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Composer and multi-instrumentalist Will Bates has built a career on finding tension between emotion and precision. His latest work for The Better Sister, an eight-episode thriller streaming on Prime Video, continues that balance. The score moves through haunting pianos, layered percussion, and textured orchestration, creating a sound that feels both intimate and unrelenting. Working under tight deadlines, Bates relied heavily on his trusted Native Instruments plugin toolkit to shape the show’s melodic and rhythmic world. Using Noire for its dynamic response and Kontakt for its versatility, he was able to move quickly from sketches to finished cues while preserving the raw emotion of his ideas. That speed was crucial for a project that...

The foundation of almost every iconic electronic track is its drum sounds. While many producers start their journey with samples, using a dedicated drum synth VST gives you the ultimate power to shape every transient, decay, and tonal tail to fit your project perfectly. Whether you are looking for a hard-hitting kick for a warehouse techno set or intricate, glitchy percussion for an experimental beat, the right tools allow you to move from raw ideas to finished, expressive sounds. The Native Instruments ecosystem offers a variety of drum synthesis and percussion tools that cater to every stage of your production journey. Explore drum synths What is the best drum synth VST for electronic music? Massive X: the powerhouse for synthetic...

Beatport is leveling up its global DJ ecosystem with the announcement that Beatsource will officially be integrated into Beatport, bringing both platforms together into a single premium destination built for discovery, curation, and performance. Starting March 2026, Beatsource subscribers will begin transitioning to Beatport through a guided migration process rolling out over the coming months. Once complete, DJs will access their accounts entirely through Beatport, combining Beatsource’s expertly curated open-format catalog with Beatport’s deep electronic music library under one roof. The result: one streamlined platform connecting hip-hop, pop, Latin, rock, and open-format essentials alongside the world’s largest electronic music...

This week’s notable adds on DJcity to power your weekend DJ sets Download all 10 tracks here. This week’s picks include: (* indicates DJcity Exclusive) Something Serious – Bruno Mars PARTYGYAL – MOLIY & bees & honey Tonto – J Balvin, Ryan Castro & DJ Snake Un Poquito Más – Deorro FLAMMABLE – Swae Lee Kernkraft 400 – Freejak Remix * – Zombie Nation Jumpman – Rogerson Remix * – Drake & Future tv off – Nick Bike Ever Since U Left Me Edit – Kendrick Lamar (ft. Lefty Gunplay) Bad Girls – FRASER Remix – Donna Summer Who’s That Chick? – Joan Qveralt Remix * – David Guetta (ft. Rihanna) Curated weekly by Sir Marcus. Want these picks delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here Sign up to preview the tracks for free. New to...

DJcity’s February 2026 download charts highlight the most popular tracks globally, alongside regional breakdowns across key markets – including charts for Latin, UK, Germany, Asia, and South Asia. Download the full playlist here. Pop Dat Thang – DaBaby Body – Don Toliver Ever Since U Left Me – French Montana & Max B Dangerous – Ballads Remix – Kardinal Offishall (ft. Akon) LET ‘EM KNOW – T.I. (prod. Pharrell Williams) That’s The Way (I Like It) – Tall Boys Ever Since U Left Me Edit – K.C. & The Sunshine Band Outside – MarkCutz Nola Bounce Remix – Cardi B EoO – Ihnternal Halftime Live Edit – Bad Bunny Break Free – Gael Borrego Remix – Ariana Grande Down South – Trap Dickey (ft. Key Glock) Sign up to preview the tracks for free...

From his early days in the Detroit techno scene to his status as a global icon, Richie Hawtin has always viewed DJing as a deconstructive and additive art form. In our latest video, Hawtin breaks down his current performance setup, showing how he layers Traktor, analog mixing, and live production to create unique storytelling for every crowd. Video studio credit: Made in LX Photographer: Matias Garcia Beyond the decks: live sequencing To truly find your own sound, Hawtin suggests looking beyond standard DJ hardware. His setup includes a Launchpad running Bitwig for live percussion and melodic sequencing. Synced melodies: A step sequencer allows you to create new melodies in real time. Traktor sends the key of the current track to...

Around a month after the Rane SYSTEM ONE was released, the new version of Serato DJ Pro has just been released for it. That’ll be followed soon by Algoriddim’s djay Pro, and Virtual DJ. Some DJs might wonder why adding software support is so imporant for a device like the SYSTEM ONE, which is focused around the onboard Engine OS standalone experience, but in the new episode of Beatsource Tech, Mojaxx breaks down all the reasons why it matters. Check out Mojaxx’s discussion of Serato DJ Pro for the Rane SYSTEM ONE on DJcity TV. Join DJcity for only $10. The post Serato DJ Pro for the Rane SYSTEM ONE is here, and this is why it matters appeared first on DJcity News - Music and news for DJs and producers.

