The Grammy Award-winning producer behind scores of massive hits traces his signature sound to his Roland beginnings.
Submerge yourself in this starting point for an experimental genre of rock music that floats, swirls, and unfolds.
9 mins read
The prolific percussionist shares how an insatiable curiosity for rhythm fueled his journey from Helsinki to Hollywood.
Meet the man on the throne for the Josh Homme supergroup and learn how he uses V-Drums with traditional percussion to create sonic landscapes.
FEATURES
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Explore the enduring influence of the R-8 Human Rhythm Composer on a host of musical styles in Mexico, a land of deep tradition.
6 mins read
The outfit's latest rekindles its bond with the Metropole Orkest, as Bill Laurance’s harmonic style enters new orchestral and jazz frontiers.
An intimate quest for connection, the latest release from TEED is a shimmering, memory-soaked blend of tender synths and emotional clarity.
DEEP DIVES
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
Nashville has seen changes over the years, mirroring the growth of its entertainment industry. These musicians contribute to the fabric of Music City.
It’s been a long journey for the tech house genre. We trace its history and development from the earliest days to the present.
With the world hit by a pandemic, live events were postponed or canceled. In the Coronavirus Era, virtual concerts have taken their place.
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.
Leftfield came from the same primordial soup as the greatest British dance acts. Explore this iconic track and the TB-303's role in it.
Detroit’s enigmatic duo Drexciya submerged themselves in Afrofuturist myth. "Rublicks Cube" is a transcendent TR-606 classic.
Here's how the artist's omnipresent '90s hit "Praise You" harnessed the Roland TB-303 to become a radio and dancefloor sensation.
SPOTLIGHT
Find out how the Los Angeles nonprofit organization has played a key role in helping participants secure both housing and employment.
10 mins read
Our Contributors
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Ari is Sr. Manager, Brand & Product Copy for Roland. He lives in Seattle with his wife and dogs and enjoys the woods, rain, and coffee of his region.
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.
Francis Preve is an Austin-based music technology consultant and veteran producer whose discography includes Top 10 releases on Beatport and Billboard. His work as a professor includes developing curricula for the Texas state school system and serving on advisory boards for SXSW and The Moog Foundation.
Matthew Presley is a Product Manager for Zenbeats and Roland Cloud. He lives in Austin, Texas where he plays with his band Bali Yaaah.
TECH AND TREND
Run a search for “Octapad” or “Octapadist,” and you'll find a vast musical community. Learn how the instrument became a household word.
Drummer XR blends drumming, green screen, and mixed-reality professional Matt Workman's immersive 3D world-building chops.
There are specific things musicians can do to foster wellness and stay creative, despite the challenges we all face right now.
NFTs are intersecting with the music industry in dramatic ways. Find out the many ways non-fungible tokens can help boost your career.
They say that for a career in music you need to be tenacious, and I had been throughout my twenties and beyond. Can you return to music?