Liner Notes: Essential Reading

This page is a curated collection of articles, essays, and long-reads from across the web. From the evolution of New Jill Swing to the resurgence of the UK Slow Jam scene, these pieces offer a deeper look at the artists and cultural movements that define the global soul and dance landscape.

The Culture & The Club

The R&B Slow Jam events making Black British clubbers swoon The Guardian (Oct 2024) An exploration of how the “slow jam” is moving from the bedroom back to the club, creating new spaces for R&B lovers in the UK.

Genre Spotlights

New Jill Swing: How female artists brought R&B to the pop charts The Guardian (Oct 2024) A definitive look at the women who dominated the New Jack Swing era, blending hip-hop toughness with soulful vocal precision.

The Producers & The Icons

The Architects of the 90s Sound: Babyface, Whitney, and Madonna The New York Times (April 2026) A deep dive into the production genius of Babyface and how he crafted the hits that defined a generation of global superstars.

I update this list periodically as I find new (and old) articles worth preserving. If you have a recommendation for a “must-read” piece of music journalism, let me know via the About Page.