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.
NARA
Listening to NARA’s new EP “FUORIORARIO” on EVAR Records is like taking a sledgehammer to the earholes. The six-track release from the Italian artist is relentless, unapologetic and playful, weaving techno, breaks and rave music into one cohesive wall of noise. The EP follows a steady stream of releases on left-field labels including SZNS7N, childsplay and Still Recordings. NARA made an accompanying video for the title track “FUORIORARIO”, which sees NARA getting beaten and bloody in a boxing ring, a visual representation of the demonic side of her artistry. She lives between Italy and the UK so both cultures shine through her productions, and with three brutal remixes from Baseck, Keepsakes and Nova Cheq, NARA’s sound will soon wreck dance floors the world over.
DUKWA
Following acclaimed releases on Numbers, Bosconi and Tdsr, Dukwa returns with an acid-infused, video-game inspired bass track called “Prune”, the first single off his Matter of Time EP released on Peggy Gou’s Gudu Records. Gou is a long-time supporter of the Florence-based producer and they’ve shared the booth multiple times. The EP follows his 2021 EP Think Potential on Transient Nature, which cemented his name as a leading electronica artist. With a love for machines, classic house and raw experimentation, Dukwa’s sound is one-of-a-kind and universal at the same time, and if his Circoloco, Magnetic Magazine or Boiler Room mixes are anything to go by, his DJ sets are as fearless as his productions.
NORAJ CUE
In late November Amsterdam-based producer and DJ Noraj Cue released his Ode to Life Formation EP on Lee Burridge’s All Day I Dream label, complete with two remixes courtesy of Anton Tumas. Noraj Cue has released over 300 tracks since 2006. His music is built around groove, and treads the line between organic house and progressive dance. He explores the full spectrum of the human experience in his productions, gliding between dark, melancholic, optimistic and uplifting. He champions simplicity over complexity, has an unquenchable curiosity and is unafraid of sharing the most personal aspects of himself. His latest EP is inspired by the track 1997 “Life Formation” by Epsylon 9 and leans into the warm sound of Detroit techno. Noraj Cue is also a widely-respected audio engineer, working with the likes of Be Svendsen, Deer Jade and Itai.
TIBASKO
In November electronic DJ/production duo TIBASKO released their latest track “Hawt” on Another Rhythm. The track was written and recorded in a state of flow in one afternoon in between tour dates and that flow-state certainly comes across to listeners – it’s light, contagious, rhythmic, playful and a fairly airtight summary of the synergy these two share. TIBASKO, also known as Ken Petalcorin and Andy Bowden, were chosen by Pete Tong as Radio 1’s Future Star of 2021 and their steady string of zeitgeist releases has won them fans around the world. They just finished their debut US tour and have no plans to slow down in 2023. Expect new music, more live shows and appearances at most of the major festivals on the planet.
MASHA MAR
Serbian-born, LA-based Masha Mar is on a mission to bring her glittery brand of deep house to the masses, demonstrated through her recent debut EP Virgil’s Dream on Night Prism. It’s a four-track Italo/house/electronica blend, with live drums alongside drum machines as well as a plethora of synths to add depth and texture. And it’s not just her productions sending her places – her selector skills have caught the attention of Peggy Gou, who invited her to support the San Diego leg of her recent US tour, and she’s a regular on the NTS and dublab airwaves. We can’t wait to see what dance floor goodness she’ll be cooking up for us in 2023.
MAXI MERAKI
Inspired by the Miami Vice TV series, Maxi Meraki’s organic house productions have a cinematic edge to them. That, combined with a love for synths and disco, gives his productions a unique texture that sets him apart from the rest. He began his career as a DJ but moved into the production sphere in 2019, with his releases getting snapped up by Nervous records, Go Deeva, SUDAM Recordings, Spinnin’ Deep and Tensnake’s True Romance. His next release is “All This And More” on Suprematic’s 2022 VA release, which precedes a steady string of releases this year, including “Dare Your Move” and “Don’t Impress Me Much” both of which topped the Melodic House charts. With support from Jamie Jones, Claptone, Desiree, Adam Ten, Solomun, BLOND:ISH and Pete Tong, 2023 has Maxi Meraki’s name on it.
