News

Legendary electronic music innovator Richie Hawtin sat down with Native Instruments’ Michael Koczynksi (Lead Product Manager for Traktor) and Sylwia Kopys (Senior Marketing Manager for Traktor and hardware) at ADE 2025 to discuss a long history of collaboration, the evolution of his live setup, and his vision for the future of performance technology. Watch the conversation in full below or read about some of the highlights in the blog. Where it all started The conversation began with the early days of digital DJing, a story that traces back to the late ’90s. Hawtin recalled stumbling upon Final Scratch, one of the original Digital Vinyl Systems (DVS), developed by Dutch programmers. “It blew our minds when we saw the technology of...

After years spent composing for fashion campaigns and ambient records, LA-based artist Hayes Bradley is circling back to the club. His new single “Total Call,” out now via StrataSonic, marks a sharp creative shift toward heavier, more physical rhythms. The track’s unruly breakbeats and distorted basslines hit with raw intensity, setting the tone for his fourth LP, Audience, which just dropped. This album leans into emotional contrasts while still aiming squarely at dancefloors. A longtime advocate of Native Instruments’ tools, Hayes built much of this new material using Kontakt Player, starting with free libraries and warping them beyond recognition. In this interview, he breaks down the workflow behind “Total Call,” the mindset that...

Canadian producer Cloverdale has been building his Channel 303 project as both a concept album and live performance series, leaning into hardware-driven production, DIY visuals, and a darker club aesthetic. The single “Nobody,” created with fellow Ottawa-native Return of the Jaded, brings UK garage swing into dialogue with bass-heavy house energy. Ozone was central in making “Nobody” release-ready. From giving the percussion room to punch through the bass to balancing the sub frequencies with precision, Cloverdale used its modules to finalize a track that feels equally suited for underground dance floors and larger systems. We spoke with Cloverdale about the tools inside iZotope Ozone that shaped “Nobody,” the process of tying...

Notable tracks that were added to DJcity this week. View them all here. Download the tracks below. (* indicates DJcity Exclusive) Tsunami – DJ Snake (ft. Future & Travis Scott) Daddy Yankee: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 0/66 – Bizarrap & Daddy Yankee Life Of The Party – DJames (ft. Berri-Tiga) I’m Gonna Get You – Angie Brown & Austin Millz Memories – Freejak Remix * – David Guetta (ft. Kid Cudi) Up! – Lincoln Baio Remix * – LoveRance (ft. IamSu & Skipper) Block Rockin’ Beats – Don Diablo Remix – The Chemical Brothers Crank That (Soulja Boy) – EVERLAKE & Ruse Remix – Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em The Fate Of Ophelia – MEDUN Remix – Taylor Swift When I Grow Up – Deux Twins Remix – The Pussycat Dolls DJcity’s weekly picks are selected by Sir...

There’s trouble in the standalone world, as over recent weeks, DJs have found themselves unable to access their music libraries on CDJ-3000X and CDJ-3000 players. Things got so bad, over the Halloween weekend, that AlphaTheta had to withdraw the latest firmware release for the 3000s. On the new episode of Beatsource Tech, Mojaxx explains what has been happening, how exporting from Rekordbox works, and how to ensure you have a fully working drive with both the older Device Library, and the Device Library Plus/One Library databases. Check out Mojaxx’s explanation on DJcity TV. The post What’s Going Wrong With CDJs? appeared first on DJcity News - Music and news for DJs and producers.

In one of the world’s most dynamic music cities, three producers and artists – Saszy Afroshii, TinyBraz (aka Purple Halo), and Gbots – invite us into their creative worlds. Ask any of them to describe Lagos, and you’ll hear the same word: “chaotic.”. But within that chaos lies the magic – where sound and city collide to create something electric. Together, they reflect on what it means to be African women in music, and how the energy of Lagos continues to influence them. Their stories also intertwine with the mission of the Leading Vibe Initiative, founded by GRAMMY Award-winning artist and Native Instruments Artist Board member Tems, which champions a new generation of women redefining what leadership in music looks like. Jump to...

This week on @RoadPodcast, the crew sits down with @BoogieBlind to talk about his Bronx roots, coming up with Lyrics to Go, and learning from Roc Raida (2:10). Blind shares how he chose DJing over basketball after seeing Roc Raida’s success and reflects on the original “X-Men Rules” (9:10). He pays respect to Clark Kent, opens up about his battle DJ mentality, and talks about “protecting his energy” in an era where copying is normalized (12:10). Crooked and Blind discuss the “me against the world” mindset of battle DJs, how relationships change as you grow (15:16), and the difference between people’s online personas and real-life character. Boogie calls today’s scene “the most cut-and-paste generation of DJs” and addresses imitation...

