ALL ARTICLES — afterglow

Concert Recap: Taylor Swift at NRG Stadium

Taylor Swift brings her iconic "Eras" tour to NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas on Friday, April 21.

Aural History: The Underappreciated Legacy of Charles Stepney

A new archival record revisits previously-unheard demos of the virtuoso record producer who brought sumptuous symphonics to R&B and was at the forefront of new electronic frontiers before his untimely death.

CULTURAL CONTEXTSAfterglow ATXApril 22, 2023aural history, ethan rubenstein, charles stepney

Video: New Frontiers in the Music Industry: AI

Multimedia staffer Campbell Williams gives a brief overview of the current arguments the rise of using artificial intelligence in music production has posed.

MultimediaAfterglow ATXApril 21, 2023campbell williams, ai, multimedia, video

Concert Recap: M83 and Rachika Nayar at Stubb’s

Alternative band M83 performed at Stubb’s for their “Fantasy” Tour on April 14, opened by alternative electronic artist Rachika Nayar.

Concert CoverageAfterglow ATXApril 20, 2023m83, stubbs, thomas cruz, concert photography

Let’s Talk About Sex: The Radical Sexual Politics of Early Women in Blues

In the early 20th century, women at the epoch of the blues revival challenged the constrictive dominant culture with their fearless willingness to discuss the sexual lives of Black people.

ANALYSISAfterglow ATXApril 20, 2023kaileen rooks, let's talk about sex, blues

Concert Recap: Grayscale and Taylor Acorn at Come and Take It Live

Philadelphia native rock band Grayscale brings their spring tour to Come and Take it Live on April 12 with support from Taylor Acorn.

Interview: RMR Talks Returning to Music After 2 Years and Releasing a Hit Record Right Before the Pandemic

The “Dealer” singer sits down with Afterglow to talk about his new single, “Crazy,” and how his experience releasing music has evolved since his 2020 debut album.

InterviewsAfterglow ATXApril 19, 2023lauren stephens

Cover Story: The Beatles’ “Act Naturally” Adds a Rock Twist to a Country Classic

Replacing country twang with key elements of rock, The Beatles pay homage to the iconic Bakersfield sound of Buck Owens’ “Act Naturally” with a genre-bending country ballad gone rock.

ANALYSISAfterglow ATXApril 17, 2023jencie tomasek, cover story

Media and Music: Musical Storytelling in “The Last of Us”

The live adaptation and video game versions of “The Last of Us” create a full, dynamic experience by revitalizing sound. Creating sentimentality, fear, and suspense, “The Last of Us” soundtrack perfectly encapsulates the story of Ellie and Joel.

ANALYSISAfterglow ATXApril 17, 2023rachel joy thomas, media and music, video games, hbo

Release Radar: March 2023

At the end of each month, Afterglow presents a staff-picked list of new albums and singles that left a lasting impression on our ears.

Album Anniversary: 10 Years of Fall Out Boy’s Legendary ‘Save Rock and Roll’

Fall Out Boy’s first post-hiatus album defines a pivotal moment in their career and remains their most complex release yet.

ANALYSISAfterglow ATXApril 12, 2023catalina perez, fall out boy, album anniversaries

Playlist: Love Your Plants

Whether you have golden pothos, snake plants, or other botanicals, here’s some music that will nourish your indoor garden.

PLAYLISTSAfterglow ATXApril 11, 2023maria luevanos, playlist, love your plants, jazz, caroline pastrano

Video: 23 Questions with Sadder Days

Afterglow multimedia staffer Campbell Williams chats with one-half of Sadder Days, guitarist Cameron Wesley, about music, dogs, next steps, and more.

MultimediaAfterglow ATXApril 10, 2023campbell williams, austin artists, austin-based, austin tx, austin

The Feminine Musique: Women in Mariachi are Changing the Narrative by Challenging Gender Norms

In a genre where sexism and machismo are common themes, women in the mariachi scene are putting a spin on tradition and breaking barriers amidst traditional male-led roles.

DIVERSITYAfterglow ATXApril 10, 2023catalina perez, grace xu, mariachi, the feminine musique