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Soaring ascents, the kind that can take an artist from obscurity to stardom in what seems to be the blink of an eye, don’t occur often, in dance music or elsewhere – those who are lucky enough to have that experience often disappear just as quickly. But there’s little chance of a quick fade for South Africa’s Palesa Desiree Shilabje, the DJ and producer known to the world as DESIREE, who in just a few short years has proved to be one of the international festival circuit’s most exciting new stars. Here, Bruce Tantum hears her story, and about how her evolution through music has been as organic as they come

Global club beats, queer femme energy and Pacific Island identity come together in Lady Shaka’s joyful Recognise mix.  Ahead of her appearance at Sónar Festival this month, the DJ and interdisciplinary artist speaks to Anna Cafolla  about building connections around the world, uplifting her communities, and her Pasifika club sound

A new photography book, Drumz Of The South: The Dubstep Years 2004-2007 captures the early years of dubstep, depicting an important cultural moment in UK musical history. Charlie Bird talks to photographer Georgina Cook about the invention and excitement of the time, the influence of South London, and how that moment is influencing a new generation

TYGAPAW makes music with a message of liberation, and of working toward a world where everyone is free to be true to themselves. It also happens to be music that slams. Bruce Tantum meets the Brooklyn-based artist to learn about their long journey to get to where they are now, and the road ahead

Lifting the vocals from Jah Screechy’s reggae standard 'Walk & Skank’, SL2’s‘On A Ragga Tip’ surfed the hardcore rave wave at the turn of the 1990s before crossing over to bring breakbeats and bass into the pop charts. The track has transcended genres and styles to stand alone as an enduring dance classic. Joe Roberts calls up Slipmatt, aka Matt Nelson — the ’S’ in SL2 — to learn its story

Girls Don’t Sync are booting down barriers in dance music with their unrivalled energy and community-building ethos. Right off the back of their massive sold-out show at KOKO in London, and ahead of their sold-out headline show at The Warehouse Project in Manchester, they chat to Sophie Walker about creating a welcoming dancefloor, keeping things fresh, and inspiring others to follow their dreams.