—   The Rest Archive on Spotify
Join  11,000+  members

Discover different music || Break out of the algorithm || And learn a thing or two

Christian Rock Turned into Top-Notch Reggae

Christian Rock Turned into Top-Notch Reggae

Christian rock emerged during the Jesus Movement, a Christian revival that began on the West Coast of the United States in the late 1960s. Artists in the genre blended rock music with Christian themes, messages and values, often garnering as much rejection from the church as ridicule from non-believers.

One of the genre’s key figures was Mylon LeFevre. Born into the Southern gospel family The LeFevres, Mylon began performing at a young age. Among one of his many later projects he fronted a band simply named Mylon. 

The band’s self-titled debut LP, released in 1970, marked a significant shift in LeFevre's career, moving away from his Southern gospel roots toward a more rock-oriented sound that fused blues, gospel and Southern rock. (His foray into secular music—including collaborations with George Harrison, Eric Clapton and Elton John—came to an abrupt end after a near-fatal heroin overdose in 1973, leading him to recommit to his faith and return to Christian music.)

"Peace Begins Within", a track from Mylon’s debut LP (see here for a brilliant live recording from 1971), was recently reimagined by Nadia McAnuff & The SOA as a top-notch reggae ditty. With its vintage vibe and a horn section reminiscent of Mulatu Astatke’s music, it’s hard to believe it was recorded only five years ago. McAnuff’s cover is our song of the day:

Listen

Clock out, Tune in, Take off 🚀

Clock out, Tune in, Take off 🚀

The concept of axis mundi, the world axis, has long been a symbol of transcendence and connection between different realms of existence. In many spiritual and philosophical traditions, it represents the bridge between the earthly and the divine and embodies the desire to rise above constraints and reach a state of ultimate freedom.

But freedom, in this context, isn’t just about liberation from physical constraints—it’s about escaping the mental, societal and existential boundaries that keep us tied to the ground. The sky, birds, angels and even mythological figures like Icarus symbolize the human desire to break free.

Today’s song, “One of Those Days” by Zack Bia feat. Lil Yachty and 347aidan, taps into that feeling of liberation. With its floaty instrumentals and lyrics like “I hope that they don't find me now / I'm hidin’ way above the clouds […] / I just wanna fly right now,” the groovy track becomes a more relatable axis mundi: a brief connection to a place where worries fade, and freedom feels tangible. It’s not always about reaching some spiritual transcendence, though; sometimes it’s just about hitting pause on the grind.

So, why not call it a day and take off? Maybe not with wings, but with a killer playlist.

Listen

Live Longer by Sharing this Tender Hyperpop Gem

Live Longer by Sharing this Tender Hyperpop Gem

With her song “family and friends”, French singer, producer and DJ Oklou offers a tender, bittersweet reflection on the importance of human connection.

While it’s widely understood that healthy relationships are vital for our emotional and mental well-being, their link to physical health might be less apparent. However, research shows that people with strong social ties not only enjoy stronger immune systems but also live longer. Social connections have even been associated with a lower risk of chronic illnesses, including heart disease.

So, as you listen to today’s song, which is a trance- and ambient-influenced hyperpop gem, why not share it with a friend or family member? We’ve made the post featuring today’s song publicly available on our website so you can easily pass it along to someone special.

Listen

The Rest is stirring up my algorithm and solves the first challenge every morning in the studio: What music should I play today?
Carla Crameri, Graphic Designer
It’s no secret that music journalism is in trouble. Pitchfork’s imminent integration into GQ and the uncertain future of its Sunday Review column leaves behind another gap on the internet for rediscovering music. This is where The Rest offers a promising solution by providing in-depth discussions and context for songs of all eras that may not fit into the typical release cycle.
The Wire Magazine, Issue 482, April 2024
I already have three new favorite songs since subscribing to The Rest.
Elen F., Writer and Tattoo Artist
0:00
/0:15

Algorithms keep giving you more of the same. Our newsletter is dedicated to the rest. A song and an interesting story about it, every weekday.

What It Is

In our newsletter, we feature a song and an insightful story about it. You can enjoy the song on your preferred streaming platform while the story will give you something to ponder and discuss with your family, friends, and colleagues.

Why We Do It

We have been working in music for many years and always enjoyed listening to exciting songs from different genres and eras. These days the recommendation mechanisms and paid campaigns on music platforms make it increasingly difficult to get to know new and different music. To help you break out of the algorithm, we developed The Rest—a refreshing, insightful, and snackable music newsletter.

How We Do It

We listen to a lot of music. The songs we pick have, in one way or another, pop potential, but so far they haven't been performed on the biggest stages or made it into cultural memory. Before we decide on a song, we always ask ourselves: Is its story exciting and interesting enough that we would want to tell it to our friends?

People

We are open to any music genre and era and try to offer as diverse a selection as possible. In order not to be limited by our own preferences and patterns, we rely on a rotating team of contributors with different backgrounds.

Publishing Team
Anuschka Berthelius
Editor
Publishing Team
Arci Friede
Editor-in-Chief
Contributor
Binta Kopp
Photographer, DJ
Contributing Editor
Conor McTernan
Journalist, Curator, Strategist
Publishing Team
Denise Haeberli
Art Director
Publishing Team
Isabel Flückiger
Managing Editor
Contributor
Jamal Nxedlana
Artist, Cultural Entrepreneur
Editor
Livia Grossenbacher
Writer, Journalist
Contributor
Mohamed Ghabri
Artist Manager, DJ, Radio Host
Editor
Oratile Mashazi
Writer, Recording Artist, Performer
Publishing Team
Remo Bitzi
Editor-in-Chief

Why The Paywall?

The essence of The Rest is an appreciation for deeply human traits, such as random taste, desire for variety, and irrational passion—all of which we have cultivated with a lot of dedication over the years. And then there is the actual work: listening to dozens of songs every day, researching exciting stories, and putting together a newsletter that reads as nicely as it looks. If you want to do this every weekday and do it really well, it's gotta be more than just a side hustle—it should be a proper job. And a proper job that consumes most of your time should pay the bills. Fair, right?

Editorial comments and musical inputs?

Subscribe