INDIA.ARIE                           The distinctive artist defines success—and her music—in her own terms     “I had no idea I could make an album in six months,” says India.Arie of her fifth studio project, SongVersation. “I’ve never done anything that fast. Ever. I don’t do anything fast. But I told myself that’s what I needed to do—and I did it. I’m still laughing at that one.” That kind of speed hardly sounds... 

MEGADETH Dave Mustaine explains why these metal icons aren’t afraid to take risks  Megadeth’s latest album, Super Collider, celebrates 30 years in the metal trenches—and it will certainly satisfy the cravings of fans who feast on the band’s stock-in-trade: shock-and-awe thrash metal. But it may also confuse—and even anger—some die-hard headbangers. This is the most melodic record frontman Dave Mustaine has made in years, and there’s... 

NATALIE MAINES A Chick stops whistling Dixie to rock Cali with Ben Harper Dixie Chicks fans might be surprised that Natalie Maines chose a rock direction for her solo album debut, Mother, but for the Texas native it was all about getting back to her roots. “Anything but country music was what I listened to growing up,” says the 13-time Grammy winner. “It was all pop, rock and R&B.” Maines recorded Mother at Ben Harper’s L.A. studio,... 

TERRI LYNE CARRINGTON  Musician, composer, professor—for this busy drummer, the beat never stops By Jeff Tamarkin Hearing Terri Lyne Carrington rattle off the list of artists she’s drummed with is jaw-dropping: Herbie Hancock, Joni Mitchell, Wayne Shorter, Stan Getz, Al Jarreau, Dianne Reeves, Carlos Santana, for starters. These giants and scores more of their stature seek her out for her airtight timekeeping, creative impulses and sensitivity... 

STEVE EARLE A powerful storyteller takes a hard look at hard times    “All singer-songwriters do this job on groundwork laid by Bob Dylan, who built his own fame based on Woody Guthrie,” says Steve Earle. “We’ve all done it with one foot in the 1930s, even though none of us—including Bob—witnessed that time firsthand. Times are really hard these days. What I’m seeing out the window is a lot closer to what Woody saw than it’s been... 

MARK HORNSBY This veteran producer’s goal is to unlock the best in every artist  MARK HORNSBY LEARNED EARLY ON THAT VERSATILITY WAS the key to a successful career as a producer and recording engineer, recalling a mentor who cautioned against getting pigeonholed into a certain sound or style. “If you get locked into just one thing, one day you’re going to wake up and not have any work,” says Hornsby. Hornsby’s never lacked for work. He spent... 

JOE SATRIANI With a new set, the guitar virtuoso showcases his Unstoppable talent By Russell Hall Surprisingly, Joe Satriani doesn’t always pay scrupulous attention to detail. His new album, Unstoppable Momentum, is a case in point. Only after the project was complete did it occur to him that the opening track was in 5/4 time. “A few things got past me,” says the guitar ace with a laugh. “It never dawned on me that it might be weird to start... 

DAVID KAHNE A studio maestro shares the secrets to some of his timeless collaborations  By Michael Gallant “Somebody once asked George Bernard Shaw what a great play was,” says David Kahne. “He said that it’s when you go to the theater, and you know what’s going to happen—but when it does, you’re still surprised. That’s a great description of a single as well. You can hear it over and over again, but it still gets you every time.”... 

VALERIE JUNE HOMETOWN: Humboldt, Tenn. INFLUENCES: Wanda Jackson, Dolly Parton, Nina Simone ALBUM: Pushin’ Against a Stone, out August WEBSITE: valeriejune.com Valerie June showed off her vocal chops by singing in church as a child in West Tennessee, where she soaked up the region’s rich musical culture. She landed her first gig as a teen with the help of her father, a promoter for gospel musicians. “It was and still is hard to go anywhere without... 

NATALIE GELMAN HOMETOWN: New York City INFLUENCES: Sheryl Crow, Jewel, Fiona Apple ALBUM: Streetlamp Musician, out now WEBSITE: nataliegelman.com Natalie Gelman grew up training with professionals from the Juilliard School and the New York City Opera. At 16, she borrowed a friend’s guitar and began writing songs. Too young to play the clubs, Gelman hit the city’s subways, busking on platforms for tips. She eventually became a popular fixture... 

