Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Kuniyuki, and the Egyptian Lover explore the outer limits of the TR-1000 in Los Angeles.
Deep into a five-decade noise odyssey, Masami Akita offers the philosophies behind Merzbow’s surrealist approach to sound.
Learn how the Aerophone series offers wind players a versatile and expressive way to explore new sounds and performance styles while staying true to familiar techniques.
FEATURES
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From panels to interviews to performances, here is a rundown of Roland's presence at Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) 2025.
K-pop groups increasingly claim the spotlight on the world stage. Industry insiders give us insights into what makes the style so popular.
The visionary flutist opens up about his musical journey, working with icons, and embracing the Aerophone Brisa.
KiNK speaks about his unique upbringing, Roland faves, and the joy of finding classic breaks on floppy disks.
In a world of algorithms and automation, Mocky's latest release pushes back against the machine and puts choir over code.
LISTENING GUIDE
The trailblazer combined synthesizers, tight songwriting chops, and an evolving glam sci-fi image. Probe the outer limits of his discography.
Explore the pioneering Jazzie B of Soul II Soul—from bona fide classics to fresh collaborations and all points in between.
The legendary sonic architect shares exclusive insights about the technology and techniques behind some of his landmark productions.
From Joni Mitchell to Steely Dan, Tom Scott reflects on unforgettable moments from iconic collaborations that shaped his career—and left a lasting impact on the musical landscape.
Explore trip-hop from its early days to the current renaissance centering on a new generation of artists mining the genre's laidback beats.
Learn
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Design sounds using iconic Roland synths that share the same language: the JUNO-60, JUNO-106, JUPITER-8, JUPITER-4, PROMARS, and SH-101.
Get a behind-the-scenes look at how the TR-1000 integrated input from the creative community into the final product.
Five versatile woodwind players experience the Aerophone Brisa for the first time and share their initial impressions.
The Aerophone Brisa Engineering team discusses the power and potential of the latest addition to the family of instruments.
SOUND BEHIND THE SONG
“Caribbean Blue” by Enya is a tapestry of layered vocals over a bed of JUNO-60 pads. Its sounds evoke the pull of nature on the human psyche.
The cultural ramifications of "Big Fun" are difficult to measure. Inner City drafted the sonic palette for a movement.
"Closer" by Nine Inch Nails is built around a densely layered groove featuring the TR-606. The edgy track achieved great chart success for the band.
“Axel F” is the inescapable theme song of the classic '80s romp Beverly Hills Cop. Learn about the oddball hit and its pioneering creator.
TR-1000 Rhythm Creator
Roland Future Design Lab
What Is AI For Music?
Find out how Roland is leading the conversation around the ever-evolving technological landscape and finding ways to work with it responsibly.
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 “Walk This Way” beat dances around the guitar and vocal rhythms to create one of the most memorable grooves in rock and hip-hop.
Taylor Hawkins was a hero to drummers everywhere. This "Behind the Beat" honors his musical legacy and the power of the Foo Fighters classic.
Dive into DW’s inspiring legacy as the company enters the world of high-fidelity audio drum samples with DW Soundworks™.
During 2020, many of us turned to creative pursuits while at home. For Simon Gottliffe, his positive escape came from drumming.
Rhythm is the root of drumming, but there are many paths to learning basic drum beats and concepts. Let's explore how to rock right away.
Our Contributors
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Heywood is a lifelong Californian who now splits time between Los Angeles and the high desert. He is co-founder of the record label Chain Letter Collective and founded Chain Letter Press as a publishing home for both his creative output and copywriting. He lives with his spouse and their dog, Scully.
Eric is a freelance pop culture blogger with bylines in Rolling Stone, Vice, Pitchfork, and Nylon. He is also a DJ, producer, and pro-wrestling critic.
Harold Heath is a former DJ and producer who writes about music for DJ Mag, Mixmag, Attack Magazine, and others.
Shay Leonia is a singer and songwriter from Englewood, NJ. She is a music industry consultant and social media manager at 44th Minute Media. Shay is obsessed with great music and decent coffee and hopes to one day perfect the art of Szechuan cooking.
A FEW MINUTES WITH
Keyboard virtuoso Kyle Hollingsworth of The String Cheese Incident talks gear history, love of live performance, and songwriting craft.
'80s pop icon Nik Kershaw takes a trip down memory lane, revealing the Roland technologies behind hit albums Human Racing and The Riddle.
On the eve of the Silver Panda remix of "Lift Me Up," Moby discusses his philosophies on sharing music, collaboration, and much more.
Brooklyn trio Nation of Language demonstrates how its '80s-synth pop credentials are not just future past but future present.
The prolific player shares her thoughts on touring with RAYE, finding success in the music industry, and her Roland gear.