Watch a new video on the roots of house music. Protecting DIY spaces in the wake of the Ghost Ship fire. Tributes to electronic music pioneer Pauline Oliveros.
Unsung: Frankie Knuckles and The Roots of House Music. A new documentary explores the evolution of house music, with an emphasis on the role of the Godfather, Frankie Knuckles. The feature includes interview with the likes of Jesse Saunders, Steve ‘Silk’ Hurley and Farley ‘Jackmaster’ Funk. Watch it in full above.
36 killed in fire at Oakland warehouse space. The official death toll from the Ghost Ship fire has been confirmed at 36 people. Investigators are determining whether anyone can be held criminally liable, the Guardian reports. The electronic music community has come together to raise money for all those affected, with donations already reaching over $500,000. You can donate and show support here. A Google Doc has also been set up offering advice on harm reduction for DIY venues. Read it here.
A tribute to Pauline Oliveros, 1932-2016. Pauline Oliveros, a composer whose life’s work aspired to enhance sensory perception through what she called “deep listening”, died in November aged 84. Frieze’s Geeta Dayal pays tribute to the electronic music pioneer and focuses on the lesser known facts of her fascinating career and life here.
Fabric release sixth transparency statement. The club closed its donation page on Wednesday 23rd November and now intend to clarify where the remaining money will be spent. The new document details the plans as the London club prepares to reopen. Read the full statement here.
Steinberg release Cubase 9. The latest update allows customers to select from Pro, Artist and Elements editions, with all three being released simultaneously. There are plenty of new features across all three versions. Find out more here.
Soundtoys release EchoBoy Jr. “We’ve been wanting to create an artist and budget-friendly version of EchoBoy for awhile,” said Ken Bogdanowicz, Soundtoys CEO and designer. “It was interesting to revisit EchoBoy and listen deeply, pulling out our favorite sounds and crafting them into a new plug-in. In the process of curating, redesigning, and simplifying, I think we ended up with something unique and special. It’s way more compelling, and fun to use, than any of us ever expected when we first started this process.” You can purchase for an introductory price of $49 by visiting Soundtoys here. Introductory offer ends December 31st.
Help crowdfund a new MIDI controller. Joué is an expressive modular MIDI controller that is currently running a Kickstarter campaign. The new instrument aims to simplify digital music performance whilst offering a unique level of expressivity and spontaneity. To see the Kickstarter campaign and learn more click here.
Horizon Festival add Floating Points, Mala, Romare and Wayward to their lineup. Having recently relocated to Andorra, fans can expect a good mix of skiing and music in the mountains. For more information and to purchase tickets click here.