9 thinkers, books, and ideas connected to this field.
American musician who co-founded Underoath as its original vocalist and drummer — and whose later solo acoustic work under his own name addresses spiritual and personal themes more directly than the metalcore format allowed.
British pop artist and songwriter who spent a decade as a behind-the-scenes hitmaker (writing 'Fancy' for Iggy Azalea, 'I Love It' for Icona Pop) before achieving mainstream breakthrough with the Brat album in 2024.
Scottish singer-songwriter who was a major figure in the British folk revival and psychedelic music of the 1960s — known for Catch the Wind, Sunshine Superman, and Mellow Yellow — and who studied Transcendental Meditation with the Beatles at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram.
British musician and songwriter who is one of the best-selling musical artists in history — known for Rocket Man, Tiny Dancer, and Crocodile Rock — whose flamboyant persona, addiction struggles, and AIDS philanthropy through the Elton John AIDS Foundation have made him as culturally significant off-stage as on.
American singer-songwriter who was a founding figure of rockabilly and country music at Sun Records — and whose late-career American Recordings series with Rick Rubin (1994–2006) produced the most critically celebrated work of his life, making him a cross-generational icon.
American singer-songwriter who began as a Brill Building staff writer and became one of the best-selling solo artists in music history — and whose Rick Rubin-produced 12 Songs (2005) stripped away decades of orchestration to reveal the essential quality of his songwriting.
American rapper who built one of the most successful independent hip-hop careers of his generation — refusing record label deals, self-producing all his music, and accumulating streaming success before signing on his own terms.
American rock musician and songwriter who led Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers — producing a string of classic rock anthems over four decades — and whose Wildflowers album (produced by Rick Rubin in 1994) represented his most personal artistic statement.
American playwright and composer who created Hamilton — the hip-hop musical that transformed Broadway, made the Founding Fathers into pop culture, and became the most culturally significant American musical since West Side Story.