Having played in the biggest venues around the world and released records on some of the most respected labels in the house and techno scene, you can say that East Yorkshire-raised DJ and producer wAFF has done quite alright for himself since truly storming the industry in 2012. With a solid reputation for unleashing bona fide dance floor scorchers, wAFF has rapidly become one of the top artists of choice in the business.
If the key to success is hard work, then producer Joe Ashworth shall be rewarded tenfold. Whilst having built a reputation for pumping out release after release, the Londoner defies the quality over quantity rule, rather incorporating both with each single being an incredible and unforgettable piece of music.
Ashworth's brand of house and techno oozes with refinement and sophistication yet doesn't alienate dance floor patrons, which makes it highly understandable why he has been championed by the likes of Pete Tong, Maya Jane Coles and Laurent Garnier, just to name a short few. With tracks released on various labels including Native City, Ajunadeep, Arkhive, NeedWant, Sneaky and more, within a couple of years Ashworth's name has spread throughout the UK and into international territory.
If it was one word to describe the Australian band The Griswolds, it would be fun. Comprised of Christopher Whitehall, Daniel Duque-Perez, Tim John and Lachlan West, the Sydney-based group have built a worldwide following, all absorbed in their upbeat and energetic hybrid of pop, indie and electronica, wrapped in a jovial package of musical goodness.
Although semi-new in the scene, Bristol's Motz Workman, known under the moniker of Marcel Lune, composes tracks with the skills of a well-seasoned producer with a tenure of two decades under his or her belt. Crafting foward-thinking rhythms encompassing soul, broken beat, 2-step, jazz, house and Hip-Hop, his music has enticed the ears of Gilles Peterson, Rustie and Addison Groove, just to name a few. Having released EPs on labels such as Studio Rockers and Audio Dougnuts, his songs are true audible voyages, ripe with change-ups and intricate arrangements.
Youthful spirits with the feelings of running free, the transition into the next chapter of life - sometimes embraced, sometimes appalled...the rebel yells are fiercely heard. The words scream of love and lust, happiness and hurt, yet all ring out with a charismatic lilt. Enter the world of Sanna Kalla and Rebecka Digervall, the Swedish duo known as The Magnettes.
Raised in the northern town of Pajala, Kalla and Digervall formed a band in their early teens, playing in local establishments. Influenced by a variety of styles ranging from punk to folk, by 2012 the two released their debut single 'Paper Cuts', a lofty pop rock song that showcased their rapidly matured new sound and star-like quality.
Norwegian singer Mariann Rosa may label her music as 'Sci-Fi Pop' or #WTF, however it is more of a soundtrack to a world where exploration and experimentation operate like the sciences of life, and the one chief rule to live by is, there are no rules. Perhaps this mantra is why creatively the Stryn-raised artist has always taken a fearless approach to her music, fashion and art.
Like the beauty which lies in the very definition of their name, Kaleida, the London duo consisting of Christina Wood and Cicely Goulder, emulate its very meaning spot on, as their music is a shining reflection of refinement, elegance and poise with content that is of emotion and depth. Both visually striking, the high asthetic of fine performance and captivating visuals in their videos and imagery, have also added to the band's allure.
To be an artist from Stockholm, Sweden is like arriving from birth, instantly falling into a baptism of pop purification. There is something about the Scandinavian blueprint of pop music that works...and works well. However, Ninsun Poli is not your ordinary Swedish pop artist. Her intensely powerful vocals command with the might of a soulstress, making you feel every note delivered. Integrating the darker tones of pop and electronica, she has created a compound of sound that moves you with sheer impact, instantly bringing you along the course of her journey.
Critically praised albums, a MOBO Award, collaborations, remixes and features which include iconic artists such as Nas, Ziggy Marley and Tricky, an official recording for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, worldwide performances including shared stages with Gnarls Barkley, Femi Kuti and Lenny Kravitz, not to mention the ever constant comparisons to Lauryn Hill by the press: for many artists, these sort of credentials would be like holding a lucky lottery ticket, however for Nneka Egbuna, the mission of her work weighs heavy with far more importance.
When Prok & Fitch release a piece of music, that track typically skyrockets on the Beatport Charts, DJs get excited, dance floors get packed...simple. The reasoning, again, simple...quality and consistency. These two things are what Brighton-based Ben Prok and James Fitch have built a firm reputation on throughout the world of electronic music.
Whether working with legendary Roger Sanchez for the 2012 track 'Take You There' or releasing various cuts such as 'Freekshow', 'Dope Drop' and 'Rebound' on Mark Knight's Toolroom Records, Prok & Fitch's music has stood the test of time, gaining support from the likes of Pete Tong, Carl Cox and loads more.
