The prolific UK producer discusses Roland gear, mysterious vinyl releases, and collaborating with Thom Yorke and Jonathan Zawada.
Born in Puerto Rico and based in Los Angeles, Pachyman creates hypnotic tracks that take the listener on a pilgrimage to an unusual space.
Original SP-404 designer Kenji Yamada and current project leader Takeo Shirato discuss the 404 concept, its widespread popularity, and more.
FEATURES
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Meet brothers Stefan and Yavor Lilov of L’Eclair, and find out how the group is elbowing its way to the front of the neo-psych pack.
The Human League and Heaven 17 founder Martyn Ware steps back in time to discuss a career spent at the intersection of music and technology.
The Canadian DJ discusses how he infuses his EDM sets with a raw punk rock edge, blending high-energy beats with live drumming on V-Drums and an SPD-SX.
The intellectual multi-instrumentalist discusses her new album and how music has always been about the dogged pursuit of self-realization.
LISTENING GUIDE
Explore trip-hop from its early days to the current renaissance centering on a new generation of artists mining the genre's laidback beats.
Jim Keltner has been a go-to session drummer since the '70s. From ex-Beatles to Bob Dylan to Steely Dan, here’s a taste of the legendary player.
Synthesizers in music production brought about a massive cultural shift. Take a trip into this groundbreaking genre.
The trailblazer combined synthesizers, tight songwriting chops, and an evolving glam sci-fi image. Probe the outer limits of his discography.
Stones Throw Records challenges perceptions, demonstrating how a scrappy indie can create a deep cultural impact. Explore these essentials.
Learn
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The TR-707 and TR-727 drum machines are more than just coveted vintage units. Learn about the ways in which modders have made them their own.
Learn the origin story of vocal harmonizers and processors and explore the science behind creating vocal harmonies with music technology.
Take your sound design into widescreen territory with the GALAXIAS Super Instrument, and learn to craft massive pads for electronic genres.
Daru Jones has a style all his own. The hybrid drummer discusses touring with Jack White, custom kits, and the importance of individuality in hip-hop.
SOUND BEHIND THE SONG
Before the legendary producer was a household name, Steve Albini used the TR-606 to achieve the punishing drum sounds of "I'm a Mess."
With a JUNO-60 and an army of Roland samplers, Animal Collective created an unforgettable melodic kaleidoscope: “My Girls."
“Acid Tracks” spread like wildfire from Chicago across the globe. Learn how the TB-303 gave birth to a smiling generation of clubbers.
Talk about '80s music, and a-ha's era-defining hit single “Take On Me” comes to mind. Get the story of this classic and the JUNO-60's role.
V-STAGE SERIES
Roland Future Design Lab
The Making of Tone Explorer: An Interview with Kazuyoshi Sasamori of Roland Future Design Lab
Learn about the Tone Explorer concept, challenges, and what might come next from Roland Future Design Lab.
Roland Future Design Lab at Audio Developer Conference 2024
Follow the RFDL team recently to the birthplace of trip-hop, Bristol, UK, for the annual ADC 2024 Audio Developer Conference.
Tone Explorer: Technology Preview for GALAXIAS
Tone Explorer is a technology preview from Roland Future Design Lab, made available for music creators to try as a GALAXIAS Labs Experiment.
DRUMS
The V-Drums Acoustic Design (VAD) series combines the Roland technology drummers love with classic acoustic drum set styling.
Dive into DW’s inspiring legacy as the company enters the world of high-fidelity audio drum samples with DW Soundworks™.
Chris Wood does more behind the kit than just playing drums. Learn how his hybrid kit informs Bastille’s uplifting, layered sound.
The "Superstition" groove reminds us that, alongside his songwriting and musicianship, Wonder is one of the greatest drummers around.
Led Zeppelin reinvented the 1927 blues classic as a head-bobbing riff fest. Recreate the John Bonham beat that continues to inspire drummers.
Our Contributors
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Arielle Silver is an LA-based singer-songwriter, literary writer, and yoga teacher. She was nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Best New Poets. Her latest album, A Thousand Tiny Torches, is out now.
Brian Lamb AKA Unit:E is a Roland Cloud Academy instructor and admin of the MC-707 and MC-101 Facebook user group. As a DJ, he's participated in countless events across Hawaii and the West Coast.
Gino Sorcinelli is the writer, creator, and editor of Micro-Chop, a Substack newsletter that dissects beatmaking, DJing, music production, rapping, and sampling. His articles have appeared on Ableton, HipHopDX, Okayplayer, Passion of the Weiss, Red Bull Music Academy, and Reverb.
Kat is a music and culture journalist with a decade of digital and print experience and a career emphasis in electronic dance. Bylines include Billboard Dance, Spin, MTV News, Discogs, Mixmag, Miami New Times and more.
A FEW MINUTES WITH
'80s pop icon Nik Kershaw takes a trip down memory lane, revealing the Roland technologies behind hit albums Human Racing and The Riddle.
The legendary songwriter and performer discusses Roland synthesizers, positive thinking, and music’s power to transform.
Devo's cult status remains indelible. Co-founder Gerald V. Casale reminisces about the band and its longstanding association with Roland.
Where some people see a sampler, Lionclad sees a world of possibilities. She shares about mixtapes, puppet shows, analog synths, and more.
The prolific UK producer discusses Roland gear, mysterious vinyl releases, and collaborating with Thom Yorke and Jonathan Zawada.