The undeniable link Japan has held with Reggae for the last several decades may seem quite unlikely to those of us who haven't noticed. So trying to figure out how the lineage actually emerged probably requires a full subscription to the musical version of Ancestry.com. On the contrary, a simple search on Japan, and the genre's godfather returns a clear delineation of when, where and how it all began.

I recently stumbled upon an artist whose talent caught my attention immediately. A little digging and several google searches in, I was becoming a bit disappointed that I coudn't find any information about Ella Jefro. Not one to give up, I decided to go directly to the source. This is Ella's story...

In 1997, keyboardist Rick Wakeman left Yes (again) after being displeased with promotional strategies regarding the Keys to Ascension albums and the lack of communication with Yes management. As a result, some tour dates were canceled. Billy Sherwood, who had been mixing the studio tracks on Keys to Ascension 2, decided to come in and help since he wanted Yes to keep on going. He had known bassist Chris Squire since the late 1980s, and was considered as a potential replacement for vocalist Jon Anderson prior to 1991s Union. Though Anderson's voice replaced Sherwood's on "The More We Live-Let Go," Sherwood's bass playing remained intact. In 1992, he had toured with Squire as part of The Chris Squire Experiment (with Alan White on drums). And in 1994, Sherwood performed with Yes at their shows on the Talk Tour. Plus, in 1995, he sang "Wonderous Stories" on the tribute album Tales from Yesterday. So he wasn't a musician who came from nowhere; he was very familiar with Yes music and had worked with Yes members.

Since streaming became the new norm, overtaking CD sales and now paid downloads of artists' music, it’s now become more evident how streaming and music playlists are actually hurting artists and devaluing who's behind the music.

Disclaimer: this list does not intend to bash on the beauty, talents, and charms of the members. All the members are beautiful, talented and essential for the group. Although, there is normally one member that stands out in beauty for fitting the Korean beauty standards best, there are occasions where another member's beauty stand out, since the concept, outfit, or makeup style fits that member better for that comeback. Also, each comeback takes about eight months to a year (on average), so by the time they make a comeback, the members have grown older and their looks have matured.

“I always told myself I’d get to Nashville,” Brooke White sings on the eponymous track off her upcoming album, Calico. The former American Idol alum had dreamed of moving to Nashville her entire career to make a “real” country album, but life had other plans. Those plans included becoming the mother of two, starting her own web series, The Girls With Glasses. It was through this journey, along with a little bit of opportunity coming her way, that Brooke embraced her Cali lifestyle, and incorporated it into her music.

American Horror Story is back, and Season 9 of Ryan Murphy's FX anthology series is taking viewers back in time to 1984. Fans couldn't be more excited about the show going retro with its references to 80s slasher flicks like Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street, and, judging from the series' new opening credits, AHS: 1984 is going to feature an awesome soundtrack.

Premiering on September 5, and with already 25+ million views, the "Old Town Road" top-charting artist Lil Nas X released the much-anticipated video for his song, "Panini."

Welcome to "Friday's Five at 5," a series of blog posts which inform you of the best up-and-coming independent artists of right now. This series will reveal some of the most talented musicians in your local area, most of whom are extremely underrated and unfortunately unknown, despite their copious amounts of talent.

My name is Kate Pavli, and I am a Rock artist called Finding Kate based in London. I moved to London when I was just 17 to pursue my career in music, and along the way I have experienced a lot within the music industry.

I'm 43 years old, and I don't hate "Old Town Road." Repeatedly, I have been told by people my age, and just a little younger, that I am supposed to hate "Old Town Road." Why? Some cite how it combines genres that they assume don't belong together, country and hip hop, or because the song is overly repetitive and meaningless. Some cite the fact that the song features the oft-derided, and rightfully demeaned, Billy Ray Cyrus as a reason the song should be dismissed out of hand.

Lists of top ten guitarists published by large music magazines or major TV broadcasters are, frankly, dull. Sure, they list musicians who are undeniably, immensely talented and are worshipped everywhere, but it’s always the same people on the lists. They are more predictable than a MOR 1980’s hair rock riff. A change is as good as a holiday. Alternatively, in this instance, it might provide you with some new amazing guitarists you may never have come across before and definitely should check out.

