NGHTMRE

Watch NGHTMRE and Carmada’s ‘Embrace’ Video Feat. Xavier Dunn

NGHTMRE and Australian duo Carmada have shared a video for their new future bass single “Embrace” featuring Xavier Dunn. The track was released via Mad Decent in late August and is NGHTMRE and Carmada’s first collaboration.

The trippy visual, which is filled with symbolic references, follows a man navigating through a dense, dark forest.

“It’s always fun making tunes with old friends and across oceans,” NGHTMRE told Billboard. “We made some of this track while I was in tour in Australia, and I’m really happy with how it turned out … This record is very special to me. I started it almost three years ago and have slowly been developing it with the Carmada boys into something unique.”

Watch the video above and download “Embrace” on DJcity.

Related: NGHTMRE Talks Production and More

NGHTMRE Talks Production and More

NGHTMRE

It’s not an overstatement to say that NGHTMRE is one of the most dominant and influential forces in bass music. Not only do the biggest names in the genre play his tracks, but he has influenced many producers with his unique sound.

From 2013 to 2014, NGHTMRE honed his craft at Los Angeles’ renowned music production school, Icon Collective. The institute has spawned other influential artists, most notably Jauz, MAKJ, and SNBRN. However, NGHTMRE’s big break came in 2015 when Skrillex dropped his trap song “Street” at Miami’s Ultra Music Festival. The track became a festival anthem and set the stage for collaborations with Dillon Francis, Flux Pavilion, and Zeds Dead. Festival appearances, world tours, and a residency at Hakkasan in Las Vegas followed.

NGHTMRE’s most recent release, a twerk remix of Terror Squad‘s “Lean Back,” was DJcity’s 12th most downloaded track of May. It marks his highest-charting release on DJcity to date (it beat “Need You” by one place).

Despite his busy schedule, we had a chance to chat with NGHTMRE about production and his meteoric rise.

A lot of dance and electronic producers sound the same, but you have a unique sound. Where does it come from?

I think it’s a combination of a lot of different things I grew up listening to. Everything from old school and indie rock, to the dirty south hip-hop, to the dubstep and house music.

What was the most important thing you learned at Icon Collective?

While all the technical skills I learned were extremely valuable, Icon taught me how to think about being creative, which was most important. I learned to not compare myself to other artists and to focus on creating music for myself rather than for other people or ulterior motives like money or DJ support.

Do you think attending a school makes sense for all producers?

Not always. I think the curriculum can be learned in many difference places, but it’s important to have a mentor or someone who knows what they’re talking about when you’re asking questions. I spent many years searching the internet for tutorials and ways to learn production, and you never really know if you are getting the right answers when just searching through YouTube tutorials. One thing I think is super important is being around other people who are doing creative work. It can really provide you with the spark you need to continue working and producing in times when you get writer’s block.


Download on DJcity

It seems like some producers have been heavily influenced by your sound. How do you feel about that?

I think it’s amazing! I was certainly influenced by many different artists and producers, and it’s important to me to be inspiring other artists to create and push music forward.

What’s your preferred production gear?

I use Ableton Live for all my production. Having been on the road so much recently, I’ve gotten much better at producing with nothing but a laptop. Keeping a MIDI keyboard nearby for writing chord progressions and melodies is important for me when I’m at home. Almost everything I use is built-in Ableton effects or third party VSTs like Serum, Spire, Omnisphere, and more.

Did you know “Street” would be a hit when you produced it?

Not at all. I knew I liked it, but I thought it was way too weird to be a hit. Fortunately, Skrillex liked it too and played it at Ultra a few years ago. He is such a tastemaker that if he supports something, it really allows it to break through into the scene!

Your collab “Need You” with Dillon Francis was also big for you. How did it come about?

Dillon began supporting some of my originals and remixes in his live sets, and then I finally met him on a flight back to LA one day. We both expressed interest in working on a song together, and I was excited to try something at the moombahton tempo because I didn’t get to do it often. After starting the idea, we met up in LA to work together and finished the song in just a few sessions! We get along great and use all the same production software, so it was a super smooth and easy collaboration.

