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Women began dominating British dance music

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Women began dominating British dance music


As seen on the guardian website L
ast year, Kenya Grace began documenting her music production on TikTok. Her pairing of pop songwriting with dance instrumentals, performed from her bedroom with a simple mic and Midi-controller setup, soon attracted thousands of followers, and the comment sections were inundated with requests for covers, collaborations and official releases.

But some – generally male – viewers were unconvinced, littering her posts with variously sexist, patronising and mansplaining comments. “I’ve had people ask if someone else made the tracks for me,” she says, sighing. “I’m like: you can seeme doing it.” It’s just one in a collection of microaggressions Grace can recall from her relatively new career, from paternalistic peers in early studio sessions to passive aggressive comments at live shows. “There’s a lot of stigma that women can’t produce.”

But a new vanguard of female producers is beginning to redefine what dance music looks and sounds like.

With their snappy, pop-informed takes on drum’n’bass, garage and EDM, Grace, PinkPantheress and Becky Hill are all chart mainstays; Ireland’s Jazzyreached No 3 and spent 31 weeks in the chart with Giving Me, a euphoric but steely house track she co-wrote; Scotland’s Hannah Laingis getting tens of millions of streams for her self-produced, old-school-leaning rave tracks. Pursuing dance music – and crucially, on their own terms – is now a viable career path.

Venbee

“Us girlies are taking over!” says Venbee, who claims to have written a song a day since she was 10 – one of them, Messy in Heaven, became a Top 10 hit last year, prompting collaborations with chart regulars Rudimental and Chase & Status. “Women are putting their foot down,” she says. “They’re able to film themselves and [show] what they can do.”

As representation grows on stage and on the airwaves, Piri is also pushing for more diversity behind the scenes, hiring a crew made up exclusively of women, non-binary and LGBTQ+ people, and urging other artists to do the same. “It’s a boys club. The reason more men get these jobs is because a man has the opportunity to hire people and then will just automatically pick their friends. So we’ve gotta push outwards. You are the artist, you [have] the power to choose who’s on your team – make the most of that.”

Still on that

Aside from visibility, the changing demographics in dance music are down to the wider availability of resources democratising production, from YouTube and TikTok tutorials to cheaper software, and grants such as the PRS Foundation Women Make Music fund. Collectives such as Loud LDN use group chats and events to build support networks for early-career women and gender-nonconforming artists. Among its members are Piri, Venbee and fellow pop-dance rising stars Issey Cross and Charlotte Plank. “It can be intimidating having to go and ask men for help,” says Piri. “It’s nice to know that you as a community of marginalised people can just figure it out together and accomplish your goals.”

From left) Venbee; Issey Cross; Anz. Composite: Reuben Bastienne-Lewis / Connor Baker / Darcey Axon Aura

Grace believes social media platforms such as TikTok have been instrumental in breaking down the barriers around dance music, including its complex hardware. “So many people have messaged me to say they’ve bought a beat pad because of me, which makes me happy,” she says. Bedroom producers can now lay the foundations of a career by using relatively cheap gear, such as that in Grace’s videos, and a nifty online presence, thereby reducing the decision-making power of industry gatekeepers. “The music industry has completely changed,” she says, citing her career as an example. The public “are choosing who they like” via streaming and social media, “and that’s making loads of underdogs come up. It’s such an exciting time.”

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Entertainment

What is Afro Music? Exploring the Vibrant Sound of Africa

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Afro music, often referred to as African music, is a broad term that encompasses a rich variety of musical styles and traditions rooted in the African continent. With its deep cultural and historical significance. Afro music has influenced and shaped the global music landscape. Gaining popularity for its distinct rhythms, powerful beats, and infectious energy.

A Fusion of Cultures and Sounds

Africa is home to over 3,000 ethnic groups, each contributing to its musical diversity. Afro music is not just one sound but a fusion of different styles like Afrobeat, Afropop, Highlife, Soukous, and Kwaito. These genres blend African rhythms with Western influences like jazz, funk, and hip-hop, creating a unique sound that appeals to a global audience.

The Rise of Afrobeat
Afro music

One of the most recognized Afro musics genres is Afrobeat, a style pioneered by Nigerian musician Fela Kuti in the 1970s. Afrobeat combines traditional African instruments and rhythms with jazz, funk, and soul, often delivering politically charged messages. Today, artists like Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Davido continue to push the genre to new heights, fusing it with modern pop and hip-hop elements.

Afropop and Its Global Impact

Afropop is another genre that has taken the world by storm. It’s a more modern take on African music, blending catchy hooks, electronic production, and a danceable rhythm. Artists from Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa are leading the Afropop wave, breaking into international charts and collaborating with global stars like Drake, Beyoncé, and Ed Sheeran.

