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
In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the TR-808 and 808 Day, Tadao Kikumoto graciously offered his time for this exclusive conversation.
Linafornia’s childhood and teenage years contained a broad range of melodies and tones.
With the world hit by a pandemic, live events were postponed or canceled. In the Coronavirus Era, virtual concerts have taken their place.
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.
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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Jack is Digital Marketing Assistant at Roland Corporation Australia. He is passionate about video games music production and composition, so outside of work, you'll likely find him holed up somewhere playing games or making music.
Jason is the Editor-in-Chief of EDM.com. He also DJs and produces electronic music under the moniker Fluencee.
The unofficial poet laureate of Tacoma, WA, Martin Douglas is an essayist, critic, and longtime music journalist. He has written for Pitchfork, KEXP.org, Seattle Weekly, respected hip-hop blog Passion of the Weiss, and many others.
Peter Kirn lives in Berlin and is editor of CDM.link. He is an electronic musician and technologist with a background in composition and musicology, producing both experimental and club music and speaking around the world about new expressive technologies.
TECH AND TREND
From oil paintings to digital illustration, sculptures to industrial design, synthesizers as art are finally shining in the limelight.
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.
Electronic music producer Christopher Kah highlights Roland instruments in ECHO, his new immersive 3D audio performances.
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.
2020 certainly hasn’t been a typical summer, but at least the world has had one reliable constant: good indie music. Here's a playlist to prove it.