Nichols + Roark return with Melodica, a track released on Lee Burridge’s All Day I Dream as part of the label’s summer sampler. Known for weaving narrative into their productions, the British duo built this record from a memory of sunrise on the Playa at Burning Man. That vision of neon fading into morning light set the mood and direction, guiding them toward the emotional core of the track.
Their choice of E-flat minor reflected the atmosphere they wanted to capture, carrying a sense of beauty mixed with melancholy. The track has already found a home in the desert, with Lee Burridge playing it at Robot Heart to greet the sunrise, a moment that brought the creative process full circle. Nichols + Roark describe Melodica as a piece where memory, mood, and technical detail all align.
With support continuing to grow and appearances at stages from Ibiza to Miami, the duo are carving a path that balances musical storytelling with dancefloor energy. In this feature, they take us inside the tools and methods behind Melodica, breaking down the plugins, processing, and production decisions that shaped the track.
U-He Diva
Diva is one of the richest analogue-modelled synths out there. It emulates iconic hardware synth components (oscillators, filters, envelopes) with incredible depth and warmth. What makes Diva stand out is its modular nature – you can mix and match different vintage components for unique, hybrid sounds. It’s heavy on the CPU, but worth every ounce of processing power.
The main riff of the track was created using Diva. We played it live to get a more natural feel, then balanced it using FabFilter Pro-Q3 to sculpt the tone and ensure it sat perfectly in the mix. We used 10 different instances of Diva throughout the track-for the bass-line, pads, riffs, and supporting melodic elements. Each Diva patch has subtle automation on the cutoff and resonance to keep the track evolving, and some layers had plate reverb and delay added for spatial movement. We also programmed a second “trippy riff” variation (lands at 1:40), using a different Diva sound and added Soundtoys PanMan for stereo panning movement.
Producers in melodic house and deep techno will find Diva invaluable. Its lush, analogue-style oscillators are perfect for emotionally resonant hooks and evolving textures. A tip: keep cutoff automation subtle but continuous to add that immersive flow. Don’t be afraid to stack multiple Diva layers-just be ready to tame the mix with EQ and smart reverb choices.
FabFilter Pro-Q3
FabFilter Pro-Q3 is a surgical EQ with a slick interface and endless flexibility. It offers dynamic EQ bands, mid/side processing, spectrum grab, and intelligent soloing. It’s an essential tool for both creative tone shaping and clean-up work in the mix.
Pro-Q3 was our go-to tool for balancing the Diva layers. We used it to make the lead riff sit right above the pads and bass without clashing. In some cases, we used dynamic EQ to duck certain frequencies only when overlapping elements were present. On the second riff variation, we used Q3 to make room for the vocal textures and extra percussive layers.
For melodic electronic music, clean EQing is everything. Pro-Q3 lets you be precise without killing the vibe. Learn to use dynamic bands for subtle ducking instead of relying on sidechain compression for everything. Also, experiment with mid/side EQing to clear out stereo mud while preserving width.
Output Portal
Output Portal is a granular synthesis effect plugin designed to add texture, movement, and glitchy artifacts to your sounds. It breaks your audio into grains and then reorders or processes them in real time with pitch shifting, delay, filtering, and more.
We used Portal on the main riff to create a feeling of (slightly) organised chaos. It added swirling delays, rhythmic glitches, and unexpected movement that gave the sound a unique presence in the mix. The plugin takes some time to dial in properly, but once it’s working, it adds serious texture. We automated wet/dry mix and delay parameters to evolve with the track.
Portal is a goldmine for making static loops feel alive. If you’re producing melodic or progressive music and want your synth lines to move and breathe, this is the tool. Use it sparingly and automate key parameters so the effect feels purposeful, not overwhelming.
Waves CLA Vocals + Dada Life Endless Smile
CLA Vocals is a quick, all-in-one vocal processor offering compression, EQ, reverb, delay, and more-all in one simple interface. Endless Smile by Dada Life is a one-knob effect that builds tension using lush reverb and filtering to create cinematic transitions.
For the vocals-sourced from Splice and various sample packs-we wanted an ethereal, mystical tone. CLA Vocals helped the vocal sit right in the mix without drowning. We started with the “Rock Female” preset and adjusted reverb/delay levels. Endless Smile was used to create the dreamy, reverb-heavy build-ups that appear in the breakdowns and transitions.
In deep/melodic house, your vocals need to sit softly but clearly. CLA Vocals makes it easy to sculpt the presence. Endless Smile is a no-brainer for adding smooth tension builds-just automate that one knob and watch the energy rise. Try using it subtly on synths or FX for background ambience too.
Nichols + Roark’s On Music And More
Hot Take #1:
Don’t expect the same sound to carry the riff throughout a track. Drop in a new variation on the riff using a different sound or different pattern out of nowhere.
Hot Take #2:
EQ is still the most underrated tool in production. Most of our final mix decisions come down to simple, well-placed EQ moves. Less side-chain and more EQ!
Hot Take #3:
Artists need to pay attention to how their music translates live. Sound design is great, but if the groove doesn’t move people in the real world, it’s not ready. Does the track make you want to move? If not then get back to the drawing board..
Hot Take #4 (Creativity/Gear):
Stop chasing the latest plug-in-master the tools you already have. U-He Diva, Pro-Q3 and CLA vocals have been on all of our tracks for years.
Hot Take #5 (Scene/Trends):
Too many tracks sound the same because producers are over-referencing Beatport charts. Dig into your own life and influences for inspiration-it’ll show in the music. Set yourself aside from the ghost-writer generation and have some musical integrity, find a loop/hook/riff that you can connect with emotionally and then others will feel the same.
The post How It Was Made: Nichols + Roark – Melodica (All Day I Dream) appeared first on Magnetic Magazine.