Skip to main content
Tag:

Features

Rony Seikaly on DJing, Ibiza and doing his own thing

DJ Mag Ibiza catches up with the former NBA basketball player-turned-DJ about his love for the White Isle

Former NBA star Rony Seikaly released his debut album, ‘Moonwalk’, via his own Stride Records in May. Seikaly – who retired from professional basketball at...

Norma Jean Bell LP cover

Detroit saxophonist, producer, and vocalist Norma Jean Bell is responsible for some of house music’s most glorious moments, and has worked alongside the likes of Moodymann, K-Hand, Ron Trent and George Clinton. Her full-length opus, 'Come Into My Room', released in 2001, proved that she really is “the baddest bitch in this room”

If you look in the ‘about’ section on Norma Jean Bell’s Facebook page, it says, simply, “I’m the baddest bitch in this room...” It's a...

Get To Know: Salamanda

Get acquainted with Salamanda, the Seoul duo whose new album for Human Pitch is a dreamworld built from ambient soundscapes and minimal beats

It’s fitting that the title of Salamanda’s new album, ‘ashbalkum’, derives from a Korean phrase for the realisation that ‘reality’ is in fact a dream...

AVA Festival shot from above

Last month, 16,000 ravers attended Belfast's AVA Festival at its new home on the Titanic Slipways. DJ Mag traveled to AVA to discover how the event is creating a sense of unity, community and a second wave of rave in the city

In 2015, Belfast’s first AVA Festival and conference found its home beneath the towering yellow Harland & Wolff cranes — affectionately named Samson and Goliath...

Congo Natty

On his upcoming 25-track opus ‘Ancestorz’ — which he describes as his life's work — long-serving jungle soldier Congo Natty unites many voices from across the diaspora, joining dots through the history of Black music and celebrating the new jungle generation. In a series of in-depth interviews for DJ Mag, he talks to Dave Jenkins about love, revolution, unity, and reclaiming his place in the history books

“This isn’t an interview, brother, this is an outerview!” Congo Natty declares. He draws on his spliff, holding DJ Mag’s gaze with intensity. Even through...

@quentinmka_senegal_dakar_portrait_Asna_3.jpg

Ivorian DJ, producer and visual artist Asna records a two-hour mix heart-racing percussion and global club rhythms for the Fresh Kicks series, and speaks to Kamila Rymajdo about collaboration and her limitless creative vision

For DJ/producer and visual artist Asna, music might not have been her first career, but when she was growing up, it was always playing at...

Get To Know: Kirollus

Get acquainted with Kirollus, the Brighton-based DJ, Defected broadcaster and vinyl seller bringing his love for rare funk, boogie and soul to the masses

In 2020, if you were maxing out on DJ mixes in the Covid pandemic’s first wave, it would have been hard to miss Kirollus. The...

GALA Festival 2022: Everybody Loves The Sunshine  - Rob Jones

The fifth edition of London’s al fresco dance music festival took place in a sunny Peckham Rye Park this month. With a vast line-up celebrating local and international DJs and live acts, there was something for everyone on the bill. DJ Mag's Liam Smith reports back on festivities, and the sense that summer has well and truly arrived

It’s officially festival season, and on a long weekend at the beginning of June, London’s GALA returns to Peckham Rye Park for a successful fifth...

On Cue: DJ IC

DJ IC demonstrates Afro house mastery for the On Cue mix series, and speaks to Tice Cin about his evolution through London’s club scene, growing up on the Aylesbury Estate, celebrating togetherness, and championing young talent

London artist DJ IC’s productions brim with lessons learned from his deep engagement with Black British music throughout his life and career. When you hear...

The Martinez Brothers: reaching new heights

As they kick off their Tuesday night headline residency at Hï Ibiza, New York natives The Martinez Brothers catch up with DJ Mag Ibiza's Mick Wilson about  their love for the White Isle and their big plans for the coming season

Straight outta the Bronx in New York City, The Martinez Brothers — and yes, they are actually siblings; Stevie is three years older than Chris...

How X-Press 2’s ‘Lazy’

Released in 2002, a dream collaboration between UK house heroes X-Press 2 and Talking Heads' David Byrne, ‘Lazy’ lit up clubs and the pop charts alike. Here, Dave Jenkins talks to the group’s Ashley Beedle, Rocky and Diesel about how the track transcended generations and genres to become a timeless hit

“Who even writes a bloody dance tune called ‘Lazy’?” laughs Ashley Beedle. Fellow X-Press 2 founders Rocky and Diesel chime in with the chuckles, as...

Beatboxing header image

Since beatboxing first arrived on British shores from the US in the ’80s, the passion and innovation of UK acts have taken the art to unimaginable heights. Jak Hutchcraft charts the development of the scene, speaking to boundary breakers and educators, and finds it in ruder health than ever

DJ Mag is sat in Wembley Arena surrounded by thousands of singing children. We’re at a Young Voices event — the largest school choir in...

Live shot from the awards show

The inaugural DJ Mag Best of North America awards show took place at Kings Hall at Avant Gardner in Brooklyn, New York last week (16th June)

Last week, DJ Mag announced the winners of its Best of North America Awards 2022 during the inaugural Awards Party at Kings Hall (Avant Gardner)...

Recognise: Analog Soul

Two decades since they realised their destinies lay in music and DJing, NYC-based twins, Analog Soul, demonstrate their expansive and funk-filled sound for the Recognise mix series, and share their journey with Ria Hylton

Some 20 years ago, Jacky Sommer switched US coasts and headed east to New York. The Oakland native had just scooped a highly sought-after spot...

THC by studioreyesisraela

THC delivers a vinyl-only mix of high-energy house and classic rave thumpers for the Fresh Kicks mix series, and chats to Eoin Murray about her love for ‘90s dance music, the Venus Vessels non-profit collective, and building her name during the pandemic

Surprising as it may seem, THC made her name during the pandemic. While clubs were shut, the Bogotá-born, Berlin-based DJ’s regular sets on the HÖR...

AV

Get to know AV, the London UK drill producer who has had a milestone year, making music for artists including Digga D and LD

“Never!” AV beams when asked if he ever expected he would work on a No.1 album. It’s just a matter of days since Digga D’s...

Compilation of the Month: Anthony Naples + DJ Python ‘Air Texture VIII’

New York’s Anthony Naples and DJ Python curate a collection of introspective electronic music for a new generation in the latest edition of Air Texture’s celebrated series

Inspired by ‘90s series and labels, such as ‘Excursions In Ambience’ and Instinct Ambient, and their 2000s successors, like Kompakt’s ‘Pop Ambient’, James Healy’s Air...

Roland AIRA T8 review

The mini AIRA emulates some iconic Roland drum machines in a small package. But is it a worthy addition to a working studio, or a good first venture into outboard gear? DJ Mag's digital tech editor Declan McGlynn finds out

It wouldn’t be a stretch to say Roland’s iconic instruments define the sound of house, techno, acid and electro. Their original TR range of drum...

Jeshi

East London’s Jeshi documents personal struggles, social contradictions and life’s day-to-day mundanities with a wry wit and relatable appeal. For this month’s Meet the MC, Rahel Aklilu speaks to him about the observational songwriting of his debut album, ‘Universal Credit’

"This is less of a big, brash political statement, which you’d expect because of the title, but rather a collection of observations from a man...

Album of the Month: Boddhi Satva ‘Manifestation’

Boddhi Satva’s latest album is a 31-track, three-hour tour de force that continues his career-long endeavour to connect the African continent through club music

There are few like Boddhi Satva. An ambassador of the most soulful side of African electronic music, the producer, DJ and music mogul has made...