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Drummer and hitmaker Sheila E Feb 04, 2019

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Sheila E is a world-class drummer and percussionist who's worked with some of the most acclaimed artists of all time, including Marvin Gaye, Beyoncé, Herbie Hancock and Diana Ross. She was Prince’s drummer and musical director during the period of recording and touring Sign O’ the Times, The Black Album and Lovesexy, and an artist in her own right, having scored hits such as “The Glamorous Life” and “A Love Bizarre.” Here, she talks about the rhythm of life on stage, in the studio and on the ro

Montréal engineer Howard Bilerman Jan 28, 2019

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Grammy-nominated Howard Bilerman is a former member of Arcade Fire and the engineer for the band's breakthrough album, Funeral. Throughout his prolific career he has worked with over 400 artists, including Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Handsome Furs, Wolf Parade, Thee Silver Mt. Zion, Leonard Cohen and more. Here, Bilerman retraces the steps that took him from recording live bands to becoming an integral part of the city's music scene.

Berlin icon Gudrun Gut Jan 21, 2019

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Gudrun Gut has been at the forefront of Berlin music for decades. She cofounded Einstürzende Neubauten and went on to play in bands like Malaria! and Mania D. In the ’90s Gut founded Moabit Music and Monika Enterprise, exclusively releasing the work of women. In 2007 she made forays into downtempo electronic music on her debut album Put a Record On. Other projects include Ocean Club Radio and the international female:pressure network. Here, Gut reflects on Berlin before and after the Wall and much more.

Canadian composer Kara-Lis Coverdale Jan 14, 2019

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Kara-Lis Coverdale became organist and composing music director at a local church in Ontario at 14. After studying musicology and composition, she moved to Montréal and befriended Tim Hecker, playing on his albums Virgins and Love Streams. In 2015 Coverdale released Aftertouches, which blurred the lines between electronic and acoustic music. In 2017 she released Grafts, which she composed with processed and looped vocal samples. Here, Coverdale talks collaboration, her Estonian musical heritage and more.

Minimal Wave's Veronica Vasicka Jan 07, 2019

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Veronica Vasicka has unearthed countless gems and revived a subgenre with Minimal Wave, the label she founded in 2005. Vasicka’s sound was partly cultivated via online radio station East Village Radio, where she was the station’s first program director. And her reputation cemented with the release ofThe Minimal Wave Tapes Volume One on Stones Throw in 2010. Ever since, she’s spread this incredible sound via her labels and DJ sets. Here, Vasicka discusses founding her label and much more.

Production duo Christian Rich Dec 17, 2018

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Taiwo and Kehinde Hassan AKA Christian Rich have created some of the most progressive rap productions of the ’10s. After producing for artists like Foxy Brown and Lil Kim in the ’00s, Rich racked up credits with rappers like Earl Sweatshirt, Drake and J. Cole. Since moving to Berlin two years ago, Rich have continued that trajectory, producing songs for Jaden Smith and collaborating with Little Dragon and fellow Chicagoan Vic Mensa. Here, they discuss their biggest hits and their approach to production.

German music icon Manuel Göttsching Dec 10, 2018

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Manuel Göttsching is one of Germany's most influential talents. In the ’70s, he co-founded pioneering krautrock group Ash Ra Tempel and released several works of minimalist guitar music. In 1984, he made a left turn with E2-E4, the classic that wed Göttsching’s guitar with minimal electronic music. Since then, Göttsching has resurrected Ash Ra Tempel under the name Ashra and continued to compose new music. Here, Göttsching discussed his feelings about the term “krautrock,” the making of E2-E4 an

Electronic original Jlin Dec 03, 2018

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After discovering footwork while majoring in math at Purdue University, Jlin began studying from genre pioneers like RP Boo and DJ Rashad. Her track “Erotic Heat” caught the attention of Mike Paradinas, who included it on Planet Mu's Bangs & Works, Vol. 2 compilation. She worked at a steel mill while she wrote her acclaimed 2015 debut, Dark Energy. Her sophomore album, Black Origami, received even greater praise. Her latest is Autobiography, a score for her collaboration with choreographer Wayne McGrego

House godfather Frankie Knuckles Nov 26, 2018

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Born in the Bronx, Frankie Knuckles grew up during the early days of disco and was a regular at the Loft and the Gallery. He cut his DJ teeth with Larry Levan before heading to Chicago, where he helped shape and design the Warehouse, the club that birthed and named house music. While in Chicago, he also recorded some of the greatest music ever to bear the name house. Here, this legend, who tragically passed away in 2014, takes us through his 40-year career, from New York to Chicago and back again.

DJ Spinn and DJ Rashad: Taking footwork to the world Nov 19, 2018

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When footwork first erupted in Chicago, few were able to put names to the music behind the wild dancing. Gradually, DJ Spinn and DJ Rashad (who passed away in 2014) emerged as prime movers, with a crate full of beats designed to move the crowd and the curiosity and knowledge to look beyond their neighborhood. First they traveled to Detroit, then the world. Here, they reflect on the origins of juke and footwork, look at where it’s at now and claim that it’s high time urban music’s major players came ca

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