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Search: Suggestions Stories People Trend Tech History Learn DJ Drums Piano Production Synthesizer Wind History / Stories Underground Resistance, Submerge, and the Detroit Way Museum, artist incubator, distro, and record store—Submerge and Underground Resistance represents the interconnected Detroit music community. by Ari Rosenschein 54 mins read People / Stories Ten Female Producers Who March to the Beat of Their Own Drum These inspiring female producers have left their marks on the music industry and continue to carve space for newcomers. by SIRMA 11 mins read People / Stories / Trend Scene Report: Reykjavik’s Live Electronic Performers A group of eclectic Icelandic artists offer unique perspectives on electronic music performance, their home country, and more. by Rebecca Goldberg 29 mins read FEATURES See All » Sound Behind the Song: Axel F” by Harold Faltermeyer Axel F” is the inescapable theme song of the classic ’80s romp Beverly Hills Cop. Learn about the oddball hit and its pioneering creator. by Ari Rosenschein 5 mins read A Few Minutes with Jane Weaver Jane Weaver’s latest album is a self-contained universe. The artist discusses shaking up her studio process, cinema, and the groove. by Ari Rosenschein 11 mins read Nostalgia Galore: How Classic Songs Climb Back to the Top of the Charts Social media can reinvigorate vintage hits and help them reach broad new audiences. Here are some classic songs that got a second spin. by SIRMA 10 mins read A Few Minutes with Dani B of RAYE The prolific player shares her thoughts on touring with RAYE, finding success in the music industry, and her Roland gear. by Kirsten Spruch 8 mins read A Few Minutes with Night Tapes The brainchild of housemates recording late-night jams onto cassette, Night Tapes explains the process behind their atmospheric dream pop. by Danny Turner 12 mins read LISTENING GUIDE Listening Guide: An Intro to Madlib Here’s a place to start exploring the massive catalog of Madlib, one of the finest producers to ever touch a beat pad. by Martin Douglas 5 mins read Listening Guide: An Intro to the L.A. Beat Scene Many artists and releases played a pivotal role in shaping the L.A. Beat Scene. Here’s a variety of key sounds from a unique musical moment. by Gino Sorcinelli 14 mins read Listening Guide: Essential Women in Hip-Hop Before hip-hop was the world’s most dominant musical genre, several groundbreaking women blazed a fiery trail for others to follow. by Kyle Eustice 9 mins read Listening Guide: Essential Early Trance A string of artists and labels shaped trance across the ’90s and early aughts. Here’s a selection of tracks from the genre’s golden age. by Arjan Rietveld 8 mins read Listening Guide: An Intro to MF DOOM For the uninitiated, we provide a roadmap to the formidable discography of rap’s foremost supervillain: MF DOOM. by Martin Douglas 5 mins read Learn See All » Hybrid Theory: Frank Zummo of Sum 41 Hybrid drumming blends acoustic and electronic elements. Frank Zummo discusses his approach and gear during the final Sum 41 world tour. by Carolyn Shlensky 16 mins read Behind the Beat: Purple Rain” by Prince The Purple Rain” drum parts by Bobby Z. provide a classic example of how to play a power ballad for maximum emotional impact. by Brett Clur 9 mins read Sound Design: The Art of Layering with the Roland JD-800 The JD-800 dominated the ’90s with massive textures and a front panel that pushed limits. Learn to create immense layers with the instrument. by Francis Preve 19 mins read Behind the Beat: Let’s Groove” by Earth, Wind & Fire The drumming on the eternally funky Let’s Groove” demonstrates how powerful disco rhythms can make listeners get up and move. by Brett Clur 9 mins read Hybrid Theory: Josh Manuel with Kane Brown Josh Manuel discusses hybrid drumming and how he uses Roland electronic gear to enhance his performances with Kane Brown. by Brett Clur 7 mins