Music analysis: Inside the world of Japan’s genre-blurring duo Ziproom
Sometimes you don’t need to understand the language of a song to catch your attention when the flow and vibes are just right, writes Music News Blitz’s Victoria Bruwer.
Kobe-based hip-hop duo, Ziproom, has quietly built a devoted following by making music that feels more like an atmosphere than a performance.
Music analysis: Why fans are finally wearing earplugs to concerts
Whether it’s for Harry Styles at Wembley or this summer's biggest festivals, earplugs have become one of live music's most unexpected accessories as fans discover they don't have to sacrifice their hearing to enjoy the show.
With festival season in full swing and BTS preparing to return to UK stages, plenty of fans are adding a pair to their concert bags, writes Music News Blitz’s Zinhle Radebe.
Music analysis: Highvyn's IN BETWEEN is worth getting lost in
Highvyn is an alternative pop secret that is becoming increasingly difficult to keep, writes Music News Blitz's Victoria Bruwer.
With more than 205,000 monthly Spotify listeners, millions of streams across his catalogue and a growing international audience, the Korean American alternative pop artist is quickly becoming one of those names that keeps quietly appearing on playlists before suddenly becoming impossible to ignore.
Charli XCX past, present and future: New album and movie on the horizon
After Charli XCX's success with Brat, a new era is beginning, and she is showing no signs of slowing down, writes Music News Blitz's Madeline Rhodes.
Dominating the pop music scene with her Brat (2024) album, which brought her three Grammy Awards and five Brit Awards, there's no doubt that fans are excited to hear new music from the global artist.
Away from music, Charli is continuing to build her acting career with the release of her mockumentary, The Moment (2026), in February, featuring Rachel Sennott, Jamie Demetriou and Kylie Jenner.
Music analysis: Where to start listening to classical piano pieces
Do you have an interest in classical music but don’t know where to start listening?
Here are Music News Blitz writer Moe Ikeda’s recommendations of classical music from two perspectives: arrangements and legendary pianists.
Music analysis: Gemini's KNIGHT is a reminder that kR&B deserves your attention
There is something unfortunate about watching an artist quietly reach new creative heights while the rest of the music world barely seems to notice, writes Music News Blitz writer Victoria Bruwer.
Some artists don't need to chase trends to make an impact. They quietly build a catalogue of music that speaks for itself, attracting listeners through consistency, authenticity and a sound that feels impossible to replicate.
Music analysis: A look at Don Toliver’s Octane era - energetic, but immersive
Don Toliver, real name Caleb Zachary Toliver, has amassed quite the fan base since his first album Donny Womack released in 2018.
The album caught the eye of pop rap star Travis Scott which landed him a record deal with Cactus Jack Records.
Octane, from Houston Texas, has given Don Toliver his first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 charts, writes Music News Blitz’s Madeline Rhodes.
Music analysis: A look at PinkPantheress’ sampling talent
PinkPantheress is a bedroom pop artist who loves to blend sounds from electronic, drum and bass, R&B, alternative pop and UK garage genres, along with many more.
The singer rose to stardom in 2020 by uploading short snippets to TikTok of music she’d created on GarageBand from her university dorm room.
Music News Blitz’s Madeline Rhodes takes a closer look at PinkPantheress’ use of genre blending and sampling.
Music analysis: Lola Young is more than “Messy”
At a time when authenticity has become a marketing strategy, Lola Young has built a career on something far riskier: telling the truth before she's finished living it.
There are plenty of pop stars who spend years polishing away every rough edge before the world ever sees them. Lola Young has built her career by leaving them in.
When she returned to London's O2 Academy Brixton this summer after a months-long hiatus from live performance, there was no dramatic comeback speech waiting for the crowd.
There was no attempt to rewrite the previous year or package it into an inspirational story.
She simply looked across the room and admitted, "I've missed this so much."
It was a small moment, but it said everything, writes Music News Blitz’s Zinhle Radebe.
Did music videos matter more when we were younger - or do they just matter less now?
When I was younger I used to think a song wasn’t complete until I’d seen the music video, writes Music News Blitz’s Fatima Aziz.
