Don Diablo

From:The Netherlands

DJ style:“Future music.”

Best known for:“Building a Hexagon-shaped world.”

It’s been another year of non-stop touring, production and new creative expression for Don Diablo. Diary entries for the Dutchman this year will surely include playing for nearly 100,000 people at EDC Mexico in February, then topping that incredible figure when over 120,000 people attended his show in Aguascalientes, Mexico two months later. There was his debut show at Brazil’s renowned Laroc club too, and his annual Tomorrowland appearance, which included the big reveal of emotional pop-dance song ,‘Young Again’, with Swedish singer-songwriter Sandro Cavazza.

Collaborations with UK hitmakers Jamiroquai and Robbie Williams — a futuristic version of the former’s 1998 chart-topper ‘Deeper Underground’, and new track ‘Where Do We Come From’ with the latter — have also been forthcoming this year. As well as ticking off these “wishlist” production collabs, Don teamed up with creative director Ethan Tobman — whose credits include Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour and films like The Menu and Free Guy — to put together his new live show, which debuted with a nearly five-hour performance at NYC’s Brooklyn Mirage in September. Other top moments for Don included releasing a 90-minute mixtape containing “50 of my best personal edits, bootlegs and unreleased remixes” to celebrate his 500th HEXAGON RADIO episode, and exhibiting his new physical artwork CTRL ALT DELETE in London.

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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