Music and Us

I chose each of these examples because they show how music can be a reflection of a culture's identity, whether through traditional instruments and rituals or through modern styles that still carry that cultural spirit. I also just like them all and think they sound cool and unique in their own ways.

Belarus, Europe – Molchat Doma (Modern)

    Molchat Doma is a band from Belarus, Their music draws from Soviet-era post-punk and new wave with influences from bands like Joy Division and The Cure. What I think is really cool about their sound is how cold and distant it feels but while also being weirdly emotional and hypnotic. Even though it’s modern, it feels like a time capsule from the 80s. I chose them because they are a different kind of European sound that doesn’t get much attention in mainstream music today, especially not from Western Europe.

 

 

Jamaica, Caribbean – Reggae (Traditional & Modern)

    Reggae music is one of Jamaica's most well known and popular cultural exports and it is closely tied to the islands history, identity and even political movements. Bob Marley is the most iconic reggae artist but there are so many others who shaped and continue to shape the genre like Peter Tosh and Chronixx. What I love about reggae is how rhythm heavy it is using the offbeat “skank” or "ska stroke" guitar stroke and deep basslines that give it a laid back head nodding feel. Even when the lyrics are serious or revolutionary the music feels calming. I chose reggae because its a perfect example of how traditional Caribbean rhythms evolved into a globally recognizable genre.

 

 

South Korea, Asia – Rap/Hip-Hop (Modern)

    A lot of people think of K-pop when they think of Korean music but Korea also has a huge underground rap scene. Artists like BewhY, Jay Park, and iKON bring a harder and more lyrical aspect to Korean hip-hop usually combining traditional Korean sounds/themes into modern beats. BewhY especially stands out for mixing spirituality and social commentary with aggressive delivery and complex rhyme schemes. What’s cool is that even if you don’t understand Korean, the emotion and rhythm still hits. I chose Korean rap to show that there’s more to Asian pop culture than idols and bubblegum beats, there’s real grit and talent in the rap scene too.

 

 

Japan, Asia – Traditional & Modern Fusion

    Japan has one of the most fascinating musical cultures to me so I couldn’t pick just one example I had to include some other artists I love. On the traditional side, you have instruments like the koto which is a 13-stringed zither and the shakuhachi which is a bamboo flute usually used in meditative or ceremonial music. This kind of music feels timeless and deeply tied to nature and spirituality which has a really chill and calming feel to it that I love. 

 

On the other hand, modern Japanese music is crazy and wildly diverse. Babymetal is a band that combines J-pop idol energy with heavy metal that is heavily inspired by Metallica. They made their first debut self titled album "Babymetal" in 2015 at ages 14, 14, and 16 quickly going viral. They have done a lot of huge collabs with popular massive artists such as American artists like Poppy, Lil Uzi Vert, and Tom Morello (co founder of Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, and Prophets of Rage) as well as others like British band Bring Me the Horizon, Indian metal band Bloodywood, and German group Electric Callboy. They have some absolutely insane live performances that are super high energy. They sound different but I love their unique and fun energetic sound. 

 

The next artist I love is Creepy Nuts which is a rap duo that mixes smooth jazz style production with clever Japanese wordplay making for an incredibly unique sound. They made intro songs for a couple anime that immediately hit number one on the billboard japan hot 100. I absolutely cant get enough and listen to them all the time. 

 

I chose Japan because I’ve always been fascinated by how it blends the old with the ultra-modern in a way that still feels authentic and meaningful and I love Japanese culture and history.

 

    This blog was fun to me because I enjoyed picking out songs that I already liked and getting to yap about them. What stood out to me the most was how even the most modern music still carries the cultural DNA of the places it comes from whether its in the language, the instruments, the rhythms, or the themes. Music really does help us understand and feel connected to other cultures, and I think that’s what makes it so powerful.