ROD MELANCON HOMETOWN: Wright, La. INFLUENCES: Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Merle Haggard ALBUM: Mad Talkin’ Man EP, out now WEBSITE: rodmelancon.com As a boy in the bayou country of southern Louisiana, Rod Melancon was a faithful disciple of playwright Tennessee Williams. Committed to pursuing a career in acting, he moved to Hollywood in his early 20s. However, he changed course one Christmas when his parents gave him an acoustic guitar. “That... 

TAYLOR SPRING 2013 LIMITED 400 SERIES GRANADILLO GRANDEUR Bob Taylor’s passion for exotic tonewoods is one of the defining characteristics of his company’s guitar lineup, which has pioneered the use of Hawaiian koa, cocobolo, striped ebony and other varieties. For the Spring 2013 Limited 400 Series, Taylor turned to granadillo for a unique look and sound. A granadillo back and sides topped with a Sitka spruce top voices these guitars with bold... 

Audio-Technica AT2020 USB+ RECORDING RIG IN A MIC A full recording studio is great when tracking an album, but what if you just want to lay down a fleeting song idea? The Audio-Technica AT2020 USB+  bypasses the hassle of juggling studio gear by packing all of the essentials into a single condenser microphone. Based on the original AT2020, this excellent sounding mic connects via USB to any Mac or Windows PC, and a built-in headphone jack provides... 

Waves Manny Marroquin Signature Series MUST-HAVE STUDIO TOOLS The Waves Manny Marroquin Signature Series plug-in collection includes six ingenious plug-ins masterminded by a hit producer-engineer behind many of today’s hottest pop acts. These plug-ins range from the more straightforward MM Reverb and MM Delay to the specialized MM Triple D and the MM Tone Shaper. Simple controls and logical layouts provide intuitive operation, without limiting an... 

ANTELOPE AUDIO ORION 32 STELLAR I/O FOR ANY PLATFORM The Antelope Audio Orion 32 USB audio interface packs a boatload of pristine AD/DA conversion into a single rack space, delivering a staggering 32 channels of both input and output at up to 24-bit/192 kHz resolution. In addition to its analog I/O—all handled by standard DB-25 connectors—the Orion 32 also sports ADAT and MADI digital connections, so it can easily integrate into a more advanced... 

Electro-Harmonix Epitome TRIPLE-THREAT TONE MACHINE Merging three creative pedals into one, the Electro-Harmonix Epitome multieffects pedal offers guitarists an easy way to conjure up dramatic and spatially complex tones. Inside its pedalboard-friendly chassis are a Micro POG octave, a Stereo Electric Mistress chorus/flanger, and a Holy Grail Plus reverb. This combo can create anything from mild shimmer to pure psychedelic madness. Each effects engine’s... 

Fender Cabronita Precision Bass BASS WITH ATTITUDE High output, solid low-end and pure attitude are what define the Fender Cabronita Precision Bass. Beyond its bold coloring and first-generation P-Bass headstock, this instrument boasts a specially designed Fideli’Tron Bass mini humbucker. This pickup delivers deep and punchy tone with none of the dullness and boominess that routinely plagues dual-coil bass pickups. Best of all, the Fideli’Tron... 

KORG VOLCA KEYS, VOLCA BASS, VOLCA BEATS BRINGING ANALOG BACK Korg has been on a mission to bring quality analog synthesis to the masses. First with the monotron series, then the monotribe mini workstation, and most recently with the Volca series modules. These new additions—the Volca Keys, Volca Bass, and Volca Beats—are especially compelling as they combine classic analog designs with digital convenience, including patch recall and MIDI input.... 

Dave Smith Instruments’ Prophet 12 PUSHING THE DIGITAL-ANALOG ENVELOPE Since the 2013 Winter NAMM Show, the keyboard world has been abuzz about Dave Smith Instrument’s latest innovation—Prophet 12. A departure from this analog synth maker’s penchant for vintage analog designs, the Prophet 12 packs serious sonic firepower under the hood, including 48 oscillators (plus an additional 12 suboscillators), flexible routing and warm analog filtering.... 

