"Your Paradise, I mean c’mon, the name just sums it up! You’re in Fiji with all your good friends, in an inmate festival setting, with some of the best artists in electronic music. I don’t know anybody that went to Your Paradise that said anything shy of 'it was an incredible time’."
Few DJs have made such a dramatic impact on the underground house and techno scene over the last two years as Hot Creations label owner Lee Foss.
Described by DJ Mag as “one of the most talented new forces in modern dance music today” and by fellow future house innovators Art Department as their favourite producer, Lee has quickly catapulted himself into dance music’s collective consciousness. Lee and his Hot Natured partner Jamie Jones currently spearhead a whole family of like-minded producers that includes Robert James, Russ Yallop, Richy Ahmed and most recently Danny Daze who are currently re-writing the rulebook of how to make evocative and emotive house music.Born and raised in Chicago, the birthplace of house, Lee now lives between London and Los Angels. Lee made his name on both sides of the Atlantic playing at clubs like The Standard Rooftop (Lost Angeles), fabric (London), The Marcy Hotel (Brooklyn), Watergate (Berlin), Spybar (Chicago) and DC10 (Ibiza). Lee’s rapid rise to prominence has been as much down to his unified but all-encompassing approach to DJing as it has to his pioneering take nu school house and synth-heavy techno, backed up by a string of hit releases on labels like No 19, Culprit, Wolf+Lamb and his own Hot Creations imprint. His unique sound, born out a lifelong love of classic house, 90s hip hop, 80s electro and Detroit techno, combined with fanatical grassroots support from clubbers in both Europe and North America, made him the highest new entrant in Resident Advisor’s Top 100 DJs poll last December, coming in at number 36. While growing up in Chicago, Lee cut his teeth on the clubs and raves of the late 90’s, which sparked his interest in house and disco. However, it was a chance visit to Ibiza back in 2001, that changed his whole approach to music that helped steer his musical destiny for the next decade and beyond. It was in Ibiza that summer that he first became friends with Jamie Jones and the pair quickly formed a tight brotherly bond that has recently blossomed into their highly acclaimed Hot Natured partnership. Having spent several years abroad, and heavily inspired by time spent at seminal electro and deep house parties in Ibiza and East London, Lee decided to take all that he’d learnt in Europe and export it back to the USA. After cutting his teeth in the competitive Chicago dj scene for the better part of a decade, Lee chose to uproot and set up in Los Angeles. Lee decided to work on music full time and soon fell in with Droog who were just setting up Culprit Records which became a platform for his early releases like ‘h.e.a.d.s EP’ in partnership with Jamie Jones. His bold move to Los Angeles soon started paid off as it helped draw international attention to both his DJing and production work. His real break through came with the release of ‘Grinding’ on Wolf+Lamb, a track that was picked up and played by DJs right across the spectrum of dance music.Since then Lee has gone on to release a string of hits on a variety of labels including ‘The Edge EP’ ‘Equilibrium’, ‘U Got Me’ and most recently his ‘Starfruit EP’, all of which have been independently awarded ‘Tune of the Month’ in Mixmag at various points over the last year. In addition DJ Magazine voted ‘U Got Me’ as their number 4 favourite record of 2010, having already featured it in their ‘Stone Cold Killers’ section earlier in the year.With this many accolades under his belt in such a short space of time, it would be easy for Lee to rest on his laurels but this couldn’t be farther from the case. He’s just about to unleash ‘Forward Motion’ his latest Hot Natured production with Jamie Jones, which was one of the breakout records of Miami this year and is shaping up to be one of the summer’s biggest hits. In addition to this he’s currently in the studio with Jamie Jones and ‘Forward Motion’ vocalist Ali Love putting the finishing touches on their forthcoming Hot Natured debut album, which he’s producing alongside his own debut artist album due out later this year. With plans to turn Hot Natured into a fully formed live act and tour it globally in 2012, this is already shaping up to be a career-defining year for Lee Foss.
