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Synthesizers have completely transformed the way we create music. We owe much of that innovation to Bob Moog, an American engineer and electronic music pioneer. He was the founder of the synthesizer manufacturer Moog Music and the inventor of the first commercial synthesizer, the Moog synthesizer, which debuted in 1964. We had the privilege of speaking with Michelle Moog-Koussa, executive director of the Bob Moog Foundation and Museum and daughter of the synth pioneer himself. She shared with us insights into her father’s innovations and the foundation’s mission to inspire future generations through his work. Watch the video below to learn more about Bob Moog, his vast collection of modular synths and educational resources at the...

Following his collaborative EP with Sasha in 2023 and the recent launch of his ART CLUB label, Because of Art returns to Last Night On Earth with his first solo release for the imprint. Out now, “Queens Park / Work It” marks a new phase for the London-based artist, merging club-friendly melodies and peak time builds with low-end control that’s made for big systems. That control comes down to more than just good production, and it’s his mastering workflow that makes the difference. For Because of Art, Ozone has become a go-to tool not for polishing in isolation, but for reacting quickly, identifying mix imbalances, and locking in a club-ready feel. Whether it’s revealing overpushed elements or sweetening a finished idea with subtle...

Notable tracks that were added to DJcity this week. View them all here. Download the tracks below. (* indicates DJcity Exclusive) James Hype (ft. Sam Harper & Bobby Harvey) – Waterfalls Disclosure & Anderson Paak – NO CAP Farruko & Louis BPM – OE OE Ciara, Latto & Jazze Pha – This Right Here Vidojean X Oliver Loenn & Teejay – Drift Rihanna (ft. Drake) – Work – Trayze Shake It To The Max (Fly) Remix * Drake & Central Cee – Which One – MarkCutz Temperature Edit * Coolio (ft. L.V.) – Gangsta’s Paradise – WOODERSON Remix Sean Paul – Get Busy – Butterfly Effect Remix Acraze (ft. Cherish) – Do It To It – LAWZ Remix DJcity’s weekly picks are selected by Sir Marcus. To receive them via email, click here. The post New Music From James...

UK-born producer and songwriter Bearcubs has never stuck to one lane. Over the years, his sound has shifted between house, indie electronica, garage, and leftfield pop – always anchored by a consistent sense of tone and restraint. His latest release, “Take Me Home,” sits in that in-between zone he’s known for: part club track, part nostalgic slow burn. At the center of his drum programming is Battery, a tool that has helped him speed up his process while remaining open to unexpected textures and subtle movement. Whether he’s layering kit elements, adding organic variation, or re-recording drums through guitar pedals, he’s always looking for ways to keep his productions human and moving. In this interview, Bearcubs walks through his...

Today, August 8, 2025, Carol Jarvis drops her electrifying new single ‘I Want You To Stay’, a summer anthem that’s already heating up the electronic music scene. Known for her jaw-dropping trombone skills, Jarvis has built a stellar rep collaborating with heavyweights like Sting, Queen, and Amy Winehouse, and sharing stages with MUSE, Harry Connick Jr., Michael Bublé, and Taylor Swift on major TV gigs. After earning props from BBC Radio 2, BBC 6 Music, and BBC Introducing as a session pro, she’s now stepping up as a solo force, delivering a dance-ready track that’s all her own. ‘I Want You To Stay’ fuses punchy electronic beats with house grooves and a hefty dose of brass swagger. Jarvis mixes in layered flugabone riffs and deep...

Serato DJ Pro 4.0 Has Arrived – Join Us in LA to Experience It Firsthand Discover the biggest Serato update yet in an exclusive in-person event with the Serato team, Beatsource, and DJcity! Space is limited and RSVP required. Hit the link below to secure your spot. SECURE YOUR SPOT NOW The post LOS ANGELES DJs: Get Hands On With The New Serato DJ Pro 4.0 appeared first on DJcity News - Music and news for DJs and producers.

n Part 2 of our deep dive with legendary producer @Rashad_Ringo_Smith, the @RoadPodcast crew uncovers even more behind-the-scenes stories that shaped the sound of hip-hop and R&B.Rashad kicks things off by breaking down the making of the iconic “One More Chance” and its different versions (00:01), before opening up about the intense, high-stakes creative process at Bad Boy Records under the direction of @Diddy (09:01). He reveals how the classic “Bad Boy” sound came together — especially the blend of vocal powerhouses @theRealFaithEvans and @theRealMaryJBlige, which helped redefine R&B (20:03).He shares the wild backstory behind LL Cool J’s “Doin It” — a track originally made for Biggie — and the behind-the-scenes fallout with Puff and...

