RIP Ikutaro Kakehashi, Founder of Roland

via Tommy Snyder:

"Ikutaro Kakehashi, founder of Roland, father of the TR-909, TR-808, Godfather of MIDI, and someone who I have collaborated with for 38 years, and also considered him as my 2nd father, passed away at the age of 87. He was a super funny, wonderful and gifted human being, and his contributions to the musical instrument world , and music, touched millions of people worldwide. RIP dear Taro.........."

This was shared only 5 hours ago. I am not seeing an announcement from Roland. I will update this post if anything new comes in.

Sad day today. Another legend and hero lost.

Update: added a few videos below including a pretty nice tribute. If you know of any other good videos featuring Ikutaro Kakehashi, send them in.

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Dave Smith Instruments In the Spotlight with Alexander Bornstein and the OB-6

The next interview in Dave Smith Instruments' "In the Spotlight with the OB-6" is up with Alexander Bornstein here.

"Alexander Bornstein is an award-winning composer currently based in Los Angeles. His music has been heard on television, independent films, feature films, web series, documentaries in the festival circuit, and concert halls around the U.S. His work has brought him through major music studios including Remote Control Productions and Sonic Fuel Studios.

Alexander is a graduate of New York University’s music composition program. Before this, he studied music and film-making the University of Central Florida in Orlando. For more information about Alexander please visit the contact page."

You can find previous posts featuring DSI's Spotlight series here.

Dave Smith Instruments "In The Spotlight with the Prophet-6" with Fred Everything

The next interview in the Dave Smith Instruments' "In The Spotlight with the Prophet-6" series is currently up with Fred Everything here.

"French Canadian Producer/DJ Fred Everything has been a staple in the House Music world for over 2 decades. With over 200 releases to his discography, he’s released on some of the best labels around, including: Defected, 20:20 Vision, Freerange, Drumpoet Community, Om Records, and his own Lazy Days Recordings, which he has been running for over 10 years. Based in Montreal, Fred recently spent 8 years living in San Francisco, and is constantly touring the world as an in-demand DJ. On top of his original work, he was also asked to remix artists such as Curtis Mayfield, Corrine Bailey Rae, Atjazz, Miguel Migs, Dennis Ferrer, and many more.He was recently awarded Best Deep House Artist of 2016 by Traxsource and is currently working on new original material for 2017."

You can find previous posts featuring DSI's Spotlight series here.

Dave Smith Instruments "In The Spotlight with the OB-6" with Body in the Thames

The next in Dave Smith Instruments' "In the Spotlight with the OB-6" is up with Body in the Thames here.

"Born in Manchester, lived 8 years in London, 2 years in Paris and now 13 years in Stockholm, Body in the Thames is quite the journeyman. From composing jingles for Microsoft CD-ROMs, to soundtracking Haute-Couture catwalk shows to playing in stoner rock garage bands with (then) future stars, to being a multi-instrumentalist on tour with well-established international stars, he is an artist who has been around the block enough times that he doesn’t need to namedrop any more.

Now a little older and more of a studiohead, he has spent the last few years in an actual former cold-war nuclear bunker under the Stockholm streets, crafting and releasing electronic explorations that cover a fairly broad range of genres and sub-genres which are mainly instrumental and 'aimed at the dancefloor between your ears.'"

You can find previous posts featuring DSI's Spotlight series here.

Dave Smith Instruments "In The Spotlight with the OB-6" with Andy Walker

The first interview in the Dave Smith Instruments' "In The Spotlight with the OB-6" series is currently up with Andy Walker.

"Andy Walker is a producer, writer, and mix engineer based in Nashville, Tennessee. In addition to his work with local artists, he is heavily involved in the worship keyboard community as the User Content Manager for Loop Community, a company that produces multitracks for churches. He is also a sound designer for That Worship Sound, a site that produces synth patches. Andy just finished an electronic record under the moniker The Alphabet Zero, collaborating with local singer/songwriter Kellie Besch and electronic artist Makeup and Vanity Set, the album comes out January 13th, and is available to preorder now. Andy used the OB-6 while writing and tracking the album."


You can find previous posts featuring DSI's Spotlight series here.

Dave Smith Instruments "In The Spotlight with the Prophet-6" with Karina DePiano

The next interview in the Dave Smith Instruments' "In The Spotlight with the Prophet-6" series is currently up with Karina DePiano here.

