If you go out to forward-thinking electronic music events in New York City, there is a decent chance you have seen umru spin, either solo or back-to-back with any number of DJs representing any number of styles. Beyond his presence at some of the best parties in the city, the NYC-based producer and DJ has been a major force in the past decade of underground music. So, we knew we would be in very good hands when we reached out to umru to handle the newest edition of Best Songs. Read the piece below.

Best edit?

“allofasudden (500 edit)” by bloody shield

Just something so special about this one. Aggressive, sad, hopeful all at the same time <3.

Best song that is over 170 BPM?

“More and More (Unknown Makina Mix)” by Naughty Boyz

This is the track the fabled “MCing in Tesco” kid is MCing over. There's a lot of confusion who actually made this specific version of Naughty Boyz's “More and More,” the original song is slower but this makina edit is 174 and just the most euphoric piece of music ever made. It's often credited to Hixxy who also made a great track with the same vocal sample (it's from a sample pack), and there's a beautiful Evian Christ and Bladee homage to this track too, but this makina edit is still my favorite version.

Best song that is under 70 BPM?

“It's Okay to Cry” by SOPHIE

My rekordbox library honestly starts analyzing at 70 BPM so I'm probably forgetting lots of songs that would count, I also have a terrible sense of BPM just by ear lol, but this one's basically 63.5—or 127—in any case it's a slow ballad and just such an important song for me and many of my friends.

Best song with a notable sample in it?

“Signatune” by DJ Mehdi

I mean come on. Hardest song of all time.

Best song from 2025?

“obvious” by Oklou

Probably listened to this album more than anything else this year, this song is especially such a masterclass in minimalism and I’m obsessed with the triangle

Best song from 2015?

“Own Lane” by Sicko Mobb

Still ahead of its time. Utopian dance music.

Best song from 2005?

“Hide and Seek” by Imogen Heap 

Kinda obvious answer but this might be one of my most consistently listened to songs throughout my entire life, I remember it was one of the first files I asked for off my dad’s iPod when I got my own one.

Best song a friend of yours has ever made?

“Soap (prod. cedric madden)” by Aj simons

I’ll make the best of it … miss you Aj <3.

Best song to open a set with?

“Matter of Time (GRRL Remix)” by umru & warpstr 

It really depends what’s happening before my set but this one’s pretty easy to mix out of anything in a similar BPM and is immediately hype. I also like to start with one of my own tracks so it’s one less to forget to work in later.

Best song to close out a set with?

“Strobe (KAVARI 4x4 Edit)” by deadmau5

Perfectly maxed out version of a classic.