Ramyen launches Mellow Records with Our Story, a release that makes the label’s direction clear from the first record. The French artist has already built a name through releases on Rose Avenue and Knee Deep In Sound, and this EP puts that experience into a house-focused format built around groove, vocal energy, and a clear club identity. It also sets the tone for Mellow as a platform shaped around instinct, feeling, and new French talent.
The title track “Our Story” has the kind of direct vocal house energy that works because the arrangement stays simple and focused. The rolling bassline gives it drive, the vocal gives it connection, and the synth work keeps the track bright enough for bigger rooms without losing the warmth of a proper house record. Alonz’s remix pushes the idea into a funkier direction, while “Jack Italiano” adds a darker and more percussive second original to the EP.
For this How It Was Made feature, Ramyen breaks down the tools behind “Our Story,” including Arturia’s JUP-8 V, UAD’s Pultec EQP-1A Legacy, a carefully placed acapella, and Kickstart by Nicky Romero. The main takeaway is refreshingly direct: find a bass sound that grooves, place the vocal properly, make the kick and bass work together, and avoid overcomplicating the record.
Arturia JUP-8 V
The JUP-8 V is Arturia’s emulation of the Roland Jupiter-8, and honestly, they did a great job. This synth has that analog warmth that’s hard to find anywhere else, especially on bass sounds.
On “About,” I used the “Play House” preset; the name says it all. I didn’t tweak much; the sound clicked straight away with the track’s energy. The bassline is built around that, and it’s what gives the track that groovy, warm feel.
If you make house music, the JUP-8 V is a real reference. Browse through the “Play House” presets or the analog basses, and you’ll find sounds that groove effortlessly.
UAD Pultec EQP-1A Legacy
The Pultec EQP-1A is a vintage equalizer from the 50s and Universal Audio made a really faithful emulation of it. What’s cool about this plugin is that it colors the sound in a very musical, very natural way.
I used it to brighten up certain tracks and give definition to the mix. When multiple elements stack up, the Pultec helps everything find its place without sounding aggressive.
In-house music, the mix needs to be clean and punchy; people are going to hear this loud in a club. The Pultec is perfect for that; it cleans up without killing the vibe.
Acapella
I wanted to bring more energy and feeling to the track. I added an acapella and EQ’d the vocal so it sits naturally in the mix, without sounding pasted on top.
A well-placed vocal in a house track completely changes the energy of the record. People connect to it more easily, it becomes more uplifting, more feel-good.
Look for acapellas with emotion, something soulful or gospel. And take the time to EQ it properly so it breathes with the rest of the mix.
Kickstart by Nicky Romero
I put a sidechain on the bass so it pumps with the kick. I used Kickstart by Nicky Romero; it’s simple and does the job. Clap, hi-hat, and that was it. It’s what makes the track sound like a proper club record.
That breathing between the bass and the kick is the signature of house music.
Quick Tips For House
Tip #1: Don’t overthink your bass sounds. Sometimes, a good preset on a synth like the JUP-8 V is all you need.
Tip #2: The Pultec is an underrated mixing tool in house. Use it to brighten your tracks without being harsh.
Tip #3: Sidechain your bass to the kick, non-negotiable. That’s what makes it sound like a club record.
Tip #4: The right acapella can completely transform the energy of a track.
Tip #5: Trust your ears. If it grooves at 2 am in your studio, it’s probably good.
Will Vance is a professional music producer who has been involved in the industry for the better part of a decade and has been the managing editor at Magnetic Magazine since mid-2022. In that time period, he has published thousands of articles on music production, industry think pieces and educational articles about the music industry. Over the last decade as a professional music producer, Will Vance has also ran multiple successful and highly respected record labels in the industry, including Where The Heart Is Records as well as having launched a new label with a focus on community through Magnetic Magazine. When not running these labels or producing his own music, Vance is likely writing for other top industry sites like Waves or the Hyperbits Masterclass or working on his upcoming book on mindfulness in music production. On the rare chance he's not thinking about music production, he's probably running a game of Dungeons and Dragons with his friends which he has been the dungeon master for for many years.
