Last year KSHMR (pronounced ‘Kashmir’ and taken from Kashmir, the northern state of India) was one of a few new entries to storm the upper half of our Top 100 poll, and now he is back once again — rising eleven significant places. 2016 saw the California man keep up his busy work-rate, having previously been active as one half of The Cataracs until 2014. 

Chief amongst his achievements has been a new EP, ‘The Lion Across The Field’, which was a conceptual effort with spoken word narratives adding a Jungle Book-style storyteller feel. The sounds themselves are lavish and dramatic, with lots of Indian melodies and instruments pinned to big beats. It came on Spinnin’ Records and was surely one of the more interesting and expressive EDM releases of the year, taking influences from such a wide sphere as it did. 

On top of this, KSHMR — who could not be contacted to take part in this year’s interview — co-wrote and co-produced 'Tsunami' by DVBBS & Borgeous, as well as 'Stampede' by DVBBS, Borgeous, and Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, so is a well regarded and go-to writer for many of his peers in this poll. 

Gig-wise, he headlined mega-fests like Tomorrowland and has also collaborated with female EDM star Tigerlily just last month, putting out ‘Invisible Children’, a new song also on Spinnin’ Records with big beats, sawtooth synths and more shades of Indian traditionalism in the Bollywood vocal chants and acoustic guitars.  The song is a comment on the forgotten children of India and immediately climbed to the top of a number of Beatport charts, including making the No.2 spot for electro-house. 

Only 28 years old and with a new collaboration with Bassjackers on the way, KSHMR runs and updates his own Spotify playlists with all his current and future favourite hits and continues to tour across America, Asia and South America in the next few months. KRISTAN CARYL