Top 100 DJs
These are the DJ Mag top 100 DJs of 2011 on Mixcloud, based on a poll of votes from DJ mag readers and subscribers.
Scroll down the list below from 100 all the way through to this year's number 1, to find more information, Cloudcasts and artist stations from the some of the world's top DJs on Mixcloud.
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DJ Mag Top 100 DJs: 100-51
100-51 / 50-1
100. Boys Noize
Alex Ridha started Boys Noize Records in 2005, mainly to release his own creations and be in charge artistically. The Berlin-based label has since gone on to define the modern sound of boundary-blurring German techno/electro with its consistently high quality of multi-artist releases, including the two Boys Noize artist albums 'Oi Oi Oi' and 'Power'. Boys Noize has also released tunes on Kitsuné, Turbo and International Deejay Gigolos, but perhaps most surprising is 2011's 'Adonis' on Sven Väth's Cocoon.
Listen on Mixcloud / Read more on DJmag.com
99. Leon Bolier
It's another year in the Top 100 for Dutch star Leon Bolier. Since he debuted in 2008 at #95, a lot's happened - gigs far and wide, and releases across the board of trance's big hitters. This year has seen his tracks 'Vengeance Vengeance', 'Ost Kaas' and 'Cape Town' do serious damage at clubs and festivals worldwide.
Listen on Mixcloud / Read more on DJmag.com
98. Brennan Heart
It's been another year in the life of a DJ for Brennan Heart (real name Fabian Bohn), but things got more extreme this time. Tours in Asia, Canada and South America suddenly made him a pioneer in these territories rather than just in the studio, where he'd already built a considerable rep on the hardstyle scene, with a raft of releases since the mid-2000s under aliases including Blademasterz, Coffeeshock and Superwave.
Listen on Mixcloud / Read more on DJmag.com
97. Sven Väth
Of all those who make it into the Top 100 DJs poll, Sven Väth is one of few who is, essentially, just a DJ. He very rarely produces, remixes or edits these days, but simply tours the globe on an endless mission to bring the party to whomever may be listening.
Listen on Mixcloud / Read more on DJmag.com
96. Porter Robinson
From the outside, it seems American Porter Robinson is something of an overnight sensation.
"People tend to assume that I've been doing this for a short time, when in reality, I've been involved in electronic music since I was 12," says the 19-year-old confidently. And he's a right to be confident, given that in the last 12 months he's managed to finish school, DJ around the world and write new music just about simultaneously.
95. Marcel Woods. Don’t Stay In Mix of the Week Volume 072 - Marcel Woods (trance) by Don't Stay In
“People don't know where to place me, as most people think in genres, otherwise they can't talk about it,” Marcel explains. “But for me, dance music is for dancing, not something we talk about. The only rule is, you like it or you don't like it.”
94. James Zabiela
This year, remarkably, was James Zabiela's 10th summer playing as a resident at Space in Ibiza. An unexpected milestone for the rest of us perhaps, but not really for him.
“I started playing there when I was 21,” he says. “I guess I've started to shave and stuff now. So things are moving on for me. I sort of grew up with that club. It's where I learned my craft. Now I've been there so long, it feels like home. And the promoters are like my family.”
93. Dirty South. Dirty South - Live at Electric Zoo 2010 by Electric Zoo Festival
“I've spent quite a bit of time in Europe, mainly Ibiza,” Dragan explains to DJmag. “It's been a great summer with guest spots at Pacha Ibiza with Swedish House Mafia and Pete 'The Boss' Tong. I also had my first label night at Cream, Amnesia, together with Steve Angello's Size label party. Another highlight was playing at Ushuaia.”
92. Sydney Samson
“Generally speaking, it seems that the pop-world is now fully embracing house as a major influence,” says Dutchman Sidney Samson on his continued transformation into one of America's go-to producers, with crunked-up stars like Lil Wayne, Lil Jon and the ever-present Will.i.am all knocking on his studio door.
Listen on Mixcloud / Read more on DJmag.com
91. Tenishia
Malta is one of the smallest countries in the world. With a population of just over 400,000, we reckon it might have the biggest proportion of DJmag Top 100 DJs per capita than anywhere else in the world, thanks to the addition of Tenishia, the duo comprised of Joven Grech and Cyprian Cassar. The pair have been working together since meeting in a small bar in 2004, and it seems that their collective hard work is beginning to reap dividends.
Listen on Mixcloud / Read more on DJmag.com
90. Boy George. Don’t Stay In Mix of the Week Volume 047 - Boy George (House) by Don't Stay In
Since crashing back into the Top 100 DJs poll last year, it's been a hectic year for the man born George O'Dowd.
