VIBE Presents: 30 DJs To Watch In 2014
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1. Matt Lange
With such a wide breadth of sonic skills, from composing to the architecture of music as a whole, Matt Lange is steadily climbing a prolific ladder. With a little help from the keen eyes and ears of Anjunadeep- who released Lange's music on the esteemed label this year, the producer and DJ is destined to rev into high-gear in 2014. Get yourself to a live Matt Lange show ASAP and see his skills propel far beyond the studio with his truly exciting DJ sets.
Photo Credit: www.onlythebeat.com
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2. Syn Cole
Tapped by Avicii to be the next ‘Le7els’ wunderkind, 24-year-old Syn Cole has already seen his music premiered by the legendary DJ-tastemaker Pete Tong. The Estonian DJ and producer, born Rene Pais, dropped dance track, “Miami 82,” last month with an official Avicii edit right out the gate. In turn, Cole remixed Tim Bergling’s “Hey Brother.” Under the willful direction of label-manager Ash Pournouri, there’s no doubt Syn is going to be EDM-rockstar Syn-onymous.
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Photo Credit: www.facebook.com/SynCole
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3. Lets Be Friends
The UK duo released 12 original productions and remixes in 2014, two of which have landed on Beatport’s Number One spot. Last summer, Lets Be Friends garnered the ‘most listened to tracks on Soundcloud’ twice in a row and have his over a million
plays in under a year. First gigs? London Brixton Academy and opening for Knife Party-- not too shabby. Meet your new best Friends.
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4. DJ Snake
Marking himself as another Parisian prodigy, DJ Snake absolutely slayed 2013 with tracks such as "Bird Machine" and super-hit alongside Lil Jon, "Turn Down for What." He played the Mad Decent stage at TomorrowWorld and debuted in the US with a mini tour this year as well. Snake most definitely shows no signs of turning down in 2014.
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5. heRobust
Not only is Hayden Kramer AKA heRobust a trap lord but he's got eyes that are easy to get trapped in. The bass head has put 2013 into a frenzy with his ‘Busted House’ EP, plus recent banger, "She Know She Bad," which has slowly become a bonafide trap anthem. Although Kramer is fairly new to the game, having only two years of industry work under his belt, he has the backing to tour the nation and plenty for us to look forward to in 2014.
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6. Candyland
Showcasing a variation of sounds throughout many dance music genres, including dubstep, electro-house and trap, Cali-based duo, Candyland started from the bottom and now they’re here (and to stay). While racking up the SoundCloud plays, headlining an EDC and even touring with the big dogs Krewella, Ethan Davis and Josie Martin, Candyland is just warming up.
Photo Credit: www.djintelone.blogspot.com
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7. Kaytranada
The Haiti-born, Montreal-bred producer and DJ makes delectable dance music born in hip-hop and badass beats. He’s already an underground addiction many groupies have been feeding on and with rumors of some big-name rap collabs on the way, the world will soon be hooked on K.
Photo Credit: www.ixdaily.com
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8. Paris & Simo
Aside from being a part of our New Era of EDM list, Canadian duo – Paris & Simo have worked their way up slowly (but surely) becoming a part of the greats. Not only have they had four releases on Hardwell’s label - Revealed Recordings - but have obtained 10+ charting Beatport tracks to compliment that as well. The boys represent everything new up and coming producers have to work for - killer melodies, a strong fan base, and plenty to look forward to - marking them a staple duo to look out for in 2014.
Photo Credit: www.beatmyday.com
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9. Motez
Hailing from Down Under, Motez Obaidi aka Motez composes some even deeper sounds that still have the ability to make an ass quake. The DJ and Producer creates a variety of dub music and has deep house edits of well-known hip-hop and R&B tracks that make for a pleasing mix of genres. His tracks are straight ear candy and will satisfy your sonic sweet craving for this upcoming year.
Photo Credit: www.last.fm
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10. Gent & Jawns
Creating a track that was played at bass stages of nearly every festival this year might seem like a hard task to do yet Long Jawns and Billy The Gent of trap duo Gent & Jawns did so with ease. From their massive hit "Turn Up" to a killer Diplo & Friends mix, Gent & Jawns retained a solid year filled with festivals and touring. With releases off of Mad Decent along some sick guest mixes, the guys are right on path to making moves for the New Year.