Audiojack’s “Rumours” lands as part of Dirtybird’s 20th anniversary and draws directly from the duo’s archive of community-made Reaktor tools. With limited studio time, they rely on pre-built folders of noise generators and rhythmic effects to move quickly without losing their edge. Many of these were sourced years ago from the Native Instruments forum. For this track, they created a glitch kit using presets like Drox and FM Acid, recording live knob tweaks, and slicing the audio into a playable drum rack. The result is a textured groove that feels intentional but unpredictable, glued together with warped samples and swing-matched cuts. “You don’t waste time figuring out what to use,” they say. “You make music.” That mindset – paired...

Out since October 10, 2025, ‘Ready‘ sees Sarah O’Moore and Beatkilla team up again for an independent Drum & Bass drop that leans hard into emotional grit. O’Moore, the Berlin-based Irish talent from Cork with a discography touching soul, trip-hop, and folk-infused indie, has been building buzz through 2024’s Social Paralysis EP and standout singles like ‘Troubled Mind,’ earning props for her voice that cuts deep without overplaying. Teaming with Beatkilla—a SAE Milan-certified producer since the early 2000s, versed in electronic builds as a drummer and sound engineer—the duo follows up their breakthrough collab ‘Silence’, which hooked listeners with its blend of vulnerability and drive in the vocal D&B space. The track kicks off with...

Have you ever wanted to try DJing but felt intimidated by the gear your favorite artists use in clubs or livestreams? Seeing expensive controllers, massive music libraries, and complex setups can make it feel like there’s too much to learn (and buy) before you even start. Thankfully, today’s technology has made getting started as a DJ easier than ever. Traktor Play is a great example. It’s a new, easy-to-use two-deck DJ software platform that lets you start mixing directly on your laptop without needing extra hardware. While it isn’t just beginner DJ software, it is a great place to start. By the end of this article, you’ll understand how to blend your first two tracks, build your first mix, and organize a growing library of music...

Music production is still an overwhelmingly male-dominated field, but change is happening – and often it starts with representation. For British-Ghanaian author, rapper, and producer Nana Ayebi-Kwakye, that change comes in the form of a children’s book. Her debut, Delasi On A Mission, tells the story of a young girl who discovers music production, faces challenges, and learns to overcome them with resilience and teamwork. Aimed at readers aged six and up, the book is designed to plant the seed that girls can see themselves behind the desk, not just in front of the mic. In this interview, Nana shares the inspirations behind Delasi On A Mission, the barriers she hopes to break, and why representation and storytelling are crucial in...

Notable tracks that were added to DJcity this week. View them all here. Download the tracks below. (* indicates DJcity Exclusive) Armani White – SAY IT TO ME. AFROJACK (ft. Eva Simons) – Take Over Control – HILLS Remix David Guetta, Teddy Swims & Tones And I – Gone Gone Gone – MK Remix Reneé Rapp – Lucky Kid Cudi – Maui Wowie – KidCutUp Acap Intro Akon (ft. Eminem) – Smack That – Rogerson Remix Justin Bieber (ft. Nicki Minaj) – Beauty And A Beat – FedeRiggio Remix Sister Nancy – Bam Bam – Federico Bolletta & 5HOURS Remix Waka Flocka Flame – O Let’s Do It – MNYKR Remix Breach – Jack – Plan8 & Andrew Son Remix DJcity’s weekly picks are selected by Sir Marcus. To receive them via email, click here Sign up to preview the tracks...

Immersive audio is changing the way that we listen to music. But for audio engineer, lecturer, and PhD researcher Marcela Rada of The Immersive Lounge (TIL), it’s also changing the way we make music in the first place. For her, it’s a creative framework that alters songwriting, arrangement, recording techniques, and even how artists listen to their own work. In this interview, Marcela lays out a practical, artist‑first path into immersive production, why critical listening in a 7.1.4 room matters, and how to mix for translation across headphones, soundbars, cars, and multi‑speaker rooms. Jump to these sections Why immersive audio opens new creative opportunities in writing and arranging The reason Marcela believes critical listening...

The latest software generation of Native Instruments’ flagship beat making and music production platform has landed. It’s the first software version available to buy on its own without Maschine hardware. And thanks to new and improved features, it’s even easier to craft a track from start to finish while refining sounds to bring out your unique voice. All without extra gear. There are plenty of fresh features like a rebuilt Modulation Editor, Play Series standalone compatibility, a brand-new library, and free iZotope Ozone software included. Let’s dive in. Get Maschine 3 Community-requested features Maschine 3.4 was designed to bring in long-requested features from Maschine users. The online community played a big role in this. From...

