Sara Landry

From:California-born, based in Amsterdam, NL

DJ style:“Hard techno.”

Best known for:“My recent single ‘Heaven’ / Boiler Room 2023 set.”

With hardstyle DJs dropping out of the Top 100 list this year, Sara Landry becomes the new World’s No.1 Hard DJ by virtue of the blistering BPMS of her banging techno sound. The recent DJ Mag North America cover star started her journey throwing independent raves in Austin, Texas, but now she’s amassing fans the world over. In 2024 she played to some of her largest audiences yet — at hallowed destinations like Tomorrowland Belgium’s main stage and circuitGROUNDS at EDM Las Vegas (plus packed out headlining shows in Bogatá, Miami, New York City and a natural cave in Pelham, Tennessee, among countless others.)

Amidst the whirlwind, she’s carved out space and cast magic spells in the studio, too. On the horizon is the HEKATE label boss’s most ambitious release to date, certain to satisfy those who resonate with her witchy warehouse sound. “I’m about to drop my debut album, a project I am so proud of,” she reveals happily. “These sessions with the album’s collaborators have made me fall back in love with producing after a long year of writer’s block whilst touring.” Until then, there’s plenty of good vibes already flowing through the airwaves, like those found in ‘Heaven’, her uplifting collaboration with Spanish rising star Alt8. Honest to God, we could rip this tune for eternity.

Fave tune of 2024?

“Alex Farell ‘American Nightmare’.”

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