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 year.
BLACK FORCES
“To Make You Move.” That’s the Black Forces manifesto, an immersive project from Atlanta-based songwriter and producer Evan Colbert. Black Forces refuses to be limited by genre, instead celebrating the fluidity of movement through hard-hitting rhythms that tap in to your soul. Following his emotion-driven eponymous techno EP on 2MR in 2020 he’s finally releasing his follow-up BACK 2 BLACK. It’s a funk-filled groove-fest that embodies escapism and movement through music, with the title track acting as a playful ode to acid house. Black Forces’s music reflects the ever-changing soundscape of his home city and the world at large, and his love for movement and the human body shine through his productions; celebrating humanity in all its forms.
RAECOLA
Twin sisters Rae and Cola shared beats in the womb, which is probably why their ghetto bass and booty tech productions are adored on a mass scale. RaeCola broke onto the scene in 2022 with their debut single “Bezerk” on DistroKid. The track blew dance music’s socks off – it was fun, unusual, high energy and unapologetic, setting the tone for a slew of ridiculously vibrant and upbeat releases. In January, the duo released their Route 69 EP on POPGANG Records, a three-track tech house extravaganza with “Bang that Shit” repping the weird, wonderful and wild side to their artistry. With “Rock the Rhythm,” the duo get down and dirty with a 4:4 beat alongside searing guitar solos, and for “Route 69” the twins take you on a journey through the soundscapes of their native Chicago to their new home LA — and it’s one helluva bumpy ride.
SALOMÉ LE CHAT
Parisian-born DJ, producer and creative Salomé Le Chat is making her debut release on The Martinez Brothers’ Cuttin’ Headz imprint this month with Time To Move, a two-track EP that treads the line between minimal and deep tech. The EP has already garnered support from the likes of Jamie Jones and LEON, and is en route to become one of 2023’s standout house releases. Since her debut release on Rebellion in 2020, Salomé’s made waves the world over with legendary performances at Burning Man, Art Basel and BPM Festival. Her productions are jam-packed with funky synths and thumping bass made for the main stage, demonstrated by long-time supporters Damian Lazarus, Harry Romero and Gorgon City. For a taste of her selector skills, listen to her recent takeover on Circoloco Radio.
CLOSE COUNTERS
This month Australia-based duo Close Counters return with the second volume of their SOULACOASTA series to celebrate soul music in all its forms. The project began in 2022 when the pair travelled around the UK and Europe, absorbing the sights and sounds of the continent. They spent their days digging through record stores to find gems from the golden-era of disco, boogie and groove, collecting samples that became their SOULACOASTA project. They threw in some hip hop and 70s nostalgia to create an eclectic journey through the duo’s inspiration and imagination, creating an instantly legendary series that’s quirky to its core. Following in its footsteps, SOULACOASTA II is the feel-good, life-affirming kick you’ve been looking for.
ANGEL D’LITE
DJ, producer and set designer Angel D’Lite is as vibrant as her name suggests. The London-based artist channels her love of rave into all her endeavours, producing hard-hitting, 90s nostalgia for labels like Dansu Discs, Ran$om Note and Big Dyke Energy. Since her first release in 2020 she’s been unstoppable, teaming up with Gallegos, Ell Murphy and Fiesta Soundsystem to create boundary-pushing productions. Earlier this month she released a remix on the Moonquake EP from LUXE and Tom Place, a 4-track EP full of breaks, bass and bangers with her remix of “Moonquake” harnessing the unrestrained energy and euphoria of her artistry. With shows and mixes on Rinse, The Lot Radio and FACT as well as collabs with some of the world’s hottest artists, there’s no doubt 2023 has Angel’s name on it.
LAWRENCE HART
This March, Lawrence Hart releases his third EP Music for Dark Spaces along with a live show in London. The EP follows his January single “How The Light Gets In” on Attack Decay Sweet Release, a spiritual electronica track full of robotic vocals and choppy breaks. Since his first release in 2015 he’s made a name for himself as one of the most forward-thinking artists in electronic music, working with the likes of George Fitzgerald, Lil Silva, Scuba, Alan Fitzpatrick, and making remixes for Lau.ra, Foals, Model Man, Massane and ’90s legends Black Box. His first two solo EPs Surrender Yourself and Small-Scale Experimental Machine earned plaudits from Pete Tong, The Blessed Madonna and Sister Bliss as well as play outs and shout outs from Radio 1, 6Music, DJ Mag, Mixmag, Ministry of Sound and beyond. And it looks like Music for Dark Spaces is all set to continue this legacy.
