Hardwell

From:Breda, The Netherlands

DJ style: “Energetic big room techno.”

Best known for: “Former two-times #1 DJ of the world, founder of Revealed Recordings and playing the biggest festivals around the globe.”

Since returning to DJing in 2022, fans have been packing out dancefloors at gigs Hardwell has played the world over. And their love for the Dutch two-times winner of Top 100 DJs has been proven once again, with Hardwell rising a colossal 26 places, back up to number 11 in 2024. These performances include sets at Ultra Music Festival in Miami, Untold Dubai, Amsterdam’s Ziggo Dome, Parookaville, Nova Era’s Beach Party Medusa Festival, Creamfields, the Tomorrowland main stage — for two performances — and many more.

Not stopping at his return to DJing, though, he also partnered with Apple earlier this year to release the first official Hardwell sample pack, which he describes as a “huge moment for me”. He’s been equally busy in the studio, releasing a host of new music including collaborations with Armin van Buuren, Bassjackers, Maddix, Blasterjaxx, Nifra, and 2Unlimited, as well as a remix of David Guetta and OneRepublic’s ‘I Don’t Wanna Wait’ with Olly James. Hardwell’s label, Revealed Recording, also hit its 1000th release this year with his KAAZE collaboration, ‘Move’. “Next year marks the 15th anniversary of Revealed,” Hardwell tells DJ Mag. “So plans are already underway for what is going to be a very special year for the label.”

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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