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...

Boreta’s new single “Back to Life,” created with the ethically-trained AI vocal model Ai.mogen, isn’t trying to hide its foundations in any way. But at the same time, it’s not synthetic for the sake of novelty and instead leans heavily into transparency, intentionality, and is built around emotion. The track was released in May 2025 as the final single from his solo album, Hear the Listener, which landed in early June of the same year. As a founding member of The Glitch Mob and one-half of the ambient duo Superposition, Boreta has spent the better part of two decades using Native Instruments tools to shape unpredictable, human-feeling music out of software. We caught up with him to talk about modularity, artistic control, and how...

This week on @RoadPodcast, the crew sits down with @DJTrauma to reflect on his journey from New York to Atlanta and beyond. At (00:55), Trauma recalls growing up in Manhattan and how his DJ name came from a friend’s little brother. By (04:30), he’s reminiscing about partying in the Meatpacking District and what it meant to be “outside.” He explains what it means to be a “vibe DJ” (07:15). He compares the craft of DJing to stand-up comedy (10:35). Trauma then shares how a free event unexpectedly led him to working with @DaveChappelle (12:52), and a relationship that grew into legendary gigs like First Avenue in Minneapolis and Radio City Music Hall in NYC (15:56). The conversation dives into Trauma’s reputation as “Chappelle’s DJ”...

If you’re interested in learning music production and want to start using Native Instruments tools, but aren’t quite sure where to start, read on. In this blog, you’ll learn the key differences between Kontakt, Komplete, and Komplete Kontrol and how each product can enrich your music production workflow. Let’s break down each one of these tools within the NI ecosystem so you can decide which ones belong in your music production toolkit. Jump to these sections: What are Kontakt, Komplete, and Komplete Kontrol? Kontakt Kontakt vs. Kontakt Player What is NKS? Komplete Dive in for free with Komplete Start Komplete Kontrol Go further with NI Expansions New to Native Instruments? Get our free bundle of premium instruments, sounds...

If you want to start your music production journey, NI 360 music production subscriptions are a great way to access all the professional sounds you need to create tracks in any genre without committing to expensive purchases. NI 360 subscriptions have three tiers: Essentials, Plus and Pro. Each of these offers a comprehensive, ever-evolving toolkit of music production tools from industry-standard music software developers Native Instruments, iZotope, and Brainworx, making NI 360 ideal for budget-friendly music production. Even better, you can get a free trial to make sure the service is right for you, making it the ideal way to try out music production for beginners with minimal commitment. Make music for free now In this tutorial...

If you’re new to music-making and are looking for free music software, Komplete Start is a great place to begin. All you need is a DAW, and Native Instruments Komplete Start will provide you with all the beats, loops, instrument sounds, and effects necessary for you to create awesome music. In this guide, we’ll show you how to make music for free with NI Komplete Start software, including the new Massive X Player and Kontakt’s new Leap, Chords, and Patterns Tools. This tutorial will focus on creating an emotional ambient jungle track, which is an ideal way to show off Massive X Player’s immaculate synth tones and Kontakt’s wide variety of drum beats and instrument presets. Jump to these sections: Is Komplete Start completely free...

Notable tracks that were added to DJcity this week. View them all here. Download the tracks below. (* indicates DJcity Exclusive) DOG HOUSE Drake, Julia Wolf & Yeat Light Me Up Kungs & PNAU Motion PLUTO, Sexyy Red & NaNaski SOMEBODY LOVES ME – MarkCutz Dancehall Remix * PARTYNEXTDOOR & Drake El Pescador – DJ Mag & Luis R Afro House Remix * Totó La Momposina Lost In The Feeling MistaJam & Nu-La Tears – Colin Jay Remix * Sabrina Carpenter LET’S GO – BlissFX Alors On Danse vs Zombie Nation Remix * Jaden Bojsen & Sami Brielle Diamonds – DJ Sanders Remix Rihanna Welcome to the Bay Fijiana DJcity’s weekly picks are selected by Sir Marcus. To receive them via email, click here. The post 🆕 This Week’s Must-Play Tracks For DJs appeared...

