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.
DRUMSKULL
Joel Harrison started his Drumskull project during lockdown. He took advantage of the never-ending days to bang out his debut album Interlocked, packed full of slick jungle, broken beat and a cheeky bit of house. The album won support from Addison Groove, Ahadadream, Doc Scott as well as play outs from Tom Ravenscroft on BBC Radio 6 and Avalon Emerson on her BBC Radio 1 Residency. Drumskull has monthly residencies on AAJA and Threads radio, and he’s kicking off 2023 with his Muscle Memory EP on Hooversound Recordings, a two-track project that weaves between jungle, footwork, house and breaks. The EP features remixes from Lone and LMajor at 160 and 140BPM respectively, so definitely ones for the peak time playlist.
DASCO
In mid-January DJ, producer, vocalist and founder of Bisexuality Exists Records, Berlin-based DASCO released her Powerful Woman EP on Shall Not Fade. The Israeli-born, Berlin-based artist has been producing since 2018, steadily building a signature sound that blends techno, rave and acid house. She launched her Bisexuality Exists imprint in 2022 along with the single “Get High With Me,” which received support and playouts from the likes of Dr. Rubenstein and Roi Perez. She’s shared her feel-good, colourful selections in clubs around the world from Leipzig to Johannesburg to Tokyo, and with recent sets at Panorama Bar and Hör Berlin, she’s just getting warmed up. In 2023 she has big plans to expand the sound of the rave with a ton more releases lined up.
CALUSSA
Producers, DJs, label heads and brothers Andrew and Gino Gomez, professionally known as Calussa, explore euphoric and hypnotic sounds with their latest release with Colombian artists MOSKA and LA GURÚ. “Adios” marks the beginning of a new chapter for the duo, with heavy percussion, infectious melodies and haunting vocals, which they premiered in December at a 4-day festival for Miami Art Week. The release follows a huge year for Calussa, who secured two #1s in Beatport’s Afro House charts as well as releasing 13 singles and EPs on their Hurry Up Slowly imprint. Calussa started in 2019 and have been producing in the industry for over 10 years, and they’ve become staples in the global Afro House scene, with releases on REDOLENT, Abracadabra Music and Blast Records, as well as their own label.
JENN GETZ & ALFIE
UK-born, Dubai-based Jenn Getz & Alfie are on a mission to diversify Dubai’s electronic music scene one unforgettable banger at a time. Since the long-time friends joined forces in 2020 they’ve secured a residency at Soho Garden DXB supporting the likes of Hot Since 82, Fisher, Camelphat and Sonny Federa amongst others. They also have a weekly slot on the infamous Ibiza Global Radio UAE where they showcase the freshest tech and house tracks. And it’s not just their DJ sets making waves — their debut single “Only 4 Things” got snapped up by SOLOTOKO, followed by “Let’s Rave” on Toolroom. They kicked off 2023 with tech house scorcher “Rome”, and in March they’ll release another dance floor detonator on Toolroom. Ones to watch, without a doubt.
ELI FOLA
Musically speaking, there’s not much Eli Fola can’t do. The Nigerian-born sound artist, saxophonist, DJ and producer splits his time between New York and Los Angeles-based, sharing his unique blend of Afro House, techno and jazz wherever he goes. His latest release “Agogo” on Bayaka Records is a piano and percussion-led homage to the producer’s homeland and follows a slew of releases on his own label Tech Afrique as well as imprints including Connected Frontline and Wokoundou. Eli Fola is the creator and pioneer of the live-hybrid set “Yoruba Tech Soul,” an innovative fusion of the genres that influence him. He’s opened for Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, A$AP Rocky and Swizz Beatz, performed at SXSW and his show was recommended by The New York Times. And judging by the reception his new track is already getting, there’s a lot more where that came from.
UNCLE KNOWS
Galway-born house producer UNCLE KNOWS is on a rapid rise, thanks in part to TSHA hailing him a ‘Producer who will define the next generation’ in an interview with Mixmag. She then included his track deep house track “FLOCK” on her Fabric Presents compilation, which went on to become a staple on the global festival circuit this summer. He launched his own label WISDOM RECORDS in 2020 with a track called “Freak” that demonstrated the playful side of his artistry, and in 2023, he’s kicked things off with a two-track EP titled 925 on Dumb Safari, the new label from Huxley. The EP acts as a homage to old skool rhythms and breakbeats, drawing on rave’s sample culture to deliver two cutting-edge pieces of dance-floor gold.
