"Do what you love, and share it with the world" — Independent Music & Festival Journal Since 2013
Art
As a former Austin resident, South by Southwest (SXSW) was the fair I’d had mixed feelings about – event lines could be long, traffic is a nightmare and most of the time, you won’t even get in. Still, on more than a few occasions friends would drive down to visit me from Dallas and […]
![Ghosts Of Our Revolutionary Ancestors + Hieroglyphics at Roseland Theater in Portland, OR [Photos by Bear Perry]](https://i0.wp.com/composeyourselfmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Hiero-2.jpg?resize=600%2C375&ssl=1)
Guest Posts
Last night Roseland Theater played host to a lineup of legendary hip hop wordsmiths with rose city greats Ghosts of Our Revolutionary Ancestors (GORA) and Oakland heroes Hieroglyphics. Made up of Mic Crenshaw, Libretto, Redray Frazier & DJ Klavical, GORA were a sensational opener for the evening, bringing out Portlands’ old heads for a rare night of cultural indulgence. […]
Hip-Hop
The importance of Madvillainy can never be understated. The collaborative 2004 album from the duo dubbed Madvillain (co-producers Madlib and the late, great MF DOOM) will remain a forever standout for its jazz-forward production, multi-dimensional sampling techniques, and ground-breaking distinction in the underground hip-hop scene. Its paramount value among the musical realms surpasses mere monetary […]
Electronic
The long awaited return of Project Pabst has officially been confirmed with an announcement drop and location reveal hitting the festivals’ socials. On July 27 and 28th, Project Pabst will invite music lovers to downtown Portland’s waterfront park to take in the sounds of diverse talents like Billy Idol, T-Pain, Big Thief, STRFKR, Shannon and the […]
East Coast
With the essence of spring coming to full bloom in the northern hemisphere, the days have continued to grow increasingly brighter, longer, and warmer. These are just some of our favorite signs that awaken us to festival season distinctively striking at our door. For those who fill their live music cups and soul necessities in […]
Hip-Hop
As a fan long before her official studio debut (‘See.SZA.Run’ anyone?), I’ve witnessed the dizzying rise of fame for the songstress known as SZA, real name Solána Imani Rowe. Her honest and emotionally charged lyrics strike a chord with listeners from around the world, but especially those in the throes of adulthood, young love and […]
Funk
East coast funk-hop aficionados Lettuce are blowing plumes of smoke through every stop on the current leg of their US tour. Fresh off the tracks of their 2022 release Unify, the six piece future funk band headlined Denver Comes Alive earlier this month at the Mission Ballroom. As one of the most vibrant music scenes […]
East Coast
Gather up, Hulagans! Suwannee Hulaween music festival makes its return on Thursday, October 27th through Sunday October 30th. For those who don’t know, Hulaween has absolutely been the place to be on Halloween weekend for the past 9 years. With this year’s “Horror-Disco” theme and an average attendance of 20,000 people, there is sure to […]
![Denver’s Freshest New Band Midnight.Blue Soothes Souls with Debut Album “Breathe” [Review + Interview]](https://i0.wp.com/composeyourselfmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/midnight.bluepromo.jpeg?resize=600%2C375&ssl=1)
Album Review
Music has always been about that feeling for me. You know, that undeniable, unshakeable, and unbreakable vibration of sound – specifically the ones curated to connect and express. The type of sound that shatters all egos and ignites that palpable harmony of kindness and unison. Those compilations and works of audible art that truly touch […]
Hip-Hop
Continuing through a capricious year filled with historical overrulings, domestic terrorism hearings and more unparalleled threats to basic human rights, this generation of people power has reached a level of precedence I’d yet to see in my lifetime. This means that the work of artists and musicians is more crucial than ever, whether it’s inspiring […]