Claptone

From:Germany

DJ style:House

Best known for:“The Masquerade.”

It’s been a decade since German producer and DJ Claptone announced his arrival, via his debut release ‘No Eyes’ on Exploited, and his true identity still remains obscured behind his trademark mask. Now three albums deep, with 2015’s ‘Charmer’, 2018’s ‘Fantast’ and 2021’s ‘Closer’, he’s built a global fanbase that keeps growing, drawn together by his Spotify- and club-friendly take on house music.

This year saw him team up with Alison Goldfrapp for ‘Digging Deeper’, a disco-infused anthem, put out ‘Big Easy’, a club roller sampling Lew Stone & the Monseigneur Band’s classic ‘My Woman’, and provide some giant remixes, such as his uplifting Afro-house take on Zakes Bantwini’s ‘Osama’. Along the way he launched his own label Golden Recordings with the epic ‘Euphoria’, while also teaming up with New York legend Man Parrish for the ‘Boogie Down (Bronx)’ inspired ‘Flashdance’.

Claptone had the honour of opening Tomorrowland’s new main stage over the summer, while also hitting other big festivals such as We Are FSTVL and Exit. But the main focus was his own The Masquerade party at Pacha in Ibiza. Featuring a huge cast of the biggest stars, such as Fatboy Slim, Faithless, Moodymann and 2ManyDJs, alongside a raft of celebrated house DJs, it all constellated around his own enduring sound.

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Le Shuuk

From: Stuttgart, Germany

DJ style:“Hard dance / electro / hardstyle / techno / EDM.”

Best known for: “The tracks ‘Sandmann’, ‘Toast Hawaii’ and ‘Konje’, as well as being a resident and face of WORLD CLUB DOME Festival.”

A mainstay of the electronic scene for almost 20 years now, Stuttgart native Le Shuuk is no stranger to the rigours of touring. In the last 12 months, he decided to overhaul his lifestyle, committing to exercising regularly and abstaining from drinking during his shows. As a result, the DJ and producer, who is a favourite of the German festival circuit, says that he is having more fun on stage than ever. He credits these changes with allowing him to connect on a deeper level with his audiences, as well as redefine his career goals and look with renewed focus to the future.

The new healthy habits clearly agree with him. As well as recently performing at festivals and clubs across Europe, and holding his own Le Shuuk & Friends parties in his home city, he continues to build on the momentum of tracks like 2020’s peak-rave, German language tune ‘Sandmann’ and 2021’s hypnotic ‘Goodbye’ (featuring Xillions). This year he had another star turn with the explosive ‘Konje’, a collaboration with B-Stylezz that combined modern techno and EDM with the traditional elements of Bulgarian folk songs, with the track receiving big support from the likes of Armin van Buuren, Amelie Lens, and Joyhauser.