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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

As Cassius Select, the Toronto-born DJ and producer Lavurn Lee has spent the past decade crafting mercurial club music packed with bass and breaks. But on his debut album under his given name, he revisits the vocal-led experimental R&B of his earliest releases, revealing a more intimate side to his artistry. Alongside a Recognise mix filled with shadowy ambience and anxious beats, Dhruva Balram learns the story of ‘LAVURN’

With his new podcast, Queerly Beloved, Northern Irish DJ Cormac explores what it means to be a queer artist in dance music today. Interviewing contemporary figures about their histories of queer discovery, the Panorama Bar and fabric regular continues an intergenerational conversation surrounding the life-affirming moments, communal  experiences and enduring challenges of LGBTQ+ expression. Alongside an On Cue mix packed with HI-NRG anthems and Italo house, Marke Bieschke learns more

Italy-based, Australia-born DJ and producer Nite Fleit has made her name with tough-as-nails electro, but her recently-released debut album reveals a more emotional side. Alongside a storming mix for the Recognise series, she speaks to Claire Francis about her formative years in Melbourne, her natural flair for DJing, and how making music helps with her ADHD

Houghton Festival returned for the first time in four years earlier this month after surviving against the odds. DJ Mag’s Rob McCallum steps into curator Craig Richards’ musical world to rediscover a meticulously programmed audio/visual masterpiece

Brooding and austere, Richie Hawtin’s third album under the Plastikman alias is a minimalist masterwork

With its on-the-pulse line-ups, great sound and inclusive atmosphere, Gonzo's Two Room is making Norwich a dance music destination. Here Ben Murphy heads to the club, and chats to its team, to learn what makes it so special

South Africa’s biggest independent label is taking house music to new heights and changing the lives of local artists in the process. Alongside a mix of tracks from its catalogue, founder Kid Fonque speaks to Kitty Amor about the rise and rise of Stay True Sounds

Ploy demonstrates his percussive, pulse-racing and sub-bass-shaking sound for the Recognise mix series, and speaks to Katie Thomas about gradually finding his groove on imprints like L.I.E.S, Hessle Audio and Timedance, and his new label and party, Deaf Test

San Francisco’s Chrissy sprints from house, Hi-NRG and EBM into UKG and breakbeat hardcore in his ecstatic On Cue mix, and speaks to Marke Bieschke about reviving rave’s original mission on his Hooversound album, ‘Physical Release’

Emerging technology, BODYHEAT, promises to make clubs more carbon neutral. Sophie Lou Wilson speaks to those behind it, the first club to trial it (SWG3 Glasgow), and others about how it works, as well as its potential and limits