read Behind the Beat: Mellow My Man” by The Roots Explore the history and sound of the Roots’ beloved track, Mellow My Man," and learn to play some of drummer Questlove’s iconic patterns. by Sahan Jayasuriya 8 mins read SOUND BEHIND THE SONG Sound Behind the Song: Doctor Who Theme (1980)” by Peter Howell Doctor Who, the sci-fi phenomenon, has taken many forms—and so has its theme. Discover how the 1980 version became a definitive classic. by Evan Shamoon 3 mins read Sound Behind the Song: Higher State Of Consciousness” by Josh Wink Josh Wink honed his craft in Philly warehouses. From raves to radio, his TB-303 anthem A Higher State of Consciousness” became a classic. by Ari Rosenschein 4 mins read Sound Behind the Song: Stranger Things” by Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein Explore the show’s haunting theme song and learn how the composers leaned on vintage synths, including the Roland JUPITER-8 and SH-2. by Kat Bein 8 mins read Sound Behind the Song: 606” by 808 State 808 State’s ode to the Roland TR-606 has stood the test of time as one of the quirkiest yet most trailblazing tunes in their discography. by Jason Heffler 4 mins read FANTOM EX LEARN MORE SPOTLIGHT Sound Behind the Song: I’m a Mess” by Big Black Before the legendary producer was a household name, Steve Albini used the TR-606 to achieve the punishing drum sounds of "I’m a Mess." by Benjamin Heywood 5 mins read DRUMS Behind the Beat: My Hero” by Foo Fighters Taylor Hawkins was a hero to drummers everywhere. This "Behind the Beat" honors his musical legacy and the power of the Foo Fighters classic. by Clementine Moss and Ari Rosenschein 8 mins read Hybrid Theory: Anika Nilles Hybrid drumming blends acoustic and electronic elements. Anika Nilles explains her approach to the style on tour with Jeff Beck and beyond. by Ari Rosenschein 6 mins read What Type of Drum Kit is Best for Beginners? With a wide world of drum gear to explore, get clarity on the type of drum set that will help any new drummer thrive. by Michael Molenda 11 mins read V-Drums Warmups Prepping for a big gig or woodshedding to improve your chops—these V-Drums exercises will help build precision, timing, and more. by Ari Rosenschein 6 mins read Stay-at-Home Drummer: Finding Engagement with Music During 2020, many of us turned to creative pursuits while at home. For Simon Gottliffe, his positive escape came from drumming. by Stuart Williams 4 mins read Our Contributors See All » Arielle Silver Arielle Silver is an LA-based singer-songwriter, literary writer, and yoga teacher. She was nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Best New Poets. Her latest album, A Thousand Tiny Torches , is out now. Joseph Schafer Joseph’s work appears in NPR , VICE , Bandcamp , Noisey , SPIN , Consequence of Sound , and more. He is also a curator at Northwest Terror Fest. Keith Nelson Jr. A writer by fate, journalist by passion, and storyteller by vision. Bylines at: REVOLT , Grammys.com , Complex , Discogs , Vibe Magazine , Okayplayer , REVERB , and LEVEL Mag . Martin Douglas 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. A FEW MINUTES WITH A Few Minutes with Com Truise One of his generation’s most significant synthwave artists, Com Truise looks back at the beginning of his journey and shares what lies ahead. by SIRMA 8 mins read A Few Minutes with Octave One Octave One’s Lenny Burden reveals the tools and techniques behind the duo’s tactile, electrifying live sets. by Danny Turner 8 mins read A Few Minutes with Kyle Hollingsworth of The String Cheese Incident Keyboard virtuoso Kyle Hollingsworth of The String Cheese Incident talks gear history, love of live performance, and songwriting craft. by Danny Turner 12 mins read A Few Minutes with Mary Droppinz California-based DJ Mary Droppinz combines skills and taste with marketing acumen. The rising star shares the secrets behind her success. by SIRMA 10 mins read A Few Minutes with Rance...