This reading made me realize how much emotion hides in tiny timing details! I never thought a snare drum hit slightly late could create that “laid-back” groove feeling. It’s wild how West African traditions—like stomping/clapping in the ring shout—evolved into modern drumset backbeats.
After reading this paper the idea that “soul” comes from human imperfection stuck with me. Even drum machines today try to fake those micro-delays to sound more “human.” But when tech goes too far , music feels robotic—like it’s missing a body. On the flip side, artists like George Lewis use computers to add new layers of creativity, blending human and machine in improvised jazz. I also found the link between body movement and rhythm fascinating. Bass drum = foot, snare = hand. That connection to dance and ritual explains why groove feels so physical. It’s not just sound; it’s like the music is a body moving.
This made me listen differently. Now I notice how tiny delays or “mistakes” give music its heartbeat. Even pop stars like Madonna try to inject “soul” into electronic beats—but maybe the real magic is already in those micro-moments we feel but don’t always hear.