Velwood Makes His Production Debut With “Other Side”

Canadian DJ and producer Velwood has released his debut original single, “Other Side,” through LFTD Global, bringing together UK garage, tech house, and melodic vocal elements in a record designed around the energy of his DJ sets. Released October 21, the track marks his first official step into releasing original music after spending the past couple of years developing his skills behind the decks and working toward a career as a producer.

There is already a clear relationship between the music Velwood plays and the direction he wants to take his own productions. “Other Side” combines fast percussion with a prominent synthesizer during the main sections, while the melodic breakdowns introduce a vocal that repeats throughout the arrangement. That balance reflects his interest in the rhythmic characteristics of UK garage and the larger instrumental sections associated with contemporary tech house.

The release also introduces an artist who moved quickly from learning to DJ to producing and releasing his own material. Velwood began DJing in 2024, and his growing collection of recorded sets has included performances and sessions in Tokyo, studio mixes, and UK garage selections. With “Other Side” now available, he is beginning to establish the original catalog that will support the next stage of his career.

How “Other Side” Combines UK Garage And Tech House

“Other Side” is listed at 138 BPM in C minor, placing it within the faster tempo range commonly associated with contemporary UK garage. The extended mix runs approximately three minutes and 49 seconds, giving the arrangement enough room to introduce its vocal material, develop the instrumental sections, and return to its primary musical ideas.

The production draws from two closely related areas of club music. UK garage contributes the faster percussion and rhythmic movement, while the heavier synthesizer sections introduce characteristics associated with modern tech house and festival-oriented club tracks.

Those differences are particularly apparent in the arrangement’s structure. The melodic breakdowns give space to the vocal, while the main instrumental sections shift focus to the rhythm and prominent synth.

Working between these styles requires some attention to how percussion interacts with the bass and lead elements. UK garage frequently uses syncopated rhythms and swung percussion, while tech house often relies on a more consistent four-on-the-floor kick pattern. Combining elements from these approaches gives producers flexibility when establishing the rhythmic foundation of a track.

We explored a similar combination in our How It Was Made feature with HASKELL, where the UK producer discussed developing “Afters” using elements of UK garage, deep tech, and tech house. His production approach focused on careful sound selection and the relationship between the kick and bass, with relatively straightforward processing throughout the arrangement.

A Repeated Vocal Gives The Track Its Identity

One of the defining components of “Other Side” is its recurring vocal hook, which introduces the song’s title and returns throughout the breakdowns and main sections.

The central phrase, “Meet me on the other side,” establishes a recognizable lyrical idea without relying on extensive verses or a complicated vocal arrangement.

The lyrics also introduce the idea of following someone into a different place or experience, although they leave the meaning open to interpretation. There is no detailed storyline attached to the vocal, and its repeated phrasing allows it to operate as a musical element within the arrangement.

That repetition is particularly relevant to the track’s club-oriented structure. A recognizable vocal can establish continuity between the breakdowns and heavier instrumental sections, giving listeners something familiar to identify as the arrangement progresses.

The decision to work with a relatively small amount of lyrical material also places additional responsibility on the production. Changes in instrumentation, percussion, and arrangement become important for maintaining interest when the same vocal appears throughout the track.

That relationship between vocal writing and rhythmic production is something we previously explored in our interview with byDJBLVD, where the producer discussed the importance of percussion when working with UK garage. His comments addressed how the rhythmic foundation helps establish the character of a track before additional musical elements are introduced.

On “Other Side,” the repeated vocal provides a clear structural reference, while the surrounding production is designed to alternate between melodic and higher-energy sections.

For a debut release, this gives Velwood a relatively straightforward introduction to the production styles he wants to continue exploring.

What’s Next For Velwood?

Following “Other Side,” Velwood intends to continue releasing original music while developing his production approach across UK garage, tech house, and other club-focused styles.

The decision to work across related genres gives him room to experiment with different rhythmic structures and arrangement techniques while maintaining continuity with the music he already plays as a DJ.

His immediate goals center on building a consistent catalog and developing the higher-energy direction associated with his performances. Additional releases will provide a clearer indication of which musical characteristics become recurring elements in his productions.

There is also an opportunity to connect the DJ and producer sides of his project through original edits, remixes, and tracks developed specifically for his sets.

With a growing collection of DJ recordings already available, his next step will be establishing the same continuity through original productions.

“Other Side” is available now through LFTD Global. Listen on Beatport, or explore Velwood’s recorded DJ sets through his official website.