Okay, real talk: when a track lands on Tube & Berger’s ZEHN Records, you already know it’s about to be special. And Stefan Rose just delivered exactly that with his brand-new single “Not Right”. If you’ve been sleeping on melodic techno and progressive house lately, consider this your alarm clock.
From the very first bar, “Not Right” grabs you by the collar and drags you straight onto a dimly-lit warehouse floor at 3 a.m. That rolling tech-house groove hits hard but never feels aggressive – it’s like the bassline is giving you a warm hug while whispering dark secrets in your ear. Then those shimmering melodic layers creep in, all warm pads and subtle organic textures that Stefan is becoming famous for. It’s the perfect marriage of club-ready percussion and late-night introspection. You’ll swear you’re in a Berlin afterhour one minute and floating above the Manhattan skyline the next.
What makes the track stand out even more? The pedigree. Charting on Beatport is cool. Getting love from Damian Lazarus, Paco Osuna, Deer Jade, and Themba? That’s next-level co-sign territory. When names like that are dropping your record in their sets, you’re not just “up next” – you’re already in the room.
Stefan Rose himself is one of those artists who feels like he’s been secretly cooking for years and just decided now’s the time to serve the full-course meal. Born in the US, raised in Europe, and now splitting time between NYC and London, the guy’s sound is basically a transatlantic flight in audio form. He started DJing in Belgian clubs as a teenager (yes, really), came back stateside, co-founded the Undermind collective that threw some of the wildest parties Brooklyn has ever seen, and quietly climbed the Beatport charts with his Dear Deer debut EP that peaked at #3 overall. Not genre #3 – ALL genres #3. Let that sink in.
“Not Right” feels like the moment everything clicked. It’s darker than his previous indie-dance leaning stuff but still carries that signature Stefan elegance – think driving melodic techno with just enough progressive house soul to keep the heads nodding and the hearts racing at the same time. Whether you’re rinsing it in the car, smashing it in the club, or throwing it on while you stare moodily out of a rain-streaked window (we don’t judge), this one just works.
The fact it’s out on ZEHN only sweetens the deal. Tube & Berger have been championing that deeper, more emotive side of house and techno for years now, and Stefan fits the roster like he was born to be there.
If you haven’t pressed play yet, fix that immediately. And if you’re an artist reading this thinking “damn, I want my next release to hit like this,” let’s talk real quick: DistroKid is hands-down the smartest way for independent producers to get music on Spotify, Apple Music, Beatport – everywhere – while actually keeping 100% of your royalties. Plus, if you sign up through this link you’ll get 7% off forever: https://distrokid.com/vip/seven/2058328. Seriously, do it. Your future self (and your wallet) will thank you.
Stefan Rose isn’t just having a moment – he’s building a movement. “Not Right” is proof. Turn it up, lose yourself in it, and let’s argue in the comments: peak-time weapon or afterhours closer? I’m saying both.
What do you think of “Not Right”? Drop your thoughts below – best comment gets a virtual high-five from me.
