Genre-Hopping: When Artists Go Outside the Box
The Align Music Team weighs in on how different artists have experimented with different genres of music.
Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus is inarguably a pop icon, who has showcased various sides of her artistry through her career. From her start portraying pop star Hannah Montana, to the infamous hip-hop influenced Bangerz album and now her most recent and mature work Endless Summer Vacation, Miley is not afraid to bend genre or style. In 2020, Miley shifted towards rock with her album “Plastic Hearts.” She has dabbled in the genre before, but Plastic Hearts truly showcases her ability to be a rock singer.
The rock influence of the record is clear with her incorporation of the 80s glam rock style and songs featuring Billy Idol, Joan Jett, and Stevie Nicks. An exemplary song is “Bad Karma,” featuring Joan Jett. With its slow but husky build and fun, cheeky lyrics, the essence of 80s rock is hard to miss. Perhaps most notably, Miley’s viral cover of Blondie's “Heart of Glass” emulates the rockstar persona she embodied for the record. She gives a powerful vocal performance that makes the song her own and exemplifies how well her voice fits the genre.
The known rasp of Miley's voice is what executes the sound of the record. Additionally, Miley has always exuded somewhat of a defiant attitude, perfect for that of a rockstar. Given her artistic abilities and what is known about her persona, the rock shift is not inauthentic at all. Plastic Hearts is an example of seamless genre-bending because Miley didn’t force something that didn’t fit. She found something that seemed to be waiting for her.
Written By Jacqueline Pineda
Damon Albarn
Throughout the past 30 years of music history, hardly any artist has had a more creative discography than Damon Albarn, best known as the lead singer of Blur and Gorillaz. Albarn has been at the forefront of iconic musical movements, such as the 90s Britpop explosion and 2000s electronica. He is a massive figure in pop culture with an eclectic personality and wild onstage energy.
Blur--composed of Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James, and Dave Rowntree--first jumped on the scene in 1988. Throughout the 90s, their music shifted from shoegaze to 2000s techno, and Albarn’s composition and experimentalism were at the forefront of their success. After joining the Britpop scene with their instant-classic album Parklife, Blur solidified themselves in British music history. Their music is incredibly diverse, with every album playing around with a new genre or idea. Between alternative, indie, synth, and hard rock, there’s something in their catalog for every listener.
In the early 2000s, Albarn formed his next most unique idea to date: a hip-hop, reggae, and electro-pop duo called Gorillaz alongside comic artist Jamie Hewlett. Like Blur, Gorillaz aims for a new sound for each album, and has found tremendous success. They’ve now released eight studio albums, with Hewlett's graphic, 2D characters to accompany their music with a full narrative of their own. Between Gorillaz' electronic-driven career of almost three decades and Blur’s 2023 release of their indie rock album "The Ballad of Darren," Albarn proves to be a quintessential figure of the musical genre-hopper.
Written By Mia Fairchild
Beyoncé
When Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em” hit the top spot on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, she became the first Black woman to achieve the feat in the chart’s 80-year history. Since this time, Beyoncé has paved the way for other black country artists, such as when she was replaced at #1 with Cowboy Carter collaborator, Shaboozey with "A Bar Song (Tipsy)." Singer and songwriter Brittney Spencer described her impact as she discussed how the “conversation of Black country music, it’s been growing over the last four years”. Spencer explains how a lot of work has been put in to get to this place “and watching this moment with Cowboy Carter happen, it’s done something really beautiful in connecting the fans to the musical space”. Country Music in the US came from Black people with the invention of the banjo. The banjo we know today comes from the West African instrument called the Akonting. Beyoncé featured the banjo for the first time in her music in one of the lead singles for the Cowboy Carter, “Texas Hold 'Em." A quote that sums up Beyoncé’s genre-hopping journey is from the song SPAGHETTII. “Genres are a funny little concept, aren’t they? In theory, they have a simple little definition that’s easy to understand. But in practice, well, some may feel confined”. This sums up to me the importance of her musical transitions. Beyoncé has been making solo music since 2003 and is still finding ways to reinvent herself with new kinds of music. This new album represents the fact that there’s no one definition for country music, each genre has so many variations. They should not be “confined."
Written By Grace Noble
The Beatles
The Beatles have demonstrated remarkable versatility during their time as a band and as individual artists. Early covers of songs such as “Besame Mucho” showcased their willingness to explore Latin music. The song “Norwegian Wood” was one of the first Western songs to incorporate the sitar, highlighting their exploration of Indian musical elements. Within the realm of psychedelic rock and innovative studio techniques, “Strawberry Fields Forever” is an excellent example of their exploration of their “trippy” sound. From the bluesy elements in “Oh! Darling” to beautiful classic string arrangements in “Eleanor Rigby,” The Beatles have demonstrated one of the most successful artistic evolutions where they captivated diverse audiences with their ability to transcend genre boundaries and incorporate many musical influences in their songs.
Their exemplary talent in genre-hopping through many songs and albums is not something to be overlooked. An article from Far Out Magazine provides evidence of this talent by describing the single recording session from June of 1965, during which The Beatles successfully recorded three tracks from different genres. They began by recording “I’ve Just Seen A Face,” where Paul McCartney took on lead vocals, embracing folk rock like in some of their earlier albums. Paul, George, John, and Ringo were in no mood to stop there and maintained their momentum, which allowed them to complete the rock song, “I’m Down.” The song impressively only took seven rounds of recording before they decided on the final version. The article provides comments by author Tyler Golsen who commends the work these men put in by claiming that “the amount of energy needed to probably bring ‘I’m Down’ to life probably would have exhausted most other bands, especially if they had already completed another song earlier in the day, but McCartney wasn’t done.” Instead of finishing for the day, McCartney moved on to their third, “Yesterday,” which is considered to fall into the chamber pop genre. Needless to say, The Beatles had outdone themselves and were skilled enough to record three different songs that day, all from different genres. Golsen ends the article with the motivating anecdote that “when The Beatles left EMI at night, they had successfully completed three tracks - for most bands that would be remarkably efficient, but for The Beatles, it was all in a day’s work.” This studio session undoubtedly represents the genre fluidity The Beatles embraced throughout their entire career together.
