London (November 1, 2016) - ROLI, the music technology innovator, today launches BLOCKS, the most accessible and scalable music creation system ever made.
ROLI BLOCKS is a modular music studio that opens up the world of
music-making to everyone. Each individual Block offers unique
capabilities that let people create music in simple but far-reaching
ways. The Blocks connect together to create customizable kits that suit
any budget, skill level, and musical style. With a click of magnetic
connectors, music-makers can now build their instruments as they go.
The Lightpad Block
Renowned artists including Grimes, Steve Aoki, and RZA are already
making music on BLOCKS and creating signature soundpacks for BLOCKS
musicians. Grimes - a composer, producer, and global superstar whose
sound is redefining pop music - said, "ROLI BLOCKS will democratize
music production. It's so intuitive and versatile. I'm always on the go,
and BLOCKS is the most powerful mobile production tool I've ever used."
Three Blocks launch today. The Lightpad Block features a tactile,
glowing surface that lets people shape music through presses, glides,
and other natural gestures. The Live Block and Loop Block have controls
that make it even easier to perform and produce in real time. BLOCKS is
powered by NOISE, a free music app for iPhone and iPad that is now
available at the App Store. NOISE connects to BLOCKS wirelessly over
Bluetooth, becoming the system's sound engine as well as a standalone
app.
Roland Lamb, founder and CEO of ROLI, and inventor of BLOCKS, said,
"Many areas of life have been transformed by the digital. Music,
though, remains a universal language that everyone understands, but only
a few can speak. BLOCKS will change that, and enable people around the
world to experience the joy of music-making for the first time."
The Lightpad Block, Live Block, and Loop Block are exclusively
available at ROLI.com, Apple.com, and Apple Stores around the world.
With a Lightpad Block retailing at $179 (£169.95) and the Live Block and
Loop Block at $79 (£69.95), BLOCKS is extraordinarily affordable as
well as powerful.
ROLI celebrates today with an event at the Steel Yard in London.
Roland Lamb's keynote address and the world's first BLOCKS performance
will be live-streamed on ROLI's Facebook page at 1800 GMT on November 1.
The launch caps an important year for ROLI, which has emerged as a leader in music technology innovation. The award-winning Seaboard RISE,
a reinvention of the piano that has redefined the expressive capability
of electronic instruments, has been adopted by a range of artists from
Stevie Wonder to Meghan Trainor. ROLI acquired FXpansion, a London-based maker of audio software and virtual instruments, in September 2016.
Visit ROLI.com and watch BLOCKS films to see and hear how this modular music studio will give everyone a musical voice.
Make music anywhere with BLOCKS
The Lightpad Block connected to the Loop Block
