There is a scene that now, more than ever, is decentralized. But that doesn’t mean simply “out of major hubs.” It can be people getting closer together over further distances. And so witness the new chapter of Exist, from Ramallah festival to events and connections elsewhere and this transcendental premiere release.

Music merger and acquisition season continues. The latest development is the addition of Brainworx and Plugin Alliance to the conglomeration of NI and iZotope. But there’s one important note you might have missed – and some software you should go download for free for the occasion.

For all the crises, Beirut’s international connections continue to grow. Next up is an extensive residency-exchange project, starting in Berlin this week and returning to Beirut later this month. And that’s an excuse to give you some music to check out.

Ableton has released another free Max for Live device. It’s cool, it can be useful, it’s free (if you have Live Suite or a Max for Live license). But it’s worth pausing to consider whether tuning solutions could be more.

Grains of Peace may be the essential addiction of this week. Wars are designed not only to produce physical harm but anxiety and hopelessness. From Kyiv comes a beacon of peace and calm – with a call to make a material difference for those fighting to end the war and protect Ukraine.

Efx FRAGMENTS takes granular processing from niche effect to fully robust plug-in – and moves Arturia’s growing FX Collection into new creative territory. Today’s the last day of the intro pricing so let me make sure you get a quick review.

Here’s another essential batch of projects against war, in support of Ukraine, many of them centering Ukrainian artists’ music and organization. All represent global outcry, and organizers are also reporting significant funds raised for direct support.

Music matters; music keeps us connected to our emotions and one another. So don’t give up on it. Here’s music for this moment, with an emphasis on Ukrainian voices. But I hope we also acknowledge that musical livelihood is on the edge everywhere, too. And wherever you are, I hope this gives you even a little peace.

Epic Games, makers of Unreal Engine, the Epic Games Store, and Fortnite, just bought Bandcamp. The promise is that the core Bandcamp platform as we know it will remain – but this means a big shift in where opportunities on Bandcamp might go.

There’s never too much music, and never enough attention on independent artists and labels. The reality is that Ukrainian artists – like so much of eastern Europe – often got little recognition even as their cities grew as international party destinations. So let’s do what we always do, and love music – right on to the weird and unheard.