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
Founded by A. G. Cook, PC Music is a label that spawned an entire genre, garnering widespread notoriety in the process.
The TR-606 endures for its crisp, punchy sound, as well as trigger capabilities and extensive mods. Find out why it remains a classic.
In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the TR-808 and 808 Day, Tadao Kikumoto graciously offered his time for this exclusive conversation.
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
Cerebral one moment, floor-shaking the next—Brian Lindgren’s project confounds notions of how an electronic release should sound and feel.
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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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.
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.
Based in Bath, United Kingdom Stuart is a veteran music tech journalist for outlets like Music Radar, Total Guitar, and more. In addition to his many publication credits, he was the editor of Rhythm.
Hannah Lockwood is an audio engineer/electronic music producer from Sydney. Her live sets are a collision of noise and harmony centered on modular synthesis. Hannah co-founded the Deep Seeded collective, showcasing the local live electronic artists and DJs actively breaking the boundaries of contemporary music.
TECH AND TREND
Welcome to the world that’s grown around SP-404 custom skins and beyond. Get lost in the art and hear from the creators in their own words.
Auris Presents shares what makes ARC Music Festival unique and how it’s grown into an unmissable event for Chicago and beyond.
If music has no boundaries, why does its genesis usually occur within four walls? Biomusic is rooted in non-human sounds.
Grammy-winning Portugal. the Man is the first band to release its own cryptocurrency, the PTM Coin. Find out how and why.
There are specific things musicians can do to foster wellness and stay creative, despite the challenges we all face right now.