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Results for: essential mix

Black and white image of a graffiti'd wall that reads "Kitchen Top Floor"

In the midst of the ruinous Thatcher era, Manchester’s Hulme Crescents estate became a haven for squatters, anarchists and acid house ravers, who converged in the hedonistic flat-turned-studio and after-hours club, The Kitchen. Kemi Alemoru speaks to former residents, DJs and familiar guests from the Madchester scene about the lasting impact this space had on the city’s cultural landscape

Welcome to Hulme Crescents, Manchester, an inner-city public housing experiment that, in the ’80s, became an amphitheatre of chaos and creativity. In this estate, acid...

During the early part of the pandemic, DJ and producer ZHU went on a road trip with his bandmates, recording his new album in remote...

Steven Zhu can’t sit still for long. It’s a characteristic that has always served the artist, better known simply as ZHU, quite well. Since he...

Paranoid London’s acid reign

Acid duo Paranoid London new album boasts a beefier sound than ever, and a host of new collaborators. Here, Joe Roberts meets them and learns how a chance meeting, faster tempos and the politics of the moment have shaped their new approach

It’s a dark, wintery evening in far North London and Paranoid London are in full flow at DRUMSHEDS, London’s latest super-venue. Opened on a former...

Congo Natty

On his upcoming 25-track opus ‘Ancestorz’ — which he describes as his life's work — long-serving jungle soldier Congo Natty unites many voices from across the diaspora, joining dots through the history of Black music and celebrating the new jungle generation. In a series of in-depth interviews for DJ Mag, he talks to Dave Jenkins about love, revolution, unity, and reclaiming his place in the history books

“This isn’t an interview, brother, this is an outerview!” Congo Natty declares. He draws on his spliff, holding DJ Mag’s gaze with intensity. Even through...

TSHA surrounded by flowers, shot by Nicole Ngai

London-based DJ, producer and live artist TSHA has risen rapidly in the scene, and is receiving her flowers with grace. But it hasn't always been easy.  As she prepares to release her stunning debut LP, 'Capricorn Sun', on Ninja Tune, she speaks to Amy Fielding about overcoming online trolls, astrology, the art of DJing and more

Across one bitterly cold weekend in February 2017, Ninja Tune’s revered live act Simon Green, AKA Bonobo, descended on South London for two sold-out performances...

NQ x Abbey Road Studios

Through its nurturing of new superstars like Aitch and other young local talent, Manchester’s NQ has become a veritable institution of modern UK rap, helping elevate regional artists across the UK. James Keith meets members of the crew during a recent takeover at the legendary Abbey Road Studios, and heads to NQ’s northern base to discover the secret to its success

NQ is reshaping Manchester’s musical identity one mega-hit at a time. An entertainment company consisting of a record label, management and publishing house based in...

After intensive, early lockdowns, China's events industry is gradually returning to pre-pandemic levels, with safety measures in place. Bruce Tantum speaks to a selection of DJs...

In mid-August of last year, scenes from an electronic music festival at a water-park in Wuhan, China were beaming across the internet. The photos and...

With a string of powerful releases, including the recent ‘Panther In Mode’, Alewya creates a musical universe that merges the spiritual and the physical. DJ...

In early summer of 2020, in the deepest depths of the pandemic, a reminder of the life we were missing came in the form of...

As events begin to reschedule dates for 2021, and with some selling out months in advance, the practise of ticket touting is once again an...

Electronic music artists, venues and promoters are failing to do enough to protect fans from online touts, who are selling tickets for more than 10...

Knucks is leading UK rap's new wave

A rapper, producer and head of the No Days Off brand, Knucks smashed into the UK album charts this year with his ‘Alpha Place’ project, presenting his ‘chill drill’ sound in all its evolved glory. His triumphant homecoming show at KOKO in Camden saw collaborators like Stormzy, SL, Youngs Teflon and Ragz Originale join him on stage. Here, Yemi Abiade meets the Londoner to learn how there are now no limitations on his future

It’s late May in North London. The sun is setting with a burning intensity that only a summer’s evening in this concrete jungle can provide...

Press shot of John Summit against green leaves

The secret to John Summit's success lies in his work-hard, play-hard mentality, which has led to the former Certified Public Accountant to become one of the most in-demand DJs around. Ahead of his set at DJ Mag's Miami Pool Party this month, Megan Venzin hears his story so far

It’s 6:25am and John Summit is still spinning fire. He’s in peak form as he delivers a dark and drilling after-hours set on the sports...

The fight to preserve Ukraine’s electronic music culture in a time of war

Amidst the horrors of russia's war on Ukraine, local DJs, producers and music professionals have had their lives ripped apart, but many have passionately continued their work at home and abroad, using their experience to provide funds and direct aid to causes on the ground. Here, Tanya Voytko talks to artists from across the country about their personal experiences over the past six months, and to learn how they’re striving to preserve and promote their rich and diverse electronic music culture

I started writing this article on 22nd June, the day of remembrance for the victims of World War II in Ukraine. At dawn on that...

Album covers from electronic music film soundtracks

Exploring the history of cinema, Martin Guttridge-Hewitt compiles 11 landmark electronic music movie soundtracks, arranged in chronological order, each of which earned its place on sonic merit, and significance in the canon of music and movies

When Bebe and Louis Barron presented their music for Forbidden Planet, Fred Wilcox's 1956 adaptation of The Tempest, the sounds were so alien, even compared...

TWO DAYS OF EPIC PARTYING

I had to pinch myself twice just to be certain it wasn’t a dream. See, if you love dance music the way I love dance...

Close up shot of Wreckno with fishnet gloves and colourful butterflies in their hair

Brandon Wisniski has refused to let anyone stifle their “batshit crazy dream” of becoming a pop culture icon. Now, as Megan Venzin discovers, the queer rapper and producer known as Wreckno is breaking boundaries and fostering inclusive spaces so others like them can reach the stars

What can’t Barbie do? Since hitting shelves in 1959, the polymer-based, pop culture icon has donned the uniforms of a pilot, astronaut, presidential candidate, and...