Summer Spin: 10 Dance Music DJs You Should Know By Now

1. Bixel Boys

Heavy bass house meets soulful trap from the duo that say they were “founded on DTLA rooftops and raised in Venice, CA basements.” Ian and Rob, aka Bixel Boys, have a unique style, which fuses melodic riffs and hip-hop rooted loops with nonstop high energy. Their first original release on Australia’s Sweat It Out Records garnered praise Down Under, and now it’s Bixel Boys are scheduled to release three remixes this year.

2. Nina Las Vegas

Nina Las Vegas is actually from Australia despite her moniker. A Sydney-native trap queen with a specialization in “booty bass”, not to mention a personality so vibrant it makes a rainbow look dull and diluted with water. That’s Nina Las Vegas. If she can’t squeeze a twerk out of you, we don’t know who can. Her fans love her femme fatale style, and that’s what separates Nina from anyone else pumping booty bass trap from behind the decks. Now. The ultimate test. Can you keep still AND blast “Flawless” at the same time? Try it:

3. Eric Sharp

His vegan diet, yoga-filled lifestyle, dapper wardrobe, eclectic entourage and signature mustache has made him one of the most press hungry spectacles of the year. But it’s his distinctive brand of medicinal house that separates him from any other house producer in the world. Far more than soft bass and rhythmic instrumentation, what comes out of his musical cellar is so meditative you’re immediately absorbed in the world of Eric Sharp. Currently signed to Sean Glass’ Grammy-nominated label, Win Music, his talent for spotting some of the best kept secret vocalists to collaborate with adds an element of subtle layering that cannot be described, first-hand experienced required. Just listen to “Time Drips,” featuring Anna Lunoe for audible proof. His upcoming and recent releases include collaborations with an impressive roster such as Spencer Ludwig of Capital Cities, Sir DSS formerly of LCD Soundsystem and Whitney Fierce formerly of Hercules & Love Affair.

4. Louisahhh!!!

A triple threat vocalist, producer and DJ, without a doubt makes Louisahhh!!! a must-stop on the “Get To Know Her” map. Her deep house/ techno roots stem from the days of her late teens slipping her way past the door guy in the meatpacking district of NYC. Her love for DJing quickly lead to the LA move in 2006 to pursue her career and immediately upon arrival, became half of what she refers to as the “house-centric production duo:” NYCPARTYINFO. Amidst the West coast adventure also came the budding friendship with Brodinksi. She was eventually signed to his label, Bromance Records, and released her first solo EP.

5. Tittsworth

There is no genre barrier that can encapsulate exactly what kind of music he’s making out of DC, but it’s far from played-out. Hardcore techno house trap bass HiFi? His track “TNT,” featuring Valentino Khan, released last month on Dim Mak Records sets a pretty high bar for anyone trying to compete in the eclectic-track atmosphere. In 2010 Jesse Tittsworth became co-owner of the U Street Music Hall in his hometown of Washington DC has garnered critical acclaim for being one the best “no frills and no dress code” clubs in the country according to Rolling Stone and Beatport.

6. Styles & Complete

Although not the first to fuse hip-hop and electronic music, the duo, hailing from North Carolina, has a party persona that could only have been fostered by the bass guzzling pulse of the USA. Their tracks are nothing short of full throttle- soaking the listener in high voltage BPM, party persuasive anthems, heavy trap influences and consistently rising crescendos. Get amplified by this Dj/producer duo that continues to genre jump – all the while solidifying their unique sound. Keep your next house kegger live with this Run The Twerk mix as featured on Mixify.

7. Branko

Do your ears need a vacation as much as you do? Take a ride on Branko’s culturally kaleidoscopic sound. An elegant mixture of chill tropical sound and sun soaked sweat-fests, Branko’s beats will take you swiftly away from the tired commercial norm. This Portuguese DJ is known for his role as producer of Buraka Som Sistema, and head of record label Enchufada. His hand in the cutting edge of the industry is widespread and inescapable. After changing his stage name from J-Wow, his sonic style also experienced makeover; Upgraded and effervescent, in the early stages of a blossoming genre, zouk bass, Branko is the one name that remains in our ears and on our tongues. Dancehall, Moombahton, island sound and all things summertime. You’ll be fantasizing about white parties and dark basements in no time. Trip on his Drums, Slums, & Hums Mixtape, here.

8. Astronomar

Astronomar collides uplifting vocals with down and dirty house music, this funky fresh sound is the middle ground where the garden meets the underground. Seattle resident by way of Alaska before taking LA by storm, Astronomar is all about the everlasting nightlife. His beats are entrancing and captivating, his sound fuses the best of dance to give you exactly what you need when arriving on the floor ready to bust a move. No ifs/ands, only butts are celebrated when listening to his tracks. I dare you to stay in your seat as you listen to his recent mix as featured on Diplo & Friends BBC 1Xtra.

9. Deejay Theory

Considered a leader in the tropical bass movement, Deejay Theory creates new homes in dancehall from unsuspecting tracks that range from Demi Levato and Zedd, and breathes new life into classics by Movado. With a hand in online hub, LargeUp, he is a tastemaker, adding original flavor to Caribbean dance music and the culture.The Connecticut born, San Francisco residing, Deejay Theory unites the interests of both coasts to create a sound that is equal parts laid back and forward moving. Groove out to his mix created for the Toddla T show on BBC Radio 1.

10. Gina Turner

She’s a New York native with a definitive East Coast swagger. Gina Turner’s progressive house is laced with feisty rhythms and even feistier vocals. Gina combines influences that range from the barrio to Berlin, as exemplified by her role as one half of DJ duo Nouveau Yorican alongside hubby and recent father to their new baby, Laidback Luke. Her monthly radio show “Turn It Up” featured on Sirius XM’s Electric area feature her flavor of ‘90s dance flair, pulsing percussion, and trance inducing tracks. It goes without saying that Gina Turner is stamping her mark upon the seven seas of dance music. Check out her guest mix on Diplo & Friends BBC Radio 1Xtra.