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Latest by Mike Mettler

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dt10 vinyls revived streaming thrives but can musicians survive music feat

Vinyl’s revived. Streaming thrives. But can musicians survive?

Tapes killed vinyl. CDs killed tapes. Now streaming has killed CDs and vinyl is … back? We explore the evolving technology of music, and why, for some musicians, nothing has really changed, even as everything has.
Music Features
dweezil zappa audiophile feat

To capture his father’s legacy, Dweezil Zappa turns to surround sound

Dweezil Zappa doesn’t live in the shadow of his father – he embraces it. The son of legend Frank Zappa discusses how he captures the right sound on tour, working with surround sound, and his father’s legacy.
Music Features
interview star trek beyond makeup designer joel harlow

What does it take to craft 50 Star Trek aliens from scratch? Ask Joel Harlow

The otherworldly aliens of ‘Star Trek: Beyond’ didn’t just show up at casting – someone had to design each and every one. Master makeup designer Joel Harlow shares what it took.
Entertainment Features
extreme proves their sonic mettle audiophile feat

Radio made Extreme famous, but streaming keeps their live shows alive

Extreme hit it big in 1991 with More Than Words, but in the more than two decades since, the band has continued to thrive by focusing on its live sound, and rolling with the times as radio has morphed into Spotify.
Music Features
superstar singer david gray discusses new best of album feat

International superstar David Gray finds his Babylon (again)

British electro-folk singer/songwriter David Gray made an indelible impact in hearts and minds across the globe with his 1998 album White Ladder. Gray talks with Digital Trends about his career since releasing that multi-platinum disc, the role of streaming music today, and what it means to climb the rungs of success.
Music Guides
digital trends interviews electronic music pioneer thomas dolby t feat

Before he blinded us with science, Thomas Dolby was dumpster diving for synths

Thomas Dolby helped legitimize electronic music with tracks like She Blinded Me With Science, which was accompanied by a hit music video on the bourgeoning MTV network. He was also an early proponent of music sharing via the internet.
Music Features
dj snbrn on sunset house spotify and streaming music with

How California DJ SNBRN made Sunset House music catch fire

Sunset house blends of real instruments like piano, strings, and horns with synths and samples to create the duskiest of sonic vibes — it’s the smoothest electronic dance music yet. DJ SNBRN explains where it came from and where EDM is going.
Music Features
interview rachael yamagata on streaming recording the audiophile

Streaming finds new fans, but what pays the bills? Rachael Yamagata found a way

From a cellist who plays the violin between his legs, to a “happy accident” that filled dead air with an orchestra, Rachael Yamagata’s recording process for Tightrope Walker was anything but ordinary.
Music Features
The Audiophile: Paul Stanley of KISS

KISS’ Paul Stanley talks vinyl, Spotify, ‘the injustice of the internet’

KISS frontman Paul Stanley explains why the internet hasn’t been good for artists, why he isn’t as enamored with vinyl as everyone else, and how KISS’ legendary Las Vegas act translates into Blu-ray and Dolby Atmos for ‘KISS Rocks Vegas.’
Music Features
groves embraces streaming to attract more fans their live act the audiophile 0001

When it comes to live shows, Groves believes that if you stream it, they will come

Electro-rock trio Groves blend classic rock instruments with electronic sound to create their own sound. The band recently caught the attention of Boy George and toured with Culture Club. They view streaming as a way to attract more fans to their shows.
Music Features
The Audiophile: Stewart Lindsey

Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart has sweet dreams of Spotify streams for his new band

Dave Stewart is best known for being Annie Lennox’s collaborator in the Eurythmics, and he’s produced everyone from Mick Jagger to Tom Petty to Stevie Nicks. We talked to the man with the golden ear about Spotify, the struggles of modern musicians, and his new band Stewart Lindsey.
Music Features
The Audiophile: Faith No More

Faith No More is back, and these punk rockers still care a lot

Faith No More is back with a suite of reissues and a hard-charging 2015 album, Sol Invictus. Bassist/producer Billy Gould called Digital Trends to discuss the band’s ever-evolving goals in the studio, how to challenge a live audience, and reconciling with the streaming universe.
Music Features
interview chris robinson of black crowes on spotify vinyl the audiophile

Chris Robinson wants artists to storm Spotify HQ and ‘take whatever we want’

Chris Robinson, former frontman for jam-band the Black Crowes, on his slinky and psychedielic new album “Anyway You Love, We Know How You Feel, out now in various formats via Robinson’s own custom label, Silver Arrow – and the price artists pay for Spotify.
Music Features
The Audiophile: Chris Culos of O.A.R.

How streaming has helped O.A.R. spread their jams and celebrate ‘XX’

Streaming music remains a controversial subject for many artists. But for O.A.R., a band that’s always embraced connecting with its fans, streaming is an awesome way to learn who’s tuning in.
Music Features
The Audiophile: Santana IV

Carlos Santana says if you’re not willing to die for your music, be a plumber

Santana IV brings together musicians who hadn’t played together for 45 years. On the new album, the people who created such worldly wise tracks as Oye Como Va and Black Magic Woman show conclusively that age ain’t nothing but a number.
Music Features
The Audiophile: LCAW

As other musicians ran from streaming, German DJ LCAW built his career on it

Leon Christoph Alexander Weber grew up surrounded by classical music, but after embracing electronic music and the moniker LCAW, the German DJ built a career on streaming.
Music Features
The Blacklist Season 4 Interview

