From: Frankfurt, Germany

DJ style: “High-tech minimal.”

Best known for: “Joker mask.”
 

The mask-wearing Boris Brejcha cuts a distinctive figure in the Top 100 DJs poll, playing a style of melodic, minimal techno that he simply calls high-tech minimal. This year it’s been a whirlwind of touring, his socials tracking him across Europe, the US and beyond, including a first visit to Morocco and a debut at Coachella.

His label Fckng Serious celebrated its eight birthday with a remaster of 2015 classic ‘R U Fucking Serious’, a collaboration with Deniz Bul. And he was back in the studio with Bul, plus Moritz Hofbauer and Kevin Kaczynski for giant collaboration ‘You Can Forever Be’, featuring Denise. There were plenty more solo singles too: the widescreen ‘Level One’, the menacing ‘Wormhole’ and ‘Space X’, a dark, techno driver whose video was shot in the rugged beauty of Iceland.

His big news, however, is that he’s finished a new album “which will finally be released in early 2024”. With recent single ‘Vienna’, a team-up with vocalist Malena Narvay, an early taster, and other tracks like the piano-led ‘One Paradise’ already lighting up his DJ sets, it’ll be his first since 2021’s ‘Never Stop Dancing’. 
 

Hero of 2023: “Depeche Mode.”

Fave tune of 2023: “Deniz Bul ‘Never Forget’.”

Best DJ set you’ve seen in 2023: “Ann Clue at Tomorrowland.”

What was the most exciting tech development of 2023? “None.”

Rising star DJ/producer of 2023: “Moritz Hofbauer.”

What gives you hope for 2024? “Love, peace and harmony.”