How It Was Made: Low Steppa & Roel – Dreamliner
Italian producer Roel has built his sound around disco, funk and soul, bringing those influences into house releases on Soulfuric Recordings, Groove Culture Music and Low Trax. His latest release on the latter sees him collaborate with label founder Low Steppa on “Dreamliner”, a track that began as Roel’s demo before the pair developed it together.
In this edition of How It Was Made, Roel takes us through the production of Dreamliner, from the small rhythmic edits that give the sample its movement to the guitar effects and sidechain choices that help the finished track come together.
Main Plugin: Glitch 2
Glitch 2 is a multi-effect plugin that provides significant freedom for creative sound processing. Roel utilized it three times in the chain to define the character of his sample. On the first instance, he applied a constant lo-fi effect to add a crunchy texture above 17 kHz, combined with a Gater and Retrigger for rhythmic repetition. Subsequent instances introduced further tape stops and variations, which he automated throughout the track to ensure the effect remained dynamic rather than static.
Creative Plugin: Unison Zen Master
To achieve a warmer, more organic feel, Roel turned to Unison Zen Master. He specifically used the Hypnosis and Imbalance features to introduce subtle pitch drifting and chorus. By avoiding aggressive settings, he successfully removed the sterile, digital quality often found in modern productions, opting instead for a natural, evolving sound that sits comfortably within the mix.
Mixing and Creative Utility: Kickstart 2
For the low-end foundation, Kickstart 2 was employed to manage the relationship between the kick and the bass. Beyond the standard pumping effect, Roel used the plugin to shape the tail of the kick, ensuring that the two elements worked in tandem to drive the groove. His advice is to treat sidechaining as a creative tool that enhances the rhythm rather than just a technical fix for masking.
Guitar Processing: Fuzz-Wah
The guitar work on Dreamliner was treated with Logic Pro’s stock Fuzz-Wah effect. By selecting the “Modern Wah” mode and keeping the frequency range low, Roel added a funky, dynamic layer that blends seamlessly with the track. He emphasizes the importance of automation here, mimicking the physical movement of a wah pedal to create rising and falling textures that feel intentional and musical.
Production Tips for House Music
Reflecting on his process, Roel offers several key takeaways for producers working in the disco and soulful house space. He suggests starting with a strong sample that captures the desired vibe, then treating the arrangement like a band, layering instruments like Rhodes, clavinet, and horns to build energy. He also advocates for the use of parallel effects buses—blending phaser, flanger, and chorus—to add movement without compromising the integrity of the original sample.
Ultimately, Roel’s approach is about transformation. Whether through automating plugin mixes or re-sampling parts to create new arrangements, the goal is to take a foundational idea and imbue it with a unique identity. Dreamliner stands as a testament to this philosophy, balancing technical precision with a deep respect for the groove.
Dreamliner is out now on Low Trax.
