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DJ Mag Top100 DJs
86
Rave Republic
5

From: A Swiss and an Australian, based in Singapore

Rising star DJ/producer of 2021: “We feel that as the world was shut down, there was not much opportunity for new talents to showcase their skills, but rather existing producers who continued to release great music.”

Mathias and Stas are Rave Republic. Based in Singapore, the duo shot to fame for their progressive, genre-defying shows. Performing together for less than a decade, they’ve already worked with esteemed acts such as Luciana and Dash Berlin, packing out mainstages at festivals including Ultra Singapore and Electric Daisy Carnival China.

Asia’s extended lockdown restrictions meant that the pair were separated during the Covid-19 pandemic. After investing in a professional home setup, they stayed connected with each other, and their loyal fan base, through livestreams.

The committed DJs have made recent appearances at festivals across Thailand, including Mystic Valley, while continuing to release energetic chart anthems. ‘Rave Is Our Religion’, made with Olly James, jumped to the top spot of Beatport’s Hard Dance Chart this summer. Speaking about some landmark label collaborations this year, they told DJ Mag: “We've been welcomed by the Rave Culture family with open arms, while also continuing releasing on other big electronic labels.” 

How was your first gig back after lockdown?

“We live in Asia where lockdowns pretty much still persist. However, we are super happy to announce that we are back on tour, and have an action-packed schedule lined up.”

How have the last 18 months changed how you view your work/life balance?

“Going from one of the busiest tour schedules in the industry was incredibly tough. We actually came to realise that we prefer a 'worse' work/life balance, as our job is what we love most in the world.”

What further steps should the industry take to combat climate change?

“From a touring standpoint, we think that we have already been heading in the direction towards 'greener' forms of travel and reusability, as most people prefer trains over planes. We also tend to walk whenever the distance is under two to three kilometres instead of taking transport.”

What’s the best bit of tech you’ve added to your studio or DJ setup this year?

"Everything that we have added was centred around livestreaming. Creating a streaming setup, investing in cameras and a sound card was crucial in maintaining engagement with our listeners.”

What’s the best album you’ve heard this year?

Stas: “The lockdowns brought out some nostalgia in me, and re-listening to Miike Snow's self-titled album and Mumford & Sons albums were the highlights.” Matt: “I listen to a lot of hip-hop, and I thought Migos's newest album ‘Culture III’ was really cool.”