Aretha Franklin defined soul music and the nooks and crannies of her power were as impressive as her peaks
Category archives: Music Features
Aretha Franklin’s Ghostwriter on the Singer’s Enduring Mysteries
Biographer David Ritz tells the story of the five years he spent with Aretha, getting to know the famously guarded Queen of Soul and trying to understand the pain behind her genius
How Mitski Became the Cowboy
Her songwriting voice has been building up to this moment for years
Song You Need to Know: Frontierer, ‘Gower St.’
Bonkers Scottish band ups the art-hardcore ante
Why More Pop Songwriters Are Stepping Into the Spotlight
In a highly competitive singles economy, writers like Benny Blanco and Andrew Watt “are reaching for credit where they may not have before” — and getting it
Crack the Sky: The Strange Survival Story of the Best U.S. Prog Band You’ve Never Heard
They wowed critics and toured with Frank Zappa but never quite broke through. How “The Beatles of Baltimore” are getting a second chance more than 40 years after their acclaimed debut
Slash Speaks! Inside the Guns N’ Roses Reunion and His New Album
The guitarist gives his first extensive interview on reuniting with GNR and explains why he’s not quitting his solo career
How Big Boi’s ‘All Night’ Became 2018’s Most Improbable Hit
An Apple sync, a rogue radio programmer and a committed promotions expert helped a year-old song from a legendary 43-year-old rapper climb up the charts
The Last Temptation
At 76, Otis Williams is the only remaining member from the legendary Motown group’s golden-era lineup. What keeps him out on the road year after year?
The 25 Best ABBA Songs, Ranked
With the Swedish pop group reuniting in the studio to record their first new songs together in over 35 years — and Cher’s impending tribute album — we reconsider the hits, the flops, the deep cuts and the fan faves