playlist
Beat's recommended playlist for all of your musical needs.
Hurricane Joey
I saw a challenge about writing a story with as many song titles from a single artist that you can fit in and hopefully make sense of . Barclay James Harvest once released a song called "Titles" that consisted virtually entirely of Beatles song titles, so I could have just typed that and submitted it as a piece of poetry. You can listen to it here. I love it, actually.
By Mike Singleton đź’ś Mikeydred 2 months ago in Beat
The Quiet That Follows the Applause
I didn’t cry at the end of Better Call Saul. I cried three days later, while washing dishes. The water was hot, the sponge worn thin, and suddenly—without warning—I saw Kim Wexler’s hands again. Not in the courtroom. Not in the finale. But in that tiny Albuquerque office, adjusting the blinds just so, trying to control one small thing in a world spinning out of her grasp.
By KAMRAN AHMAD2 months ago in Beat
The Song That Brought Him Back
After my mother passed, grief settled into our home like winter fog—thick, gray, and impossible to ignore. He stopped whistling while fixing the sink. Stopped tapping his boot to the oldies station. Even his laugh, once so loud it startled the dogs, vanished into a silence so heavy it filled every room. For two years, he moved through life like a man walking in someone else’s shoes. So when he said, voice barely above a whisper, “Let’s go south for New Year’s,” I didn’t ask why. I just booked the tickets.
By KAMRAN AHMAD2 months ago in Beat
Tyla’s Chart-Topping Rise
Introduction When South African singer Tyla released her self-titled debut album in late 2023, few predicted it would ignite a global movement. But by 2025, her name was everywhere: on Billboard charts, Grammy stages, and playlists from Lagos to Los Angeles. Fueled by her breakout hit “Water”—a seductive fusion of amapiano, R&B, and pop—Tyla didn’t just enter the global music scene; she reshaped it.
By KAMRAN AHMAD2 months ago in Beat
Grooves That Never Fade: The Essential Bands of 70s Funk, Soul & R&B
I am a crazy music freak. At the peak of my vinyl obsession, I owned somewhere around 15,000 to 20,000 albums and 10,000 to 13,000 singles (45s). That was a mountain of music. Later came CDs, and I ended up with another mountain — around 12,000 to 14,000.
By Rick Henry Christopher 2 months ago in Beat
Richard Smallwood
Introduction In recent months, false rumors have spread online with alarming speed: searches like “gospel singer Richard Smallwood died”, “Richard Smallwood passed away”, and “Richard Smallwood cause of death” have surged—despite having no basis in truth.
By KAMRAN AHMAD2 months ago in Beat
Some Favourite Record Labels II
Introduction I thought I would put together some songs from my favourite record labels. Although my tastes tend to be rock-based, I am very eclectic and sometimes things do cross over. I love soul, classical, folk, but I am not enamoured by happy techno, the stuff that comes from commercialised talent shows, and Eurovision, although there are obvious exceptions.
By Mike Singleton đź’ś Mikeydred 2 months ago in Beat
How to Build a Successful Music Career in the UK in 2026
The British music industry has always punched above its weight globally, but the pathway to success for independent artists has fundamentally changed. Gone are the days when talent scouts at London venues discovered the next big act, or when radio play on BBC Radio 1 guaranteed chart success. In 2026, UK musicians face a landscape where digital presence, strategic planning, and professional presentation matter as much as the music itself.
By Najeeb khan3 months ago in Beat
11 Indie Pop Songs That Dazzled the 2000s
After the grunge and nihilism of the 90s, the 2000s brought a wave of hopefulness with an edgy twist. People wanted bright colors, snarky humor and dance-pop anthems, and the music industry responded with catchy indie tunes that made people feel unique without diving too far into the counterculture. If you feel nostalgic for this time, these 11 tracks will take you back to the time when "'Rawr' means 'I love you' in dinosaur" was peak hilarity among junior high students.
By Kaitlin Shanks3 months ago in Beat
10 Emotionally Devastating Songs That You'll Never Forget
Have you ever been on the verge of tears and needed to listen to a sad song to unleash the waterworks? I've had moods like that, but corny, sentimental songs don't do it for me. Instead, I listen to the tracks on this list when I need to release some bottled-up emotions. These songs capture the depths of human grief without being cheesy--and they're also great tracks on top of that, so they deserve a spot on your regular playlists.
By Kaitlin Shanks3 months ago in Beat
