Urmet K has built a reputation as a producer who blends organic textures with club-focused energy, a sound that has made him a consistent name on the global Afro and Melodic House circuit. With support from heavyweights like Black Coffee, Themba, Pablo Fierro, and &ME, and millions of streams on releases such as his remix of Kaldera & Lazarusman’s Oceans of My Mind, he continues to push forward with each project.
His latest EP, Summer Solstice, marks his return to Stereo MCs’ connected imprint, pairing rich, atmospheric grooves with the punch and grit of the dancefloor.
The B-side, You Know How, reveals the detail behind Urmet’s workflow: a track born from a vocal sample that evolved into a layered, percussive journey built on VPS Avenger 2 basslines, Nord 2X riffs, and smart mixing tricks like Trackspacer and Ableton’s Saturator. It’s a showcase of how subtle sound design choices, careful layering, and a spark of inspiration can turn a single vocal into a complete record.
In this feature, Urmet opens up the session to break down how You Know How came together—from the bass and synth work to his most-used plugins and workflow habits that shaped the track into a cohesive whole.
Bass
The foundation of the bass comes from VPS Avenger 2, which I find to be a powerful and versatile software synthesizer. Its user-friendly interface and punchy sounds make it easy to adapt presets without too much tweaking. For this track, I started with the preset BA TECH HOUSE SUB 4 and shaped it using the envelope and filter controls to better fit the mix.
To reinforce the bass rhythm and add some tribal energy, I layered two 909 toms. Together, these three elements were grouped, and I applied an EQ cut at 20 Hz to clean up unnecessary sub-frequencies. I then used Trackspacer 2.5, sidechained to the kick at a subtle 8% threshold, to make room in the mix.
For EQ, I used FabFilter Q3, linked to the kick’s EQ, and rolled off a small amount of the kick’s low end with a low-shelf filter to balance the relationship between the kick and the bass.
Synths
The main riff comes from the Nord 2X. I started by playing the basic chord rhythm but quickly realized the part needed more articulation and depth. To achieve this, I layered in three instances of Xfer Serum:
- One ghosting the Nord chords, with automation added to give the sound movement.
- One playing the root notes of the chord.
- Another playing the harmony notes.
This layering technique is one of my favorite tricks for fattening up synth lines while keeping clarity.
In addition to the Nord and Serum, I used a sample from a RAW Techno pack, tuned it to the track’s key, and shaped it with stock Ableton plugins. At the end of its chain, I added the UAD Dytronics Cyclosonic Panner, which automatically pans the sound in subtle variations, keeping it from sitting in the exact same place in the stereo field.
All synths were grouped together and processed with the Ableton Glue Compressor to catch peaks, EQ Eight with a low cut at 91 Hz, and Trackspacer sidechained to the kick for extra space.
Most Used Plugin
If there’s one plugin I use almost everywhere, it’s Ableton Live’s Saturator. It’s simple, light on CPU, and adds character and power to almost any sound—synths, drums, or vocals. The key is subtlety: keep the dry/wet mix low for the best results.
On You Know How, I used it on the synths, the drums, and even lightly on the vocal. It gave the elements more body and presence without needing to push the gain.
Starting the Track
The track actually began with a vocal sample. While browsing through packs, I stumbled on the phrase “let me feel you know how” and immediately thought, “Cool, let’s go.” I layered two vocals: one from a RAW sample pack and a female vocal from the KSHMR Ethnic Vocal Pack, which I had already bookmarked for future use.
I’ve found that organizing samples in Ableton’s browser is invaluable for workflow. I keep a “try me” section coded in green, where I save interesting sounds for when inspiration strikes. This way, when I have downtime, I can explore my library and quickly find material worth experimenting with.
Conclusion
This track came together through a balance of careful sound design and creative layering. The bass and toms built a solid rhythmic foundation, while the Nord and Serum synths added richness and movement. Subtle processing with Trackspacer, EQ, and Glue Compression kept the mix tight and balanced. My favorite tools—like Ableton’s Saturator—helped add character without overcomplicating the process.
Ultimately, the track grew out of one spark: a vocal sample that inspired the entire arrangement. By combining organized sample browsing with powerful synth layering and smart mixing, I was able to shape a cohesive track that feels alive and dynamic.
The post How It Was Made: Urmet K – Summer Solstice appeared first on Magnetic Magazine.