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This week on @RoadPodcast, the crew sits down with @DjMeloD, @DJDStyles, and @DJ4Real24 to talk about their careers, @theBeatJunkies, and their Cali pizza spot @MadeFromSkratchPizza. They kick things off with Melo-D gives flowers to @DJAngieVee’s “Yer Not Down,” and D-Styles celebrates the iconic “Low End Theory” party that helped launch artists like @FlyingLotus, @Tokimonsta, and @Daedelus (03:55). The crew also reflects on how today’s DJ competitions differ from the Beat Junkies era (18:45). Jaime introduces the Beat Junkies Institute of Sound as “the Avengers teaching you how to be superheroes,” while the fellas joke about bad DJ habits, online instruction, and even a ROAD discount code. D-Styles on “Phantasmagoria” (20:01) and...

Staring at an empty DAW is intimidating. Often, the very first notes are the hardest part of making a track. The new Tools in Kontakt 8 have been developed to skip past that initial phase and get straight into the thick of making a track. Features like Leap and the updated Kontakt Factory Tools make it act like a creative partner. It can spark ideas, shape melodies, and help you bounce ideas faster than ever before. Let’s walk through the process of making a track from scratch using Kontakt 8. We’ll cover how to use Leap for inspiration, as well as look into the Kontakt’s Factory Tools. By the end of this article, you’ll know how to use Kontakt to speed up and enhance your music production workflow. These tools are also available in...

At Native Instruments, we’re inspired every day by the music being made with our tools. The creativity of this community is what keeps these platforms alive. It’s always exciting to see how artists take Maschine, Komplete, Kontakt, and Traktor products in unique directions and with the summer months of July and August in the rearview mirror, it’s time to start hunkering down and finding new creative fuel for the colder months of the year. Because September was no exception, with producers, performers, and sound designers all contributing ideas that stretch across genres and styles, from thoughtful reinterpretations and emotional performances to inventive preset design and ambitious live setups, the range of what’s being shared right...

These are DJcity’s most downloaded tracks of September 2025. Our monthly charts feature top downloads from around the world, plus regional charts for Latin, UK, Germany, Asia, and South Asia. Daddy Yankee – Gasolina – MFresh Jet2 Holiday Troll Edit Kool & The Gang – Celebration – Rogerson Remix Ciara & Tyga – Dance With Me Daft Punk – One More Time – Valmer Remix Chief Keef & Mustard – Shake Dat – MarkCutz Hype Edit Major Lazer, Diplo, Busy Signal & Kybba – GANGSTA Rihanna (ft. Drake) – Work – Trayze Shake It To The Max (Fly) Remix Chief Keef & Mustard – Shake Dat Jaden Bojsen & Sami Brielle – LET’S GO – Rob DVS Classic House Intro Sabrina Carpenter – Tears View the full list here. The post 🏆 September Spotlight – Tracks DJs...

Dam Swindle has spent the past decade refining a production style that blends live instrumentation with groove-heavy house music, built on patience, character, and subtlety. With their new album Open out on Heist Recordings, the duo sat down with us to reflect on how they use tools like the VC 2A and VC 76 compressors not just for control, but for musical shape and feel. So, if they’re dialing in warmth for vintage synths or tightening their drum bus for club impact, their compression workflow is rooted more in their taste than in any template or formulaic step-by-step process that a tutorial teaches. Jump to these sections: Why VC 76 helps Dam Swindle balance instruments without crushing transients How compression changes...

String arrangements can transform a pop track, adding depth, emotion, and movement to the music. But for many producers, traditional orchestration can feel overwhelming – especially if you don’t have a classical background. London Contemporary Orchestra Producer Strings changes that. Designed with producers in mind, this Kontakt instrument strips away the complexity, offering raw, evocative string textures and punchy articulations that fit seamlessly into modern tracks. In this tutorial, we’ll walk through five practical steps for creating modern strings that enhance your pop production or electronic track. From finding your sound to smart note selection and beyond, we’ll cover the fundamentals of modern string arrangement and examine...

Why do synthesizers feel so inextricably linked to electronic music? And could you even imagine a lo-fi hip hop without those hazy, low-passed drums? Genres are often shaped, and sometimes even defined outright, by the instruments they feature. The instruments and textures you choose for your music production are an essential component of genre exploration. They’re really what make a track recognizable in a certain style. That means that trying out new sounds can be one of the fastest ways to step into a new genre. With the NI 360 subscription, you get access to a range of creative tools that make it easy to write across countless styles. In this article, we’ll explore exactly how to do that through three genres: lo-fi hip hop, dance...

