10 Things You Need To Know About Urbanstep

Published: February 6, 2014

By: Mica D'Alesandro

Look out! Urbanstep is the newest European EDM duo making their way to the US with fresh takes on all sorts of genres including dubstep, D&B, and big room house. Yuri Grauberger, the founder of the project, hails from Riga, Latvia, and Aidan Rypens is from Antwerp, Belgium. The two have been seriously producing since April 2012 and were absolutely crushing the Beatport charts last year. We got a chance to chat with Yuri:

Did the two of you meet online? How does that work?

Yes, we known each other since the last part of 2012. I asked Aidan, who was part of PanDub collective, about a remix for my first big album, but that didnt work out. So we didn't speak for a while, until one day Aidan contacted me and asked if he could become part of Urbanstep. I accepted him, because back then I was really thinking about focusing more on producing and Aidan is a good DJ, so he could focus on shows, but now - we both produce. Sometimes separately, sometimes together.

What got you interested in producing music?

Music itself. When I was a child I really loved Eiffel 65 - Blue tune, that was probably one of first tunes in my life I ever loved, although I was around 6 years old. Maybe I just dont remember what was before with my musical taste, but for sure Eiffel 65 took special place in my heart. Also Pendulum and Flux Pavilion were really a big inspiration.

What kind of software/equipment do you use in producing your music?

Hardware:

I use just simple PC with regular 60$ speakers, even without headphones.

Aidan uses whatever he can use, from laptop to PC, KRK studio monitors.

Software:

FL Studio 11 with NI Massive, Sylenth1, 3x Osc, Sytrus, Harmor and so on.

For mastering: iZotope Ozone / Fruity Multiband Compressor

Other plugins are our secret.

With influence stemming from big UK producers like Flux Pavilion, Skream, Benga, Xilent, and Chase & Status, I'm curious to know what US artists do you like?

Definetely Kill The Noise is favorite, but of course big love for Skrillex, 12th Planet, Vaski, Pretty Lights, Bassnectar.

What songs or artists inspired you in 2013?

Seven Lions, Kill The Noise, tyDi, Drumsound & Bassline Smith, The Prototypes, Netsky, Xilent, even Kano and overall UK Grime scene, and you wont believe but DVBBS & Borgeous with their Tsunami.

If you could collab with any artist, electronic or not, who would you choose?

Rob Swire, maybe High Maintenance. This is from electronic scene. If I had a choice from metal or rap for example, it would be Slipknot or In Flames. Kano from UK Grime scene.

Will you plan on touring in the US anytime soon?

Yes, right now planning a pretty big tour around the US and Canada.

What do you have in store for the upcoming year?

You can't even imagine, but really a lot of different stuff, ranging from big room house to dubstep and drum & bass, from drumstep to glitch-hop, maybe even reggae. At least 10 track album, and of course a lot of singles.

There are tons of producers and artists out there trying to get their name out, how did you catch The Untz's attention? What would you say you learned that you can convey to others producers?

Probably our own style, I dont consider our music best out there, but I consider it special.

Do you have a favorite quote or wise words you like to say?

Patience, dedication and hard work, really hard work - to the absurd point where you just sleep 3-4 hours in order to learn more about production, to produce tunes and of course networking, networking and once again networking, marketing is the key, you got to knock at every door you find, one of them will be open, or maybe not even one, but the point is if you have your goal you got to go for it and never surrender.

What's your spirit animal?

Probably Lion, no idea why, Lions are cool.