News

Acclaimed producer and live performer John Hayes has unveiled his new single “Closer,” out now via Nettwerk. Serving as the lead track from his upcoming full-length album, “Closer” signals a bold new chapter for Hayes, one that trades his recent piano-driven explorations for a fuller, more immersive electronic sound. Built on pulsing rhythms, layered atmospherics, and cinematic production, “Closer” reflects Hayes at his most vulnerable. “This song represents the truest reflection of where I am right now as an artist,” he shares. “It’s a more accurate and vulnerable direction than anything I’ve released before, and I want fans to know this is what they can expect from me moving forward.” The Minneapolis-born, Denver-based artist has...

North Coast Music Festival is set to take place this weekend in Chicago for its anticipated 15-year anniversary, and we couldn’t be more excited to cover the event once again. True to form, NCMF went all out this year: unveiling major stage upgrades (Stadium: Evolved, Shipyard 360, and Mega Vega), rolling out a packed slate of afterparties, and locking in one of their most loaded lineups to date including heavyweights such as RL Grime, Excision, Chris Lake, Zeds Dead, and many more. In honor of the upcoming festivities, 2025 North Coast act and RTT-favorite YOOKiE took the time to curate a special bass playlist ahead of their set this weekend. The duo share: “Last year we were in the crowd for North Coast so super hype to back and...

Grammy-nominated Australian duo Bag Raiders are back better than ever, this time dropping their first-ever release on The Cross Records. The new single, “Hold Me,” is nothing short of a groovy, joyful slice of house music heaven, which is already garnering strong club and festival support from heavyweights like Dom Dolla, Duke Dumont, A-Trak, and Barry Can’t Swim. As you’ll hear below, the record effortlessly blends modern house production with classic disco flourishes and an irresistible vocal hook. “The lyrics speak to the heart, while the rhythm is made for the dance floor,” the duo share. “We love songs that sit between sadness and joy… it’s been a highlight in our live shows for months.” Best known for their global hit “Shooting...

Kato On The Track, the producer behind hits for artists like Tyga, Joyner Lucas, and Snoop Dogg, is on the hunt for the next wave of hot music creators live, every week, with help from Audius. Now halfway through the “Kato’s Hot Takes!” tournament, Kato is reviewing Audius-submitted tracks in real time on his weekly livestream, giving honest feedback, sharing his platform, and handpicking a Sweet 16 of finalists to compete for a piece of the $15,000 prize pool. Kato commented: “I’ve discovered more talent in the last 7 weeks of the Hot Takes Tournament than I have in the last decade of my career. Audius have been great partners helping to facilitate the discovery process and giving these indie Artists more exposure, which is what this...

Five years into running Human By Default, Bedouin are marking the milestone with a release that reflects the same patience and purpose they’ve built the label on. Their new single, “Heavy On My Mind,” features London-based producer Robin M and the unmistakable voice of Morcheeba’s SKYE, a track that began as a summer 2024 session and grew naturally into something intimate and affecting. It’s out now as they close off their Saga residency at Club Chinois, one of three residencies they’ve held this summer alongside Scorpios Mykonos and Casa Amour. In the middle of all this touring, the duo’s creative workflow stays anchored by Maschine. It has been central to the label’s earliest releases and the tracks that make it into their live...

Notable tracks that were added to DJcity this week. View them all here. Download the tracks below. (* indicates DJcity Exclusive) MOLIY & Tyla – Body Go Tiga – Bugatti – CID Remix Ty Dolla $ign – DON’T KILL THE PARTY Daddy Yankee – EL TOQUE Cardi B – Bodega Baddie – MarkCutz Hip Hop Intro * Corona – Rhythm Of The Night – Colin Jay Remix * Sean Paul – Get Busy – AANSE Remix Bruno Mars – Treasure – DJIT Remix Rihanna – Only Girl (In The World) – Playboi Pocky & HUGO. Remix Lady Gaga – Poker Face – CHALANT Remix 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 This Week’s Picks From MOLIY...

