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Results for: Mat Playford

Inside the UK Afro house renaissance

The Afro house sound is an ever-growing presence in UK dance music, with new labels, club-nights and a dedicated radio station springing up. Alongside a mix from Mr Silk, Ria Hylton explores the sound’s history, and speaks to some of the scene’s key players about forging strong connections with their growing audiences, and their aim to nurture a unique UK Afro house identity

Afro house is steeped in the percussive materials of South Africa’s townships. For decades, its polyrhythms played out on traditional African instruments — bongos, congas...

Data is the new currency and DJing is about to get rich. The endless stream of data generated from cloud DJing will go on to affect...

It’s the year 2025. You’re having dinner with a friend, and your phone vibrates with a notification — Charlotte De Witte is playing your record...

The cover of Voices From The Lake on a forest green background

First released in 2012, Donato Dozzy and Neel’s groundbreaking self-titled album as Voices From The Lake changed the landscape of ambient techno, and set a new course for minimalist electronic music. Rob McCallum learns how the ripple effects of its legacy are still being felt like a pulsating torrent today

It’s late summer 2011, and Italian artists Donato Dozzy and Neel are nearing the end of a three-hour drive spent listening to material they’ve recorded...

Soul II Soul

Soul II Soul helped give Black British music and UK club sounds a truly unique identity. Collective founder Jazzie B talks about their ground-breaking debut, ‘Fairplay’, and traces his journey from London soundsystem culture to global star with Ben Osborne

When, after a series of near misses, Jazzie B and DJ Mag finally connect, Jazzie’s in a taxi heading for a video shoot. “I’m not...

Plastician by Brynley Davies

Upstart tech like blockchain has been dominating discourse around the music industry's next steps and has become one of the most divisive trends of the past 12 months. Declan McGlynn speaks to Plastician about why he believes it's the future for independent labels, promoters and artists 

Plastician is a name synonymous with grime, dubstep and bass pressure in all its forms. He built his sound and rep as a host on...

Photo of CARISTA posing wearing a beige jumper, leather arm cuffs, and black tights

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.

No story of CARISTA would be complete without a recap of that 2018 Boiler Room X Dekmantel set, the one where she transformed a crowd...

Artists to watch 2022

Introducing the artists set to make waves this year: From Jersey club, Afrotech, and hardcore to UK rap, Brazilian grime, Ghanain asakaa and beyond, these are the DJs, producers and MCs pushing tomorrow’s sounds today

The hyper-kinetic pulse of Jersey club is taking over the world, and one of its most prolific young talents is New Jersey polymath, SJAYY, whose...

Photo of Anetha wearing a yellow parka and black wrap-around sunglasses against a white background

Bordeaux-based DJ, producer, and label/talent agency owner Anetha is known for her inventive techno tracks and all-encompassing sets, but on her debut album, she’s put her voice front and centre for the first time. Claire Francis speaks to her about celebrating motherhood, platforming new artists, and her love of fashion

Girls are fascinating. Think about that statement for a minute and it’s difficult not to feel buoyed by its playful, positive message. Which, as it...

Photo of DESIREE wearing a purple hat and eye-makeup on an emerald background

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

“I’m finally home.” Those three words are among the first that the South African DJ and producer Palesa Desiree Shilabje utters when DJ Mag catches...

Stanton Warriors are the UK breaks and bass duo who've fought fiercely to push their genre-blending sound for more than two decades. And with a...

Dominic Butler and Mark Yardley famously took the name Stanton Warriors from a manhole cover on a Bristol street in the mid ’90s. An apt...

Reinier Zonneveld: live and direct

Before headlining international festivals with his immense live techno sets, Reinier Zonneveld cut his teeth on the Dutch underground rave circuit. Megan Venzin catches up with the artist to learn about his approach to performance, and why his fans can always expect the unexpected

It’s been a while since Reinier Zonneveld had to outsmart the cops. Nowadays, when the Dutch producer arrives at an event, it’s because he’s guaranteed...

The votes have been counted and the results are in! Here are the winners in DJ Mag’s Best of British awards 2021

Tim Reaper’s star has been rising for over a decade. In junglist circles, he’s moved past being the exciting new kid on the block to...

I. JORDAN has stormed the electronic music world in the last couple of years with their energising productions and DJ mixes. Their 2020 breakthrough EP...

Note 23rd August 2023: The headline and text of this feature has been updated to reflect I. JORDAN's new name. I. JORDAN is always moving...

Welsh music feature

Since electronic music’s early days, Wales has produced incredible artists, but is often overlooked in its history. Here, Dave Jenkins celebrates the unsung heroes of the scene and meets a new generation putting their national identity at the forefront of their music

Croeso i Gymru, a land rich with music history. Home to the oldest festival of music and culture in Europe (the Eisteddfod, 1176), Marconi’s first...

Youngsta DJing at HVYWGHT in Brixton

Youngsta is one of dubstep’s foundational figures, an integral force in shaping the genre from its earliest days at iconic club night FWD>>. A specialist through and through, he’s stayed true to the sound throughout its evolution, pushing the original minimalist style that’s now seeing a resurgence in interest. Delivering an On Cue mix of stripped-back dubstep ammunition, he also speaks to Rob McCallum about how the sound came to be, the vital impact of his sister, Sarah, overcoming addiction, and his hopes for the future

It’s early April 2023 at The Hydra’s packed-out FWD>> party at Printworks, just a matter of weeks before the South London club is set to...