German Electronic music's brightest rising star, 28-year old Berlin based producer and live act Ben Böhmer has had another monumental year. His debut album ‘Breathing’, released on Anjunadeep at the end of 2019, has since attained over 50 million streams. A string of other singles and remixes for Anjunadeep, Future Classic and Hungry Music have seen Ben become a mainstay in the flagship Electronic playlists and Beatport 100, drawing admirers from across the Electronic music spectrum; including Stephan Bodzin, Bob Moses and Boris Brejcha, who pronounced Ben as his ‘Breakthrough Artist of 2020’.
Away from his releases Ben headlined two of the most talked about livestreams of the past 12 months. His Cercle performance recorded entirely from a hot air balloon 3,000ft above the Turkish desert has quickly become one of their most successful streams to date, with over 10 million views in the first 6 months. He followed this up by becoming the first artist to perform a live set for German YouTube and Netflix sensation, Kliemannsland.
Ben’s flurry of activity and success throughout the past year have cemented his place among fans and critics alike as ‘the’ Electronic artist to watch as he prepares for the release of his second album ‘Begin Again’ on Anjunadeep this September.
‘Begin Again’ sees Ben delve deeper into alternative Electronica alongside a list of higher profile Indie collaborators, whilst still delivering a number of his trademark melodic house tracks.
The album was written entirely during a period where Ben and his fiancé were separated on other sides of the world due to the global travel ban. The emotions that this entailed are laden throughout its sonic textures and songwriting. ‘Begin Again’ seamlessly cascades from laidback and introspective instrumentals to searing and rich club music, with elevating features from Gordi, lau.ra, PBSR and JONAH that perfectly portray the longing and uncertainty that surround his love life at the time.
As the world slowly re-emerges from its slumber and returns to normality, Ben and his fiancé are now living together in Berlin, giving them, like many of us, the chance to reset, start anew and Begin Again.
Hailing from Tassie, now living the dream on the Gold Coast, Choomba is made up of Christian and Tim Benson who are mates first and cousins second.
Berlin based DJ and producer, label owner of 803 Crystal Grooves and it's sub-label Collective Cuts, we_r house, the Elevate record store and proud parent.
It’s been just a few years since Pete Tong touted Doorly as a future star, but not even the Radio 1 icon could have predicted just how rapid his ascent would be. Doorly is first and foremost a DJ, with his dedication to and passion for the craft apparent to everyone who sees him perform. Sets are played out across four CDJs & Vinyl plus drum machines, samplers and FX units, and he is a firm believer that a DJ set should be a live, bespoke experience.
Heidi has worked hard over the past decade to make her mark on the new house and techno music generation. You only have to visit her worldwide brand of Jackathon parties or listen to her BBC Radio 1 show to experience her passion for music and fiery na..
One half of Bristol's veteran house and trance group Way Out West, producer and DJ Jody Wisternoff has also maintained a solo career, remixing artists while releasing his own productions of nostalgic electro and progressive house. Wisternoff launched his career in 1986 at the age of 13 when he became a finalist at the DMC World DJ Championship; two years later, he joined his brother Sam in the hip-hop crew True Funk Posse. The '90s saw him at the forefront of the U.K. rave scene as a member of both Way Out West (with Nick Warren) and Sub Love (with DJ Die), while the 2000s found him an in-demand remixer with work for Leama & Moor, IKON, Coalesced, and Astral Tiger. A string of solo singles from labels like In Charge (2006's "Nostalgia") and Dirty Soul (2007's "Starstrings" and 2009's "Welcome to Your Life") were electro-based and '80s-influenced, while the 2012 album Trails We Blaze, on the Anjunabeats label, returned to the genre of progressive house. Since then, he's released solo singles on AnjunaDeep, including 2013's "We Are Heroes" and 2014's "Paramour," and along with label manager James Grant, he's mixed several volumes of the label's eponymous compilation series. In 2020, after a few years and intermittent single releases, Wisternoff returned to production for his third studio album. Preceded by the singles "Blue Space" and "Emochine," the album, titled Nightwhisper, was released in the May and saw Wisternoff delivering a collection of impeccably produced, trance-infused progressive house. ~ David Jeffries, Rovi
Space as inspiration. Considerations and exploration. Foundations and obliteration; it’s all relative. Life, death, decay and beauty; it’s all consciousness. This is the foundation of Vinci Javier’s project, Juno Mamba, in which it has been led by and built upon*
For Kito, a teenage obsession with Fruity Loops turned into a career when she sent Diplo her demos and in return received an invitation to release her music on his label. Since then she has played in clubs from Shanghai to Paris, and just as she moved across the globe - Perth to London to Los Angeles — Kito’s found homes at taste making electronic labels along the way: Mad Decent, Busy P’s Ed Banger Records, and now the reputable Astralwerks.