“I've been joyfully busy,” he tells DJmag, joyfully.
89. Juanjo Martin
“The summer of 2011, I have been travelling all over the world,” he tells DJmag. “I've also been working in the studio, preparing my new compilation, 'This Is Ibiza', from airport to airport.”
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88. Nero
Daniel Stephens and Joe Ray had a No.1 single in the UK with 'Promises' in August this year, and simultaneously held the No.1 album slot in the UK with 'Welcome Reality'. These immense achievements - as well as supporting and remixing Deadmau5 - marked the culmination of Nero morphing from a d&b act through dubstep and into all-conquering EDM.
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87. Felguk
Felguk are Brazilian DJ and production duo Felipe Lozinsky and Gustavo Rozenthal. Their style touches on house and electro, but this year the pair have pushed themselves by taking on plenty of remixes from outside dance music. In the past, these have included the likes of Madonna and Black Eyed Peas, but this year they report rock music to have stolen their attention.
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86. Bloody Beetroots
The Bloody Beetroots have been producing some of the hardest electro-tinged tracks in dance music since the Italian duo (made up of Bob Rifo and Tommy Tea) first joined forces as a DJ team in 2006. More recently, their Mexican-wrestling-mask-wearing DJ personas have been augmented by what Bob describes as the “live chaos” of three-piece band Death Crew 77.
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85. AN21. 006 - With guest AN21 by Innotune
“It's been like a dream,” says AN21, reflecting on a year in which he's played over 100 shows and almost finished his debut album with production partner Max Vangeli.
“The album will be called 'People Of The Night' after a single we did with Tiësto,” he confirms on the huge collaboration that's set pulses racing, adding that brother Steve and Example are amongst other big guests who “I really can't say yet”.
84. DJ VIBE
“This year I was more focused on DJing,” says Vibe (António Pereira). “2011 has been great so far,” he continues. “Ibiza, Brazil just finished, USA and Canada, back to Ibiza and still more to come at the end of the year. I am also back to the studio after two years dedicated to the construction of Industria.”
83. Tritonal
2011's been a busy one for Texas duo Tritonal - Chad Cisneros and Dave Reed to their respective mums. So tuned-in are the pair that they claim to “finish each other's musical sentences”.
This year, the guys have largely been focusing on their debut long-player 'Piercing The Quiet', which featured a collaboration with fellow Austin resident Critina Soto. They also found time to launch their own label, Air Up There Recordings, which they say will deal exclusively in “emotional, melodic, forward-thinking dance music”.
82. Hernán Cattaneo. The Red Zone 27-06-10 Hernan Cattaneo Mix Hour 2 by steveparrydj
When Maxi Jazz declared, “God is a DJ”, he clearly didn't mean it literally. But when Argentine tech house colossus Hernán Cattaneo teamed up with Danny Howells to play inside Liverpool Cathedral for Freeze/Dig Deeper last April, the sight of his abundant head of hair behind the altar (from a distance at least) must have convinced a few out-of-sorts ravers that, actually, Jesus is a DJ. Needless to say, rarely will we get so close to a religious experience on a dancefloor.
81. Roger Sanchez
Despite being a veteran of the house scene, 2011 has still been an exciting year for American DJ/producer Roger Sanchez. His Release Yourself night returned to Ibiza once more, but also made regular stop-offs in Turkey, at Ministry Of Sound in London, and at Cavo Paradiso in Mykonos, whilst the man behind it has been busy re-discovering an old musical form…
“I think one of the things I've been re-inspired by recently is an underground, old school and techier vibe,” enthuses the Queens, NYC-born mainstay.
80. Wildstylez
“Hardstyle is a very intense music style, mostly focused on partying instead of a whole world around it,” Joram Metekohy AKA Wildstylez tells DJmag. “We specialize in good production quality, and sure, we like champagne once in a while,” he adds wryly. 2011 has seen Joram's music garner even more devotees, but he is most proud of the launch of his own label, Digital Age.
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79. Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike. MYNC presents Cr2 Records Radio Show 026 [19/09/11] by Cr2 Records
“We're really blown away, this is the nicest surprise of the year!” says Dimitri Vegas of the news he and his brother, Like Mike, have blasted into the Top 100 for the first time in 2011. This has been the Greece-born, Belgium-based duo's finest year to date, despite having respectable solo careers (Dimitri was a DJ, Mike was a hip-hop dude) before that.