Fresh off their “Hunger” single and upcoming remix album Nox Anima RMX (out August 28th on bORDEL Records), French electronic duo Scratch Massive continue to build their world through a mix of dreamy, synth-heavy club records and richly textured film scores. Over two decades, they’ve shaped their voice with the same guiding principle: fewer tools, used deeply. In their studio, Kontakt still plays a foundational role; not because it’s the newest thing, but because it lets them move quickly toward emotion without second-guessing their workflow. Whether they’re working on a score or a club track, they return to the same trusted instruments, favoring fluency and feel over novelty. Paired with Reaktor, Slate + Ash, and other expressive...

Estiva’s new album Embrace is a balance of control and vulnerability, a club-tested record that also makes space for warmth, accidents, and soul. Released April 25 on Colorize, the album captures a producer at the peak of his craft: dialing in detail without losing feel, shaping tone without smoothing out its emotional edge. Tracks like “Satellite” and “No Echoes” showcase that tension beautifully, equal parts precision and intuition. During the production process, Estiva leaned heavily on iZotope Ozone, not just at the mastering stage, but throughout the writing. It helped him sculpt ideas in real time and keep momentum alive, while still offering the flexibility to refine, analyze, and step back. Whether he’s working with subtle...

The performance features in Serato’s DJ software have been constantly updated and improved in the two decades, but their music library has remained largely the same for that entire time, with competitors regularly raising the bar in terms of library management, leaving Serato behind. But now, with the launch of the Serato DJ Pro and DJ Lite version 4.0.0, the company have rebuilt their whole library from the ground up, adding in tons of long-requested features. It’s going in to public beta now, so check out the new episode of Beatsource Tech, where Mojaxx shows you everything that’s new. Join the public beta here: https://serato.com/forum/area/749 Check out Mojaxx’s rundown of the Serato DJ Pro 4.0.0 Public Beta on DJcity TV. The...

WELKER’s Dancing Around EP marks a confident debut on CamelPhat’s When Stars Align label – a confident debut that wastes no time showcasing its range. Across three distinct tracks, the Brazilian-born, LA-based producer leans hard into his roots, pulling live percussion, indie dance synth work, and gritty club energy into a release that feels equally suited for headphones and headline sets. Each track has its own momentum, but it’s the through-line of rhythm and detail that makes this EP land. He’s constantly layering chopped vocals over warped basslines or building full drum ensembles out of carefully processed one-shots, and WELKER shows he’s got a clear grip on transient balance, mix control, and the arrangement instincts to match...

Ever feel like managing all your creative tools is a bit of a juggling act? We’ve got something that makes it a breeze: Native Access. Think of it as your personal assistant for all things Native Instruments and NKS-ready software. This free app is your go-to spot for downloading, installing, activating, updating, and registering everything in one super convenient place. Plus, it’s got a new search feature that helps you quickly find exactly what you’re looking for. Our goal with Native Access is to simplify your software management so you can spend less time organizing and more time doing what you love – making music! Ready to dive in? This guide will show you everything you need to get started. Jump to these sections: Download...

Notable tracks that were added to DJcity this week. View them all here. Download the tracks below. (* indicates DJcity Exclusive) Justin Bieber – YUKON – DJ Hunny Bee UP! Edit Metro Boomin – They Wanna Have Fun Saweetie – twinzzz YG & Leon Thomas – LOVERS OR FRIENDS Disco Lines & Tinashe – No Broke Boys – Sak Noel Remix * Drake & Central Cee – Which One – Tall Boys NOKIA Edit * Fantomel & KATE LINN – Dame Un Grrr – Gael Borrego Remix * Black Eyed Peas – Rock That Body – Rogerson Remix * Lil Wayne – Go DJ – Richastic Remix * Rick James – Give It To Me Baby – Motion Twin Remix DJcity’s weekly picks are selected by Sir Marcus. To receive them via email, click here. The post 💎Weekly Gems Ft. Metro Boomin, YG & Leon Thomas, Tinashe...

