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The latest and greatest DJs and producers rising to the top this month. From quaking dubstep and tripped-out rap, to healing house, R&B and beyond, here’s February 2024’s list of upcoming talent you should be keeping track of

Italo disco is everywhere again. But what does Italo even mean today, and is it at risk of being diluted into a catch-all term for anything with an '80s disco sparkle? Joe Roberts dives into the genre's history, and chats to some of its new devotees and longstanding champions about its ever-evolving sound

Daniel Avery has made the defining album of his career to date with ‘Ultra Truth’. Incorporating everything from techno and ambient to jungle drum & bass, it features contributions from SHERELLE, HAAi and Kelly Lee Owens, among others, and is simultaneously raw and beautiful. Anna Wall meets him in a North London café to talk about collaboration, staying true to himself, and the enduring influence of Andrew Weatherall

Utrecht's CARISTA is on a quest to bring club crowds together with her irresistible, energising DJ sets. Ria Hylton meets her to find out how her United Identities label is elevating new talent in the Netherlands, and how she’s branching into new areas of music.

Keith McIvor and Jonnie Wilkes, aka Optimo (Espacio), have helped define Glasgow’s musical landscape for over two decades with their eclectic and dynamic dancefloor selections. As 2022 marks Optimo’s milestone 25th anniversary, a tour of their home city reveals the ethos behind their inimitable sound

Though arguably most prominent in the ’90s, free parties and illegal raves have never gone away. Despite the increased surveillance from authorities, passionate DJs and sound systems continue to throw events in a similar way that they always have, looking to create a sense of community and an alternative to the commodified dance mainstream. Dave Jenkins heads to a free party, and speaks to some of the illegal rave scene’s advocates about why they keep the fire burning

As likely to play South African hip-hop as she is Congolese rumba, Egyptian jazz or Brazilian boogie, Gauteng-born, Manchester-based SNO is spreading the word about music often overlooked by the Western industry. Alongside her genre-spanning Recognise mix, she speaks to Kamila Rymajdo about familial influence, her chance start in DJing and sharing the music she loves

Timedance label boss, innovative producer and a boundary-pushing DJ, Batu was on an upward trajectory — but the pandemic made him question his motivations and examine his history. With his debut album ‘Opal’ marking a bold new chapter in his sound, he talks to Chal Ravens about burnout, reinvention, heritage and contributing to the Bristol scene that nurtured him

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
 

Fever AM co-founder Rhyw steps up for the Recognise mix series, and chats to Eoin Murray about his forthcoming release, his childhood obsession with The Prodigy and the all-important element of surprise in his hallucinatory club music