“The Freedom to Explore Across Music Genres”

I grew up in the 80s, and while I was a Black girl from an urban area, several genres of music were always a part of my life's soundtrack. I enjoyed disco, country, funk, and more. I was a preteen during the height of the big-hair rock era and was once hellbent on a wedding dress inspired by Stephanie Seymour’s in Guns-N-Roses' November Rain video. Art often reflects a society's social and political climate. As we navigate these highly divisive times, music and the responses reflect these attitudes of us-versus-them.

Lately, freedom is discussed more than I can previously recall, but rarely is it associated with creating and disseminating music. This series comprises six essays that challenge readers to question, critique, and stretch themselves regarding freedom and music genres. Most of us give little thought to how and which songs find their way to different stations, charts, and other segregated entities across radio, streaming services, or whatever medium provides access. Rarely do we question why these limiting designations exist and how they impact our listening experiences and artists’ freedom in their creative processes.