What makes a synth inspiring to play? Artists like Suzanne Ciani, DiViNCi, Dorit Chrysler, Larry Heard, and Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith share thoughts on interface design – from tactile control to visual flow – and how it influence their creativity, expression, and performance.
For Karol (a.k.a. Caught in Joy), the studio is one enormous instrument – a place where sequencers, synthesizers, tape machines, guitars, and software become part of the same performance. We talk about repetition, analog sound, building his own tools, and creating music for a distracted world.
Roland’s TR-909 began life as a commercial failure, then became one of the defining instruments of techno, house, and electronic music. In this excerpt from the brand-new Bjooks book BEAT GEMS, we explore how the 909 found its sound, its scene, and its place in music history.
All 3 parts of the documentary: In a studio wired for discovery, Robin Rimbaud – better known as Scanner – reflects on three decades of shaping sound at the edges of music and art. This three-part documentary explores modular synthesis as a tool for curiosity, chance, and constant reinvention.