KAKA

From:China

DJ style:“Mainstage house and dance; music that makes you happy.”

Best known for:“‘Needs’.”

Fave tune of 2022:“‘Moth To A Flame’ by Swedish House Mafia feat. The Weeknd.”

Rising star DJ/producer of 2022:“KREAM.”

Although KAKA has been a respected pioneer for female DJs in China since she emerged in the late ‘00s — not to mention a Pioneer DJ champion in 2015 — this year was something of a breakout year for the DJ. It’s easy to see why: her DJing moves fluently and fluidly from chopped-up pop songs to reassembled club monsters. Running throughout all her sets is a delicate sense of balance. Her selections behind the decks are just as likely to be filled with broody bass that sounds like it’s about to break through the stereo as sky-searching melodies — perfect for lonely drives home. This style of DJing has gotten her accolades both in her native China and internationally, with the likes of Laidbuke Luke tapping her for a guest mix, and a festival itinerary that saw her criss-cross Europe and North America.

KAKA’s interests are not confined to mixing records. She has also dabbled in China’s fashion world, making cameos across fashion week, and 2021 saw her take some time to learn production with her debut, ‘Needs’. She’s followed that release up with the pulling-on-your-heartstrings ‘Be With You’, another track that gives us a teaser of her skills in the studio. DJing, pro

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Cuebrick

From:Germany

DJ style:“Progressive house.”

Best known for:“‘Squid Game’ with Blasterjaxx.”

Fave tune of 2022:“James Hype ‘Ferrari’.”

Rising star DJ/producer of 2022:“Marten Horger.”

What’s the best DJ set you’ve seen this year?“Tale Of Us, Afterlife show at the Brooklyn Mirage.”

After finishing just outside of the Top 100 in 2021, this year German DJ and producer Cuebrick breaks in for the first time this year. He now sits at the top table of global dance music after standout shows everywhere from Los Angeles to San Francisco, Singapore to Bangkok.

While releasing big tunes on labels like Spinnin Records, Armada and Ultra Music, he also works as a radio-host on bigFM’s nitroX show, which is the biggest radio platform for electronic music in Germany.

This year he has worked on a new sound which he says “can best be described as a fusion of different elements from genres such as techno, hard techno, and trance. Hard techno kicks are the foundation, with classic trance synthesizers.” It’s a sound that has seemingly connected with fans, who will be pleased to learn Cuebrick has signed a deal meaning “Smash the House will be the main home for my music for at least the next two years.”

Name one great festival you played for the first time this year…

“Hypercat Festival at Noa Beach Club.”

What’s the longest DJ set you’ve