The Plasma Pedal from Gamechanger Audio is one of the most unique effects pedals I’ve ever seen. Based in principle on Nicolai Tesla’s Tesla coil, the Plasma Pedal creates distortion and fuzz effects by amplifying an audio signal up to 3,500 volts and then transforming it into electrical discharges. With the Plasma Pedal you are essentially playing through a bolt of electricity. The Plasma Pedal is the first distortion pedal to introduce a fundamentally different method for signal clipping which it does by converting the input signal into pure electrical discharges.  The Plasma Pedal take ..read more

Above: Bjork performing on stage at the opening of the 2004 Athens Olympics PHOTO: MICK HUTSON/REDFERNS By Jon O'Brien The GRAMMY Awards and the Summer Olympics are unarguably the pinnacles of their respective fields. Indeed, most recording artists dream of making an acceptance speech for their magnum opus during the biggest night on the music industry calendar, while athletes competing in any of the Games’ 32 different disciplines are continually motivated by the lure of the podium. But how often have the two intertwined since the first GRAMMY ceremony took place a year before Rome 1960? Well ..read more

By JTJAZZ For artists deeply devoted to their craft, self-investment is a cornerstone for growth and prosperity. This pivotal step manifests in various forms, leading to a profound understanding of one’s purpose and an elevation of self-worth. Embracing this transformative process wholeheartedly is essential; it involves exploring uncharted territories to enrich one’s artistry in profound ways. While music and creative endeavors often demand a substantial portion of an artist’s time, allocating resources to enhance tools, skills, and knowledge can propel your career toward unprecedented succes ..read more

Composer/Singer/Songwriter Website: austinweber.info Most recent: Rent Free Referred to as the “Andy Kaufman of love songs” and likened to Jonathan Richman and Jaques Tati, singer, songwriter, composer and visual artist Austin Weber went viral in 2018 with a cover of ABBA’s “Mamma Mia” and continues to make his mark through theatrical shows, YouTube blogging, creating music videos and writing music for visual media. He recently wrote the score for Rent Free, which made its premiere at Tribeca Festival this June.  Originally tapped to write just one or two songs, Weber wound up scorin ..read more

Blurring Boundaries Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist John Kruth has released 12 solo albums and seven projects with his world music ensemble TriBeCaStan. The latest offering, The Folklorkestra’s A Strange Day In June was an experience that drew deeper performances from all involved. Known for his banshee mandolin and flute skills, the project showcases Kruth’s non-conformity to strict music protocols, offering an intriguing blend of Balkan, Middle Eastern, African, and Latin styles that defy categorization. Elliott Sharp suggested Kruth apply for a grant in the face of a changing mu ..read more

thirdencorestudios.com Celebrating 35 Years in NoHo: Third Encore Studios was launched in 1989 by roadies for the Eagles, who envisioned the potential for a thriving rehearsal and storage business in North Hollywood. Since entrepreneur Wynnsan Moore took the reins in 1999, Third Encore has been in expansion mode, not only at their main rehearsal studios location but throughout the Los Angeles area with their monthly lockout studios. With their main studios located near the Burbank Airport in a six-building campus environment, Third Encore has all the necessary facilities and services on-site t ..read more

Madrid (Spain) Dirty Boy, the boutique guitar pedal brand recently acquired by musician and product designer Danny Gomez, introduces the Dirty Boy Preamp. Based on the classic amplifier designed by Dirty Boy founder, Alex Saraceno for his son Blues Saraceno, the Dirty Boy Preamp has been developed by Danny Gomez and Pablo Díaz de Rada.  Its ultra-compact design is hand crafted in Europe and is powered by Gomez’s proprietary T.A.E. technology – Tube Amp Emulation. Watch Blues playing the Dirty Boy Preamp here. The Dirty Boy Preamp is a pedal sized, fully analog amplifie ..read more

Daffo, the project of Brooklyn-based artist Gabi Gamberg (they/them), announces they have signed to Concord Records and shares a reimagined rendition of their breakout hit “Poor Madeline” featuring the Portland-based folk artist Searows. With a poetic specificity that cuts right to the heart, the Brooklyn-based artist speaks an unfiltered truth about all that sets them apart from the wider world, exploring everything from shame and self-loathing to misplaced affection and the chaos of living with an overactive brain. As a kid growing up in the Philadelphia suburbs, the musician other ..read more

On June 28, 2024, Don Henley, a founding member of the Eagles, sued in Manhattan federal court to regain ownership and possession of lyric sheets from the iconic Hotel California album.  Hotel California was released in 1976 and is the fifth studio album by the Eagles. It is one of the best-selling albums of all time with 32 million copies sold. Who can forget the opening lyrics to Hotel California: “On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair.” The same lyric sheets had been the subject of a criminal action, when in March 2024 it was suddenly dismissed […] The post Legal Beat: DON HEN ..read more

Having invented digital reverb in 1978, Lexicon is synonymous with top quality digital ambience creation. In the 1980’s, every top studio had some sort of Lexicon reverb. In 1984, the first affordable digital reverb was introduced by Lexicon. The PCM 60, at $750 street price, quickly became the go to reverb for everyone that wanted Lexicon quality.   While most plug-in companies have ignored the PCM 60, Wave Alchemy UK has released their version of this iconic reverb that captures the character of the original unit, and enhanced it with some modern tweaks. Pulse is a modern take on t ..read more