A look at the evolution of batida – an ever-evolving style of electronic music coming out of Portugal that fuses Angolan and other West African influences with sampling and beatmaking techniques. Plus, batida beatmakers RS Produções share a free selection of loops and beats.
Wrap up 2024 by checking out some of our favorite tutorials, videos, and features from across the year, and head into 2025 with all the music-making inspiration you could wish for.
Munich-based artist Polygonia discusses the making of her new track, “Neon Oracle”, and her multidisciplinary approaches to music making.
Erased Tapes artist Ben Lukas Boysen (aka Hecq) breaks down the gear, techniques and intention behind every track of his album Alta Ripa. Plus he shares the track “Quasar” as a free Ableton Live Project complete with audio stems.
upsammy aka the Netherlands’ Thessa Torsig gives insights into the tools and processes she uses for her genre-defying electronic compositions. She also shares a selection of specially-crated audio loops, free to download.
Kyoto, Japan-based producer Stones Taro discusses sub-bass and the sub-aquatic inspiration for his drum and bass and house productions. Plus, he offers an Ableton Live Set of a track from his new album as a free download.
Vancouver, Canada-based production duo Potatohead People discuss the ins and outs of working with rappers and live musicians, making beats that sound vintage without samples and more. Plus, they share a lush jazz-funk inspired chord Pack free to use in your productions.
Chicago metal band REZN discuss their use of electronics, modular synths and Ableton Live to push the boundaries of the genre and develop as musicians. Plus, they share two free custom sound design Racks.
Bristol-based leftfield dance music producer Yushh breaks down her production process and shares a number of free devices for Live 12.
Celebrate 20 years of Operator with a pack of free presets from Christian Kleine and the device’s creator, Robert Henke – plus, dive into Operator’s history.
UK composer and improviser Leo Abrahams on using Ableton as a guitar processor, working with a jazz drummer in the Krononaut project as well as jamming with Jon Hopkins and Brian Eno. Free download of drum machine and synth loops included.
Glitch-electronica artist James Devane pushes back on AI to emphasize the human imperfections that can make electronic music special. Plus he shares a free custom Max For Live device.
Volker Bertelmann, also known as Hauschka, talks about how the prepared piano became his trademark instrument, his love of synthesizers and how he composed his Oscar-winning score for “All Quiet On The Western Front”. Plus, download a free Drum Rack of Volker’s prepared piano sounds.
Kasra V and Sepehr are Flower Storm, a duo exploring the dual influence of their Iranian heritage and years immersed in club music. Processing samples from the rich tradition of Persian music and creating their own unique library of sounds, the London-New York duo talk about the ideas that feed into their project and share a selection of their custom creations for you to experiment with in your own music.
Electro-techno producer Gesloten Cirkel shares a bundle of racks and devices to work more flavor into your drums and synths.
The Berlin-based initiative looks to expand the possibilities of musical and cultural exchange beyond the DAW, starting with a free download of samples and tuning files of Javanese gamelan.
Deep tech producer Riaz Dhanani unveils his production secrets, blending loops, programmed patterns, and rhythm generators. Plus, get a free download of his Effects Rack, akin to the one used on his hit "Hot Fuse."
Nadia Struiwigh discusses her dynamic life as an independent, multi-genre artist and the production methods behind her new track, "Leelow Waters".