Should an orchestra sound real in electronic music? Should composers like Vangelis use better samples, or is the focus purposely on something else? Although the technical difference between them is significant, what really sets sampled orchestral music and electro-orchestral music apart is the idea behind the composition, and the type of sonic character and musical expressions the composer prefers to communicate these different ideas with.

Let’s take a look at these two approaches to music production, which can result in very diverse types of outcomes. Read more…

Many think that the musical styles “Ambient” and “New Age” are the same and that these two words are interchangeable. And they could not be any more wrong. Examining the their origin, differences in purpose, influences, and especially the ideology behind them reveals a dynamic history. The intellectual approach and production techniques associated with examples of these works, from John Cage, Terry Riley, Brian Eno to Enya, Shpongle and relaxation music. Ambient musicians today loathe to be associated with new age, while most online stores don’t even have an ambient category for ambient music (and shove some of the most inventive records into some of the lowest quality release junk). Read more…

The global and personal story behind the Fukushima 50 Hymn, a tribute music dedicated to the heroes of the Fukushima nuclear plant and victims of the March 11 2011 Japan Tohoku earthquake, tsunami and nuclear catastrophe. Read more…

The story behind Julius Dobos’ Transitions album. From entertainment industry to art. From symphonic and electro-orchestral to electronic. This music album is a collection of pieces from the period of a composer’s transition from the film and music profession to pure music production – what has changed? Read more…