Since its October 2 rollout, ‘Lose My Mind’ marks a fresh joint effort from Champion, Interplanetary Criminal, and Crookers, two Manchester-area vets who’ve synced up over years in the scene. Champion, a Bolton-raised force in UK dance, has held steady as an underground mainstay, riding through bassline evolutions and genre pivots at a young age that belies his output. He’s linked arms with heavyweights like Four Tet, Skrillex, and Sammy Virji on collabs, while dropping remixes for Jorja Smith, the Sub Focus/Katy B pairing, IN PARALLEL, and Caribou. His 2024 BBC Radio 1 Residency takeover was a highlight, underscoring his ear for what’s next in electronic. Interplanetary Criminal, also out of Bolton in Greater Manchester, climbed fast...

Kiki Botonaki has spent the last decade building a name as one of Greece’s most trusted voices in underground electronic music. Between her radio show and club presence, she’s created a steady platform for her distinct approach to Afro house and melodic deep house. Her latest release, “I Know What Love Is,” arrives on Fiona Kraft’s Non Merci Music and adds another strong entry to her catalog of hypnotic, soul-soaked grooves. In this interview, she walks us through how Massive remains central to her process. Her patch-building approach prioritizes warmth, subtle motion, and clarity, producing sounds that feel personal while still ready for the club. From oscillator habits to modulation chains, her workflow within Massive reflects...

These are DJcity’s most downloaded tracks of October 2025. Our monthly charts feature top downloads from around the world, plus regional charts for Latin, UK, Germany, Asia, and South Asia. Me & U – Sir Marcus & Kareem Remix – Cassie Move Ya Body – BlissFX Remix – Nina Sky Who’s That Girl? – Richastic Remix – Eve NOKIA – MarkCutz Halloween Ringtone Edit – Drake Bodega Baddie – Cardi B Gasolina – MFresh Jet2 Holiday Troll Edit – Daddy Yankee What Is Love – BVRNOUT Remix – Haddaway Baddie Baddie – Ice Spice ErrTime Remix – Cardi B (ft. Latto) The Addams Family – Halloween Remix – Richastic View the full list here. Sign up to preview the tracks for free. New users: Unlock full download access for just $10. The post 🏆 October...

Notable tracks that were added to DJcity this week. View them all here. Download the tracks below. (* indicates DJcity Exclusive) My Muse – Leon Thomas Hypersilent – Mochakk & J.J. Fad BRUK DOWN – Major Lazer, Parris Goebel, America Foster & SadBoi MONSTRUO – Tainy & Feid Mercy – Spryte RVN (Raven) Edit * – Kanye West (ft. Big Sean & 2 Chainz) Si Veo A Tu Mamá – MFresh Love Parade Remix * – Bad Bunny Domino – Joan Qveralt Remix * – Jessie J Shake It To The Max (FLY) – SpydaT.E.K You Don’t Love Me (No No No) Remix – Moliy & Silent Addy (ft. Skillibeng & Shenseea) Ma Tnsani (Yalla Habibi) – LLIAM Coolie Dance Rhythm Edit – Vanco (ft. AYA) Disturbia – K3ONI & CHALANT Remix – Rihanna DJcity’s weekly picks are selected by Sir Marcus...

Factor Eight builds everything from his voice. Drums, pads, bass lines, and atmospheres all come from vocal recordings that are digitally manipulated into finished songs. His new single, “Waiting for the End,” was written during the final stages of a long-term relationship and channels that moment through carefully layered textures that evolve with the emotional arc of the piece. This method defines his process across both personal projects and his work in visual media. He handles the entire chain himself, including vocal tracking, editing, mixing, and, in some cases, mastering. Jump to these sections: Balancing processing across a fully vocal-based production process Defining vocal clarity without sacrificing emotional nuance...

Berlin duo twocolors have always balanced precision with emotion, but their latest release, “Head Above Water,” pushes that balance further. Reuniting with Danish percussion pioneers Safri Duo and vocalist Chris de Sarandy, the track swaps obvious peaks for careful detail, threading vulnerability into a festival-ready arrangement. While the production hits with impact, it’s the subtle shifts and atmospheric motion that give it lasting weight. In this interview, twocolors walk through how they used Native Instruments tools like Reaktor to build momentum without cluttering the mix. From vocal-based granular pads to quiet movement hiding beneath the chorus, they reveal how controlled unpredictability shaped the emotional tone of the...