While clubs are empty, we’ve been getting an intimate look at how people play and imagine ideas. And one of the best sets from FACT’s new Patch Notes series features the excellent JakoJako – just when you might need some music that lets you calm your head.
Music
In Tbilisi, music is on pause because democracy is on the line
Music Stories October 25, 2024
In music video, Lebanese duo Rust captures emotions of “Diaspora”
Music October 11, 2024
Go support these Lebanese releases on Bandcamp
Music October 4, 2024
Music tech makers are donating a day – or more – to funds that could make a difference
Black lives matter. Just posting slogans isn’t going to help – and people are dying. What can make a difference? Music tech makers are proposing an actual plan of activities.
Jace Clayton review of Carl Craig’s art captures the connection between isolation and techno
The themes can all seem like disconnected threads – social isolation, pandemic, the origins of techno, racism – at least in the blur of news cycles and social media. But Jace Clayton aka DJ Rupture makes a portrait that brings it all together – landing at just the right time. At top: Dia:Beacon, photo Eva […]
Clara Amfo talks to her BBC Radio 1 audience about mental health and George Floyd’s death
Clara Amfo, a major UK journalist and one of the top DJs at BBC Radio 1, has a message that speaks to the trauma she’s experiencing now and gets to the heart of what appropriation means in music.
A 17-yo made a reference to actions for participating now, and it’s multilingual
While the record industry are honing their profound Instagram prose and really powerful uses of Helvetica, volunteers are making simple action cards – relevant everywhere from the USA to the Philippines.
Blackout Tuesday began as a call to action; corporate misuse is silencing activists
It started at a major label as a call to the music industry, but now everyone from music gear makers to artists and media is joining in. And “#BlackoutTuesday” is even squeezing out Black Lives Matter information and organizing. So what just happened, and is there a constructive way to participate? TL:DR please whatever you […]
Free 80s injection: KORG Poly-800 emulated in plug-in for Mac, Windows
The year was 1983. The competition: Roland’s Juno. And KORG would introduce an instrument that … actually … would never really be as legendary as other 80s synthesizers. But it’s excellent, and you want it anyway – especially for free.
No Love Parades this time: in the midst of crisis, an image of tonedeaf ravers in Berlin
A large swath of Berlin’s club scene kicked off the summer with an illustration of how not to respond to a crisis. The message: if the crisis doesn’t apply to me, I won’t acknowledge its existence.
Explode your face with Detroit Underground’s AR mask, melt it with these releases
Being a label – hell, being a human – can feel pretty virtual these days. So let’s lean into that, huh? Face exploded – filter, check. Face melted – music, yes.
Honoring Florian is a free library of Kraftwerk-inspired sounds for Ableton Live, TR-8S, more
This has been a season of obituaries, but when it comes to music, tributes can’t be silent. Francis Preve has a special set of free sounds on his Symplesound platform.