Deadmau5

From:Canada

DJ style:Progressive, EDM

Best known for:Mouse head

It’s hard to believe that 15 years have passed since deadmau5 released the cinematic but highly danceable hit ‘Strobe’ via his record label mau5trap. In the years since, Joel Zimmerman has continued to craft an illustrious career in electronic music that, so far, spans a quarter of a century.

In 2024, deadmau5 released the ‘some ep’ via mau5trap, which comprised four instrumentals that embodied the emotionally rich sound of deadmau5, featuring his signature spine-tingling pads through to peak-time atmospheres. The EP also included a squishy tune called ‘Wet’ produced by his techno alias TESTPILOT. mau5trap also released remixes of previously celebrated tracks ‘Ghosts n Stuff’ by JAUZ, ‘Not Exactly’ by Rebūke, and ‘Strobe’ by Layton Giordani. For the vinyl heads, the label reissued three of deadmau5’s revered albums on wax for the first time; ‘for lack of a better name’, ‘4×4=12’ and ‘> album title goes here <’.

The Canadian artist has spent much time on the road this year, performing his live show series ‘retro5pective: 25 years of deadmau5’ and selling out the 17,500-capacity Hollywood Bowl along the way. Plus, the annual ‘day of the deadmau5’ seasonal shows took place in Chicago, Washington DC, San Francisco, Mexico City, and Puerto Rico.

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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