Features

In the summer of 1989, DiY collective — one of the first house sound systems in the UK — emerged onto the rave scene. In this excerpt taken from founding member Harry Harrison's book, Dreaming in Yellow, he discusses DiY's role within that movement, and the importance of free parties during the '90s rave scene

Bangers are the order of the day on young Nigerian pop star Rema’s debut album, ‘Rave & Roses’

Having made his name as a key figure in the bassline and drum & bass collective CruCast, Bru-C is now pushing himself further with a signing to the UK wing of iconic hip-hop label Def Jam. He talks to DJ Mag about the importance of keeping it real

In our most recent Brand Focus, DJ Mag's fashion editor, Amy Fielding, speaks with Liverpool-based graphic designer Russell Reid, who turned his life-long love of designing rave artwork and club culture into a clothing brand

Even as pandemic restrictions have lifted, and clubs and festivals have returned, the spectre of coronavirus lingers for many due to the debilitating impact of long Covid. Here, Dhruva Balram speaks to people in the dance music industry about how the effects of long Covid, and a lack of understanding around it, have impacted them, and asks whether it should be recognised as a disability

Aluna Francis’s life has been one of discovery — of uncovering truths about herself, about society, and about the fundamental ways in which the dance music industry fails people. The Wales-born, LA-based music maker, formerly of AlunaGeorge and now working as a solo artist, tells Bruce Tantum how she’s putting the knowledge she’s gained into practice via the new Noir Fever festival

Panorama Bar’s newest resident, Augsburg's Sedef Adasi, balances blissed-out house with rave-ready acid, trance and electro in her Recognise mix, and tells Sophie McNulty about her route into DJing, fostering a sense of togetherness through music, and why she's not moving to Berlin

Released on Tresor in 1992, Jeff Mills' debut LP ‘Waveform Transmission Vol. 1’ is a record that stands for repetition and filth, forged from wrought steel and imbued with scuffed-up funk. Here, 30 years after its release, Ben Cardew takes a deep dive into the sound, origins and legacy of an album that birthed a new breed of techno 

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, Milan’s Elisa Bee spotlights slamming house, techno, acid and electro

Releasing both hidden gems from the old school and essential new-gen bangers, Deep Jungle has secured a reputation for buy-on-sight junglism. Alongside a mix representing the past, present and future of its catalogue, founder Harmony shares the secret of the label’s success with Ben Hindle

Rising to notoriety in the ’90s with his hardcore techno DJ sets, Loftgroover had a huge following, before the pressures of popularity led him to withdraw from the scene. 30 years later, he’s back and rejuvenated as a d&b DJ. Holly Dicker learns his story

After years in the UK underground as solo artists, brothers Tom and Ed Russell, formerly known as Truss and Tessela, have made huge strides as a duo in recent years as Overmono. Lauren Martin learns how they’ve built a sound and A/V live show that taps into UK dance music legacies, all while staying true to themselves

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, ahead of Dialled In festival, Daytimers’ Gracie T spotlights breakthrough sounds from the new South Asian underground

London’s Ibibio Sound Machine are back with their fourth album ‘Electricity’. Produced by Hot Chip, the release is more electronic than ever, but retains their classic Afro funk energy. Ben Murphy speaks to vocalist and songwriter Eno Williams and co-founder/saxophonist Max Grunhard about expanding their sound, mixing English and Ibibio lyrics, and the endless joys of playing live

The Chemical Brothers' second album, 1997's 'Dig Your Own Hole', radiated ambition and adventure, and was their first to hit No.1 in the UK charts thanks to a string of landmark singles. Here, Ben Cardew explores how 'Dig Your Own Hole' altered the Chems' creative trajectory, predicted our post-genre pop future, and catapulted them to new heights

J-Shadow blends weightless rave experimentation with depth-charge bass, breaks and garage in his 100% productions mix for the Fresh Kicks series, and speaks to Ben Hindle about storytelling through music, the influence of science and nature, and his new album for Keysound

Throughout the ’90s, the DiY Sound System put on countless free events, ran a recording studio and two record labels, and took their hedonistic parties around the world. Here, Harold Heath speaks to co-founder Harry Harrison about his new book, Dreaming in Yellow: The Story of the DiY Sound System, and the collective's trailblazing legacy in the free party movement

Dance System pens a club-ready love letter to Daft Punk’s filter house and the Chicago sounds that inspired it on his new album, ‘In Your System’

Nookie’s ‘Gonna Be Alright’ dropped as hardcore was morphing into jungle at the beginning of the 1990s. It lit up the raves and set Nookie up for a production career with Reinforced, Metalheadz, Moving Shadow and other key labels as the decade unfolded. Ben Murphy learns its story and speaks to Nookie about how, as the ‘20s roar into action, he is charged up all over again
 

The latest and greatest DJs and producers rising to the top this month. From tripped-out rap and laid-back house to rapid-fire breakbeats and more, here's April 2022's list of upcoming talent you should be keeping track of