"Karina DePiano is a Los Angeles-based pop keyboardist and musical director. She currently performs with Troye Sivan. She spent the latter half of 2015 touring the U.S. and Asia with Rita Ora. In 2014, Karina toured with Bad Things, a band that boasts double-Olympian Shaun White as one of its guitarists. The band supported Phantogram in the southeastern U.S. and Thirty Seconds To Mars in Romania, Russia, Estonia, and France. In June of 2014, Karina was the musical director for vocalist Tricia Tahara-Stoller for a show at the Catalina Jazz Club that featured Ndugu Chancler, Alphonso Johnson, and Patrice Rushen. Karina has also recently performed with pop act Megan Nicole, the Filipino American Symphony Orchestra, and at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. Karina’s playing style has always been heavily influenced by R&B, funk, and pop acts such as Stevie Wonder and Prince. She credits her experience at USC’s Pop Program as the most valuable foundation to her career."

You can find previous posts featuring DSI's Spotlight series here.

Dave Smith Instruments "In The Spotlight with the Prophet-6" with ROOM8

The 1st in the Dave Smith Instruments' "In The Spotlight with the Prophet-6" series is currently up with ROOM8 here.

"ROOM8 is the electronic pop artist/production duo of Ezra Reich and Nic Johns. They are based out of LA and also now work quite a bit in Stockholm. ROOM8 debuted in 2014 with two collaborations with Drive Soundtrack heroes, Electric Youth, the first being their debut single “Visions of You” on WIN Music and also the song “Without You” on EY’s debut album for Secretly Canadian, “Innerworld.” Since then, they have released features with Little Boots, King Deco, Polina and have remixed Kimbra and Elliphant, the latter topping Hype Machine. Their next single “All About Us” features Swedish singer Erik Hassle and will be out January 27th, 2017."

You can find previous posts featuring DSI's Spotlight series here.

Dave Smith Instruments "In The Spotlight with the Tempest" with Kite Base

The next in the Dave Smith Instruments' "In The Spotlight with the Tempest" series is currently up with Kite Base here.

"Kite Base is an electronic duo consisting of bass guitarists Ayse Hassan (Savages) and Kendra Frost. After releasing tracks ‘Dadum’ and ‘Miracle Waves’ online, plus a cover of ‘Something I Can Never Have’ by Nine Inch Nails, the band have generated tens of thousands of listens and gained further support from the likes of KEXP, BBC Radio 6Music, The Guardian, Pitchfork and Stereogum. This October, in support of their local music community, they revealed details of their debut physical release ‘Soothe’, available as a limited edition 7″ vinyl via Flashback Records- a London based independent record store and label. They have a Tempest called Alan, named after Mr. Turing and he is their surrogate third band mate."

You can find links to all episodes of DSI's Spotlight series here.

Dave Smith Instruments Artist Interview with Baseck

You can find the full interview on DSI's website here.

"Baseck is a Los Angeles-based experimental electronic musician. His roots run deep in L.A.’s underground rave scene since the early 90s. Baseck’s fascination with sound brought him to turntablism at an early age. His attraction to hands-on hardware, learned from scratching records, led to audio manipulation with small battery powered toys, drum machines, then modular synthesizers. His unique style and mastery of a wide range of music hardware segued into his involvement with music technology. Since 2013, Baseck has been working with synthesizer companies to design concepts to enhance user playability. Variatic Basicus, a Eurorack module created by Noise Engineering, was built for his live performance needs. DSI’s Tempest analog drum machine includes presets designed by Baseck. His style builds on past musical experiments, combining the 80’s drum machine sounds of Breakdance and Industrial, with a future approach to Drum & Bass and Braindance using both analog and digital hardware."

You can find previous posts featuring DSI's Spotlight series here.

Dave Smith Instruments "In the Spotlight with the Tempest" with Bear’s Den

The 3rd in the Dave Smith Instruments' "In The Spotlight with the Tempest" series is currently up with BEAR’S DEN here.

"Inspired by, among other things, the paintings of Edward Hopper, the short stories of Raymond Carver, and film director Robert Altman’s Short Cuts, Bear’s Den is both erudite and intensely personal, defying trends and easy labelling. Musically, it also sees a startling progression. Following the amicable departure of guitarist Joey Haynes they are now a six piece touring unit built around a nucleus of Andrew Davie and multi-instrumentalist Kev Jones. While the band’s folk roots are still evident, they now come cloaked in the lush alchemy of ‘70’s and ‘80’s FM rock: Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, and in particular, the nocturnal ambience of Bruce Springsteen’s Darkness On The Edge Of Town, alongside more contemporary artists such as The National, and Sufjan Stevens."

