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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

It’s an exciting time to be both a new and old fan of African music, but how does it feel for African artists raised and working in the diaspora? As producers and consumers, these artists have a unique vantage point on this cultural shift. Jessica Kariisa speaks to Nazar, Hagan, Juba and Chief Boima and asks: what does music from “back home” mean today?

A new wave of Polish electronic artists are drawing from the country’s musical past and the atmosphere of its Baltic coast to create a fresh take on Ibiza’s Balearic beat. Ben Murphy speaks to artists, promoters, DJs and labels about this unique scene's development

The fierce LGBTQ+ party Trade was the UK’s first legal after-hours club event, opening at 3am and closing at 9am. It laid the groundwork for a new on-and-on party culture, while its sexual and gender diversity was a forerunner for today’s queer club scene. As it celebrates its 30th anniversary, and prepares for its 24-hour birthday party at Egg London, Joe Roberts speaks to some of its regular DJs, designers and founder Laurence Malice about Trade's boundary-breaking legacy

Daft Punk split up three years ago, but thanks to a near-constant stream of archival video releases, album reissues, merch drops and more, the robots feel more present than ever. But what are the limits to one of dance music's most iconic acts' prolific post-split existence? Will it start to wear thin? And what does it all say about the brand-focused and content-driven ecosystem we find ourselves in today? Ben Cardew dives in