriter movement.
Steel Guitar in 1970s Country: Licks, Tones, and Emotional Pull
The pedal steel guitar defined 1970s country music with its crying tones, emotional licks, and Nashville 9th tuning. From Buddy Emmons to Neil Young, it turned heartbreak into sound.