Genre Isn't Real — or Is It?
Love Music More · hosted by Luke F. Walton · Solo episode
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Topics discussed
Host note
Genre is mostly a branding tool, and that's not an insult, it's just what it is: a way an artist signals what to expect before the first note plays. I just got back from a Cro-Mags show, and Harley Flanagan crushing a Ramones-style song mid-set is the moment that cracked this open for me: an artist's identity is more fluid than the label on the playlist.
I get into why rock's boundaries have always been fuzzy, why some people say genre is dead when it's actually evolving, and the real risk artists take when they blend or leave a genre behind. Underneath all of it is dance: every kind of music, hardcore included, moves a body somehow, and if you think of genre as the way it makes people move, it becomes your canvas instead of a cage.
Classification cuts both ways. It's real inspiration and a real limit, and knowing which one you're dealing with in the moment is the actual skill.
Selected moments
- Introduction to genre discussions 1:03 I kick off the episode by sharing his thoughts on genre and musical classifications.
- Rethinking rock music 2:19 Discussing the fuzzy boundaries of rock and how classifications affect musical history.
- Harley Flanagan's concert moment 3:02 A pivotal moment from the Cro-Mags concert illustrates the fluidity of artist identity.
- Genre as branding 3:50 I share my central thesis that genre serves as a branding tool for artists.
- The state of modern music 5:17 Explores the idea that while people claim genre is dead, it is actually evolving.
- Challenges of genre blending 8:18 I discuss the risks artists face in straying from established genres.
- Dance as a universal element 9:50 Emphasizing that all music can evoke movement and engagement.
- Conclusion on genre limitations 14:16 I wrap up with reflections on the importance and limitations of musical classifications.
Selected excerpts
There's always been crossover. There's a difference though in the modern era where you have a lot of different playlists, but fundamentally there are some playlists that are way more powerful than others.
Because like Harley is a really good example of he crushed that... he crushed the Ramones style song, it sounded awesome. I want more of it. It's kind of the music that's in his soul now.
And all music is dance music every bit of it because... that was dance too. And when I saw Cro-Mags, that was dance.
If you think of genre as the way it makes you move, then you can think of all of this different stuff. And as an artist, that's your canvas.
Classification is important. It is its own sort of inspiration, but it cuts both ways.
FAQ
How does genre affect musical expression?
Genre can both guide and limit how artists create music, shaping their identity and brand.
Is genre classification still relevant?
While some say genre is dead, it is actually evolving, and remains influential in the industry.
What can we learn from live concerts about genre?
Live performances often illustrate the fluidity of artists' identities beyond their labeled genres.
These pages are host notes, not a full transcript. An automatic transcript is on the Spotify episode.