The Dutch DJ, real name Quinten van den Berg, has climbed a further six places in the Top 100 DJs poll this year. “It really made me happy when I heard the news that I was in the Top 100 again,” he tells DJ Mag when we contact him for his interview. “Even though music speaks for itself, it’s great when it gets recognized.”
Signed to giant Dutch behemoth Spinnin', his latest release is a huge EDM update of the Nomad house classic 'Devotion', while earlier in the year he again teamed with his 'Epic' cohort Sandro Silva for 'Aftermath', a release supported by DV&LM, Hardwell, Garrix, Showtek et al.
“We always make sure that there is time enough in my schedule to be in the studio,” Quintino tells us. “And on the planes I sleep like a baby, so that is a good perk.”
He also says that he's had some great shows this year such as EDC and Ultra Korea, and is heading back Stateside for EDC Orlando in early November before returning for Electrowave in France later in the month.
KIM O'CONNOR
It's been business as usual for Kura (aka Rúben de Almeida Barbeiro) in 2015, having placed 42nd in last year's DJ Mag Top 100 DJs poll. Despite a slide in the rankings this year, the Portuguese electro-house producer has cemented his position as one of the most in-demand EDM producers in Europe with a raft of new tracks and collaborations.
2015 saw Kura release stadium-sized cuts, 'Oxygen' and 'Collide', on Dutch imprint Spinnin’ Records, collaborated with Dutch producer Tony Junior for a huge track ‘King Kong’, which is being released on Afrojack’s Wall Recordings this month, and he still found time to tour all over the world.
As well as a string of well-received productions, the DJ and producer has seen his output consistently supported by EDM’s leading lights — including David Guetta and Hardwell, who’ve supported his output throughout 2015.
Not only has last year’s No.1 DJ, Hardwell, been playing his tracks consistently during 2015, the Dutch producer recently revealed during a radio interview that the two producers have been collaborating in the studio. With his next release coming out on Afrojack's Wall Recordings, 2015 has seen Kura become one of Portugal’s biggest dance exports.
“This year has been intense, so much good stuff happening,” he tells DJ Mag. “Travelling the world, new collaborations, meeting new people... I can only remember of positive stuff, the shows keep getting bigger and bigger, and the support of the fans is insane!”
A snarky, anarchist streak runs through much of Latin American electronic music. You hear it in Rebolledo’s rambunctious techno, Matias Aguayo’s beatbox micro-house, Los Mekanikos’s campy, jacking beats, and on many releases issued by labels like Cómeme and Sanfuentes Records whose proclaimed target audience is those who “dance, laugh, scream, hallucinate and take their shirts off.”
After a triumphant release on BNR TRAX that was the start of a brilliant year for the label, Costello is back with the 'Taurus EP'. Building on the heavy metallic electro sound showcased in his first BNR EP, 'Taurus' is full guns blazing from the outset, and as with his last EP, Costello's use of tension and release is masterful. His shrewd control of energy making each track just as useful as a DJ tool as well as a stand alone track.
Jagerverb is a Berlin expat who's been causing quite the stir recently, and the 'Pomme EP' justifies the hype. Though Jagerverb resides in the techno capital of the world, his hard-hitting progressive electro cuts are a far cry from the dark, dubby techno sounds of Berghain.
Classic Crookers from start to finish, this typically humorous and undeniably funky mix is in anticipation of his highly awaited third album to be released this November.
The first single 'Picture This' has just been released on Phra's own label Ciao Recs, and hints at some of his best stuff yet!
Check the video for that here.
