Your Favorite Producer's Favorite Software: 10 Huge Artists Who Use This Underrated DAW

While everyone and their dad is busy arguing about Ableton or Logic, there’s a quiet revolution happening in the back of the studio. It’s colorful, it’s chaotic, and it’s basically a virtual playground of wires and knobs. We’re talking about Reason.

It’s the underdog DAW that’s been the secret weapon for some of the biggest bangers on your "essential" playlist. From the raw DIY energy of the Odd Future era to the precision of modern global pop, these ten artists prove that the Reason Rack is the ultimate differentiator in a sea of sterile, "industry standard" productions.

Grab your headphones, here are the people who prove that Reason is the ultimate producer’s playground.

1. Tyler, The Creator

Before he was winning Grammys and designing high-end luggage, Tyler was the poster child for the DIY revolution. The raw, jagged, and gloriously weird sounds of Goblin and Wolf? That’s the sound of a kid losing his mind in Reason. He famously used it to craft the iconic, spine-chilling beat for "Yonkers." Tyler’s whole "I’ll do it myself" energy is baked into the Reason workflow, turning virtual knobs until something sounds beautifully broken.

2. Nana Rogues (Drake)

If you’ve ever found yourself ascending to a higher plane of existence while listening to Drake’s "Passionfruit," you have Nana Rogues (and Reason) to thank. Nana famously crafted that tropical, hazy masterpiece entirely within the DAW. It’s proof that you don’t need a million-dollar console to create a global anthem; you just need the right vibe and a few virtual cables.

3. MGMT

The synth hook in "Kids" is one of the most recognizable melodies of the 21st century. It is so iconic, in fact, that even rock legends like Weezer found themselves stumped while trying to replicate it for a cover. As Benjamin Goldwasser recalled, the Weezer camp eventually reached out to ask how they achieved that specific, biting texture. Andrew VanWyngarden’s response was a simple piece of advice that every producer should heed: just download Reason. The magic of the Reason Rack is that its instruments have a character and personality that oscillators alone cannot replicate.

4. LCD Soundsystem

For James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem, Reason functions as the ultimate brainstorming tool. He has spoken about using the software to write the initial framework for tracks using simple, dinky sounds to map out the arrangement and melody. This workflow allows him to focus on the core song structure without getting distracted by the final mix too early. Once the Reason sketch is locked in, the team adds live instrumentation, but the soul of the track is born in that modular environment.

5. Toro y Moi

Chaz Bear is the king of texture. Whether he’s leaning into chillwave nostalgia or psych-pop funk, his sound is always lush and incredibly tactile. He’s been a vocal fan of Reason’s workflow, using it to layer those hazy, sun-drenched sounds that make a Toro y Moi record feel like a warm hug for your brain.

6. Flying Lotus

Steven Ellison is a sonic architect, and his music feels like a 3D jigsaw puzzle. While he’s known for a hybrid setup, FlyLo has long championed Reason for its creative "Rack" system. It allows for the kind of chaotic, experimental routing that results in the glitchy, cosmic jazz-hop that has made him a legend of the LA scene.

7. Death Cab for Cutie (Jason McGerr)

It’s not just for the beat-makers. Jason McGerr, the man behind the kit for indie-rock royalty Death Cab for Cutie, is such a Reason power-user that he actually released his own "Reason ReFill" (essentially a bespoke drum library). It’s the secret to getting those crisp, organic, and perfectly pocketed drum sounds that define the band’s most iconic tracks.

8. The Beastie Boys (Ad-Rock)

If it’s good enough for a Beastie Boy, it’s good enough for you. Ad-Rock (Adam Horovitz) has been a dedicated Reason head for years, using it to keep that legendary Beasties grit alive in the digital age. It’s got that old-school sampler feel but with modern-day power, the perfect bridge for a hip-hop pioneer who never stopped evolving.

9. !llmind

The "producer’s producer," !llmind has worked with everyone from Beyoncé to Drake and Kendrick Lamar. He’s one of the most vocal advocates for Reason in the hip-hop world, proving time and again that the DAW’s internal instruments are "industry standard" enough to dominate the charts while remaining flexible enough for total creative freedom.

10. Skrillex

The man who reshaped the sound of the 2010s didn't just stumble into his sound. While Sonny Moore is a bit of a software polyglot these days, he’s frequently cited Reason as a key part of his early sound-design journey. Those visceral, "how did he make that?" bass growls often started life in the belly of Reason’s synths, proving that the DAW is a certified heavyweight in the world of electronic music.

Why It Is Time to Flip the Rack

The common thread between these ten artists is a refusal to be boxed in by "standard" workflows. They understand that music creation is fragile and that momentum is the only thing that matters. Whether you are using Reason as your primary DAW or utilizing the Reason Rack Plugin inside another environment, the goal is the same: to sound like you.

If you are looking to bridge the gap between a raw idea and a finished release, consider how these pros work. They inhabit a creative ecosystem where the tools encourage exploration. For those ready to take the next step, the Reason environment offers a path to find that signature sound.

Turn the knobs. Flip the Rack. The best sounds are usually found by accident.

This article is a guest contribution. Views expressed are the author’s own.