Nora En Pure

From:South Africa / Switzerland

DJ style: “Melodic / cinematic house and techno.”

Best known for:“‘Come With Me’.”

Toward the end of 2023, Nora En Pure found a way of merging her three key interests — music, marine conservation and wildlife photography — when her Purified record label partnered with photographer Ⅾaniel Nicholson and the Only One climate initiative. Subsequently, each release on the label has featured one of Nicholson’s stunning sealife images, along with facts and figures outlining the importance of ocean preservation. Not only that, but 30% of all sales revenue from the label has gone towards related projects during the past 12 months.

It’s just one of many projects the ‘Come With Me’ producer and DJ has gotten stuck into this year. She’s released plenty of music of her own, including tracks like ‘Train Of Thoughts’, ‘Hyperreal (Middle of the Night)’ and ‘Infinite Memories’, and has taken her melodic, big room-tuned selections to DJ booths across the globe, from Tomorrowland and Pacha Ibiza to Purified takeovers in London, Berlin, Los Angeles and at Ultra Miami. It’s a restless state she seems to thrive in, spinning multiple plates with a clear, purposeful vision in mind. It’s no wonder her fans have voted her into the Top 100 DJs poll again this year. We’re excited to see where the current takes her next.

Favourite tune of 2024:

“Journey > tune.”

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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