Roland RC-505 Loop Station LOOPING FOR EVERYONE With the Roland RC-505 Loop Station, multiloop performance isn’t just for guitarists anymore. From singers and keyboardists to DJs and beatboxers, everyone can get in on the fun with this tabletop looping workstation. The RC-505 comes packed with effects and onboard rhythms, providing limitless ways to amp the groove. Large, simple and extensive hands-on controls make it easy to manipulate musical... 

Gibson’s Bill Kelliher Golden Axe Explorer  MASTODON-SIZED POWER Tapping the mojo of one of metal’s ace shredders, Gibson’s Bill Kelliher Golden Axe Explorer delivers tone in mammoth proportion. This six-string beast features a solid mahogany build for massive sustain and low-end warmth. A departure for Gibson, and the Mastodon guitarist himself, this guitar offers a pair of LACE Nitro Hemi pickups, which dish out epic high-gain tones with... 

AUDIO-TECHNICA AT5040 CARDIOID CONDENSER MIC State-of-the-art hi-def audio Audio-Technica has earned a loyal customer base by offering pro-quality mics at project studio prices. Their new AT5040 is making serious noise in the higher end of the market. It features four matched diaphragms that work together to create a large rectangular element, which combines the best characteristics of both large- and small-diaphragm condensers. An internal shock... 

ISOACOUSTICS ISO-L8R200 SPEAKER STANDS Stands that make a difference IsoAcoustics ISO-L8R monitor stands are built to dynamically flex in response to speaker movement, allowing them to perform with greater efficiency for clearer sound and sharp stereo imaging. We were impressed with the new ISO-L8R200, which support more substantial monitors, but they also provide enough space to set a pair of Yamaha NS10 speakers on their sides. Straight away, the... 

LINE 6 STAGESOURCE L2T POWERED SPEAKER Next-gen loudspeakers  When it comes to size, ease of use, and sound quality, nothing we’ve seen rivals Line 6 StageSource L2t powered loudspeaker. The two-way/800 watt L2t easily toggles between a traditional PA speaker and personal monitor system thanks to a range of tilt-back and configuration options. But the fun really starts when you dive into the side panel, which includes a full PA’s worth of connections,... 

PRESONUS ERIS E8 STUDIO MONITORS Home studio heroes PreSonus’ Eris E8s studio monitors continue their reputation for making inexpensive products that offer high quality and functionality. Out of the box, the Eris E8s delivered a mixing experience that was anything but entry level. The smooth and even frequency response made them perfect for long tracking sessions and critical mixing. And in addition to a host of input and EQ options, there’s also... 

RØDE IXY STEREO MIC FOR IOS Stereo recording in a snap The RØDE iXY is the world’s first 24-bit/96 kHz microphone that instantly turns your iPhone or iPad into a stereo recorder. The first thing we noticed was the clear directionality of the broad X/Y stereo pickup pattern—perfect for high quality recording of anything from song ideas to full performances. RØDE also provides a free app that lets you attenuate input level, create unique track... 

NRBQ This is considered blasphemy, I know, but Terry Adams’ current version of NRBQ, based on their show last week at B.B. King’s, is at the very least as good as any—and yes, that includes the best-loved, longest-running 1974-1994 lineup of Terry on keyboards and vocals, Joey Spampinato on bass and vocals, Al Anderson on guitar and vocals, and Tom Ardolino on drums. Now with the superb guitarist/vocalist Scott Ligon, bassist/vocalist Casey... 

THE 2013 SESAC SONGWRITERS BOOTCAMP JULY 26 @ LA’s SKIRBALL CULTURAL CENTER Grammy Award-Winning Songwriter/Producer Rico Love as Featured Speaker SESAC, the nation’s most progressive performing rights organization, will present the 6th Annual Songwriters Bootcamp on July 26, 2013 at LA’s Skirball Cultural Center.  The event will feature a variety of sessions and panels covering all aspects of the music and entertainment industry... 

HMMA: Final Days for Success Summit – July 28  Read More →

SARA BAREILLES The chart-topping pop singer-songwriter keeps her work fresh by embracing creative discomfort. ASHANTI With a new album on her indie label, the artist-actor-businesswoman is doing it all on her own. THE NATIONAL Fifteen years into their career, the New York indie-rockers are enjoying their “overnight” success. BLAKE SHELTON The country superstar loves bending the rules and adding pop, rock and hip-hop touches to his music. TOMMY... 

