03/27/25
From early 20th century icons such as Memphis Minnie to contemporary global superstars like Glorilla, women have always been essential to creating and defining the music of the Bluff City. In the year 2025, this remains as true as ever, with an unbelievable amount of female talent emerging from every conceivable corner of the musical…
03/13/25
In celebration of Women’s History Month, we knew that we wanted to take extra care to shine a light on our city’s many excellent female musicians, something that Women in Memphis Music has been doing regularly since early 2022. This seemed like a good time to catch-up with artist Miz Stefani, the creator and curator…
02/21/25
For over a century, Black musicians have been the backbone of Memphis’ world-renown music scene, making lasting contributions to the genres of blues, rock ‘n’ roll, soul, gospel, hip-hop, and everything in between. While these songs cover the gamut of human emotion, there are a treasure trove that speak directly to the Black experience in…
01/23/25
History and Origins Memphis soul music emerged in the 1960s and 1970s as a transformative genre blending rhythm and blues, gospel, and funk. Rooted in the city’s African American community, this distinctive style reflected the struggles and triumphs of the era. Anchored by labels like Stax Records, founded by Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton, Memphis…
01/16/25
Following the celebrated release of her transformative debut solo album, To Bend to the Will of a Dream That’s Being Fulfilled, Louisiana swamp soul artist Marcella Simien is set to unveil an extended edition on January 24. To celebrate the release, Marcella will perform at Crosstown Theater on January 25 in an exclusive co-bill show…
10/18/24
By Ezra Wheeler Memphis music is truly unstoppable, constantly evolving and shaping the soundscape with its rich history and innovative artists. Every month brings fresh talent and exciting new releases, making it clear that the city’s musical legacy is as strong as ever. October has been no exception, with an impressive lineup of projects that…
09/19/24
Story by Ezra Wheeler Cover Photo: Justin Friesen Mak Ro–the soulful duo of Filipino-American cousins Eric Makapugay and Kristoffer Ruaro–have been self-releasing music since 2019, winning over a dedicated local fanbase in the process. Now, the group is finally prepared to release their debut album, a beautiful and emotionally honest 8-song LP entitled Love in…
07/26/24
For the past half century, hip-hop DJs and producers have been in a constant state of competition to find the perfect sample to help bring a track to life. Unsurprisingly, the music of Memphis–particularly ‘60s and ‘70s soul–has proven to be an especially fruitful source for the perfect snippet. Although we’d love to list the…
06/18/24
Memphis music is truly unstoppable. Each month welcomes more and more incredible new projects. Here are just 5 we’re highlighting for June that we’ve had on repeat: Lawrence Matthews ft. Idi x Teco – “Once More & Again (Our Mourning)” We told you back in January that Memphis musician Lawrence Matthews’ forthcoming album was something…
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