Tara Joshi

“Music Is The Best It’s Ever Been” Sathnam Sanghera’s Favourite Songs

Ahead of his appearance at this month's Green Man Festival, Sathnam Sanghera talks Tara Joshi through his favourite music, from Goldfrapp to Dave and Massive Attack, Sly, George Michael, Prince, Bally Sagoo and much more

Paws For Thought: Tara Joshi On Disney’s A Goofy Movie

In this month's Low Culture essay, Tara Joshi goes back to 1995 and Disney outlier A Goofy Movie, a surprisingly deep examination of the trials of adolescence and fitting in

On The Blink: WINK By CHAI

The third album by Chai finds the Tokyo quartet at their most smooth and comforting – but also their most prickly and pointed, finds Tara Joshi

Pillars Of Childhood: Lafawndah’s Favourite Music

In this week's Baker's Dozen, Lafawndah picks the thirteen pieces of music that made her "want to say things," from Schubert to Busta Rhymes via Midori Takada and Lady Saw

All The Feels: Megan Nolan’s Acts of Desperation

Acts of Desperation, the debut novel by Megan Nolan, holds up a searingly intense mirror, finds Tara Joshi

The Strange World Of… Asha Puthli

Ahead of a performance at Le Guess Who? festival in Utrecht, Tara Joshi explores the work of cosmic Indian artist Asha Puthli, with some thoughts from the artist herself

The Power Is Endless: Out The Frame Festival Reviewed

In the midst of toxic Brexit negotiations, Tara Joshi finds herself in Ghent, Belgium, relishing an escapist fairytale of left-field sounds from across the globe. All live photographs by Michiel Devijver

Yugen Blakrok

Anima Mysterium

The second album from the SA rapper, and her first since her Black Panther OST appearance last year, is ferocious, uncompromising and mystical

Things Learned At: RBMA & Festival

Berlin is beautiful, Sevdaliza is beloved, Black British music makes us proud, and the Red Bull Music Academy is very appealing even to those of us wary of sponsorship and energy drinks

My Pioneers: Santigold’s Favourite Albums

In this week's Baker's Dozen, Santigold takes Tara Joshi through 13 favourite albums from Salt-N-Pepa to the Cocteau Twins, Fela Kuti, Nina Simone and Bad Brains, and points out that while Morrissey might have gone wrong, you can't take away what his songs once gave her

Marking A Time: Ghetts’ Favourite Albums

As Ghetts releases his new album Ghetto Gospel - The New Testament, the London-based rapper guides Tara Joshi through 13 favourite records, from Michael Jackson to Jay-Z, Tupac, Notorious BIG and those closer to home including Kano and Klashnekoff

Octavian

Spaceman

His new mixtape, and the kind of vibe Drake wishes he could create

I Would Love For Someone Super Racist To Review Me: JPEGMAFIA Interviewed

Ahead of his appearance at Le Guess Who? festival in Utrecht, left-field US rapper JPEGMAFIA talks to Tara Joshi about journalism, Throbbing Gristle and his forthright track, ‘I Cannot Fucking Wait Until Morrissey Dies’

Take Back Him Crown: Gaika’s Basic Volume

A vital debut that captures a dark, uncertain time, but counters with grace, nerve, and a spine-tingling call to arms

Alxndr London

2023

On Gaika’s label, a strange kind of slinky, squelchy and seductive pop

Am I The Only One? Denzel Himself Interviewed

With the announcement of his new EP, Baphomet James, Tara Joshi talks to rising London artist Denzel Himself about DIY, subversion, and the spectrum of blackness

Full Clip: The Best Hip Hop From March & April Reviewed

If you’re not writing your own bars, does that make you a fake? Tara Joshi considers ghostwriting in hip hop, along with reviews of the latest rap releases (including, alas, Kanye West)

Cardi B

Invasion Of Privacy

Funny, caustic, vulnerable and sharp: a debut that matches the hype

1 Thing: Your R&B Roundup For February And March

Is there a glass ceiling on the marketability of South Asian artists in music? Tara Joshi considers what the handful of brown people breaking through in R&B can tell us, and reviews the latest releases

Full Clip: January and February’s Hip Hop Reviewed

How are people still so surprised at rap ruling festival lineups? Tara Joshi considers the backlash to a wave of festival announcements, along with reviews of January and February’s hip hop releases.

Full Clip: 2017’s Best Hip Hop

After a rich year of introspective bars, and production that’s veered between glossy cloud rap and dark trap, Tara Joshi considers the best hip hop of 2017.

1 Thing: The Best R&B Of 2017 By Tara Joshi

With the year drawing to a close, columnist Tara Joshi revisits the best releases from another rich year in the quietly radical genre

Full Clip: October and November’s Hip Hop Reviewed

Is the rise of Dave emblematic of a new golden age for British rap? Tara Joshi considers the growth of the scene in the past year, plus reviews of October and November’s releases.

Queen Of The Dancehall: An Interview With Stefflon Don

Before she heads on tour with hip hop behemoth Future, British MC Stefflon Don chats to Tara Joshi about rising fame, immigration, and being a “female rapper”

Power In Vulnerability: An Interview With Kelela

Following the release of her debut album last week, futuristic R&B artist Kelela talks to Tara Joshi about sex, vulnerability, and making music for queer black girls

1 Thing: September & October R&B Reviewed By Tara Joshi

Twenty years after it was released, we are living, loving, singing and dancing in the afterglow of Janet Jackson's The Velvet Rope. With: Kelela, Ty Dolla $ign, Syd, Ibeyi and plenty more.

Full Clip: August and September’s Hip Hop Reviewed by Tara Joshi

Is the success of XXXtentacion in spite of troubling abuse allegations a damning insight into misogyny in music? Tara Joshi considers the 'norms' of a macho hip hop culture, plus reviews of the past two months of releases

1 Thing: August’s R&B Reviewed By Tara Joshi

Considering the more futuristic end of R&B that artists like MHYSA are making, Tara Joshi reviews July and August’s releases

Full Clip: June and July’s Hip Hop Reviewed by Tara Joshi

Looking at Fekky’s debut album, Tara Joshi considers the confluence of grime and British hip hop. Plus, the past two months of releases.

TLC

TLC

Suge I Stay Or Suge I Go? Tupac All Eyez On Me Reviewed

The Quietus Hip-Hop columnist Tara Joshi reviews the long awaited biopic of rap legend Tupac Shakur

Vince Staples

Big Fish Theory