Ghazal

Ghazal originated in 13th-century Persia as a poetic form that somehow decided to become a musical genre, because who doesn't like a good bit of emotional angst paired with intricate melodies? It's characterised by romantic themes, often featuring a call and response style that sounds both heart-wrenching and a tad melodramatic, as if the singer just remembered they left the kettle on. This charmingly melancholic genre has been popularised across South Asia, and it’s likely that at least one person at a party will whip out a Ghazal to impress everyone whilst simultaneously reducing them to tears.