She’s also remixed Beyoncé, been sampled by Big Boi, produced for an array of artists (Fletcher, Jorja Smith, Banks), and populated her prismatic 2018 solo EP, Haani, with genre - hopping guests spanning Broods to Trinidad James to Hudson Mohawke. Her more recent collaborations with Empress Of (“Wild Girl”), Alunageorge ("Alone With You") Zhu and Jeremih (“Follow”) shed light on Kito’s approach to futuristic pop: Dipping into left - field sound palettes, she infuses otherwise satisfyingly simple tracks with complex emotions, creating dance cuts for listeners who are down to cry in the club.
Australian tech-house producer, Kormak, is most well-known for his single “Love On The Line,” which has been played by the likes of Marco Carola, Simon Dunmore, Claptone and more. With releases signed to international heavyweight labels such as Kolombo’s Lou Lou records, Defected’s DFTD and Glasgow Underground, Kormak is following the in the footsteps of his idols.
One of Belgium's top drum'n'bass producers, Netsky (Boris Daenen) made his name producing deep, smoothly rolling tracks in the liquid funk style before achieving chart success in Europe and the U.K. with his increasingly pop-minded singles and full-lengths. Following a series of hotly tipped 2009 singles, he signed to London Elektricity's renowned Hospital Records and released his self-titled debut the following year. Since 2012, Netsky has toured with a full band, in addition to releasing two numerically titled albums, both of which topped the Belgian charts, and his sound has expanded to encompass dubstep, hip-hop, and electro-house.
Taking his stage name from a computer worm affecting Microsoft Windows operating systems, Daenen's first releases as Netsky first appeared in 2009, on independent drum'n'bass labels like Talkin Beatz and Liq-weed Ganja. His melodic, energetic sound made him a natural fit for Hospital Records, who signed him at the end of the year. The debut full-length Netsky appeared in 2010, showcasing Daenen's ability to switch between rigorous dancefloor tracks and full-blown songs with guest vocalists. After collaborating with labelmate Danny Byrd on the 2011 single "Tonight," Netsky's second album, 2, was released in 2012. Reaching the top spot in his native country in addition to charting high in New Zealand and the U.K., the album included four Belgian Top 20-charting singles and guest vocals by Diane Charlemagne and Billie, both of whom toured as part of the Netsky live band. By then, he was an in-demand remix producer, having reworked songs by Swedish House Mafia, Miike Snow, Jessie J, and several others.