JUSTIN HINES Outside of a few famous blind performers, you don’t often see artists with disabilities on stage. The late Teddy Pendergrass comes to mind, of course, as does Vic Chesnutt, likewise paralyzed and also deceased. Enter Justin Hines, the acclaimed Canadian singer-songwriter and international fundraiser for people with disabilities. The wheelchair-bound Hines, who has battled the rare genetic joint condition Larsen’s syndrome since birth,... 

  This Friday the headliners include AKRON/FAMILY, PEAKING LIGHTS, along with an extremely rare Los Angeles appearance and performance by Lonnie Holley.  Holley has been making music for some 30 years.  “He sings with an intense, emotional voice and unleashes lyrics without consistent meter or rhyme over gossamer keyboard lines that hang in the ether. His music is a blues nebula, splotched with riffy word jazz that shares in some... 

Rachel Yamagata at The Troubadour June 25 2013  Read More →

TURTLES & ZOMBIES Having seen The Turtles and The Zombies (twice) in the last month, I can already declare this summer to be a success. The Zombies Actually, several years ago I got to see both bands together, at the Hippiefest tour stop in Coney Island. The two groups, both dating back to the 1960s and retaining their two key original members, quite appropriately shared the same backstage trailer, and each stayed on stage to watch the other’s... 

Dan Wilson with the Lester Sill Workshop Class of 2012 ASCAP Foundation Lester Sill Songwriters Workshop Now Accepting Submissions The 2013 ASCAP Foundation Lester Sill Songwriters Workshop is now accepting submissions. Geared toward advanced songwriters, the Workshop is designed to enrich participants’ knowledge of the industry, help them establish contacts and confidence and expand their collaborative partnerships. The Workshop will take place... 

On one day a year, NAMM opens its doors to all musicians and pro-light, sound and staging professionals from Music City and beyond. Meet the artists and engineers designing the equipment of the future, network with other musicians and attend workshops designed to further careers in music or a passion for music making. At NAMM’s Music Industry Day on July 13: Demo the latest products and technology Tune in to live music Attend musician’s... 

KORG MS-20 MINI ’70S ANALOG FOR THE FUTURE There have been several iterations of the Korg MS-20 since its debut in 1978, but none as innovative as the MS-20 Mini. At first glance, the size reduction of more than 85 percent is the most obvious new feature of this reissue. Despite its smaller size, the MS-20 Mini offers up the same sweet oscillators as the original, flavored by first-generation filtering, ring modulation and other true-to-original... 

RMI BASSWITCH IQ DI THE ULTIMATE BASS RIG The RMI Basswitch IQ DI is the ultimate centerpiece to any working bass rig. This unassuming box includes an A/B switcher in front of a killer preamp, EQ, dual effects loop, and DI. The preamp section is bolstered by a Lehle LTMZ transformer for phenomenally faithful amplification that will thrill any hardcore tone freak. The semi-parametric four-band equalizer provides incredible tone-shaping flexibility,... 

PULSE TECHNIQUES PULTEC EQP-1A3 NOTHING COMPARES TO THE ORIGINAL There are dozens of semi-successful Pultec-style EQ clones, but nothing compares to the genuine Pulse Techniques equalizer. Meticulously recreating the original Pultec EQP-1A component by component (often having to manufacture his own replacement parts), company president Steve Jackson revived the original Pulse Techniques model to perfection. Now available in the U.S., the Pultec EQP-1A3... 

BOCK AUDIO IFET IDEAL VINTAGE AND MODERN TONE The perfect choice for space-challenged studios with a limited budget for quality condenser mics, the Bock Audio iFet more than legitimizes the reputation of this relatively small microphone maker. Wielding two discrete Class A amplification signal paths, the iFet delivers ideal instrument and vocal sound. In V mode, the iFet closely resembles the warm vintage vocal microphones that defined the hit recordings... 

