BEST BREAKTHROUGH DJ: LAUREN LANE

It’s been a wild, breakout ride for Los Angeles-based DJ/producer Lauren Lane over the past few years, catapulting her through the global tech house scene, from the UK to Brazil, Ibiza and beyond. From her debut EP, ‘Cool Kids’, on Nic Fanciuilli’s Saved Records in 2014 (the best-selling track on the label that year), to last year’s ‘Diary Of A Madwoman’ EP, a chunky house stomper on Eats Everything and Nick Harris’ Edible imprint, and her recently released ‘Never Ending Moments’ collab with Acid Mondays on Warung Recordings, Lauren Lane has been busy carving out her spot as the scene’s rising star. Apparently, DJ Mag readers agree. Lauren says she’s excited and honored to be selected as Best Breakthrough DJ in the inaugural Best Of North America poll: “I’m so happy to know a lot of people are out there enjoying my DJ sets and releases. I am truly grateful to do what I love and I appreciate the support immensely!”

Having cut her teeth in the New York City house music circuit – like many before her, citing the city’s most infamous house legend, Danny Tenaglia, as inspiration – Lauren quickly caught the attention of clubbers and bookers alike, clinching coveted slots at festivals like Coachella, TomorrowWorld, SWF, The BPM Festival and Glastonbury, and at revered clubs like Ibiza’s DC-10 and legendary London outpost, Fabric. Playing alongside house music’s finest, from Jamie Jones to Pete Tong, Lauren has continued to climb the club ranks and is firmly entrenched in some of Ibiza’s best line-ups this summer, with Marco Carola’s Music On at Amnesia, Black Coffee at Hï (Club Space’s brand new replacement), Guy Gerber’s RUMORS at Destino, and the infamous Paradise party at DC-10. 

As for being a female coming up in a largely male-dominated genre – as evidenced by the headliners for most of the major Ibiza parties – Lauren says, “There are more and more amazing women in dance music than ever before, proving we can rock it and bring some fresh creative vibes to the table." Her goals for the rest of the year include extensive global touring, continuing to crank out quality tunes in the studio, and to “keep making people dance and have fun.” That is, lest we forget in the madness of polls, what music is all about.

WORDS: ERIN SHARONI

The other nominees:
Mike Servito
Mad Zach
Brian Cid
Blond:ish