Tag Archives: music

SoundCloud SoundCloud Next Wave: An Inside Look at Berlin’s Diverse Techno Scene

“I think Berlin – why it’s such an amazing place – is the freedom, and so many people doing creative things, they come here to be creative, to meet other creative people, to bounce ideas off of people, to collaborate.” — Doc Sleep

The final SoundCloud Next Wave installment,“Room 4 Resistance,” premieres today – check it out below!

For the final episode of 2017, SoundCloud returns to its hometown of Berlin to highlight the women-led Room 4 Resistance, a collective of DJs, producers, music journalists, and promoters working to carve out a safe space for creative expression that’s free of judgement in the electronic scene. The collective honors the political legacies of house and techno–genres founded and nurtured by marginalized communities–through providing visibility for underrepresented artists by throwing parties inclusive of all races, genders and sexual orientations. “Room 4 Resistance to me is a place for anyone to come to be free, to experiment, to find community, to hear good music,” says Doc Sleep, a DJ and Room 4 Resistance resident.

Following core members of Room 4 Resistance — Roxymore, Nazira, Luz, Doc Sleep and Yuko Asanuma— SoundCloud Next Wave gives viewers an inside-look at Berlin’s diverse club culture and the artists challenging the electronic music scene’s homogenization. The episode culminates in the collective’s infamous monthly party, capturing the warmth, vibrancy and freedom thriving outside of the mainstream.

Room 4 Resistance’s impact extends beyond Berlin thanks in large part to the internet and platforms like SoundCloud, which the collective uses to share mixes and discover new artists. As Nazira states, “SoundCloud really helps with connecting all the puzzle pieces.”

With episodes covering local scenes emerging in London, (“Different Settings”), Brazil (“Visão”),  New York City (“Extended Mix”), Toronto (“Northern Stars”) and Los Angeles (“Degenerate Generation”), SoundCloud Next Wave highlights the exciting local creator communities being shaped, shared, and celebrated on SoundCloud everyday.

But the journey is far from over — stay tuned in 2018 for more cities and more emerging music scenes from around the globe.

SoundCloud The 2017 SoundCloud Playback

It’s that time of year when we take a look back at what’s happened in the world of creativity on SoundCloud over the last 12 months. From Grammy wins and Grammy nominations, to topping the charts, 2017 has been a big year for artists on SoundCloud.

We’ve amped up this year’s list for a total of 17 categories that touch every corner of the SoundCloud ecosystem, from hip-hop, pop, dance and rock, to what’s new, now and next in music culture. This year’s list celebrates the diverse creativity on the platform and within our community–everything from the buzziest tags in 2017 like ChillHop and Vaporwave, to the year’s most creative cities (welcome to the list Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Seoul!).

Congrats to everyone on the list, and a huge thank you to the SoundCloud community for your continued creativity. We can’t wait to see what you create in 2018!

*The above information was compiled based on indicators and actions taken from across the SoundCloud community including streams, likes, reposts, shares and location.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SoundCloud SoundCloud Next Wave: Exploring UK Afrobeats, The Emerging Sound Keeping London Moving

“Different Settings,” the latest installment of SoundCloud Next Wave, premieres today – watch below! This episode spotlights the UK’s rising Afrobeats scene, diving headfirst into the genre’s unpredictable fusion of sounds and its many substyles, from the percussive blast of Afro Trap and Afro Swing to the trippy Afro Wave and beyond.

Viewers are taken on a ride through London’s streets as Afro B, one of the genre’s key figures, meets with the innovative and globally-influenced artists who are spiking their West African roots with dancehall, hip-hop, and grime. Afro B has seen the genre’s rise first-hand, noting that “in the beginning of the scene, literally every artist would upload their song on SoundCloud and would literally get a million plays.”

Featured artists include UK Afrobeats pioneers Belly Squad, a trio comprised of Ross, Ty and Yung Max; Yxng Bane, a rising East London artist blending R&B sensibilities with Congolese melodies; and Azeez Fashola aka Naira Marley, an emerging Afro Swing artist shaped largely by his Nigerian background.

“Different Settings” traces Afrobeats’ founding and tells the story of artists who stayed true to their heritage, found their voices, and inadvertently reinvented the sound of London’s dance floors. Now these artists are taking their homegrown movement further, using SoundCloud – which as Yxng Bane points out has “made it easier for the whole world, it’s just a click away” – to propel their music and the UK Afrobeats genre worldwide. 

SoundCloud Next Wave highlights the exciting local creator communities being shaped, shared, and celebrated on SoundCloud everyday. Previous episodes tapped into local scenes emerging in Brazil (“Visão”), New York City (“Extended Mix”), Toronto (“Northern Stars”), and Los Angeles’ (“Degenerate Generation”).

Stay tuned for the final episode of the year, spotlighting Berlin, premiering on December 13th.