Welcome back to On Our Radar, Beatportal’s monthly roundup of the DJs and producers we can’t get enough of.
Check out the On Our Radar Beatport Chart to find tracks from the artists below, along with additional tunes that have caught our attention this month.
THE AM
Ann-Marie Teasley, AKA The AM is making waves in Detroit’s techno scene and beyond with her relentless selections and recent Black Majik EP release on Tresor Records. Now she’s all set to unleash another EP called Sexworker this September on Dutch imprint Deeptrax, including a collaboration with Trackmasta Lou of Scan7. It might seem a long way from her classical violinist background, but The AM uses her expansive musical knowledge to create narrative-led techno that connects past, present and future. She cut her teeth as a guest DJ on NTS radio, and has since become a Motor City staple more, collaborating with some of her hometown’s heavyweights like Aux 88 (their joint release drops next year). The AM aims to push the boundaries of Detroit’s sound while retaining its spirit – and bringing the community along with her.
PHAIRO
After years of producing tracks for some of the UK’s most loved artists, including Bruno Major, ELIZA and Sam Wills, Phairo’s emerging as an artist in his own right. His electro house track “Pelican” released on Watermelon Records racked up millions of streams, while “Drum Workout!” is a firm favourite amongst bass and break enthusiasts. His latest 9 EP recently dropped on LG105 as a series of monthly singles, starting with “Galacticon,” a break-filled, bass-heavy track with an industrial undertone. After years working behind the scenes, Phairo says his work on Bruno Major’s recent album got him all fired up to start paving his own way. And with his deft, clean style and hook-heavy productions, there’s no doubt Phairo will be dominating dance floors in no time.
MATISA
Rome-born, Florence-based Matisa is one of Italy’s most creative and expressive DJs and producers, with a bubbly, high-energy style catching the attention of dance and disco lovers worldwide. She played piano and oboe as a kid, but it was only when she began DJing and producing she felt she could truly express herself through music. Her productions are an extension of her personality, which makes her tracks rich in authenticity – and her releases on Biologic Records, On Loop, and Butter Sessions are testament to that. Her latest release is a remix of Elninodiablo’s “Vaugahyde” on El Nino Diablo Music, a label associated with Berlin club night Lunchbox Candy – a home for radical self-expression.
DANVERS
London-based producer Danvers (who’s also one half of electronic duo Kassian) just released his debut album Gently Ascending on Fantastic Voyage. The 9 track project is packed full of hardware-driven breakbeat and electro jams, and follows EP and single releases on labels including Flat White Records, Toolroom, and Variety Music amongst others. The artist took a break from solo production during lockdown, but found his groove again after he set out to record a series of live jams using just the hardware equipment in his studio. Gently Ascending features nine of these jams, all of which will be part of Danvers’ new live hardware set. The album may be technically intricate, but the tracks are meant for the dance floor – designed to move bodies and lift spirits.
ANNĒ
ANNĒ’s pushing boundaries in Greece’s techno scene and taking the community along with her. Born in Thessaloniki, ANNĒ’s journey began in 2012, when she turned her passion for raving into a full-time hobby. Nearly ten years on and her sharp, muscular sets have pummelled their way across Europe from C12 to ://about blank, taking inspiration from ’90s Detroit and ‘00s European sounds. She released her Cassiopeia EP on sister-label Symbolism in 2021 followed by a remix of Nicole Moudaber’s track “What Was.” She’s just released her new EP Selenic on Ben Sims’ Hardgroove, and describes the four-track project as pacey and uncompromising, with roots in rhythmic and funk-laced techno.
KAHANI
NYC-based Kahani fuses traditional Punjab folklore vocals with contemporary house sounds. He broke out in 2019, playing Terminal 5 to a crowd of 2500 people, followed by an eight-week residency during Tulum’s high season. Inspired by the sights, sounds, and scenes of New York City, he soon launched his label Nonresident to showcase emerging talent and platform diaspora artists worldwide. His latest release is “Ranjha” a deep house cut with South Asian vocals and grooving rhythms to get lost in, which the artist describes as “a cinematic folktale.” And Kahani has plenty more strings to his bow. He’s co-founder of imprint and event series Indo Warehouse and partnered with South Asian New York Fashion Week (SANYFW) to host their official 2022 kick-off party. And with deadmau5, Kidi, ShiShi, Rusha & Blizza and Raaginder counting themselves Kahani super fans, there’s no doubt you will too.