Notable tracks that were added to DJcity this week. View them all here. Download the tracks below. (* indicates DJcity Exclusive) Baddie Baddie – Ice Spice one2three – Chris Lake, Disclosure, & Leven Kali RU MOR – Feid SMILE BODY PRETTY FACE – Ty Dolla $ign Me & U – Sir Marcus & Kareem Remix * – Cassie Move Ya Body – BlissFX Remix * – Nina Sky No Diggity – Solardo Remix – Blackstreet Breakin’ Dishes – Colin Jay Remix * – Rihanna Got Your Money – Rob DVS Hype Edit * – Fedde Le Grand Safe – Kwest XO TOUR LliF3 Edit * – Cardi B DJcity’s weekly picks are selected by Sir Marcus. To receive them via email, click here Sign up to preview the tracks for free. New users: Unlock full download access for just $10. The post 🎶 Hot Drops...

Berlin-based producer A.D.H.S. has been on a quiet rise over the past few years, building his name through calculated releases and raw, no-nonsense productions. His music has appeared on Drumcode twice, with tracks on their A-Sides Vol. 11 and 12 compilations. But one of his latest releases, a standalone single titled Can’t Hear You made in collaboration with Bart Skils, marks a clear step forward. It’s his first solo credit on Drumcode, and it also happens to be Skils’ favorite closing track in his current sets. We caught up with A.D.H.S. ahead of this release to dig into his production process, how Komplete Kontrol speeds up his workflow, and how switching from hip-hop to techno eventually landed him on some of Europe’s biggest...

Aaron Suiss has been pushing his own corner of melodic techno for years, but 2024 and 2025 have marked a particularly strong run. Between collaborations with Einmusik, Gai Barone, and Citizen Kain, as well as steady support from names like Hernan Cattaneo, Miss Monique, and Nora En Pure, his sound has landed on festival stages from EDC Mexico to Universo Paralello. Now based in Koh Phangan, Thailand, Suiss balances label work at Echoes Of Time with a packed release schedule, including Hypno Therapy, his latest collaboration with Barak White. Built on hypnotic grooves and an emotive core, the track’s low end design is a reminder that Suiss treats bass as more than an afterthought. In this interview, he breaks down exactly how he uses...

Tobias Bergson, the fast-climbing producer and DJ, unleashes his remix of Nativalien‘s ‘‘On & On’‘ featuring Pinwheel Valley today, September 26, 2025, through Hot Soap Records. This comes after the original dropped in July, picking up nods from outlets like YourEDM and This Song Is Sick, plus a spot on La Belle Musique. Tobias has racked up 180 million streams across platforms, earning coverage in Electronic Groove, House Music With Love, YourEDM, Mixmag Germany and Netherlands, When We Dip, DJ Mag, and 1001 Tracklists. He’s put out tracks on big labels like Armada and Universal Music Austria, with backing from heavy hitters such as Don Diablo, Lost Frequencies, and Steve Aoki. Drawing from Deadmau5, Ben Böhmer, Rampa, and Chris...

Flavor of the Month is your plug for the hottest new DJ edits, remixes, and bootlegs – handpicked by the ROAD Podcast crew. These DJcity exclusives are guaranteed to turn heads and level up your set. Sign up to preview the tracks for free. New users: Unlock full download access for just $10. September 2025’s #FOTM picks include: Justin Bieber – Yukon – DJ Hunny Bee Up! Edit Flo Rida (ft. T-Pain) – Low – Everlake Remix Kehlani – Folded – Esentrik Remix Chief Keef & Mustard – Shake Dat – Markcutz Hype Edit Drake – Nokia – FS Green Tiburón Edit Follow the R.O.A.D. Podcast on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. The post 🍦R.O.A.D. Podcast – Flavor Of The Month (September 2025) appeared first on DJcity News - Music and news...

The idea of what makes a good warm-up DJ has been in the news recently, after a rather controversial performance by Yves Tumor at the Swedish House Mafia show in New York. So on the new episode of Beatsource Basics, Mojaxx talks about what his rules are for how to approach an opening slot, and encourages you to share your thoughts on the topic. Check out Mojaxx’s thoughts about DJ openers on DJcity TV. The post The Art Of The Warm-Up: Don’t Make These DJ Mistakes! appeared first on DJcity News - Music and news for DJs and producers.

