It’s not a stretch to say that few bands were as formative in the early evolution of electronic music as Yellow Magic Orchestra.
EXPLORE HISTORY
Before the TR-808 and TR-909 changed hip-hop and dance, the CR-78 changed pop. Here's the story of the last Roland organ-top rhythm machine.
“Caribbean Blue” by Enya is a tapestry of layered vocals over a bed of JUNO-60 pads. Its sounds evoke the pull of nature on the human psyche.
Starkly beautiful, “Can You Feel It” is an iconic piece of 20th-century dance music. Mr. Fingers created it solely on the JUNO-60 and TR-909.
Often credited as the first deep house cut, “Mystery of Love” is a blueprint for the genre. Its pattern continues to captivate dancefloors.
Sam Gendel and the AE-30: Film, Album, Instrument
Ari Rosenschein
Acclaimed musician Sam Gendel took the AE-30 to Iceland to create an album and documentary. Learn how the Aerophone Pro inspired the project.
Andy Bell: Taking an Electronic Ride with GLOK
Ari Rosenschein
Legendary British musician Andy Bell creates immersive electronic worlds in his new project, GLOK. Read about the role Roland gear plays.
David Rosenthal: Always in a New York State of Mind
Ari Rosenschein
For David Rosenthal, Billy Joel’s keyboardist and Musical Director, NYC is home. Learn how he helped arrange an all-star tribute to the city.
Egyptian Lover and the Art of Staying Gold
Kyle Eustice
Egyptian Lover—born Gregory Broussard—began his love affair with the Roland TR-808 as a teenager. It has been his muse ever since.
LLNN: Brothers Creating Sound and Fury
Ari Rosenschein
The siblings of LLNN share a lifetime of gaming and music. They discuss unorthodox sound design, Roland gear, and the mystery of their name.
A Few Minutes with Stas THEE Boss
Jake Uitti
The bicoastal artist discusses the joy of sharing new musical sounds, making cosmic connections, and crafting beats with the DJ-808.
John P. Kee: A Lifetime of Uplifting Audiences with Song
Jake Uitti
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.
A Few Minutes with Scanner: Pursuing Immersive Sound
Andrew Emil
Robin “Scanner” Rimbaud explores many genres—from avant-garde to accessible. Find out how he’s gone from tape recorders to art institutions.
A Few Minutes with Gattobus: From Roland Fan to Family
SIRMA
Gattobus received his first Roland keyboard at 16. Find out how he became a sound designer for the SYSTEM-8, FANTOM, JUPITER-X, and others.
A Few Minutes with Rance Dopson: Visionary Dreamer
Ari Rosenschein
As a founder of 1500 Sound Academy, multi-instrumentalist/producer/writer Rance Dopson uses his experience to help young musicians grow.
EXPLORE TECH AND TREND
Founded by A. G. Cook, PC Music is a label that spawned an entire genre, garnering widespread notoriety in the process.
The video game industry is moving ever closer to cloud storage, digital distribution, and other online possibilities.
Take a deep dive into the way streaming recommendations work—and how online algorithms shape our musical listening habits.
Follow DJ Skratch Bastid and Pro A/V expert RomeDigs as they reflect on the power of combining livestreaming with in-person performance.
David Bellow, aka Lightfoot, and Michele Darling explain the process of establishing a groundbreaking SP-404 course at Berklee.