Ben Rogerson
I’m the Deputy Editor of MusicRadar, having worked on the site since its launch in 2007. I previously spent eight years working on our sister magazine, Computer Music. I’ve been playing the piano, gigging in bands and failing to finish tracks at home for more than 30 years, 24 of which I’ve also spent writing about music and the ever-changing technology used to make it.
Latest articles by Ben Rogerson
![Amy Allen](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/92KzNy6Ka8TGibRXeRV94F-320-80.jpg)
Sabrina Carpenter songwriter Amy Allen on why she doesn’t listen to other contemporary pop hits
By Ben Rogerson published
“What’s current now is not going to be current by the time anything I write comes out”
![Sabrina Carpenter](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HGJVvmXHonPqAPTo7fzoxi-320-80.jpg)
Sabrina Carpenter claps back and confirms that she sings “live every show 100%”
By Ben Rogerson published
She’s working late, and she’s definitely singing
![Jack Antonoff Sabrina Carpenter](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LszQxsMPie6dpKMtkoNYqQ-320-80.jpg)
Jack Antonoff explains that unusual key change in Sabrina Carpenter’s Please Please Please
By Ben Rogerson published
"It’s A to C - it’s not a typical place you would lift to - and we were just all like ‘whoa’”
![Sister Sledge](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QYc56VMFUJ5FFjRTTi6YKL-320-80.jpg)
Kathy Sledge explains why Sister Sledge didn't get to hear We Are Family right up until they recorded it
By Ben Rogerson published
“They believed in spontaneity,” she says
![Olivia Rodrigo](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gGhtUJRovhfJw3DqJSYoFL-320-80.jpg)
Here’s when you can watch Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts World Tour concert special on Netflix
By Ben Rogerson published
And the good news is that you don’t have long to wait
![John Williams and Steven Spielberg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fEHL2XKRRdwatVsssvzyrQ-320-80.jpg)
John Williams recalls the first time he played the Jaws theme for Steven Spielberg in new documentary
By Ben Rogerson published
Music by John Williams is coming soon to Disney+
![Tom Cruise Royal Albert Hall](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/w8tuMJj57gt6RURVj2VvNX-320-80.jpg)
That’s incredible… that is nuts”: Tom Cruise gets a Royal Albert Hall organ lesson
By Ben Rogerson published
He also explained the importance of the leitmotif (and no, that’s not a pilot’s call sign)
![Taylor Swift guitar smashed](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zwABZPnFeLKZfZMbDtSwkD-320-80.jpg)
Man seemingly spends $4,000 on a guitar signed by Taylor Swift and then immediately destroys it
By Ben Rogerson published
It looks like someone might need to calm down...
![Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9BuYAdeoxF26XGMQygnAo4-320-80.jpg)
“It screams ‘party speaker’, with a definite focus on bass; but not, happily, at the complete expense of detail”: Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus review
By Ben Rogerson published
It lights up and is so waterproof you can chuck it in a pool, but how does this low-end-loving Bluetooth speaker sound?
![Chris Martin](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nvgAi8LQLPoGgAAcNYpKxH-320-80.jpg)
Chris Martin on why he’s sticking with the plan to stop at 12 Coldplay albums
By Ben Rogerson published
“Because less is more,” he says. “And for some of our critics, even less would be even more!”
![Raphael Saadiq](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dCej6vjPPr4mzuxUaf4GC-320-80.jpg)
Raphael Saadiq says that Beyonce, D'Angelo and Solange can hear the potential in songs that others can't
By Ben Rogerson published
“I wasn't even going to play Beyonce that song. I was going through another song, and she heard Bodyguard, and she said, ‘What's that?’”
![Cat Glover](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/izCSYDVQ8inhfVf2D4Bu5W-320-80.jpg)
Prince collaborator Cat Glover, famed for her Alphabet St rap and striking choreography, has died
By Ben Rogerson published
She played a key role on the Sign o’ the Times and Lovesexy tours
![Billie Eilish and Finneas](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mA2m7sCEWhnTZeQbqFkXkb-320-80.jpg)
Finneas on why he’s given Billie Eilish “the bare minimum of stuff” in her new recording studio
By Ben Rogerson published
"'If I give you this basic thing, it’ll make sense to you right away’”
![Loog x Duolingo Piano](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4QBpM8aY2dxXepSivs6GhU-320-80.jpg)
Duolingo partners with Loog on a portable piano for use with its music course
By Ben Rogerson published
Coming in Brattish green, it’s bang on trend
![Greg Phillinganes Clavinet Keyscape](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2dPUwdLEyRBSqxpDycVNwR-320-80.jpg)
Greg Phillinganes explains how he shares the Clavinet parts with Stevie Wonder on Higher Ground
By Ben Rogerson published
Revealed: the secret sauce on Michael McDonald’s I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)
![Jet](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8XM9d4ZDFNmebWEsT5aVvX-320-80.jpg)
Jet on the making of Are You Gonna Be My Girl and how it ended up in an iPod ad
By Ben Rogerson published
“People talk about the song’s similarity to Lust for Life. It has that rhythm - but so do You Can’t Hurry Love and Town Called Malice”
![Pete Townshend and Taylor Swift](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/R6eeB7ahK8s7pJ3ETWmmw4-320-80.jpg)
“That's what I identify with": Pete Townshend is the latest rock legend to praise Taylor Swift
By Ben Rogerson published
“That’s what I identify with,” he says
![Deco](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dr9H7dzQUkWupBfqVvSzNo-320-80.jpg)
Deco on their new album, ‘80s covers and attracting the attention of both Noel and Liam Gallagher
By Ben Rogerson published
“Rick Astley told us in person that our Never Gonna Give You Up mashup with Teenage Dirtbag is ‘very good, by the way’”
![Nelly Furtado and Timbaland](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7x9FnJDGcUGkgrZmX3s7J5-320-80.jpg)
Timbaland's beat for Nelly Furtado's Maneater was so fire that flames started coming out of the speaker
By Ben Rogerson published
Furtado has also reiterated her love of Oasis, and says that “I feel like Noel Gallagher taught me to play guitar without him knowing"
![Rosie Lowe](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dy2z6q9wX9ShC8yNxDdMN9-320-80.jpg)
Rosie Lowe on hitting alt-R&B excellence on new album, Lover, Other
By Ben Rogerson published
“I knew I didn’t want to create the album in four walls of a soundproofed studio; I didn’t find the idea of that inspiring.
![Chappell Roan](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9SqY49TWf7w7jaCH2ZcjhH-320-80.jpg)
Producer Dan Nigro breaks down Chappell Roan’s iconic Good Luck, Babe! vocal flips
By Ben Rogerson published
“A lot of it is this kind of dance that we’re doing. What note is full voice? What note is falsetto?”
![Finneas and Billie Eilish](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HULG6Pej64MeD3pwcV9GoY-320-80.jpg)
Finneas reveals Billie Eilish's “number one piece of feedback” on his guitar playing
By Ben Rogerson published
“Even though she feels like she’s less experienced, I really like her sensibilities,” he says
![Rockabye Baby Taylor Swift](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YCMTA4TULQPby2baLzwA79-320-80.jpg)
Need to calm down? Try Rockabye Baby’s ‘Lullaby Renditions’ of Taylor Swift songs
By Ben Rogerson published
Company has previously created baby-friendly versions of songs by Metallica, Snoop Dogg, Nirvana and Beyonce
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