In 1997, keyboardist Rick Wakeman left Yes (again) after being displeased with promotional strategies regarding the Keys to Ascension albums and the lack of communication with Yes management. As a result, some tour dates were canceled. Billy Sherwood, who had been mixing the studio tracks on Keys to Ascension 2, decided to come in and help since he wanted Yes to keep on going. He had known bassist Chris Squire since the late 1980s, and was considered as a potential replacement for vocalist Jon Anderson prior to 1991s Union. Though Anderson's voice replaced Sherwood's on "The More We Live-Let Go," Sherwood's bass playing remained intact. In 1992, he had toured with Squire as part of The Chris Squire Experiment (with Alan White on drums). And in 1994, Sherwood performed with Yes at their shows on the Talk Tour. Plus, in 1995, he sang "Wonderous Stories" on the tribute album Tales from Yesterday. So he wasn't a musician who came from nowhere; he was very familiar with Yes music and had worked with Yes members.

“I always told myself I’d get to Nashville,” Brooke White sings on the eponymous track off her upcoming album, Calico. The former American Idol alum had dreamed of moving to Nashville her entire career to make a “real” country album, but life had other plans. Those plans included becoming the mother of two, starting her own web series, The Girls With Glasses. It was through this journey, along with a little bit of opportunity coming her way, that Brooke embraced her Cali lifestyle, and incorporated it into her music.

Firstly, this website seems to have had a large update so we'll see how making this article goes. Secondly, I don't dislike or find any song on this album disinteresting (I don't think I do anyway, opinions change). Also, it's been fairly difficult to rank the lower half of this album, so even more than usual it doesn't mean much. I'm pretty certain about the top end though!

I am ICT-Makavenna, a young Hispanic female rapper doing experimental and inspirational music, and I host my music on SoundCloud at the moment. Interesting tidbit about me: I am part Salvadorian, part Mexican, and part German. I began really making music last summer when I was 13 years old. The first song I recorded was called "I’m Real." It was about me being real, but surrounded by so many fake people. It was about some issues I dealt with in middle school. After a year, I believe I am growing slowly with my music and my fan base. The type of music that I am working on at the moment I call experimental hip hop, inspiration rap. Of course, I make music that is fun and that I enjoy. But I am moved by so many songs and genres from so many different times in the history of music. I am inspired to make music that relates to society, that motivate my generation, and that give a point of view from a young teen Hispanic female growing up in America, including the struggles, trails and positive changes, achievements and influences.

The Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS), originally called the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBSQSA) first began on a rooftop on April 11, 1938. It started with 26 men, and eventually grew to a society of thousands spreading across the globe. Since the start of SPEBSQSA, the Society has been male driven. And not just male driven, but white male driven.

Where you find a love for music, there will always be a party in the making. The painting, The Concert (1623), by Gerrit van Honthorst (1592–1656), depicts an informal social scene where people gather to drink and enjoy music together that comes alive with illumination and warm tones. The party is open to the viewer as if he or she could step in and join. The merriment the performance holds for the five musicians gathered around a table and three listeners can be felt as one examines this painting. The musical ensemble in The Concert is an English mixed consort (Wheelock). There are both men and women seated around a table, singing and playing music with various instruments. From left to right, there is a bass viol, a violin, a bandora, and a lute. Those performing are dressed in theatrical outfits painted in bright, stunning colors. The women are also wearing elaborate headdresses. The musicians sing and play from partbooks as they are instructed by the concertmaster in red on the left, who is playing the bass viol and directing with his bow (Wheelock). The maestro urges focus, but the joyous quartet is having a pleasant time. The Concert by Gerrit van Honthorst is a genre painting depicting five musical performers and three bystanders; the scene is filled with a harmony between the performers and listeners that is directed by the concertmaster.

There are way too many bands out there that sound the same, but are on the front page of Kerrang magazines, on all the commercialised rock and metal websites, and print media, but how many bands that don't shout inaudible noise into a mic for four minutes that has no emotional and musical depth do you actually know of?

Ever since I watched The Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964, I knew exactly what I wanted to do and be in Life. A Musician, a Songwriter, a Performer. Little did I know how long and hard the road would be. I started banging on pots, pans, cardboard boxes or on anything that sounded like a drum. Whenever a song title, idea or concept seeped into my mind, I wrote it down on paper, napkins, or even scraps of paper, whatever I could find. As a boy of 13 or 14, I remember having shoeboxes filled with scraps of papers with song titles I came up with. One day, my grammar school buddies and I got together to do our first music jam. I had just bought a snare drum, while my friends played on acoustic guitars. We would listen to records by our favs: The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, The Who, The Kinks, The Dave Clark 5, The Hollies, The British Invasion groups, The Zombies, The Animals, The Yardbirds, Santana, The Bee Gees, The Young Rascals. Then we moved on to more elaborate groups and artists: Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Bob Dylan, Jeff Beck, The Doors, Simon & Garfunkel, and in between, all of the Motown artists, along with so many Musicians, Songwriters and Artists that it is impossible to list them all.