Photo Credit: www.windishagency.com
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11. The Black Madonna
Chicago's endless wave of house DJs lifts many, but few are riding its crest as hard as Marea Stamper, aka The Black Madonna. Her disco-tinged House has found early and devoted champions in heavyweights like Ashley Beedle and Derrick Carter, who helped push her 2012 track "Exodus" into discerning crates worldwide. She has released tracks on Carter's Classic label, as well as Stripped & Chewed and File Under Disco, and quickly become a favorite at Chicago's Smart Bar and Berlin's Panorama bar. She is currently at work on a new album, and if her Lady Of Sorrows EP on Argot from earlier this year is any indication, 2014 will see the rise of a new Madonna worth the hype.
Photo Credit: www.wbez.org
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12. Monty Luke
In addition to managing Carl Craig's vaunted imprint Planet E, Detroit's Monty Luke has also released music on Claude Von Stroke's Dirty Bird label. In 2013, Luke launched his own label, Black Catalogue, whose output brings a deep, dubby funk to the D's fabled austere, cosmic techno.
Photo Credit: www.closerpdx.com
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13. Hound Scales
At the end of 2012, Hound Scales, AKA Nico Jacobsen, moved from San Francisco to Brooklyn to co-found Fifth Wall records with Divvorce. Their first release was Hound Scales' Case (Nabis) EP. His second Fifth Wall EP, Femen, dropped in September and was dedicated to the powerful women that shaped his life. His brutal approach to warehouse techno, which he describes as "junta rave", has kept him on our fickle radar all year long, and it's unlikely he will drop off in 2014.
Photo Credit: www.magneticmag.com
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14. DVBBS
Coming out of practically nowhere this year, brothers Alex & Chris Van Den Hoef slayed 2013 with one banger after another. It’s safe to say they made big room house their bitch. Not only was ‘Tsunami’ an Electric Zoo anthem but was also a fundamental track played throughout every set, radio station, vine, you name it- throughout the globe. DVBBS also landed a tour gig with the Dubstep Gods, Adventure Club. Step aside newbies and eagerly await the takeover the bros have in store for 2014.
Photo Credit: Getty
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15. Cole Plante
The Hollywood Records' rising EDM star might be only 16, but he’s already followed in the footsteps of dance pioneers, Daft Punk by getting a song inked to serve as the soundtrack for the animated series TRON: Uprising (out 1/8) titled, "Rezolution." The record, which debuted on VIBE, features sweet synth lines darted up by bullet drum patterns. With an appearance at 2013’s Lollapalooza already under his belt, the LA producer is poised to be taking home Grammys before he's legally allowed to buy alcohol.
Photo Credit: Soundcloud
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16. Kristina Sky
Born and raised in LA, Kristina Sky has been paving a new path for trance addicts around the states while sharing the stage with some of the greats (Daft Punk, Madonna, Above & Beyond, to name a few). Not only has she been taking your speakers by storm with her TRANCELATE radio show, but has spun numerous clubs around the globe. While Sky has been on the circuit for years, due to some bigger fest booking rumors floating about, next year her trance will be making bigger audiences dance.
Photo Credit: Getty
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17. Will Sparks
Practically the driving force behind Melbourne bounce, Australian spinner Will Sparks sparked the craze in America through the likes of fellow DJs/producers, Deorro and TJR. Hit tracks like ‘Ah Yeah’ and his ‘Blurred Lines’ remix highlight his talents along some epic festival sets as well. This upcoming DJ/producer is sure to have plenty in store for us for the upcoming year.
Photo Credit: www.soundcloud.com
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18. Son of Kick
Bass maker from across the Atlantic, Son of Kick, topped a flourishing year with most recent release, "Reloaded" featuring soulful vocals along the bass-heavy track by the lovely Jenna G. His music is full of two things: bass and variation. Peep his stuff around SOK’s SoundCloud and keep an ear out for his grimey tunes in 2014.
Photo Credit: www.last.fm
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19. Jay Hardway
Racking up over five million views for his most recent banger with VIBE breakout DJ of Summer 2013 (Martin Garrix)- Jay Hardway’s Wizard entered the Beatport top 10 at #2 and is currently sitting at a well-deserved #1. The dutch DJ/producer has some big shoes to fill after releasing such a predominant track, and we are sure the show's will be filled tenfold.
Photo Credit: www.twitter.com
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20. Tchami
Another Parisian that came out of seemingly thin air this year was Tchami. This powerhouse producer dabbed in some Fools Gold and remixed one of VIBE’s Summer Breakout Duo’s, AlunaGeorge this year leaving us yearning for more in 2014. While just joining FaceBook back in February and already gaining over 10k likes- he’s right on path to becoming the next big thing.
