Alan Walker

From:Norway

DJ style:“Uplifting / energetic.”

Best known for: “‘Faded’.”

2024 has been significant for Alan Walker for many reasons, but one particularly big moment came in May when the Norwegian star appeared on stage for the first time without his signature mask. Sure, it might not seem likethatbig a deal, but as we approach the tenth anniversary of his emergence in 2015 with ‘Faded’ — a huge international hit that now boasts 3.6 billion views on YouTube – it felt symbolic. Walker — who actually produced ‘Faded’ in 2014 — doesn’t want to be remembered as some faceless EDM producer, but a prolific all-rounder with plenty to offer.

Of course, masked or not, his legions of devoted fans already know all that, and that’s why they’ve once again voted him high into the Top 100 DJs poll. This year, Walker released new music every month, including ‘Who I Am’ in January, a collab with Joe Jonas and Julia Michaels (‘Thick Of It All’), an EP for Monstercatt, and several tracks for theRocket Leaguesoundtrack. He’s toured extensively, and will close the year out with a huge run of shows across India and China. On top of all that, he’ll continue to expand the World Of Walker cinematic/video game universe in November with the launch of WalkerWorld 2.0.

Favourite tune of 2024:

“‘Mockingbird’ by Tiesto, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike and Gabry Ponte.”

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