You can find previous posts featuring DSI's Spotlight series here.

Dave Smith Instruments "In the Spotlight with the Tempest" with Jason Donnelly (Dj Puzzle)

The 2nd in the Dave Smith Instruments' "In The Spotlight with the Tempest" series is currently up with Jason Donnelly (Dj Puzzle) here.

"Jason Donnelly (Dj Puzzle) is a Los Angeles based composer for TV, video games, and film. He got his start producing loop packs for Sonic Foundry (now Magix) back in 2001, which led to his ongoing success and long list of credits including Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, Damaged Core (Oculus VR). Tom Clancy’s The Division, Saints Row The Third, Saints Row IV, Growing Up Hip Hop, Wicked Tuna, Despicable Me 2 DVD featurette, Kroll Show, Portlandia, Lost Girl, The Royals, Nightwatch, Wahlburgers, MLB.TV, MMA, E! News Weekly and more. When he isn’t busy writing for TV, he’s cranking out sample packs for his side project, Soundtrack Loops."


You can find previous posts featuring DSI's Spotlight series here.

Dave Smith Instruments "In the Spotlight with the Tempest" with Sofia Hultquist

The 1st in the Dave Smith Instruments' "In The Spotlight with the Tempest" series is currently up with Sofia Hultquist here.

"Drum & Lace, aka Sofia Hultquist, is an Italian composer focusing on fashion and film. Her composition work ranges from writing music for video look-books and creating soundscapes for fashion presentations, to composing scores for feature-length films. She most recently co-scored the fashion documentary, “The First Monday in May,” (directed by Andrew Rossi) which opened the Tribeca Film Festival 2016 in NYC. She’s currently based in Los Angeles, where she shares a home studio with her husband Ian (also a composer) and her two dogs, Fiamma and Lupo."

You can find previous posts featuring DSI's Spotlight series here.

Dave Smith Instruments "In the Spotlight with the Prophet 12" with Dan Haigh

The eigth in the Dave Smith Instruments' "In The Spotlight with the PRO 2" series is currently up with Dan Haigh here.

"Dan Haigh is an English musician, film director, video game designer, writer and visual effects artist. He is best known as co-founder of synth wave band, GUNSHIP, and as the bass player in the English alternative rock band Fightstar."

You can find previous posts featuring DSI's Spotlight series here.

Dave Smith Instruments "In the Spotlight with the Prophet 12" with Louis Faro

The seventh in the Dave Smith Instruments' "In The Spotlight with the PRO 2" series is currently up with Louis Faro here.

"Louis Faro is a full-time, professional pianist, keyboardist, composer, arranger, and producer. He graduated from the Béla Bartók Jazz Conservatory in Budapest, Hungary in 1976 where he studied with Kornél Kertész and Gustav Csík. He began his professional career at age 17, later moving to Chicago where he played with such greats as Michael Manson (bassist for George Duke), Richard Patterson (bassist for Miles Davis, David Sanborn, Roberta Flack, Boz Scaggs), Chuck Webb (bassist for Stevie Wonder, Joe Sample, Ramsey Lewis), Kirk Whalum, and Martha Wash (C&C Music Factory).

Louis currently performs extensively in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. He continues to broaden his fan base with his energetic and compelling blend of jazz, r&b, funk, latin, and classical styles. His original compositions feature bold melodies and rhythms, a unique breadth of musical language, and a mastery of modern synth media."

You can find links to all episodes of DSI's Spotlight series here.

Dave Smith Instruments "In the Spotlight with the Prophet 12" with Peter Dyer

The sixth in the Dave Smith Instruments' "In The Spotlight with the PRO 2" series is currently up with Peter Dyer here.

"Peter Dyer is a keyboardist, musical director, sound designer, and producer who has toured and recorded with Aloe Blacc, Adam Lambert, St. Vincent, Mariah Carey, Van Hunt, Crystal Lewis, and Cam, among many others. Other recording credits include Avicii’s “True” album and global hit “Wake Me Up,” Flo Rida, Nile Rodgers, Vancouver Sleep Clinic, and tours with AlunaGeorge and Quadron. A devoted DSI user and fan, Peter has contributed factory presets for the Prophet 12, Pro 2, Prophet-6, OB-6, and Tempest.