GRETSCH G9240 Alligator Biscuit Cone Roundneck BLUESY BISCUIT BITE Reaching back to their roots, the G9240 Alligator Biscuit Cone Roundneck revives one of Gretsch’s classic guitars. A 99 percent pure aluminum, hand-spun Ampli-Sonic biscuit resonator cone set in a laminated mahogany top offers this gorgeous instrument its raspy, swampy, lo-fi blues sound. The resonator cone also provides a ton of natural acoustic projection and volume. It nicely... 

GIBSON SG SUPRA NOT YOUR AVERAGE SG When Gibson introduced their 2013 SG Supra, they blithely broke nearly every rule in the book. This SG features an all maple body and a special selection of pickups. A trio of ’57 Classic humbuckers equipped with a special TogPot switching system delivers everything from classic PAF tones to in-between tones that are out of reach for a traditional SG. There’s also a Fishman Piezo Power Bridge onboard, which... 

SONY DWZB30GB WIRELESS FOR TONE PURISTS The Sony DWZB30GB digital instrument wireless system provides total freedom for guitar and bass players without sacrificing tone. In fact, its 24-bit digital signal wireless transmission is so pure Sony added a configurable cable tone function to provide realistic guitar-cable frequency loss emulation. Operating in the uncluttered 2.4 GHz frequency range, the DWZB30GB is virtually immune to traditional radio... 

KALA U-BASS DOUBLE-BASS SOUND IN A UKE BODY The remarkably affordable travel-sized acoustic Kala U-Bass manages to pack warm and woody double-bass sound into an instrument that can fit—case and all—into the overhead compartment of an airplane. Tonewoods range from exotic mahogany to brighter spruce-topped models. They all feature Kala’s proprietary polyurethane strings, which are the key to U-Bass’ extremely short-scale extra-deep tone. A... 

TAMA SILVERSTAR HYPER-DRIVE KILLER PROJECTION & TONE The limited edition Tama Silverstar Hyper-Drive drum kit is an excellent choice for live and session work. Like the rest of Tama’s Silverstar lineup, the affordable kit features all-birch shells, offering a naturally warm and slightly dark fundamental tone that lends impact to recordings. To balance this tone, Tama chose their shallower Hyper-Drive sizing for the toms, which provides extra... 

HAMMOND SK1 ORGAN PERFECTION FOR KEYBOARDISTS There are plenty of fine keyboards with passable organ sounds, but only a few organs with good auxiliary instrument sounds. Among them, the Hammond SK1 stands alone. Built around the sound of the world-famous B-3 tonewheel organ, the SK1 features real drawbars that provide tactile control any organist demands. Loaded with impressive emulations of Rhodes and Wurlitzer EPs, Clavinets, Farf combos, church... 

SLIM & CHET The longer we live, the longer our past, the shorter our future, the fewer our friends and heroes. Wednesday was particularly bad. I always enjoy grossing people out by relating how, some 30-plus years ago, I gave up backstage passes to Springsteen in Madison, Wisconsin, to drive to Milwaukee to see Slim Whitman. I’d say it’s the smartest thing I ever did, but in all fairness, I can’t remember if it was Slim or Mickey Gilley—which... 

SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME 2013 INDUCTION Alison Krauss Due to the nature of the annual Songwriters Hall of Fame [SHOF] Induction Gala, the VIP cocktail party always brings out a motley bunch of old-guard music business luminaries, celebrated songwriters and the major recording artists who made them celebrated. Previous inductee (2009, with Eddie Brigati) Felix Cavaliere got there early Thursday evening. Of course he was asked how The Rascals: Once... 

ROD STEWART The raspy-voiced legend breaks free of creative blocks to pen his first rock album in decades. MEGADETH After 30 years, the metal icons aren’t afraid to push the envelope and take risks with their music. INDIA.ARIE The R&B chanteuse nearly called it quits, but a new perspective inspired her latest album. STEVE EARLE The noted singer-songwriter’s new effort explores hard times, politics and redneck glorification. JOE SATRIANI The... 

JAMES TAYLOR WAS AT THE HEIGHT OF STARDOM when photographer Norman Seeff shot this session for the 1975 album Gorilla. “It was one of those wonderful weekdays in Malibu when you can go to the beach and no one’s there,” says Seeff. Having previously worked with Taylor, Seeff was aware of his unassuming nature in front of the camera. “I wouldn’t say he was shy, but reserved, retiring,” he explains. “He was very much himself and didn’t...