A Celebration of Rhythm and Dance

What makes Afro musics so captivating is its rhythm. African music places a strong emphasis on drums and percussive instruments, creating energetic, pulsating beats that compel people to dance. Whether it’s the vibrant beats of the djembe drum or the syncopated rhythms in Afrobeat, the music celebrates life, culture, and community.

Afro Music in the Global Spotlight

The global popularity of Afro music is growing exponentially. Festivals dedicated to African music, like Afro Nation, are now held worldwide, celebrating the continent’s rich musical heritage. As streaming platforms and social media continue to bridge cultural gaps, Afro music is becoming a mainstay in the global music industry.

Conclusion

Afro music is not just a genre but a powerful movement that celebrates African identity, resilience, and creativity. From its traditional roots to its modern-day evolution, Afro music continues to inspire, entertain, and connect people across the world. Whether you’re grooving to Afrobeat, vibing to Afropop, or discovering the rich sounds of traditional African music, you’re tapping into a vibrant musical heritage that transcends borders.

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Understanding Music Genres: A Brief Overview

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Music genres are categories that define and group music based on shared characteristics such as rhythm, melody, and instrumentation. These genres help listeners and artists identify the style and tone of music.

One of the oldest and most influential genres is classical music, known for its complex compositions and orchestral arrangements. It spans several centuries and includes works by composers like Mozart and Beethoven.
Music genres

Jazz Music

Jazz emerged in the early 20th century, characterized by improvisation and strong rhythms, while blues focuses on expressive guitar playing and emotional lyrics.

Rock Music Genres

Rock evolved from blues in the 1950s, featuring electric guitars and energetic performances. Meanwhile, pop music blends various styles and appeals to a broad audience with catchy melodies and lyrics.
Music genres

Hip Hop Music genre
Hip-hop, originating in the 1970s, is known for rhythmic beats and spoken-word lyricism, often addressing social issues. Electronic dance music (EDM), on the other hand, uses digital tools to create dynamic beats and is popular in clubs and festivals.
Music genres

Music genre constantly evolve, blending to form new styles, and remain a central part of human culture, expression, and creativity.

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Entertainment

Most Popular Dance Styles

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MOST POPULAR DANCE STYLES

MOST POPULAR DANCE STYLES

Most popular dance styles. Our culture has included dance for thousands of years. Nowadays, dance is practiced all around the world in a variety of styles, including street, salsa, ballroom, and ballet. Nowadays, the majority of dancing is done for fun and self expression. It’s also a fun way for people of all ages, shapes, and sizes to maintain their health and fitness.

MOST POPULAR DANCE STYLES

Since the oldest societies and civilizations, dance has been a feature of human culture; dancing has been documented as early as 30,000 years ago. Since then, several dances have transformed and developed into the most well-known dance styles that exist today.

1. Ballet

The Italian Renaissance saw the development of ballet dance floors , which later changed into a concert dance for public performances in France and Russia. This takes the shape of a ballet, with classical music used to accompany the dance. Today, ballet is a popular, extremely technical dance style with a broad variety of subgenres, such as romantic, neoclassical, classical, and contemporary.

2. The ballroom

Also, A kind of partner dance, ballroom dancing dates back to the end of the seventeenth century in France. Ballroom, which is sometimes used as a shorthand for any partner dance, has developed into two primary subgenres: Latin/rhythm and standard/smooth. Competitions in ballroom, a prominent type of competitive dance, or dance sport, are held all over the world.

3. Hip-Hop

However, The term “hip-hop dancing” describes a variety of street dances that emerged in connection with hip-hop culture and music. Beginning in New York and California in the early 1970s, hip-hop dancing developed from Funk and the rise of break beat. Along with derivative styles, hip hop dancing’s primary forms are popping, locking, and breaking.

4. Jazz

African dance traditions from the seventeenth century were introduced to the Americas through the Atlantic slave trade, where slaves carried on dancing customs in Brazil, the United States, and other countries. African American vernacular dance forms that developed with jazz music in the United States are the foundation of jazz dancing today.

5. Dancing with  taps

The “tap” of shoes hitting the floor while dancing is a defining characteristic of tap dancing, a kind of percussion dance. To enhance the sound, tap dancers frequently place metal “taps” on the toe and heel of their shoes. Tap dancing is frequently performed as a component of musical theater, with multiple tap dancers performing simultaneously and concentrating on choreography and forms.

6. Traditional Dancing

Meanwhile, People from all nations and religions enjoy folk dancing all around the world. They use diverse types of folk dance to depict stories, emotions, historical events, or even everyday life. Certain cultures may even perform several folk dance variations; South Korea, for example, performs distinct dances for important occasions including farming, music, religion, and war successes.

7. Dance for a ceremony

Moreover, These dances were made or performed for festivities or rites. Around the world, ceremonial dance is utilized for worship or to commemorate significant life events.

 

 

Summary

Hence, Human culture has long included dance in its rites and festivals. It’s a wonderful art form that encourages both physical and mental well-being as well as creativity.

 

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