Features

Flawless DJ, frequent hitmaker, dedicated mentor: Tony De Vit was a true hero of UK dance music. The most high-profile resident at hedonistic queer club Trade, he helped create the hard house sound, and was renowned not only for his impeccable mixing, but his compassion and care for others. Ahead of a new documentary, and with hard house at large once more, Stewart Who? reflects on his legacy with those he was close to, and those he influenced

The latest and greatest DJs and producers rising to the top this month. From chunky tech house and shapeshifting garage to big-room amapiano, gqom and beyond, here’s November 2023’s list of upcoming talent you should be keeping track of

In this series, Selections, we invite DJs, producers and label heads to dig into their digital crates and share the contents of their collections. This week, Kitty Amor spotlights deep, soulful sounds from Afro house to jazz

With releases on labels including Critical, Deadbeats and Noisia’s VISION, to name but a few, gyrofield has fast become one of drum & bass’ most sought-after artists, though her sound stretches in numerous directions. Her detailed, gnarly yet emotionally vivid productions are a breath of fresh air in the scene, and continue to evolve sonically alongside their own personal growth. Here, alongside a bass-charged and genre-jumping 90-minute Recognise mix, she shares her story with Becca Inglis

With the imminent release of her debut LP, ‘Rhythm Is Memory’, New York’s Ayesha goes further than ever in establishing her status as one of the city’s top practitioners of envelope-pushing club music. The Nowadays resident chats with Bruce Tantum about her music, self-doubt, and the similarities between gardening and producing an album

As he releases a massive and exhilarating compilation exploring the worlds of EBM, industrial, synth-pop, and various dark and wavy offshoots, the DJ and producer Luca Venezia — better known as Curses — fills us in on the enduring appeal of his chosen sound

Originating in the late '90s, Awakenings has become the Netherlands’ leading techno party, hosting multiple festivals along with events in Amsterdam’s iconic Gashouder  — including a huge run in October for ADE. Niamh O’Connor speaks to crew, regular DJs and fans about bookings, production, and the Awakenings experience

In this series, Selections, we invite DJs, producers and label heads to dig into their digital crates and share the contents of their collections. This week, Jaymie Silk spotlights tracks packed with rave energy and irresistible grooves

Amsterdam Dance Event returned earlier this month, with the world’s biggest electronic music conference delivering its usual, unrelenting whirlwind of parties, panels and so much more. Here’s a handful of highlights from DJ Mag’s week at ADE 2023

Syria-born, Groningen-raised Fafi Abdel Nour channels the melody, warmth and drama of '90s house music into his radiant Fresh Kicks mix, and chats to Olivia Stock about family, embracing his queerness through dance music, and nurturing safe spaces for young ravers

Get acquainted with Dana Lu, the Dominican-American DJ and producer blending house, Jersey club, dembow and more with a party-starting energy

In this series, Selections, we invite DJs, producers and label heads to dig into their digital crates and share the contents of their collections. This week, Tarzsa spotlights rolling house jams, sun-kissed club anthems, irresistible funk, jazz and more

A masterclass in sampling, Fatboy Slim's second album remains the best example of Norman Cook’s unmistakable sound: a tightly-knit yet light-wearing blend of rock & roll instrumentation and energy with the hedonistic spirit of late ‘90s British dance music. It went to No.1 in the charts, made a star of its creator, and is ubiquitous to this day. 25 years since its release, Ben Cardew explores its legacy

Recently following up his 2021 Best Of British-nominated ‘City Of God’ mixtape with ‘ReBourne’, South London MC Blanco has further distilled his artistic vision in an effort to remain true to himself. He speaks to Rob Kazandjian about how anime, Brazilian culture and loss have influenced him, the early years of his Harlem Spartans crew, and finding a path to a better place

Carla Frayman’s sonic output is a delight to the senses, elevated as much by the musical upbringing she experienced in Turkey as the electronic education she sought out on her own after heading overseas. DJ Mag caught up with the producer, DJ, and multi-instrumentalist to learn more about her nostalgia-kissed discography, her Senza Fine parties, and her forthcoming debut album

As two long-running bastions of Ibiza, it’s fair to assume that Defected’s Fridays residency at San Antonio’s Eden are a match made in house music heaven. Just to be sure, though, DJ Mag’s Olivia Stock heads to the Ibiza superclub for 2023’s season closing party — a glorious celebration of their motto — "house music all-life long" — and 20 years of the legendary label on the island

Chicago’s ARC Music Festival brings international acts from throughout the various evolutions of house music to the city that gave the genre its name, booking them side by side with rising and veteran local talent. Ben Hindle heads to the Windy City to see how the music and culture survives and thrives, and samples the best DJs, venues, sound systems and sandwiches Chicago has to offer

The Orbit Grassroot Support Programme is a new venture by London’s The Halley, in partnership with DJ Mag, that provides space for music communities focused on championing underrepresented groups and tackling important issues. With an ongoing monthly schedule of workshops and talks, a new funding scheme, and having just hosted a special one-off Orbit Live event, Aneesa Ahmed learns more about its goal of creating a fairer, more accessible, dance music industry

Poland’s Pointless Geometry challenges the sonic and economic norms of both the music industry and its home country’s ruling power. Alongside a mix of tracks from its catalogue, label heads Copy Corpo and FOQL explain how they put community building, an egalitarian approach, and uplifting local artists at the forefront of everything they do

Afro house is one of dance music’s hottest offerings, and West African artists like Benin-born AMÉMÉ are helping to proliferate the global movement. Megan Venzin links up with him on Ibiza to learn more about his life and what’s coming next for his One Tribe music and events platform