Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • Christine McVie's masterpiece
  • Macca vs Phil Collins
  • Music theory tricks
  • Kiss From a Rose
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Yes
  1. Artists
  2. Djs

In pictures: Nicky Romero and his suburban studio

News
By Future Music
Published 5 March 2012

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Intro

Intro

White Villa Entertainment is where 22 year-old producer Nicky Romero crafts his speaker spanking music.

The facility is a beautiful space over three floors, which Nicky shares with Dutch pop producer John Dirne, with its own swimming pool, guest house and even a fully-stocked bar, which doubles as a mix check environment. Downstairs, spread across three rooms, there's a vocal room and Nicky's own studio, efficiently kitted out to make the most of his mix space.

At just 22 years of age, Nicky joins a collective of young producers making a huge impact in clubs and charts around the world. Avicii, Afrojack, Skrillex, Porter Robinson and Max Vangeli, to name a few, all check in at under 25 and are playing some of the world's most-famous superclubs and collaborating with some of the biggest names in dance music. Romero is no exception having had his tracks played by Fedde Le Grand, Tiësto and David Guetta all before he'd even secured management. Speaking of Guetta, he recently submitted a remix for the Pop superstar that the label loved so much, it's now set up to be an original collaboration.

Having started out in his bedroom only four years ago, Nicky's story is one that's becoming more and more familiar and with his newest track Toulouse sitting comfortably in the Beatport Top Ten and MTV having named him an 'EDM rookie to watch', 2012 looks like Romero's year.

Page 1 of 9
Page 1 of 9
The studio

The studio

“Before I moved in to this studio I was literally just using Fruity Loops and some speakers that weren’t even monitors, just multimedia speakers. I was reading magazines like Future Music and I was hearing about equipment that I could never afford so I went to Music Store in Amsterdam and asked for advice on what I needed and I got an [M-Audio] Mbox.

“Before that I was connecting my speakers to the mini jack on my computer [laughs]. I bought my first KRK set around then too, the RP6s. Still though, I didn’t know anything, I never had any formal training. I just asked questions, all the time – about everything.”

Page 2 of 9
Page 2 of 9
NI's Maschine

NI's Maschine

“Always nice to jam around with samples, and see if they work together… that’s basically what I do on Maschine!”

Page 3 of 9
Page 3 of 9
KRK VXT8

KRK VXT8

“I use the VXT8 cause I’m so used to KRK, and the VXT8 does the job for me. They’ve got nice pressure in the low end and clear high frequencies.”

Page 4 of 9
Page 4 of 9
Access Virus B

Access Virus B

“I’d like to use the Virus B more for basses, synth FX and some vocoding like I did on my new track Generation303!”

Page 5 of 9
Page 5 of 9
Access Virus C

Access Virus C

“I don’t use the C any more, but I do use the Virus TI. I love to make big room sounds and synths using it – parts of Camorra came out of that one!”

Page 6 of 9
Page 6 of 9
Roland JP-8000

Roland JP-8000

“This is mainly being used just for inspiration and for some occasional vintage sounds.”

Page 7 of 9
Page 7 of 9
Live room

Live room

"For vocal recordings i use the Avalon VT-737sp. It's a great-sounding compressor and a really warm pre amp."

Page 8 of 9
Page 8 of 9
Lexicon 224XL

Lexicon 224XL

"This white remote control is for the good old Lexicon. To be honest I use a software version now because so many of the tracks i do have time pressure, but it's a great reverb."

Page 9 of 9
Page 9 of 9
Future Music
Future Music

Future Music is the number one magazine for today's producers. Packed with technique and technology we'll help you make great new music. All-access artist interviews, in-depth gear reviews, essential production tutorials and much more. Every marvellous monthly edition features reliable reviews of the latest and greatest hardware and software technology and techniques, unparalleled advice, in-depth interviews, sensational free samples and so much more to improve the experience and outcome of your music-making.

Read more
roget
Tech "If I was going away on a trip and could only bring one keyboard, I’d bring that one": Rogét Chahayed on the stage keyboard he can't live without
 
 
tom vr
Artists Tom VR on "game-changing" Ableton Live tips and the hardware synth he can't stop talking about
 
 
Skrillex
Artists When Skrillex shared with us his anger at having four years of his work stolen
 
 
skrillex
Tech “We’ll be in a room with multi-million-dollar speakers and he'll be sitting on the floor with the worst quality headphones and his laptop doing his thing”: Rogét Chahayed on the genius behind Skrillex's production
 
 
John Dahlback
Artists “I’m very excited by AI if the person using it is also creative and not just lazy”: We catch up with Swedish house legend John Dahlbäck
 
 
William Orbit
Artists We look back at a classic William Orbit interview
 
 
Latest in Djs
Sid Wilson attends the 68th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Aren
Bands “We wish him the best in his future endeavours”: Slipknot have given DJ Sid Wilson his P45
 
 
U2 and Martin Garrix
Bands "We go back a long way": U2 join forces with DJ and producer Martin Garrix for new track Fireflies
 
 
Diplo at Marquee on May 06, 2026 in New York City
Djs “The most exclusive party of the year”: Watch Diplo DJ at his 6-year-old son’s kindergarten graduation
 
 
Intergalactic human journey concept with an arm reaching out to the bright vibrant multicolor light
Djs Keep On Dancing: New study shows it provides “vigorous” exercise and lowers stress
 
 
O'Flynn in the studio
Tech 5 things we learned in the studio with O'Flynn
 
 
007 First Light logo and man with gun
Djs “Get ready to turn the speakers up”: Chase And Status sign up for new James Bond video game
 
 
Latest in News
Aston Origin deal
Microphones I've recorded everything from vocals to guitars with this unbelievably versatile mic – and it just plummeted to only $79. That's so cheap I had to check the price twice
 
 
Ariana Grande live looper
Artists Ariana Grande’s live looping moment on her Eternal Sunshine tour isn't her first
 
 
wrist sequencer
Tech Someone put a chiptune synth and 16-step sequencer in a watch - and it looks as bonkers as it sounds
 
 
Jack White and Charley Crockett composite image
Singers & Songwriters “You get in the Lamborghini and put your kids in private school”: Charlie Crockett gets personal with Jack White
 
 
Brian Setzer wears a red neckerchief and plays a Gretsch in traditional Round-up Orange in this Stray Cats performance from 2019.
Artists Rockabilly icon Brian Setzer on his recovery from the autoimmune condition that stopped him playing guitar
 
 
Gretsch G6134T-58 Limited Edition Penguin Pale Blue Pearl
Guitars Gretsch unveils a high-end dream machine: a Penguin refreshed in limited run Pale Blue Pearl finish
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...