musicians Archives

AppWizard

August 1, 2025

A Post-Apocalyptic, Rhythm-Based RPG With An Incredible Soundtrack Is Free On PC

Keylocker is a rhythm-centric RPG set in a dystopian world where music is forbidden. Players control B0B0, a cyborg and one of the last musicians, who escapes from prison and teams up with a sentient robotic jukebox named Rocket and his brother Dealer to rebel against the oppressive rulers known as Satellites. The game features turn-based battles that require precise timing for button presses to evade damage or amplify attacks. Keylocker is available for free on PC via the Epic Games Store until August 7 and is also accessible on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

AppWizard

July 21, 2025

Five new Steam games you probably missed (July 21, 2025)

On an average day, Steam unveils approximately a dozen new games. The Necromancer's Tale - Release: July 17 - Developer: Psychic Software The Karters 2 - Release: July 18 - Developer: Pixel Edge Games - Over 200 positive reviews since launch. - Features include a single-player campaign, 16 tracks, six battle arenas, online and split-screen support, and Steam Workshop integration. Kaizen: A Factory Story - Release: July 15 - Developer: Coincidence - Set in 1980s Japan, players design production lines for nostalgic products. Fretless - The Wrath of Riffson - Release: July 17 - Developer: Ritual Studios - Retro-style RPG with rhythm-based combat. He is Coming - Release: July 17 - Developer: Chronocle - An auto battler roguelite with over 350 items and more than 30 bosses in early access.

AppWizard

July 11, 2025

FYI Calendar: Dive into “A Minecraft Movie” at Wilson Park Pool on July 18

Arts One Presents is staging “The Wizard of Oz” from July 17-20 and July 24-27 at the Pat Ellis Performing Arts Center, 667 Hylton Road, Springdale. The Fort Smith Little Theatre is presenting “Oklahoma!” from July 17 to August 2 at 401 N. Sixth St., Fort Smith. The Walk and Talk Book Club is on July 11 from 9 to 9:30 a.m. at Library Park, 1507 W. Pine St., Rogers. Writers Night is on July 16 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Casa Magnolia, 414 Holcomb St., Springdale. The School For Advanced Studies is hosting a Latin Dance Night on July 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. at 121 W. Poplar St., Rogers. The Fayetteville Public Library has a weekly unwind session on July 16 from 3 to 4 p.m. in the Ann Henry Board Room. The Fayetteville Downtown Square & Gardens hosts a Farmer’s Market every Tuesday and Thursday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. A Handpoke Tattoo Pop-Up by Oatmilk Pokes is on July 12 from noon to 4 p.m. at Two Friends Books, 801 S.E. Eighth St., Unit 47, Bentonville. Smokehouse Cycles in Fayetteville is hosting a Bike Swap on July 13 from noon to 5 p.m. Puritan Coffee & Beer has Musical Bingo every Monday in July at 7 p.m. The “Scrap” exhibition opens on July 11 at Fenix Arts gallery and runs until August 30. The “To M(end” exhibition at Midnight Gallery runs through September 29, with an Artist Talk on July 20. The Springdale Public Library is holding a Library Card Design Contest with a submission deadline of July 26. The Scott Family Amazeum is celebrating its 10th anniversary on July 12 with a Birthday Bash. Kids can participate in the Kids Club event on July 12 at the downtown Bentonville Farmers Market. Swim Night at the Rogers Aquatic Center is on July 18 from 7 to 9 p.m. Movies in the Parks features “Shrek” on July 11 at Walker Park, Fayetteville. City Park Fayetteville is screening classic films every Friday in July. Wags to Riches Pet Grooming is having a grand opening on July 19 at 1003 S.E. 28th St., Bentonville. An Art Supply Swap is on July 16 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Fayetteville Public Library. Grace Underfanger will discuss selling art online on July 12 at the Fayetteville Public Library. The Bella Vista Community Band performs on July 15 at Blowing Springs Park at 7 p.m. Opera in the Ozarks is performing “Carmen,” “Into the Woods,” and “The Merry Widow” through July 25 at Inspiration Point Center for the Arts, Eureka Springs. Hotvine Wine Shop offers Frozen Drink Fridays throughout the summer. Rabbit Hole continues its Wabbit Wednesdays series on July 16 starting at 5 p.m. at Arsaga’s Mill District, Fayetteville. Two Friends Books is hosting a “summer mezze” feast on July 14 from 4 to 8 p.m.