The video wasn’t just an add-on, it was the version of the song that stuck.
You didn’t just hear it, you saw it.
You knew the outfits, the storyline, the exact moment the chorus hit because something dramatic happened on screen.
The song and the video became inseparable.
Music analysis: Is opening for a stadium tour the fastest way to become a star?
As touring remains one of the music industry's most powerful promotional tools, Music News Blitz's Jessica Spilsbury explores whether opening for a major tour has become one of the fastest ways for artists to grow an audience.
Music analysis: Why the ‘song of the summer’ does not really exist anymore
I miss when the song of the summer was obvious. Not in a deep, dramatic way. Just in the sense that everyone knew what it was, writes Music News Blitz’s Fatima Aziz.
You would walk into a shop and hear it. Get in someone’s car and hear it. Go on holiday and hear it. Sit in a restaurant, scroll through Instagram, watch TV, just exist in public, and there it was again.
Songs like ‘Despacito,’ ‘Call Me Maybe,’ ‘One Dance,’ and ‘Umbrella’ were everywhere.
Even if you hated them, you still knew every word by August.
Now, the idea of one official summer anthem feels a bit impossible.
Music analysis: The Weeknd’s evolution
Abel Tesfaye, known professionally as The Weeknd, rose to fame in 2011 by uploading anonymous songs online.
Since then, he has become a global superstar.
His music blends R&B with electronic influences, creating a unique sound that redefined modern R&B and made him a major force in the genre.
Music analysis: Why are fans obsessed with unfinished songs?
From Harry Styles unreleased ‘Medicine’ to Ariana Grande’s leaked ‘Fantasize’ and countless Playboi Carti snippets circulating online, some of music's most talked about songs were never intended for release.
In an era where songs are instantly available at the touch of a button, fans are increasingly fixated on music that is incomplete, unofficial and never meant to be heard at all.
As online communities dissect demos, leaks and unfinished recordings, Music News Blitz’s Jessica Spilsbury explores why listeners are becoming obsessed with hearing music before it’s even finished.
Music analysis: Why are listening parties becoming music's hottest trend again?
When hundreds of fans gathered to hear new music from artists such as Charli XCX before its official release, it highlighted a growing trend within the music industry.
In an age where almost every song is available instantly at the touch of a button, artists are increasingly asking fans to slow down and listen together.
From sold-out album launch events to cinema screenings and exclusive first listens, listening parties have become a growing part of modern music culture.
As streaming continues to dominate the industry, Music News Blitz's Jessica Spilsbury explores why artists are turning album releases into events once again.
Music analysis: Why are small rave venues failing, and what can be done?
With constantly rising costs and increasingly expensive ticket prices, smaller rave venues seem to be dying out.
Various factors are contributing to the struggles faced by these venues, writes Music News Blitz’s rave fan Tom Down.
Music Analysis: Has Olivia Rodrigo found a new voice?
Olivia Rodrigo has released her third studio album, ‘you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love’, and it has everyone talking. We know heartbreak isn't new territory for Olivia, however, this album seems to carry a different tone.
Music News Blitz’s Charlotte Cave has more on the story.
Music analysis: Why Olivia Rodrigo’s songwriting feels so painfully real for Gen Z
Olivia Rodrigo has always had a gift for making feelings sound embarrassingly specific, writes Music News Blitz’s Fatima Aziz.
Music analysis: Why are listeners rediscovering longer songs?
From Taylor Swift’s 10-minute version of ‘All Too Well’ to classic epics like Telegraph Road by Dire Straits, lengthy songs continue to captivate audiences despite the rise of short-form content.
As streaming and social media reshape listening habits, Music News Blitz’s Jessica Spilsbury explores why listeners may be rediscovering long-form music.
Music analysis: The dawn of the band tee and modern-day merch culture
Since its early days, the music merch scene has come a long way from a simple t-shirt.
Modern artists offer a variety of merchandise that sprawling queues of fans can’t wait to get their hands on.
Music News Blitz’s Megan Hamilton writes on the phenomenon and explores a select range of examples of the spectacle of modern-day merch culture.