Uruguayan-Catalan producer Fernando Lagreca has built a name across Europe’s underground for his melodic approach to techno and left-field club tracks. With the upcoming release of Cosmic Tide alongside Pedro Mercado on Chrom Recordings, he blends arpeggiated synths, atmospheric basslines, and modular textures into something functional yet emotionally resonant. The title track’s foundation, which is a processed analog bass and layered Massive X arpeggio, offers a clear snapshot of Lagreca’s process: balancing tone, emotion, and studio pragmatism. We caught up with him to celebrate the release of his EP, which dropped on August 8th, to discuss working efficiently with familiar tools, building a personal sound library, and the...

It’s a familiar music production trope for beatmakers, and we’ve all been there. But if you’ve been starting beats the same way for weeks, it’s time you tried out some new ideas. Get out of a creative block fast using NI 360, a unique music production subscription that offers hundreds of sampled instruments, powerful synths, creative effects, loops, and samples. In this blog, we’ll explore five new beat making ideas using tools from NI 360 that will inspire you to create better beats and enjoy the beat making process more. Jump to these sections: How can an NI 360 subscription give me new approaches for beat making? Use the sequencer in Play Series instruments to spark new ideas Create atmosphere with Play Series instruments Use...

This week on @RoadPodcast, the crew sits down with @WalshyFire — DJ, producer, and member of @MajorLazer — to talk Dancehall, Soca, and the art of building culture. At 01:34, Walshy recalls meeting @DJMoma and why Soca faced resistance in the ’80s–’90s. By 05:10, he’s breaking down the pushback against Soca and Afro Beats, and Soca’s joyful contrast to other genres. He dives into NYC’s gang culture and block party memories (07:10), including a near brawl at a LOX performance diffused by dancers (10:12). The crew swaps stories on “banned” songs in late ’90s NYC and venue violence, with jokes about the Queens vs. Brooklyn rivalry (11:33). Walshy shares his path from Clark University and a jazz radio station to NYC and Beat Street Records...

Marion Di Napoli’s approach to music production is grounded in feeling. As a classically trained pianist turned electronic producer, she’s spent the past few years developing a sound that blends emotive progressions with raw, rhythmic energy. Her latest release, Fade Away, out now on Charlotte de Witte’s label, showcases that progression in an old, vocal-driven track that merges club instincts with a deeper connectivity. At the heart of her workflow is the Maschine Mikro. For Marion, it’s not about chasing precision or locking into a rigid template. It’s about having a tool that lets her stay close to the moment, responding physically to what she’s hearing. That hands-on dynamic plays a huge role in how her tracks come together...

French electronic act Thaylo just launched his Drown In Your Eyes EP on September 4th through PLAYY. Records, and a few days in, it’s already picking up steam in the melodic house space. From Grenoble, he’s clocked over 5.8 million Spotify plays and built creds with drops on Purified, Colorize, and Kontor. His style leans on piano foundations with solid rhythms and melody hooks that have pulled in backing from big names like Martin Garrix, Nora En Pure, and Solomun. Tracks such as ‘Let Me Be’ and ‘Save Your Tears’ scored features from When We Dip and House Music With Love, hitting Beatport’s Top 100 Progressive House and Deezer’s Top 100 in Indonesia. He’s also graced Spotify lists including Chill Tracks, Melancholia, Afterhours, Open...

From the world of viral type beats to the inner circle of GRAMMY-winning, multi-platinum producers, Dez Wright has carved a unique path in modern music. As a producer for artists like Drake, Travis Scott, and Kanye West, Dez has a knack for creating a sound that is both authentic and fresh. This signature style is at the heart of his new software instrument company, Dezert Audio, and its inaugural release, the Freq-2 plugin. We sat down with Dez to discuss his journey, the inspiration behind Freq-2, and how he blends vintage character with modern production. And for a limited time, get Freq-2 on sale now in our Big Partner Sale. Get Freq-2 now You’ve built an incredible career, from your early days making type beats to producing for...