Narratively Deep Cuts: 5 of Our Favorite Stories About Music
From tales about fading hardcore scenes to music as a means to spread culture and keep memories alive, here are five stories that resonate from our archive.
1. The Last Time New York Was Hardcore by Michael Stahl
In the ’90s, one high-octane underground music scene desperately held on to its rebellious roots of power chords, slam dancing and stage diving. What happened to hardcore?
2. The Unsung Black Musician Who Changed Country Music by Deana Bianco
From the moment DeFord Bailey stepped onto a stage in Nashville, country music would never be the same. It was decades after his death before he finally got his due.
3. Punk Rock Freaks in the Heart of Hollywood by Shawna Kenney
It was the era when video killed the radio star, when glitz and glamor and bubblegum pop dominated the airwaves. Meanwhile, a handful of musicians and misfits were subverting the pop culture narrative forever.
4. This Heavy Metal Band Is Hell-Bent on Saving an Endangered Language by Luana Ferreira
As the Brazilian tribal language Tupi Guarani nears extinction, this hyper-aggressive group is raising awareness about the urgent need to save it—one power chord at a time.
5. Sounds Like Teen Spirit by Joyce Chen
A young woman with a weakened sense of smell, and a heightened love of music, explores the science behind why songs can have such a powerful pull on memory and emotions—especially when other senses fail you.