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Funding for the arts in the UK has drastically declined over the past few years.This makes community-driven initiatives more crucial than ever, and organizations like the Young Urban Arts Foundation (YUAF) are stepping up. They’re providing vital spaces where young people can explore, develop, and hone their artistic skills in supportive, dynamic, and well-connected environments. The charity’s hands-on approach includes a dedicated team of producers, songwriters, and youth workers that take their expertise directly to the streets and schools, operating from a uniquely renovated double-decker bus. We joined Crack Magazine to showcase the community YUAF has helped champion. Our coverage offers a glimpse into the vibrant atmosphere as...

Have you ever been curious about the origins of electronic music, and the genre’s early composers who created it? It’s both fascinating and important to look back to learn about the pioneers of electronic music. As Maya Angelou said “you can’t really know where you are going until you know where you have been.”Electronic music uses electronic instruments and various technologies to create distincitve sounds with tools like a laptop and incredible sounding virtual instruments, synthesizers, and plugins. Elements of electronic music have permeated almost every modern style of music today, and these sounds are largely owed to the early compositions from the pioneers who created the genre. In this blog, we’ll learn about the pioneers of...

DJcity Playlists is your go-to monthly guide for discovering the hottest club tracks. Handpicked by top DJs worldwide, these playlists keep you ahead of the trends with the freshest global hits. Expand your playlist with standout tracks from a range of genres, ensuring your sets stay dynamic and leave a lasting impression. GLOBAL BASS DANCE MAIN STAGE REGIONAL HIP HOP & R&B POP LATIN AFRICAN UK HIP HOP DE / GERMANY SOUTH ASIAN View all the updated playlists here. The post DJcity’s Essential Playlists for February 2025 – Stay Ahead of the Curve appeared first on DJcity News - Music and news for DJs and producers. Continue reading...

How do you talk about the film and video game music you love? Is it a score, a soundtrack, or an OST? Is your favorite part a song or a cue? In this article, we’ll dig into some of these specialist terms, with a focus on the most common point of confusion: the difference between a “score” and a “soundtrack.” It turns out that getting these two terms straight isn’t all that simple. To do it, we’ll need to examine the different musical elements that go into a successful film, and explore the varying approaches to sound taken by different directors and in different genres. We’ll finish up by listing some of the best film scores and best film soundtracks, each of which has something to tell us about the difference between these two...

Music production today is exciting because we have access to an incredible range of sounds and libraries at our fingertips. Using samplers and VSTs, you can pull up virtually any sound ever created and incorporate it into your music. However, we’re accustomed to hearing conventional instruments like strings, guitars, and vocals, played by real musicians who add subtle nuances through timing, velocity, and expression. When even the highest quality sample packs are used digitally without mimicking these micro-details, the result can feel off, even on a subconscious level. No one understands this better than Towerz, a phenomenal producer rapidly rising through the dance music scene. His secret weapon is Kontakt, which he uses to...

Kevin Saunderson, a true pioneer of Detroit techno, has influenced generations of music producers. Beyond his iconic “Reese bass” and countless contributions to electronic music, Saunderson’s approach to creating music offers important lessons for aspiring and established producers alike. In a recent interview with Resident Advisor, he shared insights into his creative process. We’ve highlighted five key production tips from Saunderson’s interview that can help you in your music-making, from embracing “happy accidents” to the importance of balancing hardware and software in modern music. 1. Embrace experimentation and “happy accidents” Saunderson emphasizes the importance of tinkering with sounds and parameters. The Reese bass, a...

Effective layering in sound design and layering sounds in music production is about finding complementary sounds that work together to create a cohesive result. The best producers understand that great layering involves contrasting sounds that combine the best of different elements to create something truly unique. Longstoryshort exemplifies this in his latest IN MY MIND EP which you can listen to below as we work our way through the interview, following an international tour. His signature sound blends atmospheric, emotional cinematics with gritty, distorted bass design and heartstring-pulling, melodic elements. At the heart of this approach is layering contrasting sounds to achieve a result greater than the sum of its parts. Jump...

