Above & Beyond

From:UK (Jono and Tony), Finland (Paavo)

DJ style:Emotional electronic dance music

Best known for:Group Therapy

2024 marks two decades since melodic heavyweights Above & Beyond first soared onto the Top 100 DJs list –— and that’s not the only milestone they’ve eclipsed this year. Back in July, the trio unveiled their first project on Anjunadeep, a sub-label of their prodigious Anjunabeats imprint, marking an ongoing advancement into deeper sonic territories. Produced alongside PROFF, ‘Palermo / Fractals’ introduced more punctual rhythms and organic house textures alongside A&B’s usual luxurious production. Both tracks made an appearance during the trio’s rare Deep Set at this year’s Anjunadeep Open Air in London, where they treated fans to two hours of soul-searching beats and transcendental melodies.

Above & Beyond’s radio empire also celebrated some landmark moments in 2024, including 500 episodes of the Anjunadeep Edition weekly mix show. Members Jono Grant, Tony McGuinness and Paavo Siljamäki joined forces on the airways for a special commemoratory episode, spinning some unreleased tracks alongside music from label faves like Marsh, Jody Wisternoff, ANUQRAM and Luttrell. In October, the trio were also set to toast 600 editions of their fan favourite Group Therapy radio show with a headline performance in

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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