This week on @RoadPodcast, the crew sits down with future house pioneer @DonDiablo for a deep and personal conversation. At 01:55, Don talks about running on little sleep before his Pier 19 show and why NYC remains his biggest market. By 06:55, he explains why he avoids repeating sets, preferring Tomorrowland’s smaller, darker stages over the main stage. At 12:20, Don reflects on his teenage years in the Dutch scene, from being taken advantage of as a young producer to being labeled a “weirdo” by peers. He admits that sometimes he hates being Don Diablo, finding true acceptance only through his fans. At 18:10, he recalls his production roots and the joy of creating purely for fun. By 24:55, the tone shifts as Don shares a powerful story...

Ruth Royall has built her reputation on fearless independence. With the upcoming release of her debut album Queen on her own label, Royall Sound, she has stepped fully into self-production. Central to that evolution is Ozone, a tool that has allowed her to take complete control of her mixes while staying focused on what matters most: clear, powerful vocal delivery and bass that translates in any environment. The lead single, ‘Forevermore,” is an obvious showcase of this. Co-written with Brad Ellis and produced alongside Joe Lenzie of Sigma, it reflects Ruth’s shift toward a workflow where mastering is no longer a separate step but an extension of her creative process. With Ozone shaping everything from vocal clarity to low-end...

Niki Sadeki’s productions have always balanced precision with emotion, and her latest release, Fading Sun on Manual Music, captures that balance perfectly. The title track pairs her textured production with Rubina’s vocal performance, while Morning Star moves deeper into progressive territory with an understated melodic drive. Alongside the release, Niki breaks down how Battery has become central to her drum programming, from custom kits to resampling tricks that keep her workflow flexible and inspiring. Jump to these sections: Why Niki avoids templates when starting tracks How custom Battery kits speed up her workflow Techniques for making old kits feel new The subtle drum details that define her sound How her drum sound has evolved...

Infinite Samples have built their reputation on crafting instruments that sound volatile, alive, and deeply cinematic. With Pangea and The Abyss, the team pushed analog synths and single-sample engines into new frontiers, giving composers tools that thrive on instability and motion. Their work has already found its way into blockbuster trailers like Dune: Part Two, but the bigger story is how these instruments turn imperfection into identity. In this interview, the Infinite Samples team opens up about the dystopian and cinematic sound design at the core of Pangea, why The Abyss breaks the rules of traditional sampling, and how motion-driven effects engines bring cinematic chaos to life. They also share their vision for the future of...

It’s been a whole two decades since Spanish manufacturer Ecler first released their highly regarded NUO series of mixers, and they’re celebrating that anniversary with the 4.0 f, a mixer which retains much of what made those products so good, whilst adding a few more modern features to bring things right up to date. Mojaxx gives it a full review on the new episode of Beatsource Tech. Learn more about the NUO 4.0 f: https://www.eclerdj.com/products/nuo-4-0f/ Check out Mojaxx’s review of the NUO4.0F from Ecler on DJcity TV. The post Retro Tech? Ecler NUO 4.0 f Mixer Review appeared first on DJcity News - Music and news for DJs and producers.

French producer Boris Way has carved out a niche for himself in the melodic tech house scene by embracing contrast. His latest single Uber On Call, which is out now via Ultra Records, is a low-end-heavy dancefloor record driven by a sleek groove and a weightless top line. It marks a shift toward a punchier, more refined sound that still allows for emotional expression. That evolution didn’t happen by accident. Boris credits Transient Master as a key part of how he shapes his kicks, claps, and percussion. Used on individual channels and buses alike, the plugin helps him walk the line between clarity and fullness without having to squash the mix. In this interview, we talked about Boris’s mixing philosophy, his favorite use cases for...

Notable tracks that were added to DJcity this week. View them all here. Download the tracks below. (* indicates DJcity Exclusive) Cardi B (ft. Kehlani) – Safe Sammy Virji, Spice & Flowdan – Match My Mood Alex Wann, Malachiii & bees & honey – Moon Shoreline Mafia, OhGeesy & Fenix Flexin – OUT MY MIND Kehlani – Folded – FaceTyme Remix * Major Lazer (ft. Vybz Kartel) – Pon De Floor – Trayze Remix * Justin Bieber (ft. Nicki Minaj) – Beauty And A Beat – Joan Qveralt Remix * J Balvin & Willy William – Mi Gente – ATCG Remix Lorna – Papi Chulo… Te Traigo El MMMM – Luis R GANGSTA Edit * DJ Scene – Maybe I’m Wrong DJcity’s weekly picks are selected by Sir Marcus. To receive them via email, click here. The post 😎 Weekend Warmup – Tracks...