'80s pop icon Nik Kershaw takes a trip down memory lane, revealing the Roland technologies behind hit albums Human Racing and The Riddle.
EXPLORE PEOPLE
David Noller and Todd Walker of Dynamix II discuss their history, the Miami sound, and the quest to find an 808 in the 1980s.
Since he was a young person, music has brought joy to John P. Kee. Now he shares that same experience with audiences all over the world.
Cerebral one moment, floor-shaking the next—Brian Lindgren’s project confounds notions of how an electronic release should sound and feel.
The Birmingham-based virtuoso discusses his jazz roots, touring with Sam Smith, scoring for the screen, and more.
Sound Behind the Song: “Heliosphan” by Aphex Twin
Kristin Robinson
“Heliosphan” relies on the drums to act as a driving force. Even when the track borders on chaos, the TR-909 maintains perfect time.
Sound Behind the Song: “Energy Flash” by Joey Beltram
Peter Kirn
30 years after its release, Joey Beltram’s “Energy Flash” remains one of the definitive techno tracks. It still sits easily in a DJ set.
How Yellow Magic Orchestra Launched the 808 Revolution
Evan Shamoon
It’s not a stretch to say that few bands were as formative in the early evolution of electronic music as Yellow Magic Orchestra.
Sound Behind the Song: “Jam On It” by Newcleus
Ari Rosenschein
“Jam On It” by Newcleus is a true hip-hop classic. The track is dense with groove, creative production, and lyrical panache.
Drum Machine Classics: 10 808 Tracks You May Not Know
Jake Uitti
The Roland TR-808 can create everything from a love song to a raging anthem. No wonder genres from industrial to rock to rap welcome the drum machine.
EXPLORE 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.
Artist/designer/musician Yuri Suzuki talks about his love of Roland gear, creating 808303.studio, and musical life during quarantine.
If music has no boundaries, why does its genesis usually occur within four walls? Biomusic is rooted in non-human sounds.
Alin Dimitriu, Saint Ezekiel, Lightfoot, and Ski Beatz share the challenges and rewards of sample pack creation and give tips to producers.
Instagram introduced a new feature called Reels to create and discover short, entertaining videos. Learn how artists can utilize it.