The year is 1979, and five young guys are jamming in a Hispanic neighborhood in downtown Manhattan. The vocalist of this group is Salvatore Principato. By day, he works in a toy store with Kim Gordon.

Get inspired by some of music’s most creative minds ...

In a public conversation with Ego Trip founder and Academy team member Chairman Mao at the 2015 Red Bull Music Academy Festival in New York, celebrated Harlem MC A$AP ...

Electronic music didn’t start with Eno, but it was certainly never the same after him. On Roxy Music’s first two albums he helped make synthesizers and tape effects part of a rock lineup, pricking the ...

This perfectly-pitched German keyboardist and composer dominated the ’80s by composing two of the most enduring pieces of movie-inspired synth madness: “Axel F” (the theme to Beverly Hills Cop) and ...

Van Dyke Parks is an arranger and composer best known for writing the lyrics to a certain lost classic by the Beach Boys – but that’s not even the half of it. His first arranging job was on The Jungle ...

Every year, artists from around the world came together in a different host city to learn from musical luminaries – and each other – and collaborate in custom-built studios. Many Academy alumni went ...

Music as we know it would look a lot different (and less colorful) without the contributions of George Clinton. From his early musical beginnings in doo-wop and as a songwriter at Motown, the hugely ...

With the kind of reputation that strikes fear in the heart of anyone entering a “name the rare breaks” battle, Gerald “Jazzman” Short has been running his online store and reissue label, Jazzman ...

It’s been 14 years since neo-soul master D’Angelo released his opus of a sophomore LP, Voodoo, and fans worldwide are still waiting with bated breath at the prospect of what will follow it. Last year, ...