UK-based music hardware firm ROLI has been making some big moves this year. A few months ago, ROLI released the first ever budget MPE controller called the Seaboard Block that works in conjunction with its modular block system. Last month, the company announced the second generation of its Lightpad Block and companion app.
Today, the firm is back with the news that international megastar Pharrell Williams has signed on as ROLI's Chief Creative Officer and new co-owner.
As passionate about making music as he is bringing music-making to the masses, Pharrell feels that the partnership is a perfect match. ROLI's press release quoted Pharrell as saying, "When I met Roland and ROLI, I immediately felt we were working towards exactly the same goals, and so I'm super excited that we're kicking off this partnership."
The press release goes on to say that Pharrell will be working with ROLI founder Roland Lamb "...to develop revolutionary new musical instruments that are iconic, digitally connected, and accessible to all," and that the Seaboard and BLOCKS devices will continue to evolve.
In celebration of the new partnership, ROLI's NOISE companion app is featuring the "Happy by Pharrell" studiopack for free, which brings the vocals, beats, and basslines from the song straight to your ROLI device. Check out the video below to see it in action.