Rhythm and movement are essential when it comes to creating compelling narratives. These are delivered handily by the brand new Odes Kontakt instrument – another inspiring partnership between Native Instruments and Evolution Series. Complementing the multi-dimensional textures of Fables and the evolving tones of Lores, Odes uses the series’ familiar interface to bring layered, cinematic rhythm to the fore. With Odes, you can create tempo-synced loops that bring your scores to life with a unique combination of regional folk music and synthesized elements, making it an essential addition to this collection of film, TV, and game scoring tools. In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to craft a compelling rhythmic score using Odes in your...

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. This month’s picks are all Halloween-themed edits perfect for spooky season sets. Sign up to preview the tracks for free. New users: Unlock full download access for just $10. October 2025’s spooky scary #FOTM picks include: Richastic – The Addams Family – Halloween Remix Daddy Yankee – Gasolina – Gael Borrego Halloween Edit (English) John Carpenter – Halloween Theme – AJAY Remix Drake – NOKIA – MarkCutz Halloween Ringtone Edit Follow the R.O.A.D. Podcast on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. The post 🍦R.O.A.D. Podcast –...

Foreign Air’s new album, Such That I May Glow, marks another high point in their career, building on a reputation for dark, groove-driven productions and soaring, melodic hooks. With over 200 million streams, sync placements with brands like Nike and Microsoft, and tours alongside Phantogram and Bishop Briggs, the DC/NC duo of Jesse Clasen and Jacob Michael has carved out a distinct space in the alt-electronic scene. This third studio project pushes their sound into a sharper, more intentional space, pairing their songwriting instincts with a polished, modern production approach. A big part of that comes from their work with Native Instruments’ Play Series. The expressive pianos and keyboard textures became a central part of the...

This week on @RoadPodcast, the crew sits down with @TheDisco_Nect (@DJWS, @PartyWithStrategy_, and @CautionItsHeavy) to share their journey and vision for disco’s revival. At (02:34), White Shadow recalls meeting Strategy and Heavy during a Will Ferrell event that bonded them through disco, leading to their takeover of @CelesteChicago. By (10:57), Crooked introduces the idea of the “working class DJ,” sparking candid talk about burnout, money struggles, and questioning whether DJing was worth it. The crew reflects on DJs struggling to see themselves as artists (11:20), the evolution of Chicago’s house scene, and how nightlife has shifted from ticket sales to social media clout. At (23:50), they debate whether open format is...

Mojaxx was working on his reviews of the new VNL DANCE and TRIX cartridges from Ortofon, as well as the SKRATCH 101 stylus from Jico, and the Audio AT-XP7 carts. But then he started recording audio comparisons, and well, things got a little out of hand. So on the new episode of Beatsource Tech, he talks through and provides audio samples for 25 different DJ cartridge and stylus combinations. So whatever kind of needles you’re looking for, you might well find them included. Check out the sample recordings and download them in WAV format: Check out Mojaxx’s comparison of 25 DJ cartridges on DJcity TV. Sign up to DJcity for free. New users: Unlock full download access for just $10. The post This DJ Cartridge Review Got Out Of Hand...

Native Instruments is returning to Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) this year with an in-depth look at the culture that’s always been at the heart of our community. Centered around the launch of the latest Traktor MX2 DJ controller, we’re hosting a takeover day on Thursday, October 23, bringing together global icons like Richie Hawtin and exciting underground talent for a series of conversations, demos, and panels that explore the future of DJing and electronic music. Voice of the culture Traktor has always been where sonic boundaries get pushed. It’s the tool that bridges the gap between legends like Richie Hawtin and fresh DJs breaking through today. We’re excited to show how these different worlds influence each other and highlight how...

Chicago-based producer and DJ Kice has built his name on a rare combination of cultural fluency and club-focused precision. His latest single “Al-Ain,” out now on Treble Recordings, marks a pivotal point in his sound. It’s a confident blend of Mediterranean and Arabic instrumentation with modern house grooves. Drawing from his Jordanian heritage, he layers the expressive tones of the oud, nay, and qanun over deep, rolling rhythms, crafting tracks that feel grounded in tradition while built for the dancefloor. Central to this process is Native Instruments’ Guitar Rig, a tool Kice uses to shape and integrate live-recorded instruments into polished electronic arrangements. From subtly enhancing the resonance of an oud phrase to giving...