Who is Reddington? ‘The Blacklist’ creator Jon Bokenkamp teases the truth

In an exclusive interview with Digital Trends,The Blacklist creator Jon Bokenkamp talks about the end of series 3, where the show’s going for season 4, and why Blu-ray surround sound offers the ultimate way to watch.
Entertainment Features
The Audiophile: Steve Vai

Steve Vai literally bled for his music on ‘Passion and Warfare’

It has been 25 years since Steve Vai released ‘Passion and Warfare,’ but the recent remaster brings back memories of the frenetic energy that literally brought him to bleed for his first solo album.
Music Features
The Audiophile: MSTRKRFT

Canadian DJ duo MSTRKRFT let their gear make the music on ‘Operator’

Jesse F. Keeler and Al-P, computers don’t make creating music easier, they stifle. Find out how this DJ Duo turned to classic analog equipment to make their latest record.
Music Features
The Audiophile: Deerhoof

Deerhoof break bad and cook up a batch of audio endorphins on ‘The Magic’

Even Walter White would approve of pure endorphins Deerhoof peddle on ‘The Magic,’ an album recorded in a deserted Albuquerque office building.
Music Features
The Audiophile: Darius Rucker

Darius Rucker would rather rock live than count pennies from Spotify plays

Call ‘If I Told You’ country if you must, but Darius Rucker isn’t big on labels. The former Hootie & The Blowfish frontman talks about his new album, his love for vinyl, and the sad reality of Spotify.
Music Features
The Audiophile: LP

She can write a pop hit for anybody, but on ‘Death Valley,’ LP wrote for LP

“Good songs have a leeway to them. They respond to being done in different versions.” Identity is everything to recording artists. If that gets diluted in any way, musicians feel a clear disconnect has occurred between their intended message and how it’s being conveyed to the listener. In essence, that’s exactly what happened to indie […]
Music Features
The Audiophile: Jaded

Bass? Been done. Jaded is all about that chirp on ‘4000Hz’

Jaded turn the usual obsession with bass on its head with 4000Hz, a track dedicated to exploring the higher side of the audio spectrum, birds and all.
Music Features
The Audiophile Gary Barlow

Gary Barlow didn’t just meet his ’80s heroes, he made a retro album with them

How do you make an ‘80s album in 2016. For Gary Barlow, the answer was simple: Round up your music heroes, put them in a studio, and let them loose.
Music Features
interview garbage on strange little birds streaming spotify

Stream it if you want, but Garbage’s new album is no ‘digital-disposable’ throwaway

On Strange Little Birds, Garbage strips back their usual layered approach for a raw, dark sound straight out of Butch Vig’s basement.
Music Features
The Audiophile Russell Marsden of Band of Skulls

Band of Skulls set up shop in church to conjure the unholy rock of ‘By Default’

Churches aren’t just for Christian rock and gospel. Band of Skulls’ Russell Marsden explains how the band set up shop to rock in one of their hometown holy spots.
Music Features
interview andrew wk on twitter fans party hard pittsburgh penguins andrewwk jersey main

Andrew W.K. explains how his Twitter fans got the Penguins partying hard

If you attend a Pittsburgh Penguins Playoff game, you’re going to hear Andrew W.K.’s anthem Party Hard, and Twitter fans can take all the credit.
Music Features
The Audiophile: Gold Panda

DJ Gold Panda loves to get physical with his music, sees little value in streaming

Gold Panda isn’t interested in digital media, but he still uses it as a discovery tool. In our interview, find out what makes this artist tick, and how his music gets its unique sound.
Music Features
The Audiophile: Zach Rogue of Rogue Wave

‘The ship has already sailed.’ Rogue Wave knows there’s no going back on streaming

Zach Rogue and his bandmates in Rogue Wave talk about recording techniques, the emotion in recordings, and mixed feelings about streaming music.
Music Features
The Audiophile Jonathan Jackson Enation

Coffee’s worth $5, but music must be free? Enation’s Jonathan Jackson doesn’t get it

Nashville actor and Enation frontman Jonathan Jackson discusses his new album Blame-shifter, the resurgence of vinyl, and society’s curious refusal to pay for music – but not coffee.
Music Features
The Audiophile Goo Goo Dolls

John Rzeznik of Goo Goo Dolls tells us why iTunes is “Irrelevant”

With the release of new album Boxes, John Rzeznik of Goo Goo Dolls called Digital Trends to discuss incorporating electronic dance music, the pros and cons of streaming, ugly babies, and short song titles.
Music Features
banshees anthony starr talks on the end of series banshee season 4 16

The star of Banshee on why the cult-favorite series will end on May 22

We talk to the star of Banshee, Antony Starr, about the end of the series, his character, and his thoughts on social media.
Entertainment Features
Rufus Wainwright

Rufus Wainwright crafted an album so uncharted, it’s ineligible for a Grammy

Rufus Wainwright knows a mash-up of Shakespearian sonnets won’t pay the bills, and it won’t win a Grammy. But it hasn’t stopped the Canadian-American from throwing away all conventions for Take All My Loves.
Music Features
The Audiophile Tal Wilkenfeld

Bass prodigy Tal Wilkenfeld can’t be bothered with your petty laptop speakers

As prepares for her upcoming solo LP, Tal Wilkenfeld discusses the new album, high-res recording, and revelations she’s picked up from legends like Jeff Beck.
Music Features
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