I've known Undecided for quite some time. Their name is easy to remember and they've got an active channel and Instagram account. Sometimes, when I'd see them in my feed, I'd like their posts, watch some videos of theirs, and then proceed to play their music on repeat.

Disclaimer: this list does not intend to bash on the beauty, talents, and charms of the members. All the members are beautiful, talented and essential for the group. Although, there is normally one member that stands out in beauty for fitting the Korean beauty standards best, there are occasions where another member's beauty stand out, since the concept, outfit, or makeup style fits that member better for that comeback. Also, each comeback takes about eight months to a year (on average), so by the time they make a comeback, the members have grown older and their looks have matured.

"The 27 Club" is a group of famous people who have died at the age of 27. The causes of death can range from unknown to overdose and suicide. This phenomenon started on January 17, 1892, with the death of Alexandre Levy. He was a composer, pianist, and conductor, and his death was of unknown causes. Experts do say that younger people who are famous have a higher risk of dying young, but that does not limit the age of death to 27. The reason younger celebrities are at higher risk of dying young is that they are more likely to take part in risky behaviors (driving fast, smoking, drinking, and doing drugs). This group has been the subject of movies, magazines articles, novels, several exhibitions, and stage plays.

Disclaimer!!!! This list is not intended to bash ITZY. It is just to state how closely they fit to being the most beautiful girl in each comeback. Although there is a visual in each group, a lot of the times, there is one member that usually stands out more than the rest of members; even if they are not the visual.

AJ Croce may not get as much publicity as his legend father, Jim, did, but he’s certainly deserving. The singer, songwriter, and pianist extraordinaire took his talents to City Winery in Chicago. It was a chance to not only see his show, but to check out this most unusual Windy City spot.

I’m a massive Ariana Grande latecomer. For a while I was quite a pop culture snob, slating most of the top 40, reality TV, and the crappier talent shows. For context, I just started watching Keeping Up with the Kardashians two weeks ago (from the very beginning, and yes I love it), and when watching Gemma Collins: Diva Forever I have to ask my housemates for context about every 30 seconds.

In my opinion, Tori Kelly is one of the most underrated artists in the music industry today. With an unmistakable voice that hits you right through the heart, she is one of the most talented artists I have ever seen. In an exclusive London show at the end of July, 890 fans filled the beautiful Islington Assembly Hall on a rainy Tuesday night. A small stage made up of mainly guitars, and an old school sofa placed at the rear, made the perfect setting for "The Acoustic Sessions." Entering the stage first, Mateus Asato, Kelly’s long-time guitarist, who picked up his Suhr and got the crowd going instantly. And then, with no introduction needed, Tori Kelly steps out with her long, blonde curls, iconic as ever, and a pale pink jumpsuit that suits her personality perfectly. Picking up her guitar, she starts the show with “Language,” a song from her new album, Inspired by True Events before slipping straight into “Nobody Love” from her debut album Unbreakable Smile—which instantly makes you realise how packed the hall is, when a sea of voices sing their hearts out alongside her.

INTRO:

Jay-Z and Beyoncé (THE CARTERS) handled their number two slot on the Billboard 200 chart last year with their release, EverythingisLove (2018) with grace. Nicki Minaj launched into a temper tantrum when her fourth studio album Queen (2018) failed to make the number one spot, and so did DJ Khaled. Arguably the most annoying voice in hip hop, the DJ and producer recorded a video expressing his distaste for “mysterious sh–t.” By coming in the top ten, one would think that a recording artist would be satisfied with their own efforts. Regardless of whether the listening individuals actually stream or buy the physical copies of Khaled’s work, he should be proud that he organized so many voices to make a solid album.

Since today most of the work is done using a computer, music is a good way to diversify routine work. But the question remains the same: can music affect our productivity?

I recently stumbled upon an artist whose talent caught my attention immediately. A little digging and several google searches in, I was becoming a bit disappointed that I coudn't find any information about Ella Jefro. Not one to give up, I decided to go directly to the source. This is Ella's story...

The pop music world is always evolving, and it explores some unique, interesting ideas. Max Fischer is an emerging songwriter and singer that thrives in the world of pop music because it gives in something unique, rewarding but also dense and a whole lot of fun. Being able to express yourself through music is something that should never be taken for granted, and Max Fischer shows that right off the bat through some really fantastic lyrics and interesting ideas.

The end of August means the beginning of September, and the beginning of many new things; new school years, a new season, the nights become darker and longer and colder as the leaves begin to fall from the trees. So it makes sense that this should also be a time for new artists, new music, to emerge and keep our souls warm in the coming months, and that is exactly what new Drum n' Bass producer ’Terror’ is doing for us…

As with any new thing, musicians and the music they play has often been met with ridicule and adversity in their wake. Many, many famous people took a stand to the form of art that was their own, against all the naysayers, and made not just a career, but a lifestyle with the inspiration and drive of their own imagination.

