Cat Dealers

From:Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

DJ style:“House, bass house and progressive house.”

Best known for:“Dealing cats and making tunes.”

It’s been a pretty fabulous 2024 for Brazilian top dogs, or should that be cool cats, Lugui and Pedrao, also known as Cat Dealers. “Some of this year’s highlights were Tomorrowland Mainstage, Tomorrowland Brazil Mainstage, Rock in Rio, So Track Boa, and Creamfields,” they say to DJ Mag on playing at the kinds of festivals and clubs they have previously only dreamt of. But dreams do come true, and their current trajectory is taking them to a 10thanniversary next year: “We have some surprises planned for this celebration.”

Not shy in coming forward with the feline themes, the duo have released tune after tune playing with the theme, whether it’s ‘Eyes’ with Rain Radio, ‘Meow’, or simply cat animations, references and visuals. “And we’re always thinking how we can improve as people and artists,” they concede. Refining their craft is high on the list of future plans, with new material, collaborations and projects likely to see them good to enter the Top 100 DJs poll for yet another year.

Fave tune of 2024?

“John Summit ‘Shiver’.”

Rising star DJ/producer of 2024?

Most Popular

Faustix

From:Denmark

DJ style: “Big techno.”

Best known for: “Collaboration with Diplo, Faustix, Imanos and Kai called ‘Revolution’.”

Everything about 2024 was big and bold for Faustix. The Danish dance music lifer found a new sound over the course of the past year, where ropey and dramatic arpeggios dart in and out of brash techno kicks and every drop feels like barreling down a dopamine rollercoaster. Each release seemed to push the envelope further and further — from the soaring emotions of ‘Lead Me To Love You’ with vocalist Mougleta to ‘All My Friends Are Hot’, whose cheeky vocal flip (“All my friends are hot and only listen to techno”) was the perfect summer festival anthem. Add to that a teased remix of Belgian Stromae ‘Alors on danse’ and it’s clear that 2024 was, without a doubt, the year Faustix found a whole new groove.

While he’s certainly been busy in the studio, Faustix has also played everywhere — from 13,000 person raves in the middle of Copenhagen to gigs on the Faroe Islands. Faustix, in other words, hasn’t taken his foot off the gas for even a second. And, with each gig and release, he is testament to how much people still love pumping, hard-edged techno.

Fave tune of 2024?

“Dash Berlin ‘Till The Sky Falls Down’, it’s an all-time classic and still gets me