Features

Ever since her earliest releases on Studio Barnhus, Sofia Kourtesis has been zeroing in on her core sound: a pulsing, fluttering style of house that seamlessly blends joyous euphoria with introspective melancholy. Here, she shares the journey of personal growth, familial love and vulnerability that led to the creation of her debut, 'Madres', on Ninja Tune

In this series, Selections, we invite DJs, producers and label heads to dig into their digital crates and share the contents of their collections. This week, New York-based multidisciplinary musician Slauson Malone 1 spotlights acoustic oddities, ambient gems, breakneck singeli, cello jazz and post-jungle weapons

Released 40 years ago, Talking Heads’ fifth album was a firm fixture in Larry Levan’s tastemaking Paradise Garage record bag. A stone-cold new wave disco classic filled with now-iconic hits, it spread through New York’s clubs like wildfire. Here, Ben Cardew learns how ‘Speaking In Tongues’ enshrined one of the era’s least classifiable bands on dancefloors forever 

Rotterdam’s Suze Ijó is part of a new generation of house DJs who play with deep, funky and spiritual intention. Alongside a “sweet mix with a hopeful message”, she speaks to Ria Hylton about her musical journey so far

It’s not all bright lights and fist pumps, this DJ life. Technical issues, travel delays and mis-matched line-ups are par for the course when you’ve been playing out long enough — not to mention the self-doubt many struggle with, even at the peak of their career. But these difficult sets, brutal as they are, can also bring about moments of breakthrough — and more often than not, they’re plain hilarious. Dave Jenkins catches up with ten DJs to hear the story of their worst moment behind the decks.

Latin American electronic music is everywhere, with once overlooked artists from countries like Mexico, Brazil and Venezuela now touring globally. Felipe Maia examines the current boom of sounds ranging from heavy baile funk and speed dembow to deconstructed reggaeton and raptor house, and looks at some of the barriers that artists still face, both at home and abroad

Get acquainted with Honeydrip, the Montreal DJ and producer merging the rhythms of sound system culture with spectral ambience and psychedelic vibes

Legendary DJ, producer, label owner and live performer, Carl Cox has kept dancefloors jumping for well over three decades. He’s been at the forefront of acid house, rave and techno, ever-present in the Top 100 DJs poll, and he’s still innovating today. Anna Wall traces his extraordinary career, and learns about what motivates him in 2023

Analysing the key trends from the voting in this year's DJ Mag Top 100 DJs poll, in aid of Unicef, as David Guetta takes the top spot

We run down the next 50 DJs who just missed out on a Top 100 placing this year

South Africa’s DESIREE has had a meteoric rise over the past few years. Her ear for rhythm, journeying, percussion-filled sets, and passion for a wide variety of African electronic music have created opportunities to woo crowds both at home and abroad. And, following the release of her debut EP last year and launch of party series MMINO, she’s already taking things to the next level

With his feel-good fusion of rap and Afrobeats, Lagos-raised and Plaistow-based MC TiZ EAST has hit upon the perfect combination. Cosmo Godfree speaks to him about his eclectic music taste, making uplifting tunes, and working with one of Nigeria’s rising stars 

In this series, we invite DJs, producers and label heads to dig into their digital crates and share the contents of their collections. This week, Purelink spotlight low-key experimental pop, smoky dub-folk, peak-time minimal techno and more

Uganda passed a draconian anti-LGBTQ law in March, sending the county’s queer community into turmoil and marking another brutal step in the homophobic and transphobic backlash sweeping the globe. Marke Bieschke speaks to some of the musicians affected about the new realities they face, how their art has changed, and what we can all do to help

From co-running the legendary East London rave Toi.Toi to achieving international DJ acclaim, Claus Voigtmann has spent close to two decades refining his irresistibly deep take on house and techno. Alongside his hypnotic and groove-driven On Cue mix, he chats to Anna Wall about the golden age of Toi.Toi, inheriting his record collection from The End, his Subsequent label, and forthcoming album, ‘Life Miles’ 

Flawless DJ, frequent hitmaker, dedicated mentor: Tony De Vit was a true hero of UK dance music. The most high-profile resident at hedonistic queer club Trade, he helped create the hard house sound, and was renowned not only for his impeccable mixing, but his compassion and care for others. Ahead of a new documentary, and with hard house at large once more, Stewart Who? reflects on his legacy with those he was close to, and those he influenced

The latest and greatest DJs and producers rising to the top this month. From chunky tech house and shapeshifting garage to big-room amapiano, gqom and beyond, here’s November 2023’s list of upcoming talent you should be keeping track of

In this series, Selections, we invite DJs, producers and label heads to dig into their digital crates and share the contents of their collections. This week, Kitty Amor spotlights deep, soulful sounds from Afro house to jazz

With releases on labels including Critical, Deadbeats and Noisia’s VISION, to name but a few, gyrofield has fast become one of drum & bass’ most sought-after artists, though her sound stretches in numerous directions. Her detailed, gnarly yet emotionally vivid productions are a breath of fresh air in the scene, and continue to evolve sonically alongside their own personal growth. Here, alongside a bass-charged and genre-jumping 90-minute Recognise mix, she shares her story with Becca Inglis

With the imminent release of her debut LP, ‘Rhythm Is Memory’, New York’s Ayesha goes further than ever in establishing her status as one of the city’s top practitioners of envelope-pushing club music. The Nowadays resident chats with Bruce Tantum about her music, self-doubt, and the similarities between gardening and producing an album