literature
Beat's music literature from the New York Times or the recesses of online. Our favorite stories showcase musicians.
To August, and the Songs That Saved Me
"Dear August," For so long, I had lived my life in silence. Not literal silence, of course — the world around me buzzed with activity, conversations, and distant echoes of laughter. But inside, where it mattered, there was nothing. A hollow quietness that stretched across days, weeks, and eventually, years.
By GoldenSpeechabout a year ago in Beat
2024: The Saga Continues Pt. 2. Content Warning.
2024 has been a year of roller coaster emotions, and that's putting it lightly. Music has been there through every moment... the beauty and the horror. There are always two sides to every story, including mine for 2024. The first side covered the darkest moments, the failures, the despair, the pain and the heartbreak. It becomes easy to allow the moments of hopelessness to reign and overshadow the moments of light... but what good does that bring? The moments of joy, relief, calm and love may be few and far between... but they exist and that is what makes the music of them so much sweeter as 2024 concludes.
By Luna Verityabout a year ago in Beat
2024: The Saga Continues. Content Warning.
As midnight hit and 2024 began, the struggle to leave the sorrow and pain of 2023 behind was an all too familiar challenge these days. January 1, 2024 was here and I was still here... but how much of me was there left at this point? Year after year of fighting challenge after challenge without any breaks; 2024 found me with barely anything left to give. My soundtrack of the year began with me feeling like I was "Breaking Inside".
By Luna Verityabout a year ago in Beat
Spinning Shields
Some songs don’t just play; they grab you by the gut and squeeze. “Love Is a Shield” by Camouflage is that song for me this year. It doesn’t coddle or console. It hammers. It pulls my insides out and lays them bare. The synths rise and fall like waves, unrelenting yet strangely soothing, a mirror to the chaos and quiet of my life. It plays as I walk through the ruins of everything that was supposed to last.
By Iris Obscuraabout a year ago in Beat
Finding Your Voice
There’s something almost otherworldly about standing in a room, opening your mouth, and letting a melody spill out. Singing. Just the thought of it can send shivers down your spine, right? Or maybe make your palms sweat a little. It’s not just about hitting the right notes—it’s about something deeper, something that connects us to the core of who we are.
By Billys Zafeiridis about a year ago in Beat
The Soundtrack of My Year
This writing is for the Writer's Challenge to list a soundtrack for your life over the last year. The song in the heading certainly sums up the year for me. The plus is that it is my own song, engineered by little ol me with my original lyrics as published in one of my 5 poetry books. That may be the only highlight to the worst year ever. I wish I could find some happiness to speak of but the year is not over yet. Do I tread carefully? Not at all. I plunge ahead as always. One year will not break a person but truth be told, this one just might.
By Canuck Scriber Lisa Lachapelleabout a year ago in Beat
Silence is Golden, Noise is Deadly.
Sound. Whether we like it or not, it permeates every aspect of our lives, from the first morning clock sound to the final quiet sigh before bed. However, sound is more than simply what we can hear—oh no, it has some secret abilities! It has the power to cure our bodies, alter our moods, and even alter the surroundings. The job description for sound would be "Professional Shape-Shifter," as it can be both a soothing lullaby and an annoying annoyance that breaks your eardrums. Let us explore how music, noise, and silence are influencing our lives and the earth in unexpected, enigmatic, and occasionally just plain bothersome ways today—without being too loud.
By LUKE KHAKEYOabout a year ago in Beat
Two Thousand Five Hundred Stories And A Million Words On Vocal
Introduction I don't know how to do this, well I do, because I am doing it. This is story number two thousand five hundred on Vocal. I write a lot of poetry and while some of my pieces have hit two thousand words, som have been as little as thirty, so if we say I average four hundred words a story then that is a million words.
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred about a year ago in Beat
Ethical journalism isn’t just about following rules; it’s about making a commitment to the people we serve
As someone who has spent more than two decades in journalism, I’ve witnessed firsthand the rapid changes in the media landscape. What hasn’t changed—and never should—is the importance of ethics and integrity in the work we do. In 2024, the media environment is more complex than ever, and while new technologies and platforms have brought about exciting opportunities, they’ve also raised serious challenges for journalists like me, who believe in the fundamental principles of truth and accountability.
By Rick Saleebyabout a year ago in Beat
The Friendship Break-Up
I think one of the hardest things to go through is the loss of friendship with someone. Friendship breakups suck. Plain and simple. I take relationships seriously. Whether it's family, friend, lover, coworker. You give me respect I give you respect.
By Chloe Rose Violet 🌹about a year ago in Beat
