Alessandro Cortini’s new album made with an MC-202, Stanford Laptop Orchestra, Davie504 and his 100 iconic basslines, Korg SDD3000, Linnstrument [Sonic State]

Jason Mraz is back with his new record “Yes!” – an acoustic album featuring the folk-rock band Raining Jane as his backup band. Jian talks to Jian about his relationship with the Janes, his unflappable positivity, and how he handles criticism. [Studio Q]

Comedian and singer “Weird Al” Yankovic is on course for his first No. 1 album, as Mandatory Fun could debut atop the Billboard 200 chart next week. Industry forecasters suggest the album, which was released on July 15, might sell over 80,000 copies by the end of the tracking week on Sunday, July 20. That…

Yesterday Magic!’s relaxed, summertime groove “Rude” took the throne from Iggy Azaelia’s “Fancy” as ruler of the Billboard 100 singles chart. It’s the fist reggae-identified track that has topped the charts since Sean Paul’s 2003 dancehall banger “Get Busy,” and the first non-Jamaican artist to deliver such a track since fellow Canadian Snow’s “Informer” in…

Centenarian jazz musician Lionel Ferbos has died at his home in New Orleans. He was 103. Family friend Regina Dillings says the trumpeter died Saturday morning surrounded by friends and family. Ferbos performed all over New Orleans and its suburbs for decades. His ability to read music made him an in-demand musician for gigs that…

Although Dame Dash didn’t call out anyone by name weeks ago when he expressed his disappointment at those who have not supported fellow Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder Kareem “Biggs” Burke during his incarceration, the rap entrepreneur did recently reveal that Kanye West is one artist who has not shown support for Biggs. Dame called out Kanye…

Bobby Shmurda is dancing away with a record deal. The Brooklyn rap sensation has officially signed with Epic Records.   Epic executive Sha Money XL broke the news on Instagram, writing, “Deal is done @bobby_shmurda #EPIC no one does the underdogs better then me. Brooklyn this 1 is for you!”…

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers have been sharing songs from their upcoming record, Hypnotic Eye, in small bursts, but it would take a particularly curious Petty fan to discover the rocker “Forgotten Man” on the group’s website. The band has created a Hypnotic Eye online radio – designed to look like the old-fashioned radio Petty…

We got a chance to sit down with The Yardeez, a production Duo known for producing 4 songs on Rich Homie Quan’s “Still Goin In” mixtape and 2 songs on “I Promise I Will Never Stop Going In”. During the session they experienced something that all producers go through. Check it out and tell us…

The RØDE iXY is the ultimate recording microphone for iPhone® and iPad®. With up to 24-bit/96k* recording and on-board high-fidelity A/D conversion, your iXY recordings are rich, smooth and accurate. At the heart of the iXY is a matched pair of ½” cardioid condenser capsules, fixed in a perfect 90 degree ‘near-coincident’ alignment. This results…