The Subgenropedia Alex Neill

New Jack Swing (n.) [nu dʒæk swɪŋ]: New Jack swing is paced much faster than its umbrella genre of R&B from around 95 beats per minute to upwards of 105 bpm. More rhythm and usage of percussion was seen from the foundation of the R&B fused with he beats, sounds and lyrical components of rap and hip of the time. The chaos of new jack swing was busy yet organized showcased within the keyboard and synth sounds. The four-four-time signature or sometimes twelve-eight time is largely seen in the swinging drum beats. This was also incorporated with the introduction of newly made drum machines like the Roland TR-808. Many artists embraced former hits and older artists as sampling became commonplace within the genre. The E-mu SP-1200 and the Akai MPC series were some of the most popular within the music scene for sampling. The last major characteristic of New Jack Swing, seen in the latter years of the subgenre was the use of smooth group backing vocals that is commonly referred to with Boyz II Men. It was the transition from the stereotypical R&B and pop that the early 1980s were used to seeing. It was this new scene of R&B that revitalized the genre making its mark in the hip-hop world.

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ジャパニーズ・フュージョン・ジャズ (Japanese Fusion Jazz) (n.) [ʤæpəˈniz ʤæz ˈfjuʒən]: Traditionally jazz fusion is often associated with the term “jazz rock” that came into popularity in the late 60s and 70s. This era of jazz fusion heavily mixed the rock, funk, psychedelic and reggae styles with elements of jazz instrumentation. Often, the music includes electric instruments like synthesizers, electric guitars, electric pianos and other rock instruments. Most also incorporated funk rhythms popular in this era that drove the groove and pace of many jazz fusion albums. The two largest stylistic qualities of jazz fusion is the heavy focus on instrumentation and reliance on instrumental sounds with out the need for a voice. Japanese jazz fusion takes this idea and puts it alongside what was popular within country, city pop. The music was filled with warm and lavish sounds and a heavy emphasis on the snyth-pop style of the 70s and 80s.For more of the Subgenropedia and other genres check out the Spotify Playlist with some more of my favorite picks for each sub-genre!

Anatolian Rock (n.) [ænəˈtoʊliən ɹɑk]: Anatolian rock gets its name from the Turkish ethnic group “Anatolians” and the combination of the rock and roll influence of the mid 1960’s. Although the word rock typically centers around a more defined sound that we know from this era, Anatolian Rock fell under a more broad band of other genres like folk, jazz, psychedelic rock, disco, Western pop, progressive, classical and traditional Turkish music. Or rather  than just being a mixture of European art music and Turkish music, Anatolian Rock was a mixture of Euro-American rock and roll and Turkish music, played in conjunction with western and Turkish instruments.

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Aboriginal Roots (n.) [æbəˈrɪdʒən(ə)l ruts]: Aboriginal refers to any of the original inhabitants of the world. In reference to the Australian continent the aboriginal descriptor often contributed to the indigenous people of Australia and the Torres Straight Islands. The indigenous people of the Australian continent span over 400 tribes and hundreds of distinct languages. Through thousands of years of cultural practices, rituals, threats of destruction of lifestyles and people during the colonization period, and the intertwining of modern influences help keep Aboriginal Australian music alive and well in the music industry.



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Chicano Punk (n.) [t͡ʃi-kano paŋk]: Punks best kept secret is that the genre’s origins came, not from the streets of LA or the alleys of London, or the corners of New York. Rather from costal south American country of Peru. The Latin American influence, which is rather unknown to most fans of the punk genre, plays an essential role in the foundation and broadening of the punk music as a whole.



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Gothic Country (n.) [gɒ-θɪk kʌn-tri]: A Subgenre in the Country and Americana music genre that evokes the Southern Gothic literary genre through morbid lyrical themes and melancholic sounds. Some musicians that venture in Gothic Country have a more typical alternative folk sound, while others are reminiscent of soundtracks to a movie about the civil war written by Edgar Alan Poe. Dark, right? Well that is kind of the point. The sound reflects the melancholy nature of decay, ruin, damnation and the disenchanted ideoligies of old Southern hospitality. It uses gothic aesthetics to reflect on the darker elements of post-bellum life in the American South.



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