While many artists found a successful formula and stuck to it, The Beatles pushed boundaries and did things unconventionally. Recording three songs in a day is a feat in any regard, but one of them is history’s most recorded song, with artists covering it year after year. “Yesterday” is a timeless reminder of how The Beatles were not just hitmakers but architects of popular music.
References
https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/the-beatles-took-on-three-genres-one-recording-session/
Written By Arianna Rinaldi and Anja VanderZee
Taylor Swift
How can someone genre hop so many times throughout her career, yet preserve such a distinct style that all of her songs are immediately recognizable to the listener?
Taylor Swift’s jump from country to pop is the most distinct transition in her career. I believe that this shift is what made her into a superstar. She was already a big name in the music industry, but when 1989 dropped, her fame was solidified throughout the world.
Years later, during the pandemic, Swift released folklore, an indie-folk album that most fans have coined as her best album. Folklore’s sister album evermore follows the same style, but it doesn't have half the popularity (even though it is equally sensational.)
In 2022, many fans were shocked, and maybe a little disappointed, when Taylor returned to pop music. Midnights lacked the revolutionary spark that fans loved about her previous three pop albums: 1989, Reputation, and Lover. This album may be full of skips (like “Glitch”), but it also includes some incredible hidden gems like “Bigger than the Whole Sky” and “Sweet Nothing.” Still, many fans felt that this album didn’t represent the Taylor they knew and had grown to love.
This year’s release of The Tortured Poets Department was followed by controversy. It clearly showed that Taylor and Jack Antonoff have run their course writing music together. The two wrote the first half of the album together, and non-coincidentally, it mainly feels indistinguishable from her previous music. On the other hand, the second half, written in collaboration with Aaron Dessner, is so much more authentic, personal, and most importantly, absolutely heartbreaking, featuring phenomenal releases like “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived” and “How Did it End?”
Regardless of how fans feel about Taylor’s genre switches throughout her long-lived career, her ability to maintain her status and loyal fanbase is a monumental achievement that most artists cannot compete with.
Written By Bella Snyder
Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato, once known for Disney pop hits like “This Is Me” from Camp Rock, has made a bold leap into the rock and metal scene with her 2022 album, HOLY FVCK. While the album marks a dramatic stylistic shift, the transformation feels less like a sudden departure and more like the payoff of years of musical evolution. From the beginning of her post-Disney career, Lovato infused her pop sound with pop-punk influences and soulful pop ballads. HOLY FVCK represents a full-circle moment; Lovato stated, “It reignited this flame inside of me.”
Musically and lyrically, the album stands out as an authentic expression of Lovato’s artistry and storytelling. With searing honesty, she offers listeners a window into her struggles with addiction, eating disorders, and age-gap relationships. Her vocals remain powerful, emotional, and technically mastered, continuing to set her apart from other Disney artists.
Before its release, HOLY FVCK sparked controversy. Its provocative album cover, title, and lyrics filled with references to Catholicism sparked debate. Yet Lovato seemed prepared for the backlash, understanding that her switch to rock and metal wouldn’t be her most commercially successful or critically acclaimed project. These genres are usually rooted in authenticity and politics, making it difficult for outsiders to break into. The album doesn’t touch on politics but resonates with honesty to oneself, potentially positioning it as a bridge between mainstream pop and alternative rock/metal. Whether or not HOLY FVCK changes the landscape of alternative rock, it undeniably represents a new and authentic chapter in Demi Lovato’s career.
Standout tracks include: “FREAK” (feat. YUNGBLUD), “SUBSTANCE”, “EAT ME” (feat. Royal & the Serpent), and “HEAVEN”
Written By Paloma Encarnacion
Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga is one of our generation's biggest cultural sensations. The Queen of Pop, as some call her, rocketed to stardom in 2008 with her breakthrough album The Fame. This album introduced the world to her iconic hits, “Just Dance," "Pokerface," and “Paparazzi,” which quickly became prominent in the 2000s club scene.
Later, Gaga embraced an avant-garde persona with her 2013 album ArtPop, making significant efforts to blend visual art and music. For instance, the music video for “Applause” represented her use of conceptual art in storytelling, proving she could push the boundaries of music while remaining successful.
A major shift occurred in 2016 when she released Joanne, an album with country and folk elements. This was a dramatic departure from her previous sound, focusing on her raw vocals, and showing her vulnerable side. Gaga wrote about her own hardships, naming the album in honor of her aunt, who passed when Gaga was a teenager.
In 2018, she starred in A Star Is Born, singing “Shallow” alongside Bradley Cooper. This performance showcased her vocal range and artistic growth, embracing a more authentic approach to her artistry.
Lady Gaga’s musical journey represents how an artist can shift their style and persona while staying true to themselves. This shift not only highlights her versatility but also her fearlessness, as she’s not afraid to take risks. From being known as the Queen of Pop to writing sentimental ballads about personal experiences, Gaga continues to reinvent herself, leaving listeners, wondering, “What’s her next move?”
Written By Sylvie Rokoff