Eelke Kleijn’s fifth studio album – Connected – marks a sharp turn into melodic, vocal-forward production. It’s his most personal project to date, shaped by a shift in his writing process and a broader sonic palette that moves between indie dance, progressive house, and cinematic cues. To shape the FX layers and movement across the record, Kleijn leaned heavily on Guitar Rig – not as a guitar tool, but as a creative processor for synths, vocals, and ambient layers. From DI guitar tones reshaped through custom preset chains to split-band FX stacks and analog-style modulation, Guitar Rig became one of the most flexible tools in the process. And that flexibility helped him finish Connected after years of stalled drafts, post-tour...

At Native Instruments, we’re constantly inspired by the incredible music you create with our tools. We’re proud to have such a vibrant community of artists, and we’re excited to launch this new series dedicated to sharing your amazing work right here on our blog. From seasoned pros to budding artists, your creativity drives us, and we love seeing how you bring your unique sound to life using Maschine, Komplete, Kontakt, and more. Let’s dive into some recent highlights from our community that caught our eye: @mogliafrique remixes “So Sick” with a fresh twist Watch as @mogliafrique reimagines Ne-Yo’s “So Sick,” adding vocals from Tems, who has just joined the NI artist board. This remix video showcases the creative power of Ozone...

Menura Audio came out of the gate swinging with their first product, the fully modular MDMX mixer, a couple of years ago. Following the success of that, they’re now expanding their range with the new MDFX series, which will work with any DJ gear. There’s a desktop isolator, the ISO3, and the first separate filter aimed at DJs that we’ve seen for many years. Mojaxx gives them both a full review, on the new episode of Beatsource Tech. Check out Mojaxx’s review of the new MDFX units from Menura Audio on DJcity TV. The post Upgrade Any DJ Setup! Menura Audio MDFX Isolator & FIlter Review appeared first on DJcity News - Music and news for DJs and producers.

This week on @RoadPodcast, the crew sits down for Part 1 of an epic two-part conversation with legendary producer @Rashad_Ringo_Smith — the mastermind behind tracks for @TheNotoriousBIG, @BustaRhymes, @JayZ, @Beyonce, @TheGodRakim, and more. You may not know his name, but you definitely know his sound. Rashad kicks things off by reflecting on his early days as a DJ, his childhood nicknames, and the powerful influence his mother had on his musical journey (00:11). He shares his deep love for jazz and reveals how he flipped the same sample two different ways for Busta Rhymes’ “Woo Hah” and its remix featuring @OlDirtyBastardLegacy (08:55). He breaks down the art of crate digging with iconic producers, the origins of the “pause tape,” and...

Night Breeze doesn’t ever overcomplicate things. His new single “Wanaka Springs” works because it trusts the groove, strips everything else back, and builds from instinct. The track is light on frills but heavy where it counts, the kick and bass lock in early and leave plenty of space for melodies to drift without clutter. That balance is no accident. Before diving into electronic production, Night Breeze played guitar in a rock band, and that flexible and jam-inspired (yet still linear) thinking is evident in his writing style. There’s chord movement, not just loops. The structure feels played, not assembled. His production references range from Bob Moses to Radiohead, but what makes it work is how unforced it all feels. Nothing is...

If you’re a producer or beatmaker, chances are you’ve felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of synth options out there. Whether paid or free, VST synth plugins can feel endless. It’s always a great catch to have one virtual instrument that can handle everything: powerful leads, evolving pads, and heavy basses. Usually, professional-level synths come with a hefty price tag, but we’ve changed that by releasing a free, streamlined version of our most iconic synth. Introducing Native Instruments Massive X Player, a free software synth that makes it easier than ever to bring high-quality free synth sounds into your productions without spending a cent. Native Instruments · Red - Fast Learner with Massive X Player Massive X Player gives you...

Becoming a better songwriter is a journey of almost-constant discovery, finding fresh ways to spark creativity and overcome common hurdles like writer’s block. Having the right free songwriting instruments and tools can dramatically streamline your creative process, transforming initial ideas into full compositions. In this article, we’ll explore five exceptional free virtual instruments for songwriting and essential tools that are excellent choices to kickstart your musical creations. These powerful, no-cost resources, particularly those built for the versatile Kontakt Player or the full version of Kontakt, can help you infuse your compositions with unique sounds and textures, craft compelling chord progressions with ease, and...