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21. Michael Brun
Michael Brun formulated a progressive house haven this year along stunning remixes and collaborations with some of the best in the biz. Brun dabbled around the greats such as Armin van Buuren, Alicia Keys, and Tiësto - just to mention a few- only giving us more to look forward to in the nearing future of dance music.
Photo Credit: www.miami.com
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22. New World Sound
Aussies, Tyrone James and Jesse Taylor of New World Sound - along Thomas Newson - took quite the chance sampling a flute for electro-house banger, "Flute," and it left us eager for more. It’s nice hearing some variation in the dance music market which these guys most definitely delivered. Fingers crossed for more in the New Year.
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23. Darin Epsilon
Darin Epsilon’s success represents a niche style of music favored by DJs such as Sasha, John Digweed and Hernan Cattaneo. He's often dubbed a leader of the progressive house scene in North America after his work on labels such as Renaissance, Hope Recordings, Armada and Perfecto. In 2011 he was named one of the winners in John Digweed and Beatport's international DJ competition. These days he is seen as the favored jockey for Insomniac Events, playing all their festivals, headlining at their Los Angeles venue, Exchange and receiving rave reviews for his recent performance with "New World Punx," Ferry Corsten and Markus Shulz.
Photo Credit: Robert Kerian
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24. Henry Fong
Conducive to a wide range of sounds from progressive to big room house tracks, Henry Fong represents exactly what every newcomer should embody- a beast with the beats. While making marveling melodies to collaborating with fellow rising stars, Fong is right on path to breaking the barrier into becoming a vital DJ/producer to see live. While his tracks are constantly played by other DJs, having support from Hardwell, Tiësto, Avicii and Knife Party, to name a few, he is sure to continue along sharing the stage with the best coming forth this new year.
Photo Credit: www.soundcloud.com
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25. TWRK (Dj Esentrik & Benzi)
Jersey Club meets trappin’ twerk music when it comes to power duo- TWRK. Benzi & DJ Esentrik deciding to join forces for the good of all relating to twerk this year was one of the best things that could happen to the crossbreed of EDM and hip-hop. With ‘twerking’ being added to the dictionary, their timing could not have been more perfect. TWRK’s jams such as ‘NOLIA’ and ‘BaDINGA!’ harbor all that is essential in being a sovereign trap duo to keep your elbows bobbing into the New Year.
Photo Credit: www.edmboutique.com
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26. Anna Lunoe
This LA based Aussie bombshell took 2013 by storm with her deep funky beats. Anna Lunoe is not only a goddess of a producer but allures us with her slaying vocals as well. She played out the year through the likes of Fools Gold and going on tour with The Weeknd only to prove she is so much more than your average triple threat girl DJ/producer/vocalist on the loose. Keep your eyes - and ears - peeled for Lunoe in 2014.
Photo Credit: Getty
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27. D.O.D.
The UK's dance music scene got a boost this year with many new and upcoming DJ/producers, making D.O.D the cherry on top. With numerous hits on Mixmash as well as Dim Mak, Dan O'Donnell has been on a roll with releases like his collaboration with Deorro, "Play," and original "Banana’s."
Photo Credit: www.thefatclub.com
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28. Lindsay Lowend
It’s no doubt that future trap will be the next thing to blow up in 2014 and alongside the likes of VIBE favorites Cashmere Cat and Yogi, Lindsay Lowend is taking precedence of the genre and we are so glad he is. With his Wind Fish EP and guest mixes galore (including one for Thump’s ‘Up Next’ series a few months back) Lowend is killing this experimental/future trap game like a champ.
Photo Credit: Facebook
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29. Jack Novak
Electronic dance music sweetheart, Jack Novak, has been working her way up along flawless productions ranging from banging trap to hearty house throughout 2013. The DJ, songwriter, and producer has as big year ahead with new big room house tracks like “Swerve Your Whip" feat. SOFI coming, as she highly notes all who have helped getting her where she is today. Giving us some assurance of a new project she’s working on through her Facebook page, we’re crossing our fingers for a debut in the New Year. A sweet, raving beauty who makes some kickass beats- what’s more to love?
Photo Credit: www.ilovedominicanrepublic.com
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30. Crywolf
DJ, producer and vocalist Justin Phillips AKA Crywolf has fortified the melodic dubstep reign of 2013, hallmarking it still so very everlasting. In a mere two years, Crywolf has managed to create massive remixes to a rousing, ‘Ghosts’ EP and met with support from acclaimed acts such as Adventure Club, 12th Planet and Skrillex. With much to expect for the New Year - post debut EP - Crywolf is set to make waves amidst his liquid beats in 2014.
Photo Credit: www.fistintheair.com
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