DiscoverThe BroadsideHow the synthesizer became Southern
How the synthesizer became Southern

How the synthesizer became Southern

Update: 2025-10-23
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Description

North Carolina is home to one of the oldest electronic music traditions in the world. From synthesizer builders in Asheville to Grammy-nominated musicians in Durham, the state’s small but influential scene remains healthy. But how did it come to be? This week, we go on a strange trip through the early days of electronic music in America and find out how the synthesizer became an unlikely Southern instrument.

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Links:

  • You can find a transcript of the episode here.
  • Check out more audio and video reporting from Broadside contributor Saleem Reshamwala here.


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How the synthesizer became Southern

How the synthesizer became Southern