AppWizard

July 8, 2025

Multiplayer musical adventure game MAJJAM announced for PC

Opus Major, a Paris-based studio founded by former Ubisoft professionals, is developing a massively multiplayer online player-versus-environment musical adventure game called MAJJAM, which is currently in early development and will launch on PC via Steam. Players can register for an upcoming playtest on the official website. MAJJAM emphasizes music as the core of gameplay, allowing players to engage in a cooperative adventure where they use rhythm and melodies to interact with the environment and each other. Players combat a corruptive force known as Kode by utilizing musical energy through a mechanic called "Jamming," which encourages creativity and collaboration among players, regardless of their musical expertise. Each character has a unique Jam ability enhanced by musical powers that can be unlocked and collected. Key features include an inclusive jamming experience, a dynamic world that evolves based on player input, a fog system representing Kode that limits exploration, and customizable characters with distinct musical capabilities.

AppWizard

June 19, 2025

These are the best audio apps for Android (that aren’t Spotify)

Shazam is a music recognition app that identifies songs quickly and integrates with Spotify and Apple Music. Wavelet is an equalizer app that enhances sound quality with features like a nine-band equalizer and AutoEQ mode, though some advanced options require payment. Audible is a leading audiobook platform with a vast library and subscription options for monthly credits or individual purchases. SoundCloud allows users to explore tracks from emerging artists and offers both free and subscription-based ad-free experiences. Bandsintown helps users locate concerts and music festivals, providing reminders and ticket links. Pocket Casts is a podcast app that enables users to discover and manage shows, with features for organizing and bookmarking episodes available through a subscription.

AppWizard

June 18, 2025

Portland Musician Amos Roddy Contributed Six New Songs to Minecraft’s Latest Update

Amos Roddy is a Portland-based musician who contributed six new tracks to the Minecraft soundtrack in an update released on June 17. At 40, he has been composing video game soundtracks for over a decade, starting at age 29. His minimalist and atmospheric style has been featured in indie games like Kingdom, Citizen Sleeper, and Cloud Gardens. Roddy was contacted by Mojang Studios in November 2020 and had three weeks to produce the tracks, five of which integrate into gameplay, while one can be found through an in-game music disk. He employs a unique creative process that allows instruments to guide his compositions, often crafting tracks quickly with minimal input from the developer. One track, "Tears," was inspired by defeating a Ghast in the game and incorporates elements of phonk music. Roddy plans to compose the soundtrack for an indie game titled BALL x PIT, which will have a more operatic and dynamic sound.

AppWizard

March 25, 2025

Hear Jack Black, Dave Grohl and more on epic new Minecraft single I…

Jack Black and Dave Grohl collaborated on a new song titled "I Feel Alive" for the upcoming A Minecraft Movie, set to be released on April 4. Black voices the character Steve, while Grohl plays drums on the track. Other musicians involved include Troy Van Leeuwen on guitar, Roger Manning on keys, Mark Ronson on bass and rhythm guitar, and Danielle Brooks providing background vocals. The film, directed by Jared Hess, follows four misfits who are transported to the Overworld and must navigate challenges to return home.

AppWizard

March 20, 2025

United Videogame Workers union launches with CWA backing

United Videogame Workers has been launched as a new initiative for professionals in the gaming industry, backed by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and the American Federation of Musicians (AFM). The union aims to empower marginalized workers, including laid-off employees, contractors, and freelancers. Its mission is to reclaim the contributions of the workforce from higher-ups. Tom Smith, CWA’s senior director of organizing, emphasized that the union's creation is a collective effort by video game workers. CWA president Claude Cummings Jr. noted the significance of the union in helping video game workers build power amid troubling trends of consolidation in the industry, which have led to layoffs and the sidelining of creative workers.

Winsage

February 8, 2025

Windows MIDI Services With Full MIDI 2.0 Support Coming Soon

The latest Windows 11 Insider Preview from the Canary Channel introduces native support for MIDI 2.0, moving away from OEM drivers. This update offers improved connection speeds, two-way communication, and property exchange capabilities for MIDI devices. MIDI 2.0 support will be available for both Windows 11 and Windows 10 if finalized before Windows 10 is phased out.

Winsage

February 7, 2025

Latest Windows 11 build adds full MIDI 2.0 support and improved performance

Microsoft has released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27788 in the Canary Channel, which includes significant enhancements to the MIDI standard. This update supports both MIDI 1.0 and MIDI 2.0, designed exclusively for 64-bit operating systems, and extends full MIDI compatibility across all modern Windows architectures, including Arm64-based PCs. The MIDI 2.0 standard features high-speed data transmission, high-fidelity messages, and endpoint discovery and negotiation. The new MIDI stack improves performance with better timing and reduced jitter, and a faster MIDI driver supports both versions with automatic API translation for interoperability. The update also includes a USB MIDI 2.0 class driver developed in collaboration with the Association of Musical Electronics Industry of Japan and AmeNote, ensuring compatibility with both MIDI 2.0 and legacy MIDI 1.0 devices. Additionally, the preview introduces a 1-click resume function for OneDrive and selective installation options for games in the Microsoft Store.