Playlists

What Berklee is listening to

Spinal Tap on stage from a crowd perspective, with fans holding up miniature stonehenges and a giant flaming skull behind the band — Over 40 years after *This Is Spinal Tap*, the legendary fake rockers return in *Spinal Tap II: The End Continues*.

Image courtesy of Bleecker Street / Kyle Kaplan

The Best Fictional Bands (and the Artists Who Make Them Great)

With Spinal Tap II: The End Continues hitting theaters and songs from KPop Demon Hunters ruling the charts, we take a look at how fake bands make real music.

A woman vocalist dancing on stage — Image by Elizabeth Friar

Dembow Explained (+19 Songs Featuring the Iconic Rhythm)

How the dembow beat—found in reggaeton, hip-hop, pop, and far beyond—became a global phenomenon.

The Best Music of 2023 Was Made with Berklee Artists

Behind the mic, at the boards, or in the band, Berklee artists made some of the year’s best music in every genre, as ranked by outlets from Pitchfork to Billboard.

A person with an umbrella walks with their back to the camera down a snowy and wet city street — Image by Kelly Davidson

Why Some of Us Can't Stand Holiday Music

Songwriting Professor Kat Reinhert shares some theories. Plus: listen to a playlist of winter songs that ditches the festive baggage.

Jazz trio Nite Bjuti poses with an acoustic bass and a hand drum — Nite Bjuti is, from left: Val Jeanty, DJ and percussion; Candice Hoyes, vocals; Mimi Jones, bass

Image by Maciek Jasik

Music That Inspired Nite Bjuti's Bold Debut Album

The jazz trio, which includes Berklee faculty Val Jeanty and Mimi Jones, curates a playlist of their influences, including artists from Geri Allen and Meshell Ndegeocello to Radiohead and Sister Nancy.