Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Beat.
Music Healed Me
I am not sure how to start this because I know the word "clout" has been thrown around lately for lots of people that write about the boys. I have been a fan of the South Korean group BTS since 2013. They were a big part of my world back then, and they continue to be till this day. For six years, BTS was by my side helping me.
How to Write a Song...
Something I get asked as a songwriter ALL the time is: 'How do you write a song?!' Non-writers are FASCINATED by this process, but writers also ask me this question a lot, because there's always something we can be sharing and learning from one another. Something I do regularly is breakdown the latest pop song I love, and see what the chord progressions are... listen to a review of a track to see how it was made (e.g. Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You" supersmash writing process was SO easy, but still had a process!) and it MAJORLY impacts my writing. You’ll also hopefully see that writing isn’t as daunting as it sometimes seems; it can actually be fun and easy!
J.Cole, the Hip-Hop Prophet
After releasing his debut mixtape The Come Up in 2007, Jermaine Cole has been an active artist in the Hip-Hop industry. In 2010, Cole had one of his songs peak in the top 100 songs on billboard.com. Since then J. Cole has had forty other songs that have experienced success over the last couple of years. As the Hip-Hop industry continues to experience unexpected changes, J.Cole has been showing fans he will never switch up.
Igor Album Review (Part 1)
Opening Remarks When I initially read the preface of the album, Tyler the Creator stated that he didn’t want any of the listeners coming in with preconceived notions before the album's release. But before I even pressed play, I had some thoughts coming in. With the name Igor, I came in thinking that the album would have a sort of old, haunted Transylvania or Notre Dame feeling. Something that wasn’t completely ode to the time period, but allowed you to see connections between the overall aesthetic of the two. I also came in perceiving the choice of beats to be grungier and more raw than that of Flower Boy. Seeing that the character Igor is quote, unquote ugly on surface level. But I also was expecting the lyrics and chorus to be comparatively lighter, seeing that Igor has an ugly exterior, but a heart of gold. As beats are generally the aspect of music, that is perceived as the surface, and choruses or lyrics are the deeper and more cognitive elements of all songs.
Release RewindPublished 5 years ago in Beat13 Things to Consider Before Dissing on Taylor Swift
There's about a trillion people out there that are die-hard Swift fans, but we all know those individuals that are just not impressed. Maybe you don't like her music, maybe you just don't like her, but before you start dissing, take a look at these 13 things you should consider first.
Steven WalkerPublished 5 years ago in BeatTalk of the Town
I've spent the past eight years of my life chasing a dream around the world of playing professional basketball. A dream that has taken me to all different countries, places, and environments. From Kenosha, Wisconsin, to Vladivostok, Russia, and all kinds of places in between. I was an unlikely candidate to become a professional player, to begin with, at 16 years old, standing five foot, four inches, and less than 100 pounds. But like the beginning stages of any great dream, I always felt like I had a chance.
Jimmy GavinPublished 5 years ago in BeatI Just Graduated, so Naturally, I Have to Make a Throwback Playlist
2005, the year I began Kindergarten. The first and final year of nap-times in class. Two of the biggest songs of 2005 are "Gold Digger" by Kanye West and "Pon De Replay" by Rihanna. Both of these songs were huge in my life. Rihanna’s Music of The Sun CD was the first CD I ever bought. Even if I bought it from my sister with $20 I begged my mother for. My siblings and I would throw dance parties in our living room to these songs, and we all knew every word. (To the clean versions, of course!)
NCT 127 - ‘We Are Superhuman’ EP Review
In case you’ve been living under a rock, NCT 127 are quietly taking over the world. Through futuristic soundscapes and a refreshing idiosyncrasy that is rare in today’s music, the ten member group—Taeil, Johnny, Taeyong, Yuta, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Winwin, Jungwoo, Mark, Haechan—are starting to break through into the mainstream of all corners of the world, with no signs to suggest any slowing down.
Nathan SartainPublished 5 years ago in Beat'Yew Trees (The Mixes)' by Giant Glove
Anglo-Japanese sound scientists Giant Glove collaborate with Bred Pudding Collective (BPC) to bring us an EP of remixes of their track "Yew Trees."
Paul ConneallyPublished 5 years ago in BeatHappy 78th Birthday to Bob Dylan!
Bob Dylan, the God of Folk and the Voice of a Generation was born on this day in the early 1940s. Now, I love Bob Dylan and this whole article is just going to be one long birthday message to my favourite singer and songwriter, my favourite guitar player, my favourite person, my favourite legend, and undoubtedly, my favourite musician, artist, and performer of all time.
Annie KapurPublished 5 years ago in Beat"One Small Voice" Review
While watching the movie Elmopalooza with my little sister, I cannot help but partially think of it as revisiting some songs from my earlier youth. Several minutes after I debate on whether I should feel ashamed for liking the Jimmy Buffett version of "Caribbean Amphibian" as much as I do, I feel pride as I am reintroduced to the song that is the subject of this article: the Kenny Loggins version of "One Small Voice."
Monique StarPublished 5 years ago in Beat- Top Story - May 2019
The Beaches 'The Professional' - Review
If the name The Beaches does not ring a bell for you, it’s time to take some notes. This group of young adults from the tattered suburbs of Ontario have been breaking necks worldwide with their sprightly alternative rock n’ roll since their 2017 debut LP Late Show. The group’s dusty shoe laces reach back much further than that, though, being active local favorites since 2013. Consisting of vocalist/bassist Jordan Miller, guitarist Kylie Miller, guitarist/keyboardist Leandra Earl, and drummer Eliza Enman-McDaniel, The Beaches have been dropping hits and famous jaws (including that of Sir Elton John) like it’s going out of style. And with their May 2019 EP release The Professional, I can assure you, it’s not.