Dr. Steven Gamble
I’m a researcher of popular music, and I spend a lot of time thinking and writing about how listening to music makes people feel. A colleague once described me as “relentlessly interpretative”. (I’m not sure it was a compliment, but there you go).
Coming Soon!
Available for preorder
How Music Empowers
Listening to Modern Rap and Metal
How Music Empowers argues that empowerment is the key to unlocking the long-standing mystery of how music moves us. Drawing upon cutting-edge research in embodied cognitive science, psychology, and cultural studies, the book provides a new way of understanding how music affects listeners.
Through listening to rap and metal, individuals have the potential to redefine themselves, gain resilience, connect with other people, and make a difference in society.
Recent posts
Beats to Quarantine to: lofi hip hop during COVID-19 (part 1)
Introduction In the past, I have joked that I do not trust anyone whose YouTube suggestions do not include lofi hip hop radio - beats to relax/study to. Since the start of the COVID-19 global pandemic, as we (privileged sheltered) have receded to our homes to continue...
Gendered Commentary on ‘WAP’ (Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion)
Introduction This blog post examines YouTube comments on 'WAP', performed by Cardi B and featuring Megan Thee Stallion. The aim is to demonstrate some of the data collection and thematic analysis methods that inform the Digital Flows research project, so it can be...
News: MSCA Individual Fellowship
It's a strange time to have good news to share: I certainly don't want to vaingloriously distract from the difficult global circumstances, but perhaps it's nice to hear about exciting new opportunities. With that in mind… I'm delighted to announce that in September...