Jersey club in Berlin | Behind the scenes and sounds of 2025

With one of the largest, most sonically-diverse catalogues of sounds and samples, Splice provides the music that makes the music for producers around the world. So trends in what users are searching for and downloading on Splice can tell us a lot about the sounds of the future. This is why MIDiA and Splice teamed up for the brand-new Sounds of 2025 report, which unpacks the genres, cities, and cultural moments shaping the coming year in music.

Jersey club, a hard-hitting fusion of electronic club music and hip hop, is more of a scene than it is a genre. It is tied to the local producers, clubs, and street block parties of Newark, New Jersey, and has produced a style and culture of dance music that is unique to the scene. It has also spent the past decade crossing over into mainstream hip hop and R&B through artists like Cashmere Cat, Lil Uzi Vert, Kehlani, Drake, and Ice Spice. Jersey club has more than outgrown its Newark roots and its upward trajectory has taken it to the dance capital of the world. 

Berlin is one of the biggest cities for music creation in the world, and for Splice in particular, where its growth is outpaced only by Tokyo. When it comes to what producers in Berlin are downloading, the fastest-growing genre is Jersey club by a wide margin. Downloads for Jersey club grew by 452.2%, far higher than the global average growth for Jersey club which stood at 281.3%. How it happened is a clear demonstration of the changing nature of dance music and music production.

Foundations for creation

The sound of Jersey club is defined by trademark kick patterns, chopped samples, and iconic bed squeak sounds. Its clear fundamentals, that translate into an instantly recognisable sound, provide foundational elements to build upon. This is how Jersey club has been able to crossover seamlessly between dance music and hip hop. There is a similar dynamic with other rising genres, such as amapiano and pluggnb, where they have distinct foundational elements that provide a bedrock for remixing and producing. 

However, these genres are so much more than their foundational elements. It is not enough to simply have a recipe to cook. These styles of music have culture attached to them and the sound is simply an expression of a way of life. That is what makes Jersey club a scene more than a genre. Jersey club’s connection to its city, its specific dances, and icons within the scene, such as UNIIQU3 and Cookiee Kawaii, are all embodiments of a culture unlike any other. And that is exactly what creators are looking for. 

Sounds that cut through

Part of what has helped Jersey club spread, along with many other of the top trending genres, is its success on TikTok. Content creators are constantly seeking ways to stand out and cut through the noise. The dances, distinct sound and connection to youth culture behind Jersey club give it a presence that commands attention. This is especially the case with Jersey club remixes of viral tracks helping extend the life cycle of trending songs on TikTok. 

The versatility of the foundational Jersey club sounds means it can take a song and get fans dancing the Jersey club way. The thousands of TikTok videos using a fan-made Jersey Club remix of Chappell Roan’s ‘Good Luck, Babe!' is a perfect example of this. As one fan says:

“You could put a jersey mix on Ave Maria and I’d prolly still dance.” 

No wonder that Jersey club is taking over the creator community in Berlin –  it can take any song and make people dance. 

Be unique in the scene

This provides important takeaways about music creation in today’s music industry. Much has been said about the declining song lengths and increasing prevalence of hooks in popular music today. However, it is the rise of distinct, signature sounds and styles tied to scenes, both online and IRL, that are increasingly defining what it means to break through in an oversaturated landscape. 

This is apparent in other rising genres, such as Afro house and pluggnb, and even in completely different worlds, like the success of Polyphia’s Tim Henson and Mk.gee in the guitar scene. Beyond the fresh sounds these artists are pioneering, it is the context of these sounds amidst the larger scene and culture surrounding it that forces the attention of listeners. 

Ultimately, it is the act of pushing the sound of the scenes and culture forward that drives the future of music creation. This is what has taken a sound from Newark across the US and to the wider world, and why Jersey club will be ringing through Berghain in 2025.

Access the full Sounds of 2025 report here.