With Nomad Tapes: Africa, Nova Wolf turned mastering into a continuation of the storytelling process. The six-track release, shaped by travels across the African continent, captures more than sound. It captures energy, memory, and the pulse of collaboration. Each track feels distinct in geography yet bound by tone and warmth. That unity came from both instinct and process, shaping intensity without losing the organic life inside the mix. In this conversation, Nova Wolf reflects on the tools and mindset that kept his work grounded in emotion. From iZotope Ozone to the way he approaches field recordings and dynamics, his methods reveal a focus on human connection through sound rather than perfection through control. Jump to these...

Alan D. Oldham, better known as DJ T-1000, carries the history of Detroit techno in everything he makes. His new EP Ghosthack bridges that legacy with the immediacy of modern production. The music feels tactile and deliberate, reflecting a workflow that has never lost its connection to physical control. At the center of that process is Maschine. For Oldham, it’s the hub that keeps his creativity anchored. The pads, sequencing, and portability all allow him to move fast while staying grounded in rhythm and feel. Ghosthack came together through this direct, instinct-driven approach, merging old-school grit with modern precision. From his early analog sessions in Detroit to his Berlin studio today, the foundation remains the same: the...

The Reloop FLUX answered a lot of prayers when it launched in 2023, being, as it was, the first audio interface for Serato’s DJ Pro software released in quite some time. With that first one, Reloop went all in, with 3 channels, and a bunch of extra features, all of which bumped the size, and price up. Now, we have the FLUX GO, a more compact, 2 deck version, for barely more than half the price of the original. On the new episode of Beatsource Tech, Mojaxx checks out the GO, and finds out if just covering the DVS basics, with all software, is enough. Check out the Mojaxx’s review of the FLUX GO from Reloop on DJcity TV. Join DJcity for only $10. The post Reloop FLUX GO Review – Bargain of the year? appeared first on DJcity News -...

This week’s notable adds on DJcity to power your weekend DJ sets Download all 10 tracks here. This week’s picks include: (* indicates DJcity Exclusive) Opalite – Chris Lake Remix – Taylor Swift ROSITA – Tainy, Rauw Alejandro & JHAYCO Quickest Routes – Shoreline Mafia, Disco Lines, OhGeesy & Fenix Flexin miss u 2 – Ty Dolla $ign (ft. Leon Thomas) We Dem Boyz – Rob DVS LIGHTS GO OUT Edit * – Wiz Khalifa Hey Mama – Joan Qveralt Remix * – David Guetta (ft. Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha & Afrojack) Act A Fool – King Most Ever Since U Left Me Edit – Ludacris m.A.A.d city – HayaT, M A X & Vandija Remix – Kendrick Lamar (ft. MC Eiht) 679 – MOONLGHT Remix – Fetty Wap (ft. Monty) Body – DJ Bizzon YAYA Edit * – Megan Thee Stallion Curated...

The boundary between organic and synthetic is becoming increasingly blurred in the world of cinematic scoring. Pioneering this change is Ocean Swift Synthesis, a developer dedicated to crafting instruments that don’t just sit in a mix, but breathe within it. Their latest instrument, Oscillarys, sets the standard for in motion-based synthesis, leveraging the power of Kontakt to turn raw Eurorack bleeps and vintage vocal takes into lush, evolving textures. We sat down with Yaron Eshkar from Ocean Swift to discuss their sound design methods, the importance of deep NKS2 integration for accessibility, and why they’ve moved their entire architectural focus into the Native Instruments ecosystem. Discover Oscillarys Oscillarys is a synthesis...

This week on @RoadPodcast features an in-depth conversation with The @StereotypesTV (@JonYip + @JermBeats + @RayRomulus), charting their rise from interns and studio rats to Grammy-winning producers behind era-defining records. Crooked opens by giving them their flowers as true DJ “life savers,” praising their ability to balance vibe, storytelling, and music that unites people in the middle (02:33), before Ray reflects on growing up in New York, interning at Bad Boy and Def Jam, and learning the industry from the ground up (05:23). They tell the full story of “Damage” by Danity Kane, from ballad to hit, including seeing it on Making The Band and hearing it play at Guitar Center while they were still broke (35:26). The conversation...

