In this latest book release from Bjooks, you can learn about the rich history and influence of Roland with Inspire The Music – 50 Years of Roland History.
Roland has been there since the dawn of music technology, being part of the musical furniture in studios and on stage. From their icons like the Juno-6/60/106 synthesisers to the TR-606/707/808/909 drum machines, they’ve been inspiring musicians to create.
From the makers of Synth Gems 1, Pedal Crush and their Patch and Tweak series featuring Moog and Korg, Bjooks has their latest release: Inspire The Music – 50 Years of Roland History. It’s got 400 photos, 60+ feature articles, 90+ interviews, and hundreds of insights on music’s most influential instrument makers.
Roland has been making their icons since 1972, and while the internet is a good place for info, there’s nothing like a well-researched book to educate yourself on how and why these instruments were created. And who knows you might even discover you will take the plunge on a Roland classic after learning about its rich history.
The team behind the book was able to interview Roland’s designers and get true stories behind the making of classics like the Space Echo and the Jupiter-8. As well as these interviews, there are stories from world-famous recording artists, session and touring musicians, beatmakers and producers, award-winning recording engineers, educators, songwriters, and soundtrack composers and how they have used Roland’s instruments to create some of the best music on the planet.
One such example inside the book is Producer/Mixer/Engineer Joe Chiccarelli talking about owning multiple Space Echoes and using them on vocals for distortion as his secret trick. He says:
“You pin the little VU meter, and it’s a beautiful distortion that makes a vocal sparkle and jump out of the track.”
More peaks behind the curtain sees Elton John talk about his favourite pianos, Butch Vig retelling the story of how electronic drums saved his touring career, and how Joni Mitchell used a guitar synthesizer.
The book is introduced by legendary hitmakers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Usher) and also features a huge array of people who’ve used and designer Roland’s products such as: Billy Duffy (The Cult), Bonnie McIntosh (Selena Gomez), Buffy Sainte-Marie, Clive Deamer (Radiohead), DJ Jazzy Jeff, Howard Jones, Jean-Michel Jarre, Johnny Marr (The Smiths), Guy Fletcher (Dire Straits), Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran), Omar Hakim (Weather Report, David Bowie, Madonna), Orbital, Peaches, Rachel Z (Peter Gabriel), Sister Bliss (Faithless), Culture Club producer Steve Levine, Steve Stevens (Billy Idol), and Tadao Kikumoto (inventor of the TR-808) and many, many more.
With huge sections on groove featuring Rhythm Aces and CompuRhythms, to drums featuring V-drums, Octapad, and the Handsonic, to their guitar amps, boss pedals and guitar synthesizers, and of course their keys and synths
It’s a beautiful hardcover book that will look just fine in your studio or on your coffee table, to offer some inspiration to you and your music.
Inspire The Music – 50 Years of Roland History comes in at $110 AUD and you can get it from Bjooks.com