"Running Low," a collaboration with American singer Beth Ditto, was released in 2014, and became Netsky's first number one single in his native country. Signing with Epic Records, he released his third album, 3, in 2016. Sporting a noticeably poppier sound and featuring guest appearances from the likes of Emeli Sandé, Saint Raymond, Lowell, and the peculiarly named Digital Farm Animals, the album was another success, topping the Belgian charts while hitting the Top Ten of the dance charts in the U.K. and the United States. He followed the album with the 2017 single "Here with You" (with Lost Frequencies) and 2018's "Téquila Limonada" (featuring A.CHAL). In 2019 Netsky teamed up with Aloe Blacc for the single "Snitch." 2020 brought the release of Netsky's fourth album, Second Nature, a lengthy 18-track set that featured guests like Becky Hill, Rudimental, and Hybrid Minds. ~ Andy Kellman & Paul Simpson, Rovi
Pirra are a quartet now based out of Wollongong making strikingly danceable indie pop. Featuring the vocals of front woman Jess Beck, James McKendry on guitar and identical twin brothers driving the rhythm bus - Curtis Argent on the bass and Jeffrey Argent on drums. After a few years on the local circuit they’ve now inked an international label deal with BLK & WHT Records, who have teamed them up with some of the world's leading producers and remixers such as Lindstrøm & Prins Thomas who remixed ‘Limousine Lies’. Their lastest single is Drifting. Pirra’s live show is a mix of live instrumentation combined with washes of synth and programmed sounds to make a rich, catchy and seductive blend of modern pop which will find you bopping in your seats.
The co-host of George FM Drive and high-energy DJ has channelled her creativity and self-expression into a career based on music and dance; a natural extrovert and "big muso", she feels most at home when she is performing; sharing her passion with others and being heard, seen and felt.
Emerging from laid-back, small town roots, Australian act Skegss have quickly become unlikely anti-heroes of their country’s vibrant rock scene.
Over the course of a 17-year career, Nick Douwma aka Sub Focus has risen through the ranks of underground jungle to become a global dance music superstar. First building a reputation around air-punching, dancefloor-dismantling drum & bass, he now draws from all corners of the electronic landscape - epitomising the ‘anything goes’ mantra of today's scene.
Getter explains that Terror Reid is his hip hop alter-ego.'I’m Terror Reid! I put on a ski mask, and I rap.'
Once upon a time in a galaxy not far away, there lived two kings. Each was the ruler of his own deliciously glorious planet. The first king, Manchildblack, was well known throughout the cosmos for his ethereal vocals, celestial sonics and earthy musical messages. The other king, Monstah Black, was a star in the solar system for his gravity defying performances, genderbending fashions and spacey disposition. One magical night, an inexplicable ultramagnetic pull forced the two planets to collide. A technicolored explosion occurred, turning night into day, with a feast of aural and visual delights. It was then that the universe was changed forever. Manchildblack and Monstah Black united and became The Illustrious Blacks.
Vintage Culture, aka Lukas Ruiz, is an artist who lives and breathes the culture of dance music.
The Brazilian artist has more than 1.5B streams online, gathers 8M across his social media platforms, and currently ranks at #30 in DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs of 2020 poll.
Vintage Culture has graced the cover of Rolling Stone (Brazil), was nominated as one of the most influential “30 Under 30” industry leaders by Forbes, and premiere his very-first Essential Mix for Pete Tong on BBC Radio 1.
In 2020, he collaborated with global headliners Tiësto, David Guetta, Meduza, Robin Schulz, and Jorja Smith, going Platinum on multiple releases, as well as topping the Billboard Hot Dance and Spotify Dance Charts.
He simultaneously had three songs in the top 10 on popular electronic music digital service provider Beatport, including the #1 Main Chart Overall with his debut single at Defected Records, “It Is What It Is.”
Lukas has used his platform as an artist to raise over USD 100k via his Covid-19 relief project in Brazil. Also noteworthy, he is the creative force and owner of the fast-growing international Festival and Fashion Brand Só Track Boa.
Well, grab some plutonium and meet me in the car park at 1:30am. We’re going on an oxymoronic backward journey to a place of rose-coloured melancholy where optimistic glumness meets sunny pessimism. Introspective dancing shoes are a must, so pack your self-lacing Nike Air Mags and let’s get this unpainted stainless steel show on the road.
DJ & Producer from Eora (Sydney), Australia