Notable tracks that were added to DJcity this week. View them all here. Download the tracks below. (* indicates DJcity Exclusive) JHAYCO – SCORPIO David Guetta, Teddy Swims & Tones And I – Gone Gone Gone PLUTO & YoungBoy Never Broke Again – 2 Crash Outs CID & Taylr Renee – Fancy $hit Katy Perry (ft. Juicy J) – Dark Horse – Lincoln Baio Remix * Rihanna – Where Have You Been – CYRO Remix Disclosure, Chris Lake & Leven Kali – one2three – Tall Boys Hype Edit * Chicago – Street Player – Sandy Groove Remix The Notorious B.I.G. – Hypnotize – REDD Remix Kehlani – Folded – FS Green Baby Boo Edit 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...

The DJing landscape has transformed in the past few years. Vibrant online communities and a new generation of DJs have altered what it means to mix in the age of streaming. The brand new Traktor MX2 was created for this very moment – to make DJing expressive and intuitive from day one. It’s an all-in-one controller that carries forward the S2’s portable, accessible legacy while embracing today’s creative demands. It was made to make DJs stand out from their very first set. We spoke with Lead Product Manager Michael Koczynski and Senior Manager, Product Design Rami Naayem, two team members behind the design of the MX2, to learn how it was built to empower both newcomers and seasoned Traktor users, why design choices like underlighting...

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...

Drum beats are the backbone of practically every style of popular music, so having an understanding of programming basic drum patterns and different types of drum beats is an essential for producers and beatmakers of all kinds. In this guide to basic drum patterns we’ll show you how to make the seven types of drum beats every producer should know, covering drum beat patterns for funk, rock, jazz, hip-hop, house, trap and drum ‘n’ bass. Jump to these sections: How do you make different drum patterns? 7 drum patterns every producer should know: Funk Rock Jazz Hip hop House Trap Drum ‘n’ Bass Conclusion: Start making beats today To make these beats, we’ll use sounds available in NI 360 Essentials and Komplete: Studio Drummer, Battery...

Just received your brand new Traktor MX2 and not sure where to go from here? New to the world of DJing, and excited to get mixing? Fear not, getting started is easy. Mastering the art of the ones and twos… not so much. The following words will guide you through setting up your new controller, understanding how it’s connected, what else you’ll need, and playing your first tracks. The Traktor MX2 is the perfect introduction to the fundamentals of selecting, cueing, and blending music, with scope to expand your skills and explore more expert techniques such as using stem files, scratching, or harmonic mixing. Discover Traktor MX2 Jump to these sections: What’s in the box? What else do you need? Connecting your DJ gear Checking your...

Traktor, from Native Instruments, still has a loyal fanbase of users, especially in the electronic music scene. But in discussions around entry level beginner DJing, they’re rarely in the conversation in 2025. The company are looking to change that with the launch of their new affordable controller, the Traktor MX2, so on the new episode of Beatsource Tech we give it a full review and ask – is this enough? Check out Mojaxx’s review of the Traktor MX2 from Native Instruments on DJcity TV. Sign up to DJcity for free. New users: Unlock full download access for just $10. The post Native Instruments Traktor MX2: The Best DJ Controller For Beginners? appeared first on DJcity News - Music and news for DJs and producers.

The Traktor MX2 is here, and it’s our most powerful two-channel controller yet. The MX2 has everything you need to start DJing and stand out, from a straightforward mixer layout to a full set of creative, pro-level tools. It’s an all-in-one setup that means you’re ready to mix anywhere – at home, in the studio, or in the club. The MX2 also comes with the full version of Traktor Pro 4 software and a two-month Beatport Streaming subscription for new customers, so you can start right out of the box without needing a downloaded library. The MX2 is designed to let you break new ground from day one, with a setup that can grow as your skills and style develop. Discover Traktor MX2 Hands-on control: simple mixing and powerful expression...