Music producers have access to a huge amount of raw material to work from. For example, Komplete 15 Ultimate Collector’s Edition includes over 150,000 sounds, and that’s before you start making your own patches. This is an embarrassment of riches. So, how do we ensure that all these options are a benefit rather than a problem? There’s only one answer: organization. With an organized approach to sound management, you’ll spend less time searching for the right sounds, and more time turning your musical ideas into reality. Thankfully, organizing your sound library doesn’t have to be a chore. In this guide we’ll show you five simple tips that you can use to ensure you maximise the potential of your sound effects library, and help you make...

The term “pads” can be a confusing one for newcomers to music production – it’s not analogous to an acoustic instrument like a guitar or a bell, and it’s not onomatopoeic like a growl or a “wub”. So what are pads in music? In this guide we’ll explain what pads are, give you some examples of pads in music, teach you how to create your own pad using a combination of synthesis and sample-based sounds, and use that pad in the context of an atmospheric DnB beat. Native Instruments · The Atmospheric DnB beat Jump to these sections: What do pads mean in music? What’s the difference between a synth and a pad? How to make pads in music Create a smooth amplitude envelope Use filter modulation Apply FX Add a sample-based element Use the pad...

When people started making music on digital hardware for the first time, things often started going wrong. Machines would make shocking sounds that had never been heard before, especially in the context of music. Despite once being a byproduct of malfunction and digital error, glitch has evolved into an intentional and sought-after sound in music. Using glitch effect techniques can give your productions a distinct and futuristic aesthetic. In this guide, we’ll answer the question “what is a glitch effect?” and explore different techniques you can use to create unique, glitchy textures. By the end, you’ll have a few glitch effect variations to use in your own music – and if you don’t feel like making them from scratch, you can download...

Layering multiple synths and samples together to get a cohesive sound that’s greater than the sum of its parts isn’t so much a secret in music production, but it does seem like something that is hard to quantify. Because of this, most new producers spend years or trial and error throwing sounds together to get that massive, nuanced sound that their favorite artists easily pull off. If only actionable advice and overarching workflows could make layering sound straightforward, right? Luckily, Syence, a duo based out of southern California, has found the recipe for success when it comes to layering. Zach, one of the members, came to chat with us about how he layers libraries and sounds in Kontakt 8 to produce his unique take on modern...

Scoring strings takes careful work. Sure, it’s not so hard to come up with a few chords. But getting your arrangement to really shine takes good technique and some clever scoring tricks. Instrument ranges, articulations, mixing, and more – there are a lot of aspects to consider. In this article, we’ll walk you through some helpful tips for getting your string scores to sound the best they can. Each tip will be demonstrated with screenshots and audio examples from Cremona Quartet Ensemble, an ideal instrument for composing with strings. It brings together four solo VSTs that sample extraordinary-sounding string instruments from the 16th and 17th Century. Combined in one interface, with over a dozen articulations and a handy Auto Divisi...

Sound design is the foundation that brings a track to life, shaping its atmosphere, energy, and emotional impact. This is especially true in organic house music, where the texture and vibe of the music is as important as its melodies, grooves, and impact. Sinca is a perfect example of an artist who is a complete wizard at making heartstring-pulling club music that hits hard on big systems just as much as her music and its melodies linger with you long after she’s mixed into another banger in one of her DJ sets. With releases on labels like Anjunadeep, All Day I Dream, and XYZ, her unique take on one of today’s hottest dance music genres has brought her millions of streams and one of the fastest-rising careers in underground club music...

The ‘ROAD 10’ is a bonus segment featuring a curated set of 10 questions inspired by the ‘Proust Questionnaire.’ These consistent, reflective, and often revealing questions are asked to every guest at the end of their appearance on the Road Podcast (Reflections of a DJ). True to its name, the ‘ROAD 10’ offers a unique glimpse into each guest’s personality, values, and preferences, blending humor, introspection, and candid moments. Originally exclusive to Road Podcast Patreon subscribers, these interviews are now available on YouTube after a one-month debut on Patreon. The ‘ROAD 10’ is designed to offer viewers a memorable and intimate connection with each guest. Follow the R.O.A.D. Podcast on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube...

