Almost everyone can hum a handful of James Brown tunes, but not every song that became a cultural touchstone was a chart-topping hit at the time of its release. An American Songwriter feature highlights three tracks that remain widely recognisable today despite mixed commercial success, underlining how a song’s lasting cultural resonance doesn’t always match…

The article explores where Nick Drake fits among singer-songwriters, arguing his darker, more fractured style has more in common with later artists such as Elliott Smith, Jeff Buckley and Nick Cave than with his own Laurel Canyon-era contemporaries. It draws particular comparisons with Leonard Cohen, whose brooding reputation and use of ghostly backing vocals directly…

Jay-Z has released his first original rap verse since 2022, appearing on a new remix of Beyoncé’s “Morning Dew (Donk)”. The verse, which touches on the couple’s marriage, arrives as part of a four-track remix pack released on 5 August 2026, marking a notable return for the rapper after a lengthy gap between guest features.…

Mrs. GREEN APPLE closed out their ZENJIN MITO TO IM/MUTABLE stadium tour with two final shows on 4 and 5 July at Tokyo’s MUFG Stadium (the National Stadium). The tour marked a significant milestone for the Japanese band, as they became the first act ever to perform four shows at the National Stadium, capping a…