You play quite a bit of hip-hop in your sets. What’s your take on dance music becoming more open-format in recent years?

I grew up listening to all types of music, so I love when I get the opportunity to incorporate all kinds of music in my sets. Listening to one tempo or one style of music for more than an hour straight can get tiring! It’s important to change it up a little to refresh the listener’s ears a little bit. [smiles]

From a DJ’s standpoint, who are your favorite upcoming-and-coming producers?

JOYRYDE, Rickyxsan, YOOKIE, KRNE, MYRNE, and many more!

What do you have planned for this year?

Lots of touring! I’m going back to Asia and Europe again and launching a NGHTMRE tour near the end of the year. Another NGHTMRE EP will be out in the coming months, as well as a few fun collaborations I’ve been doing on the side.


Download on SoundCloud

Follow NGHTMRE on Facebook, Instagram, SoundCloud, and Twitter.

Related: Watch Dillon Francis and NGHTMRE’s ‘Need You’ Video

Watch Dillon Francis and NGHTMRE’s ‘Need You’ Video

Dillon Francis


 
Dillon Francis and NGHTMRE‘s new moombahton single “Need You” has received a hilarious visual. Set in a suburban backyard, the video stars Dillon as a ridiculous DJ who transforms a dull neighborhood gathering into a wild party.
 
“Need You” has amassed over half a million SoundCloud plays since its release last week and is currently number ten on DJcity. Watch above and download the track on DJcity.
 
Related: Spryte Blends Yo Gotti’s ‘Down in the DM’ With NGHTMRE’s ‘Burn Out’

Spryte Blends Yo Gotti’s ‘Down in the DM’ With NGHTMRE’s ‘Burn Out’

DJ Spryte
DJ Spryte performs at Bassmnt in San Diego on Jan. 30, 2016. (Facebook)
 
Los Angeles DJ/producer SPRYTE (one-half of Made Monster) has dropped a bootleg that blends Yo Gotti‘s “Down in the DM” with NGHTMRE‘s trap heater, “Burn Out.”
 
“Down in the DM” is currently number 13 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart and shows no signs of slowing. “Burn Out” was released in February and has already amassed over a million SoundCloud streams.
 
Stream Spryte’s bootleg below and download it on DJcity.
 

 
Related: Listen to SPRYTE’s Mix for the DJcity Podcast

NGHTMRE Explains How He Produced ‘Street’

NGHTMRE
NGHTMRE performing at Avalon’s Control Fridays in Hollywood, California. (Oh Dag Yo)
 
NGHTMRE’s new single “Street” is one of the biggest trap songs of the year so far. Released last week, the track has already amassed over 400,000 plays and received support from Skrillex, Flosstradamus, and RL Grime. We’ve personally seen NGHTMRE drop it twice in the last month, first during a live stream at Mixify’s headquarters and then for his Los Angeles debut at Control. The crowd went wild each time.
 
With “Street” gaining momentum, NGHTMRE has shared a masterclass that he taught at the University of California, San Diego in April. Included in the two-hour video is a section on how he produced the single, which at the time was unreleased. It begins at the 58:40 mark.
 

 
Full list of topics:
 
Introduction and backstory – 1:08
His beginnings – 5:34
Important notes – 10:20
The current state of dance music – 15:45
Masterclass agenda – 17:38
Being innovative, maximizing your gear, and developing a brand – 18:24
Production process – 19:55
Clarifying your tracks – 20:34
How he produced his remix of The Prodigy’s “The Bomb” – 28:27
Simplifying your tracks – 36:00
Eight bar expansion – 41:20
Chopping vocals – 50:00
Adding character – 56:20
How he produced “Street” – 58:40
Organizing and collecting samples – 1:03:17
Finding samples – 1:04:31
Sampling the real world – 1:05:40
Advice from Flux Pavilion – 1:11:11
The importance of reverb – 1:12:25
Adding a natural feel with track delay – 1:14:10
Built-in audio and MIDI tools – 1:15:18
Q&A – 1:17:42
 
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