Latest articles by Sara Simms
How to produce a dance pop hit
Dance music’s core genres have influenced pop for decades. We dig into their impact on the mainstream
How to make a loop into a fully-fledged track
It’s simple to make a killer loop, but how does that become a dancefloor-filling hit? It only takes a few steps to get the process started…
How to create an old-school techno lead like Charlotte De Witte
In this lead-focused tutorial, we also walk you through designing an arpeggiated pluck sound inspired by Eli Brown
How to make country-style EDM like Avicii
Time to buckle up and get on your horse as we look at some methods of making country-style EDM
Here's why you should start mid-side EQing
Enhance the stereo imaging on your dance music project and hear it shine!
How to use classic dance sounds in modern deep house
Creating organ and piano sounds – two staples of the deep house genre – for our tracks
How to make a rave-ready techno track in Ableton Live
Prepare to get fists in the air as we learn the tools, tricks and tempos for nailing the basics of rave-ready techno
How to write melodies like Avicii: "A lot can be learned by studying Avicii’s melodies and using his composition ideas in your own tracks"
We pay tribute to the modern dance pioneer who, in his short time, set a standard for songwriting in the genre
How to create an effective buildup and breakdown: "The key to a good breakdown is developing contrast between the drop and the break"
How to build the tension leading to that magic moment
How to use tension and release to make a killer drop
We take on the all-important element of a track that will get heads turning and pulses racing
How to make a banging tech house groove
Get to know the fundamentals of dance music with our new monthly column as we begin with a drill down into the genre of tech house
How to create an ambient techno atmosphere
Ambience, space and atmosphere are key elements of any immersive techno track. Here's how to create them in your DAW
How to spice up a techno track with creative use of effects
Contemporary techno is driven by exploratory sound design. Here's a few ideas to get you started
14 tips for producing better techno: "Automate the low-pass filter frequency to create a rhythmic pattern on your bassline"
The pulsing momentum of techno is built upon some essential core components. Here are our top tips for making floor-filling techno bangers
The definitive guide to producing techno in 2023
Sara Simms digs deep into the workings of this essential genre and shows you how to craft club-ready future techno classics
