Meet the Beatport Next class of 2022.
Last year Beatport proudly launched Beatport Next, an initiative that provided six talented young artists with a full year of dedicated support in order to help grow their profiles, and take their careers to the next level.
In 2022 the Beatport Next program is once again giving a group of up-and-comers from around the world our full support, including Beatport homepage visibility and visibility on various genre pages, as well as LINK playlists, editorial features on Beatportal, live streams, and extensive social media support that will last throughout the year.
Our previous Beatport Next edition championed six talented acts — Alignment, Logic1000, IMANU, VNSSA Kevin De Vries, and TSHA — helping connect them Beatport’s massive global DJ and fan community. These six artists saw a 70% increase in Beatport store revenue and a 101% increase in Beatport followers after receiving 12 months of support with Beatport Next.
Following the success of the platform’s debut, Beatport announced an open call for artists interested in participating 2022’s Next program. And once again, Beatport is centering diversity by amplifying underrepresented voices and fresh sounds that deserve to be heard.
After completing its extensive selection process, Beatport is thrilled to announce eight artists from diverse backgrounds and a broad spectrum of sounds will make up the Beatport Next Class of 2022.
Meet the Beatport Next 2022 class below.
8KAYS
Hailing from the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, Iryna Shvydka (aka 8Kays) is quickly becoming one of the melodic house & techno scene’s most essential artists. Her passionate and immensely groovy sound can be found on revered labels such as Renaissance Records, Booka Shade’s Blaufield Music imprint, Above & Beyonds’ Anjunabeats, Eleatics Records, and more.
AMÉMÉ
Specialising in Afro-leaning electronic music, with flourishes of tribal percussion and spiritual vocals built upon a foundation of contemporary deep house and tech, West African native Hubert Sodogandji (aka AMÉMÉ) channels his cultural roots and ancestry into everything he does. Born in Benin and currently based in the US, the rising Afro House star’s music has been released via Watergate Records, Blond:Ish’s Abracadabra imprint, the mighty MoBlack Records, and his very own One Tribe label, brand, and global community.
Emily Nash
20-year-old Worcestershire-based DJ/producer Emily Nash emerged in 2021 with three exquisite releases on Stress Records and will kick off 2022 with her new single “Garden” on Ministry of Sound. Despite never DJing outside of her bedroom because of the pandemic, Emily hasn’t wasted any time and in a few short months has managed to rack up gigs across the UK at Creamfields, Leeds Festival, Ministry and Tobacco Dock on New Year’s Eve.
Jaden Thompson
Jaden Thompson lives and breathes UK House. Born in Swindon, the young DJ/producer became a resident at Fabric at just 20 years old, playing alongside legends like Seth Troxler and Annie Mac. Jayden’s juicy house bangers have been snapped up by Emerald City Music, The Martinez Brothers’ Cuttin’ Headz, Kitsuné Musique, Archie Hamilton’s Moscow Records, and Three Six Zero Recordings, while continuing to build up his freshly minted Midnight Parade label.
Marina Trench
Rising Parisian DJ/producer Marina Trench has been making serious headway in clubland with her marvelous and groovy house style. First hitting the scene back in 2019 with the release of her debut Signature EP, which featured remixes from Kerri Chandler and DJ Deep, Trench’s tracks have been picked up by labels like Deeply Rooted, Wolf Music Recordings, Dam Swindle’s Heist Recordings, and her brand new Sweet State imprint.
Nia Archives
Turning genres inside out and upside down, blending garage and R&B with lo-fi jungle and heartbreaking vocals, nothing about Nia Archives is predictable. Hailing from Leeds and currently based in Manchester, Nia found the spotlight this year following her Hospital Records single “Move On” and her debut Headz Gone West EP, released via her 2021 HIJINXX imprint. Heavily influenced by soundsystem culture and carnival, Nia aims to take up space in the jungle scene as a young Black woman while representing her Jamaican roots and carving out space for other Black women to see themselves in the genre.
Nikki Nair
Tennessee-born, Atlanta-based artist Nikki Nair is a master of chopping breaks and has a keen ear for a soulful sample, crafting full-throttle percussive dance music takes cues from electro, techno, breaks, and Baltimore club. Nikki’s simultaneous commitment to both genre-blending experimentation and dance floor utilitarianism has landed him on highly regarded record labels in both the UK and US, including Mr. Mitch’s Gobstopper, Barely Legal’s Pretty Weird, Scuffed Recordings, and Claude VonStroke’s Dirtybird.
Risa Taniguchi
Born and raised in Tokyo, Risa Taniguchi draws her sonic inspiration from the city’s electric atmosphere and unique underground scene. A beloved regular at some of the Japanese capital’s best-known clubs like Contact and Vent, the artist’s thrumming and acidic strain of techno has caught the attention of labels like Odd Recordings, Pan-Pot’s Second State, Suara, Fort Romeau’s Cin Cin and more.
