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“Neo Yame” is the kind of track that goes beyond the dancefloor. Out now on Songuara, the collaboration between Massio, Joseph Kaz, and vocalist RedRo8se blends the pulse of Afro House with a deeply rooted cultural narrative. The release also features a remix from Bona Fide Translating to “My Gift” in a South African dialect, the song is a heartfelt prayer, a call for connection, and a celebration of life. Rich in percussive detail and emotional weight, it has already carved its place as one of the label’s most stirring releases, with remixes from Bona Fide and Nohan expanding its reach even further.
The creative force behind the project is a meeting of distinctive voices. Massio, founder of the rapidly rising RYTHMICA imprint, brings his signature fusion of soulful melodies and organic grooves, while Joseph Kaz, with his ear for sampling ambient and natural sounds, shapes arrangements with depth and atmosphere. RedRo8se’s vocal performance carries the message with sincerity, giving the track its human heartbeat.
Together, they’ve built something that feels grounded in tradition but ready for modern dancefloors.
In this breakdown, the artists walk us through the tools and techniques that brought “Neo Yame” to life — from the analog-style warmth of u-he’s ACE for the lead bass, to the rhythmic lift of Xfer’s LFO Tool, the atmospheric depth of Valhalla Shimmer, and the subtle movement of Ableton’s Auto Pan. They share the workflow and the thinking behind each choice, offering insight into how a track with such emotional impact can still move with the precision and energy Afro House demands.
ACE (Any Cable Everywhere)
ACE (Any Cable Everywhere) by u-he is a semi-modular synthesizer that delivers rich analog-style sound with hands-on flexibility. It features two oscillators, multiple filters, and an open patching system that allows for deep, creative routing. Despite its modular nature, it’s intuitive to use and excels at crafting bold, character-filled sounds. We found it especially powerful for bass and lead elements that need both grit and warmth.
For Neo Yame, we used ACE to design the lead bass that drives the groove of the track. We started with the “HS Later Bass” preset but tweaked the oscillators, filter envelope, and LFO modulation to better match the Afro House feel we were after. Automated the filter cutoff throughout the track to add subtle movement and keep the energy evolving. To give it more presence in the mix, we’ve added EQ, and a touch of parallel compression. The result was a bass sound that felt both grounded and alive, exactly what the track needed.
We’d recommend ACE to any producer working in Afro House or Organic House and everything in between. It’s great for creating warm, characterful sounds that sit well in the mix. One thing we’ve learned is to keep things simple: don’t go too bold with the sound, focus on tones that blend harmonically with the rest of the track. It helps to keep only the necessary frequencies and avoid over-compressing, so the sound stays natural and flowing. ACE gives you the flexibility to shape the sound just enough without overdoing it.
LFO Tool
LFO Tool by Xfer is one of our favorite plugins because it’s incredibly versatile and easy to use. At its core, it’s a powerful modulation plugin that lets you shape volume, filter, and other parameters using custom LFO curves. It’s perfect for sidechaining, basic compression-style effects, and even creative sound design like rhythmic gating or arpeggio-style movement. With control over mix, cutoff, resonance, and drive, it gives you both precision and freedom in one simple interface.
LFO Tool comes with several useful presets and can be used on both MIDI and audio tracks. In Neo Yame, we used it on an audio sample to create an arpeggio-style effect that added a nice groove to the track. We picked a preset shape and adjusted it to match the rhythm and feel we wanted. We did not use any automation, just played with the mix and timing settings. It was a quick and simple way to bring more movement and texture to the sound.
Plucks, arps, and stabs are key elements in Afro House and electronic music in general. They carry the rhythm and energy that make people want to move, so it is important to shape them well. Our advice is to always aim for a balanced mix and place each sound where it belongs tonally and rhythmically. LFO Tool is great for helping elements like these breathe and groove together, making the full composition feel more connected and alive.
Valhalla Shimmer
Valhalla Shimmer is a reverb plugin designed for creating lush, expansive atmospheres with a unique pitch-shifting engine. It goes beyond traditional reverb by adding layered harmonics, allowing sounds to evolve into dreamy, almost orchestral textures. With controls for diffusion, modulation, and pitch, it’s perfect for transforming simple elements into immersive soundscapes. Whether you’re after subtle ambience or massive, cinematic tails, Shimmer delivers with beautiful depth and clarity.
Valhalla Shimmer is one of our favorite effects plugins because its simplicity and smoothness make it incredibly easy to work with. In Neo Yame, we used it subtly on background vocals, melodic instruments, and other elements to create a soft, spacious feel. We kept things simple by choosing the Medium Stereo mode and adjusting only the mix level to blend it gently into the background. No automation or complex tweaking was needed. Just a small sprinkle was enough to add that touch of magic and emotion to the track.
If you are producing electronic music in general, and especially tracks that are vocal-based, Valhalla Shimmer can be a great tool to bring depth and atmosphere. We learned that using it subtly makes all the difference. A small amount on vocals or ambient layers can add just the right emotional touch without cluttering the mix. Less is more, and with this plugin, a little goes a long way.
Auto Pan
Auto Pan is an Ableton factory effect that modulates the stereo position of a sound, creating movement and space in a very natural way. While it is often used for simple left-to-right panning, it can also be pushed creatively to shape rhythm and groove. You can control the rate, amount, shape, and phase of the modulation, making it great for subtle motion or more noticeable rhythmic effects. It is one of our favorite tools after the essentials like Compressor, EQ Eight, and Utility because of how much life it can add with very little effort.
In Neo Yame, Auto Pan is used across several channels, each with a different purpose. On some elements, we used it to create a smooth left-to-right movement that added width and gentle motion. On others, we shaped it more creatively to help with transitions, risers, and rhythmic builds that brought more energy into the arrangement. We adjusted the rate, amount, and phase manually to match the feel of each sound. It is a simple tool, but when used with intention, it can really enhance the flow and movement of a track.
We always recommend exploring Ableton’s factory tools, and Auto Pan is a great example of how powerful they can be when used creatively. You can fully rely on these built-in effects without needing external plugins. In Afro House and similar genres, subtle movement is key, and Auto Pan helps create space and rhythm without cluttering the mix. Most importantly, aim for a balanced mix to give the listener the full experience and emotional impact of the track.
Quick Fire Tips For Making Organic House
Tip #1: Less is more. Do not overdo it, just go with the flow and always imagine how the crowd will react to your track.
Tip #2: Train your ear to recognize the sound you are aiming for. A clear vision makes producing smoother and more intentional.
Tip #3: Try your best to be original. With how fast the industry moves, blending your sound with current trends can lead to the best results.
The post How It Was Made: Joseph Kaz, Massio feat.RedRo8se – Neo Yame (Songuara + Afro House) appeared first on Magnetic Magazine.