Sound Behind the Song: “Jupiter 4” by Sharon Van Etten
Mike Sparks
June 17, 2022
Drawn to the unique characteristics of the JUPITER-4, Sharon Van Etten found songwriting inspiration in the iconic synthesizer.
Mike Sparks
Mike is a musician, composer, and writer from Seattle. He is guitarist/vocalist in Reader and creates solo experimental music as Noonmoon.
Sound Behind the Song: “Acid Tracks” by Phuture
Mike Sparks
March 3, 2021
“Acid Tracks” spread like wildfire from Chicago across the globe. Learn how the TB-303 gave birth to a smiling generation of clubbers.
Sound Behind the Song: “Blue Drive” by Oneohtrix Point Never
Mike Sparks
February 17, 2021
“Blue Drive” moves like a meditative improvisation, with no calculated beginning or end. Oneohtrix Point Never guides us using the JUNO-60.
Sound Behind the Song: “Hunter” by Bjork
Mike Sparks
September 9, 2020
The spiraling of the TR-909 on “Hunter” weaves a web of percussion. Immediately, the track draws the listener into a world of intrigue.
Dynamix II: On Miami Bass, the TR-808, and Finding the Perfect Tempo
Mike Sparks
August 26, 2020
David Noller and Todd Walker of Dynamix II discuss their history, the Miami sound, and the quest to find an 808 in the 1980s.
A Guy Called Gerald: The Man from Manchester
Mike Sparks
July 27, 2020
From “Voodoo Ray” to blueprinting the jungle genre with “Black Secret Technology,” A Guy Called Gerald pushes the boundaries of electronic dance music.
8 Secrets of the 808
Mike Sparks
July 3, 2020
Explore these eight lesser-known tips and help fully utilize the beatmaking potential of Roland Cloud’s powerful TR-808 plugin.