Mariana Bo

From:Mexico City

DJ style:“EDM/hyper techno.”

Best known for:“My collaboration with Timmy Trumpet, ‘Vivaldi’.”

Classically trained violinist, DJ and producer Mariana BO has veered further into techno territory this year without abandoning her roots in EDM, hard dance and psy-trance. Still riding high off playing violin on ‘Vivaldi’ live at Tomorrowland 2022 alongside Timmy Trumpet — and this year pulling off a thumping set at the same EDM mecca — Mariana appears to be further nailing her stake as a high energy performer. Her February collaboration with Bonka, ‘Hello Techno’, was a restless ode to techno’s vigorous pulse, while her reworking of the Rednex classic ‘Cotton Eyed Joe’ with LNY TNZ saw a return to hardstyle.

The Mexican artist’s latest single, ‘Cantus’, has hinted at what’s next, featuring a welding of spooky plainchant and techno. Elsewhere, Mariana has worked on endorsements with brands including Pepsi and Fantasy Lab, and says she’s been busy “creating a lot of new music” as well as “touring a lot, visiting many countries, and getting to know the culture of those I had not visited before”.

Hero of 2023:“Without a doubt, Hardwell made a big change by experimenting with new sounds.”

Fave tune of 2023: “Creeds, ‘Push Up’.”

Best DJ set you’ve seen in 2023:“Eric Prydz’s HOLO show at Tomorrowland.”

What was the most exciting tech development of 2023?“The creation of music and voice through artificial intell

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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.