Most recently, he’s done programming for Miguel, Hayley Kiyoko, and Tegan & Sara’s fall tours, as well as sound design for BMW’s coming action short-film, 'The Escape.' Peter’s band, Rafferty, has had placements with Apple and the CW’s Supergirl ads. Peter is also part of synth-pop act Monogem."

You can find previous posts featuring DSI's Spotlight series here.

Dave Smith Instruments "In the Spotlight with the Prophet 12" with Colin Cameron Allrich

The fifth in the Dave Smith Instruments' "In The Spotlight with the PRO 2" series is currently up with Colin Cameron Allrich here.

"Colin Cameron Allrich is a musician, remixer and sound designer based at The Cell Studio now in Portland Oregon. He’s worked under many aliases on projects in genres ranging from club-friendly House and Breaks, to Industrial Rock and Cinematic Electronica with remixes and collaborations with Front Line Assembly, Future Funk Squad, 16Volt/Black December, STEREOSPREAD, John Girgus and more. His music has been licensed to many television programs, including FOX, NBC/Universal, HBO, Showtime, MTV and Lionsgate Films. Find out more at www.thecellstudio.com."

You can find links to all episodes of DSI's Spotlight series here.

Dave Smith Instruments "In the Spotlight with the Prophet 12" with Jacob Bergson

The fourth in the Dave Smith Instruments' "In The Spotlight with the PRO 2" series is currently up with Jacob Bergson here.

"Jacob Bergson is a musician and producer based in New York City. He produces and writes music with artists around the globe, and currently performs live with Nerve and Rubblebucket."

You can find previous posts featuring DSI's Spotlight series here.

Dave Smith Instruments "In the Spotlight with the Prophet 12" with Josh Molen

The third in the Dave Smith Instruments' "In The Spotlight with the PRO 2" series is currently up with Josh Molen here.

"Josh Molen is a TV and film composer located outside Knoxville, TN. He began composing professionally in 2005. Since then he has had the opportunity to work on many high-profile projects, including composing music for TV shows like: Snapped (Oxygen), Sins and Secrets (I.D.), Homicide Hunter: Lt. Joe Kenda (I.D.), Modern Marvels (History Channel), Biography (Bio), and How Stuff Works (Discovery) to mention only a few. He also co-composed the score to The Clinton 12 directed by Keith McDaniel and narrated by James Earl Jones.

In 2011 he launched a boutique music library, The Tune Peddler, that has licensed music internationally for film, TV, video games, and online media. One client of note that features Josh’s music is the Fine Brothers’ REACT Channel with videos amassing well over 40 million collective hits on YouTube."

You can find previous posts featuring DSI's Spotlight series here.

Dave Smith Instruments "In the Spotlight with the Prophet 12" with Robert Rich

The second in the Dave Smith Instruments' "In The Spotlight with the PRO 2" series is currently up with Robert Rich here.

"Robert Rich has helped define ambient music, with over 40 albums across four decades. Rich began building his own analog modular synthesizers in 1976, when he was 13, and later studied computer music at Stanford’s CCRMA while researching lucid dreaming. Rich has performed worldwide, and since 1982 his all-night Sleep Concerts became legendary. His 15-hour, Blu-ray Perpetual maintains this tradition. Rich’s sound design graces many films and preset libraries, and as a mastering engineer he has applied his ear to hundreds of albums. His latest release What We Left Behind is available on Bandcamp, CDBaby, and http://robertrich.com."

You can find links to all episodes of DSI's Spotlight series here.

Dave Smith Instruments "In the Spotlight with the Prophet 12" with Melissa Mattey

As a follow-up to the "In the Spotlight with the Pro 2" series, DSI has launched a new "In the Spotlight with the Prophet 12" interview series. You can find the first with Melissa Mattey here.

"In a town known for its strong work ethic and an overabundance of world-class musicians, Melissa Mattey may be one of the hardest-working creative talents in Nashville. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, with a focus on synthesis and recording, Melissa deftly juggles three careers without missing a beat. By day she’s an in-demand mix and recording engineer for a broad array of artists including Van hunt and Cam. By night she’s synthesist and composer for the electro-ambient trio Everyone Moves Away. And the rest of the time she’s handling keyboard chores and producing records for Indie favorites, Elliot Root. Did we mention that she tours with both of the aforementioned bands, as well?

We caught up with Melissa in a rare free moment."

You can find previous posts featuring DSI's Spotlight series here.