Three pins, and nearly every signal in this business passes through them.

The magazine is named after the cable: the microphone in the booth, the line to the desk, the DMX run that fires the lights. Studio, stage and rig share the same cable. Most magazines pick one of the three. This one covers all of it, because the people we read do too — the engineer mixing a record on Tuesday is on front of house by Saturday.

Around a hundred and sixty sources, in English, Japanese, Spanish, German, French, Chinese and Italian: makers and their release notes, reviewers who put a hand on the thing, studios and touring crews, the producers and collectives surfacing this month and the scenes they came out of. Synths and modular, plugins and DAWs, guitars and drums, microphones, monitors, PA and lighting. What the trade is talking about is counted and plotted. The editor's letter has just started; it will find its rhythm.

For each story: a headline, a short excerpt, one picture and the link out. We never reprint the article, and the picture belongs to the maker or the photographer. A German review appears in German and a Japanese one in Japanese, as the writer published it; the link goes to the original.

Nothing is sold on this site. When a link leads to a shop, it is the maker's shop, not ours.

← XLR MAG Archive

NMEScenes

Watch Elton John open new Apple Music Hall in London as show live-streams onto Battersea Power Station

September 29

Elton John opened the new Apple Music Hall at Battersea Power Station last night (Monday September 28) – with the show also broadcast outside the venue for fans to watch.

Read at NME ↗

One letter a week, in your inbox.

Latest

Watch Elton John open new Apple Music Hall in London as show live-streams onto Battersea Power Station

More from NME on XLR MAG

ScenesVictoria Beckham “back in the studio” as she records vocals with son Cruz NME

ScenesU2 in rehearsals for new stadium tour, with Larry Mullen Jr. back after undergoing surgery NME

ScenesSlipknot fans hit back over Marilyn Manson as choice of support on 2027 stadium tour NME

ScenesWatch Pixies perform ‘Wave Of Mutilation’ with Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder NME

ScenesLiam Gallagher suggests Oasis will discuss new album after ‘Live ’27’ tour: “Can’t see us touring again unless we have new music” NME