These are DJcity’s most downloaded tracks of January 2025. Our monthly charts feature top downloads from around the world, plus regional charts for Latin, UK, Germany, Asia, and South Asia. Sexyy Red & Bruno Mars – Fat Juicy & Wet Pardison Fontaine & Cardi B – Toot It Up Tyga, Big Sean & Flo Milli – Dumb Tyga & Lil Wayne – Pop It Off Village People – Y.M.C.A. – Rob DVS Calabria Edit Rema – Baby (Is It A Crime) ABBA – Dancing Queen – Waltry Remix Drake – NOKIA Kendrick Lamar & SZA – luther – DJ Mike D Remix Tiësto (ft. Oaks) – I Follow Rivers View the full list here. The post 📈 DJcity’s Top Downloads of February 2025 – What DJs Are Playing appeared first on DJcity News - Music and news for DJs and producers. Continue reading...

Wedding season is here! DJcity’s Remix Director, Sir Marcus, has curated an updated selection of must-have wedding remixes for 2025. This collection is packed with fresh edits, exclusive bootlegs, and dancefloor-ready remixes from DJcity’s in-house production team – guaranteed to keep guests moving all night. Below are some of the top tracks you’ll find in this playlist. Listen & download here View, listen, and download the full playlist with over 100 tracks here. The post Essential Wedding DJ Remixes for 2025 – Fresh Updates for Your Sets appeared first on DJcity News - Music and news for DJs and producers. Continue reading...

We recently ran a social media bracket on our Beatsource and DJcity pages to determine the best battle mixers of all time. Mojaxx has now taken that bracket to the next level in a new video, where he dives deep into each mixer to crown the ultimate scratch mixer champion. Check out Mojaxx’s deep dive into each mixer on DJcity TV. The post The Greatest Scratch DJ Mixer of All Time – Epic Battle Showdown! 🏆🥇 appeared first on DJcity News - Music and news for DJs and producers. Continue reading...

Notable tracks that were added to DJcity this week. View them all here. Download the tracks below. (* indicates DJcity Exclusive) 310babii & James Brown – bad DESI TRILL, DJ Khaled & Cardi B ft. Natania & Subhi – Higher Love Burna Boy – Update The Cataracs & Dev – Make Ya Body Whistle Maroon 5 – Sugar – Colin Jay Remix* DaBaby & Yung Miami – IMA HOE TOO – DJ Serg Sniper Throwback Intro* Lola Young – Messy – BVRNOUT Remix Sexyy Red & Bruno Mars – Fat Juicy & Wet – Dan Gerous Remix Missy Elliott ft. Ciara & Fatman Scoop – Lose Control – ALRT Remix Bruno Mars – Finesse – Onderkoffer & Caldera Remix DJcity’s weekly picks are selected by Sir Marcus. To receive them via email, click here. The post Download Fresh Tracks From 310babii...

On this week’s episode of the @RoadPodcast, the fellas welcome legendary Grammy Award-winning producer and DJ, Jimmy Jam (@flytetymejam). Jimmy Jam reflects on various milestones in his career, starting with his involvement in the Grammys (01:55), he discusses his favorite new artist (02:40) and the impact of the fires on the awards show (05:34). He breaks down the samples in his production of @JanetJackson’s hit songs (18:45), and the crew credits Jimmy with the creation of New Jack Swing (34:60). Jimmy Jam speaks on his early years in Minnesota DJing (42:20), joining Terry Lewis’ band (@flytetymelewis) (50:10), and recalls going to junior high with #Prince (@1:05:55). Finally, he talks about getting back into DJing (1:35:10) and which...

DJ live streaming is experiencing a resurgence, driven by the Twitch DJ Program and the popularity of live DJing on TikTok. Mojaxx explores the Yolobox Ultra from Yololiv. This device offers video switching, stream encoding, and advanced graphics tools in a single unit. Additionally, its native social media app support allows for TikTok streaming with the same level of control as other platforms. Learn more about the Yolobox Ultra: https://www.yololiv.com/yoloboxUltra Check out Mojaxx’s review of the Yolobox Ultra from Yololiv on DJcity TV. The post Yolobox Ultra Review – The Ultimate DJ Live Streaming Companion appeared first on DJcity News - Music and news for DJs and producers. Continue reading...