From: “UK (Jono Grant, Tony McGuinness), Finland (Paavo Siljamäki).”

DJ style: “Emotional electronic dance music.”

Best known for: “Group Therapy.”
 

Trance titans and Anjunabeats label heads Above & Beyond have ticked some things off their bucket-list this year, such as performing at The Pyramids in Egypt. Their Group Therapy Weekender returned in July for another instalment at Washington’s The Gorge Amphitheater, and Brighton’s shoreline was turned into Anjunabeach with roster acts Andrew Bayer, Amy Wiles, Anamē, Marsh and Just Her. Paavo Siljamäki, one-third of the London-based trio, released his debut album inspired by nature and the haven of the dancefloor, ‘Deeper Tales’.

Meanwhile, Above & Beyond’s Group Therapy Radio has stood steady. The most recent release, ‘Group Therapy 548’, features the trio’s key collaboration of 2023, ‘Over Now’, with Seven Lions (feat. Opposite The Other). The track’s pure euphoria is reflective of the wellness journeys that A&B have been on. Their 2020 ‘Flow State: Meditations’ album was recently awarded RIAA Gold Record status and was celebrated with a sunset yoga and meditation session co-led by Siljamäki. The group say that 2023 was filled with “listening to old DJ mixes to look for inspiration from decades past and finding ways to bring that into the modern dance world”, adding that they’ve visited “amazing cities” and rediscovered “the joy of clubbing”. 
 

Hero of 2023: “You.”

Fave tune of 2023: “Andrew Bayer and Gabriel & Dresden feat. Sub Teal, ‘Other Eye’.”

Best DJ set you’ve seen in 2023: “Dosem at Anjunadeep Explorations.”

What was the most exciting tech development of 2023? “The world of modular synthesis, as well as the world of machine learning/AI, are both on the cutting edge of music production technology right now.”

Rising star DJ/producer of 2023: “Anamē.”

What gives you hope for 2024? “Music, as it always does.”