2 contrasting ideas for using UK drill samples in your music

Beyond returns as we head to the UK with new packs, videos, and more that celebrate one of the most exciting developments in music: UK drill.

With fresh sounds from iconic UK drill producers including the likes of M1OnTheBeat, A Lau, Ceebeaats, and J Rick as well as renowned sample labels like Capsun ProAudio, Origin Sound, and Test Press, there’s plenty to explore.

And if you’re looking for some inspiration around how to apply these sounds in your own productions, we’ve got you covered—see our YouTube Shorts tutorials below for two contrasting but equally compelling ideas.


1. Achieving the bounce of a classic UK drill beat

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Watch the full tutorial on YouTube.

The main source of energy in UK drill beats is often their signature bounce, which is achieved by a combination of numerous factors that involve both composition and production. Above, producer and engineer yvngface uses a few samples from A Lau’s OFF RECORD sample pack to demonstrate how to construct a classic UK drill beat that has bounce, power, and expressivity—all in under one minute.


2. Manipulating samples to fit tracks of all sorts of genres

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Watch the full tutorial on YouTube.

Regardless of whether or not you produce UK drill beats, sounds from the genre can be used to spark new and interesting ideas for your music. Above, artist and producer Kirk Cosier demonstrates this concept by discussing how to manipulate melodic samples. Drawing on sounds from J Rick’s new sample pack, Kirk walks through techniques like transposition, tracking, and reversing that can help you create unique tracks from unexpected sources.


Going beyond the genre

Which artist or sample label’s sounds are you most excited to try out? What other topics and tutorials would you like to see us tackle on the Splice YouTube channel next? Start a conversation with us on the Splice Discord, and be on the lookout for a unique tutorial-meets-production-challenge from none other than M1OnTheBeat himself in the coming days.


Dive into UK drill samples from M1OnTheBeat, A Lau, Ceebeaats, J Rick, and others:

October 28, 2022