The legendary songwriter and performer discusses Roland synthesizers, positive thinking, and music’s power to transform.
Synthesizers in music production brought about a massive cultural shift. Take a trip into this groundbreaking genre.
8 mins read
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.
The trailblazer combined synthesizers, tight songwriting chops, and an evolving glam sci-fi image. Probe the outer limits of his discography.
FEATURES
See All »Synthesizers in music production brought about a massive cultural shift. Take a trip into this groundbreaking genre.
8 mins read
Find out how the art-rock classic “O Superman” kicked off Anderson's career by transforming the mundane into the sinister.
Learn about the legendary percussionist's family legacy, powerhouse collaborations, and career highlights.
The Roland and BOSS Lifetime Achievement Awards honor artists while providing a timeline of how these musicians and instruments shaped music.
DEEP DIVES
Cerebral one moment, floor-shaking the next—Brian Lindgren’s project confounds notions of how an electronic release should sound and feel.
Founded by A. G. Cook, PC Music is a label that spawned an entire genre, garnering widespread notoriety in the process.
Roland was a key part of the sampling movement—redefining what music could be. Take a guided tour of Roland samplers from past to present
METZ discusses the band’s history, helping small venues survive, and playing their new album live at the Toronto Opera House.
The TR-606 endures for its crisp, punchy sound, as well as trigger capabilities and extensive mods. Find out why it remains a classic.
SOUND BEHIND THE SONG
At the heart of Tangerine Dream’s hypnotic “White Eagle” lies a secret—one kept between the band and a pair of JUPITER-8s.
Detroit’s enigmatic duo Drexciya submerged themselves in Afrofuturist myth. "Rublicks Cube" is a transcendent TR-606 classic.
In the mid-'80s, there was little edgier in the mainstream than NYC’s notorious Beastie Boys, and "Paul Revere" was their origin story.
Returning from an infamous hiatus, James Murphy leads LCD Soundsystem through a dark labyrinth of dance-punk rhythms.
SPOTLIGHT
From rock and roll frontwomen to Grammy-nominated artists, learn how these musicians are achieving their sonic dreams.
18 mins read
Our Contributors
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Evan's work has appeared in a host of print and online publications, including Rolling Stone, Wired, The Fader, and Tenderly.
Jordan Blum resides in Philadelphia and holds an MFA in Fiction. He’s Editor-in-Chief of The Bookends Review, author of Jethro Tull: Every Album, Every Song and Dream Theater: Every Album, Every Song, Associate Editor at PopMatters and a contributor to CoS, Kerrang!, Metal Injection, and PROG.
A writer by fate, journalist by passion, and storyteller by vision. Bylines at: REVOLT, Grammys.com, Complex, Discogs, Vibe Magazine, Okayplayer, REVERB, and LEVEL Mag.
Mark is Roland Keys & Production Product Manager at Roland Corporation Australia. He has written and produced music for Universal Music recording artists, TV, theater, live shows, and theme parks, as well as being a successful recording artist himself.
TECH AND TREND
K-pop groups increasingly claim the spotlight on the world stage. Industry insiders give us insights into what makes the style so popular.
Grammy-winning Portugal. the Man is the first band to release its own cryptocurrency, the PTM Coin. Find out how and why.
From oil paintings to digital illustration, sculptures to industrial design, synthesizers as art are finally shining in the limelight.
Learn how the biggest musical acts are challenging audience attention spans by releasing lengthy albums in today's marketplace.
We’re spending more time than ever in front of computers and need a screen break. It can feel like we’re bouncing between platforms all day.