DNKLE’s music feels like it’s built on instinct. Every sound serves a purpose, every movement connects to a feeling. His new single, “Pressure,” is a direct expression of that idea. It’s a track about pushing back against doubt and turning frustration into clarity. The message is simple: pressure makes focus. At the center of his process sits Pharlight, our granular vocal engine that lets him blend tone and movement with precision and fluidity. It’s how he builds tension without chaos and emotion without excess. DNKLE uses it to shape subtle shifts in color and space that give his tracks the feeling of forward motion. That same balance drives his work with GITA Recordings, the label and creative house he launched in 2024. Every...

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, a seismic shift occurred in hip hop and R&B. Out of Virginia Beach, a new guard of producers led by Timbaland and The Neptunes replaced lush samples with jagged, futuristic synths and “off-the-grid” syncopation that redefined the global pop landscape. To capture this sound for the new Kontakt Leap Expansion: Millennium Hip Hop, we turned to someone who lived it. Snipe Young is a multi-GRAMMY-winning producer and sound designer whose DNA is woven into the very fabric of modern urban music. Known for his organic sonic boom, Snipe has bridged the gap between the basement beatmaker and the world’s biggest stages. We sat down with him to discuss the heritage of the Virginia sound, his “song-first”...

It’s quite possible that when you think about lasers in a DJ context, you only think of the kind of beam shows seen in large clubs and festivals. And whilst those can be incredibly cool, high powered lasers can offer a lot of other functionality, much of which could prove incredibly useful for a mobile or event DJ. On the new episode of Beatsource Tech, Mojaxx reviews the latest 2.5W Lasercube Ultra MK2, from Wicked Lasers, to try and understand the full potential of the device. Check out the Mojaxx’s review of the Lasercube Ultra MK2 from Wicked Lasers on DJcity TV. Join DJcity for only $10. The post Lasercube Ultra MK2 Review – Major Laser? appeared first on DJcity News - Music and news for DJs and producers.

For over 30 years, Marco Polo has been a cornerstone of the boom bap sound, providing the rhythmic backbone for icons like Masta Ace, Rakim, and Talib Kweli. His production style is defined by grit, weight, and a deep-rooted commitment to the art of the hunt – finding those rare, obscure breaks that set a track apart. Now, he’s bringing that aesthetic directly to your tracks. In this interview, Marco breaks down the philosophy behind his new Play Series: Marco Polo Drums, explaining how he translated vintage hardware warmth into a modern workflow designed to keep you in the creative flow. Discover Marco Polo Drums You’ve spent three decades defining the boom bap sound for icons like Rakim and Talib Kweli. What was the main problem...

Music is an art form capable of conveying a vast spectrum of emotion with immediacy and depth, but to use that capability to its full potential, you need to employ both compositional skills and judicious sound design choices. In this walkthrough, we’ll go through songwriting tips to create a moving, emotional melody from scratch using sounds from NI 360 Essentials, and show you how you can develop these tones using processing to achieve maximum emotional impact. Native Instruments · 01 Melody demo Jump to these sections: How do I make my melodies sound sad or nostalgic? What is the best scale for emotional music? Composing an emotional melody Setting the emotional scene Creating a motif Developing the melodic idea Adding dynamic...

Notable tracks that were added to DJcity this week. Download them all here. Download the tracks below. (* indicates DJcity Exclusive) I Just Might – Austin Millz Remix – Bruno Mars I Love It – Kybba, J Balvin & Rytikal Dying For You – Charli xcx More Than A Friend – Don Diablo & Bipolar Sunshine EoO – Ihnternal Halftime Live Edit – Bad Bunny Love Me – LUSSO Remix – Lil Wayne (ft. Drake & Future) One Dance – 5HOURS, Maicol Marsella & Cristian Babalus Remix – Drake (ft. Wizkid & Kyla) Thong Song – Colin Jay Remix * – Sisqo Lean On – MOONLGHT Remix – Major Lazer (ft. DJ Snake & MØ) Titanium – L2O Remix – David Guetta (ft. Sia) DJcity’s weekly picks are selected by Sir Marcus. To receive them via email, click here Sign up to...

Deep, groove-focused, and soulful, Afro house is one of the most exciting regional styles of house music thanks to its focus on hypnotic synth textures, exhilarating percussion, and catchy hooks. Artists such as Black Coffee, Culoe De Song, and Keinemusik have been surging in popularity with their dancefloor-friendly vibes and slick production. In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to make Afro house from scratch using Native Instruments 360 Plus. We’ll go through the Afro house production process from building a beat and creating a groove to arrangement and mastering. Jump to these sections: What BPM should Afro house be? What are the most important elements of an Afro house track? How is Afro house different from deep house or...