In 1968, a band from San Francisco might have just started a genre of music that today, millions of people around the world love—heavy metal!

THE CREOLE COWBOYS

One of the most frightening things for musicians putting their music out in the world is… well… putting music out into a world full of people, some of whom are of the mind that music should be free for everyone to use without a thought of paying the musicians who create the music.

I've been singing ever since I could remember. When I was happy, I'd sing. When I was sad, I'd sing. When I was lonely, I'd sing. I never got formal training from a private teacher, but I did get training through music class and choir. My music teachers have been amazing and an integral part of my development as a musician. I've sang with a few choir teachers and professors, and I've learned so much about my voice, and what I can do with it. Something that wasn't always talked about, however, was vocal health.

The right record deal can determine your path to music industry success. Knowing how to sell your music can be as important as knowing how to create music. For instance, many a famous talented musician has suffered later in their careers because of selling too cheaply, or outright giving up rights to their music.

What kind of musician are you? Are you the person who comes home from doing whatever you do, and you play your guitar as a way to decompress from the day? Or are you the person who wakes up and picks up the guitar, and spends every waking second working to become the best guitar player in their area? Maybe you're a little bit of both—who knows? But one thing that I know for sure is that there is something about your playing you want to improve.

So you want to play piano. But before you can even begin to consider notes and rhythm and squiggly lines that give you migraines, you must first find an instrument to play on.

With advancing technology, more sophisticated musical instruments became possible, and during the 20th century, peaking in the ‘60s and ‘70s, the electric guitar became an institution for musicians and a battlefield of competition among the great guitar players of the era. From Les Paul to Page and Hendrix the explosive possibilities of electric guitar reached their full potential.

We all have that one artist that sticks with us as we grow older. For me, that artist is KISS (I know... look at me now). The neat thing about having them be my childhood artist is that, I look at the way they've impacted my taste on music, and how listening to them got me into so much other music early on. Listening to what my dad listened to really helped me expand my own musical horizons. Now, not everyone gets the chance to listen to as much music as I did growing up. However, it's never too late to start listening to music you've never even heard before. Here are three reasons you should definitely go on Spotify, and just find something to listen to.

Texas is known to do everything bigger and better. They have big hair, big servings of food, and big personalities. Some big music artists have come out of the state of Texas. A Texas solar powered stadium easily fills up when these artists come to town. These are the top 5 artists to come from the state of Texas.

It is all around us. Sometimes it is in our faces and other times in is buried in the background. It gets us moving and keeps us entertained. Music is a bigger part of our lives than we may realize. That is why we are sharing with you today this list of the ways in which music enriches us.

Since streaming became the new norm, overtaking CD sales and now paid downloads of artists' music, it’s now become more evident how streaming and music playlists are actually hurting artists and devaluing who's behind the music.

American Horror Story is back, and Season 9 of Ryan Murphy's FX anthology series is taking viewers back in time to 1984. Fans couldn't be more excited about the show going retro with its references to 80s slasher flicks like Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street, and, judging from the series' new opening credits, AHS: 1984 is going to feature an awesome soundtrack.

As any holiday season approaches, the piles of music to listen to grow exponentially and so do the chances of some great music just slipping by for no other reason than there is too much of it. The first reaction of any music fan is to go for the music they are somehow familiar with, something they know they will love, like a lavish reissue of one of their favourites.

If you ask someone what music they like, they might easily answer “anything but country.”

In recent years, music has almost experienced a paradigm shift. From the 50s to 2016, rock was the zeitgeist of music, from the Beatles to rock infused pop music (ie. Elton John and others). It was in 2016 that it was officially announced that tastes have shifted from rock to hip hop, a departure that was, while a necessary one, a surprise all the same. Kurt Cobain himself said in a 90s interview that he believed besides punk rock, the most important genre of music was hip hop and rap. This was the first time in music we had seen a genre born of a racial minority gain a status such as this. Radio waves became saturated with rap music, especially with artists such as Drake infusing pop and rap, exploding to super stardom, idolized in the same way the rockers of the 70s were. This departure is a cultural marvel, as well as a musical one.

Robert Massimi.

"No, I can't do it, I can't sing." That is a phrase that irks me every time. Every. Single. Time. In reality, there is a small percentage that actually can't sing, and it's usually due to physical damage. That part of the population I'll exclude from this.

Join Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons on their tours around the world. Their music is an instantaneous hit that meets the ears!

The musical output that John Coltrane produced in his lifetime is staggering, especially, considering that the saxophone player and composer’s life was cut short by liver cancer at the age of forty.