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What Is the Point of Mastering If the Mix Is Good? A Guide to Understanding Mastering's Role

August 26, 2024

For many newer producers, it can be confusing to understand the importance of mastering, especially when your mix feels polished and balanced. However, mastering is an essential step in the...

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Write a Vocal Melody That Stands Out: Tips for Phrasing and Dynamics

August 25, 2024

If you’ve been writing music for a decade but are just starting to dive into vocal melodies, you’re not alone in facing challenges with phrasing and creating vocal dynamics that don’t feel repetitive.

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Add FX and Ear Candy to Your Tracks: Tips for Taking Your Sketch to the Next Level

August 23, 2024

Adding FX and ear candy can feel like a daunting task, especially when you start to overthink the process. However, these little details are often what bring a track to life, adding depth, excitement.

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Recreate a Vocal Stutter Effect Like Skrillex: A Step-by-Step Guide

August 21, 2024

If you’ve just stepped into the world of music production, vocal stutters can be a fun and impactful technique to add excitement and energy to your tracks. You’ve heard that fast vocal stutter at...

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Get a Great Sounding Synth: The Deadmau5 Approach

August 21, 2024

If you’ve been experimenting with synthesizers, you know the quest for a perfect synth sound can be a challenging but rewarding process. Whether you’re looking for something clean yet huge, or...

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Make Music Again: Overcoming Creative Burnout Like Pharrell Williams

August 21, 2024

Hey there, fellow music creators! Whether you’re balancing a day job, DJ gigs, and music production, or just feeling creatively stuck, you’re not alone. Many of us hit a wall at some point, where...

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Master Your Craft as a Beatmaker: The J Dilla Way

August 21, 2024

In this article, we’ll explore the most efficient ways to master your creative process as a beatmaker, and how you can learn from one of the most respected producers in the game: J Dilla.

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Bumbershoot Festival 2024: A Creative Celebration in Seattle

August 8, 2024

This Labor Day weekend, Bumbershoot Arts and Music Festival returns to Seattle Center from August 31 to September 1, 2024. With a rich history spanning over 50 years, Bumbershoot continues to be a...

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Ohana Festival 2024: A Must-Attend Event for Music Creators

August 8, 2024

As the summer winds down and the crisp autumn air begins to roll in, music enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating one of California’s premier music festivals. The Ohana Festival, set to take place...

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Desert Daze 2024: A Creative Oasis for Music Enthusiasts

August 8, 2024

As the vibrant hues of summer give way to the golden tones of fall, the anticipation for one of California’s most eclectic music festivals begins to build. This October, the 2024 Desert Daze music...

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How to Create a Joyful Song Like "Happy" by Pharrell Williams

July 24, 2024

Creating a song that radiates joy and energy, much like Pharrell Williams' hit "Happy," is an exciting challenge for any music creator. Whether you're a seasoned producer or just starting out...

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Why Nas' Illmatic Deserves the Top Spot: Rap Lyricism at its Finest

July 17, 2024

Nas’ debut album, Illmatic, has been crowned the greatest rap album of all time by Billboard, and for good reason. Celebrated for its lyrical brilliance and profound storytelling, Illmatic set...

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5 Upcoming K-Pop Debuts To Watch For 2022

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Photo: @m25_classy on Instagram

Debut: April 2022

After having competed on the reality survival show, “My Teenage Girl”, the seven-member group CLASS:y was formed, signing a seven-year contract with label, M25. The group was selected out of 83 contestants over the course of about three months judged solely on the talents and skills of the contestants. The label and show have been the subjects of controversy lately due to the age gaps between the contestants ranging from 13 to 23, and the subsequent groups’ age difference ranging from 14 to 20 years old. Nonetheless, we’re excited to see what the group has been working on since the show, and how they compare to some of the top girl groups in the industry.

YOUNITE

Photo: YOUNITE 'EVERYBODY (Feat. DJ Juice)' Music Video

Debut: April 20, 2022

Debuting under the label, Brand New Music, YOUNITE is a nine-member boy group, featuring a few familiar faces – former X1 member Eunsang, and “LOUD” contestant, Kyungmun. Despite their official debut being scheduled for April 20 with the release of their first album, the group pre-released their first single and music video, “EVERYBODY” which features DJ Juice. The song is full of funk with influences from 80s hip-hop, while the video is just as funky, with their smooth dance moves and playful personalities. This group is definitely one to watch this year!

MAVE

Photo: Metaverse Entertainment

Debut: Unknown

There’s been some talk around the K-Pop world, that a new virtual girl group will be debuting under the label, Metaverse Entertainment, which is a partnership between Kakao Entertainmnet  (owner of Korean streaming service, Melon) and game developers Netmarble. The group will consist of four fully virtual AI (artificial intelligence) members or meta-idols, conducting fan experiences through the a major metaverse channel. Though the project is still in development, we have no doubts that this group will amaze the world with such a unique concept.

TNX

Photo: @TNX_Official on Twitter

Photo: @TNX_Official on Twitter

Debut: Unknown

Highly decorated creative exec, Jadeon Jeong (known for creative directing EXO, NCT, LOONA), has created his own start-up company, MODHAUS, an upcoming agency set to debut a few of their own groups this year. A new girl group consisting of fan-participants has been in talks for a while, but it is unclear whether girl group is tripleS. Their trailer gives futuristic-dystopian vibes along with the unique synthy-808 background music and we’re totally onboard with the entire concept. Other than this trailer, there is little information to be found about the group members and their debut, but we’re definitely going to be keeping up with whatever they have in store.

Debut: May 17

Formed on the audition show, “LOUD” created in collaboration with J.Y. Park and PSY, TNX has been posting vlogs and behind-the-scenes videos on their YouTube channel ahead of their debut for the past few months. Previously a seven-member group, their label announced it would be moving forward with six members under the name TNX which stands for “The New Six”. They just introduced their members over on their YouTube channel along with a teaser trailer that gives us a little insight as to how hard they’ve been working these past few months leading to their upcoming debut.

tripleS

Photo: @triplescosmos on Twitter