Roland is staking its brick-and-mortar declare within the US with its first official flagship retailer. The store will open subsequent month in New York Metropolis, providing shut up experiences with new merchandise, training, and different experiences from Roland and its owned manufacturers, BOSS and Drum Workshop.
The 9,000-square-foot house will function a major showroom, displaying the total vary of Roland merchandise, together with pianos, drums, guitars, synthesizers, dance/DJ gear, and an space devoted to Roland Cloud. There would be the first grand piano showroom and the primary Drum Workshop showroom, every devoted to the premium merchandise for these respective manufacturers, obtainable to attempt then and there. There may also be the BOSS Cavern, permitting for guitarists to check out the model’s results and pedals in an immersive sound atmosphere.
However the very first thing guests will see upon getting into is a tribute to arguably Roland’s most revered product: the TR-808 Rhythm Composer. The exhibit will go into the 808’s historical past in New York, the place hip-hop was born. There may also be 30-minute one-to-one periods obtainable for an in-depth take a look at the strategies and affect of the 808. However get there quickly to test it out, as a result of the store will rotate out totally different items of substances to spotlight.
Nonetheless, for anybody seeking to study in regards to the merchandise they’ve obtainable to buy, there will probably be workshops, one-on-one periods, after-sales coaching, and extra choices, all guided by Roland workers.
And for anybody who comes again once more, the shop gained’t look or sound the identical. Roland Soundscapes, an AI-powered system, adapts the atmosphere to motion, MIDI enter, time of day, and even the climate. A visit to Roland New York when it opens subsequent month will probably be utterly totally different than throughout Christmas when it’s time to search for presents.
“New York has lengthy been a spot the place new sounds, concepts, and inventive actions take form, making it a pure dwelling for Roland’s U.S. flagship retailer,” mentioned Masahiro Minowa, CEO of the Roland Company. “Roland has all the time been dedicated to pushing music ahead, and this retailer offers us a brand new method to share that spirit with musicians and creators whereas bringing our international retail expertise to one of many world’s most vital cultural centres.”
“Roland Retailer New York Metropolis offers us the chance to convey our manufacturers and our folks nearer to the musicians and creators who make New York such an vital a part of the worldwide music neighborhood,” says Manuele Barbini, CEO of Roland Americas.
“We’re excited to present musicians, producers, and creators in New York an area the place they’ll discover the newest Roland, BOSS, and DW improvements, join with our workforce, and be a part of a brand new artistic hub for town.”
Whereas no official opening date has been introduced, the invite-only grand opening ceremony will happen on October 10. When the shop does change into obtainable to the general public, its hours will probably be 11am to 7pm, Monday via Sunday.
Be taught extra at Roland.
Harry Levin is a contract journalist with credit in SPIN, Billboard, MusicTech, Grammy.com, Los Angeles Journal, and extra. His musical journey started 20 years in the past with a Led Zeppelin CD. He performed jazz trombone via school, produced large-scale digital music occasions, and now spends his skilled time writing and enhancing.
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