78. Psyko Punkz
One of the newer players in the Dutch hardstyle scene, Psyko Punkz have made a big impact in a short time, storming into the Top 100 after being flagged up in the 'Breakthrough DJ/producer' category last year.
Listen on Mixcloud / Read more on DJmag.com
77. Francis Davila
For Francis Davila, his inclusion in the Top 100 is more than just an ego boost.
“Being voted in the Top 100 this year means a lot to me, but also to the people in Guatemala and Latin America,” says the Guatemalan DJ and producer. “It means that the barrier which existed between what happens in Latin America and the rest of the world is no longer there, and now the rest of the world can pay attention to what is going on in our countries.”
76. Simon Patterson
The old adage, “you don't get paid for DJing, you get paid for travelling” is especially true for Si Patterson, who has just had his busiest year to date with almost weekly gigs over Australia and North and South America.
“I still struggle with the sleep pattern!” he admits on the only downside to this increasing success.
75. Joachim Garraud. JOACHIM GARRAUD MIX TAPE FOR EXIT 2011 by Exit Festival
Known for playing a keytar over high-octane live electro sets, producing tunes with the likes of Jean Michel Jarre, David Bowie, Kylie Minogue and three albums with David Guetta, and a genuine belief that he is actually from space (OK, perhaps a slight exaggeration), Joachim Garraud is unlike any other DJ in this poll.
73. Mat Zo
“I wanna move away from calling my music trance,” Mat Zo tells DJmag. “It's just dance music, basically. I am not really thinking in terms of genre.”
Hardly surprising for a producer split between the melodic four-to-the-floor tunes he makes under the Mat Zo moniker (short for Matan Zohar) - recently slowed down to “become more house-y, more like techno, deeper” - and the emotive d&b he occasionally releases as MRSA.
72. Sean Tyas. Sean Tyas - Tytanium Sessions 089 (2011-04-04) by Extra Music
“In America, if you look at the average of people at dance music festivals, it's clear kids are really getting into it,” asserts Sean. “Minds and tastes are being moulded at those events, so it's a really good time to have a crack at it and gain a bunch of fans right off the bat.”
71. Mark Knight. 002 - With guest Mark Knight by Innotune
“I've got a definitive plan of what I want to do with my career. This year I've been focussed on the new live concept, but have also done some interesting pop collaborations with people. It's been good; I've had some big singles this year and have stepped it up a notch with the people I'm working with.”
70. Alesso
After a blistering rise to prominence, it's hardly surprising that Alessandro 'Alesso' Lindblad enters the Top 100. From only a handful of singles and EPs, the producer and DJ has built up a huge fan-base for his infectious brand of progressive electro house, particularly with his track 'Nillionaire'.
Listen on Mixcloud / Read more on DJmag.com
69. Paul Oakenfold
Paul Oakenfold's story is woven so tightly into the fabric of what we know as 'dance music' that he surely needs no introduction. Yet he is still pushing boundaries. His residency in Las Vegas has helped the city win the tag of the 'Ibiza of the USA'.
68. MattDarey
Matt Darey is widely recognized for his weekly Nocturnal podcast broadcast across 35 countries, which was nominated for the Best Podcast at Miami's Winter Music Conference and for Best Radio Mix Show at the International Dance Music Awards.
67. Judge Jules. DTPodcast066: Judge Jules by Data Transmission
Despite his all-conquering Judgement Sundays events, 44-year-old Judge Jules still cites the show he does on BBC Radio 1 each week as his first and foremost love. Now the only man on the station to champion trance, he also does so on his own internationally-syndicated radio show, The Global Warm Up, which can be heard across the US, Russia, Europe and the Middle East.
66. Myon & Shane 54
Already noted for their remixes, mash-ups and weekly International Departures podcast, 2011 saw the powerful throb of original single 'Futuristic' take Hungarian duo Myon & Shane 54 a step forward on the world stage. Since teaming up in 2008, Márió Égeto (Myon) and Elod Császár (Shane 54) have become the first home-grown DJs to make a mark outside of their own country, quickly entering the DJmag Top 100 and winning the support of the likes of Armin van Buuren, Andy Moor and Above & Beyond, even though Myon tells DJmag, “We don't consider our music trance”.
64. Eddie Halliwell
Here he is in the Top 100 again, but this time, Eddie Halliwell has finally released one of his own productions, 'Neon', instead of just alluring his fans with only the energetic electronic sounds he mixes together in the club.
“Obviously gigging has kept me the most busy as usual,” says Eddie. “But I have been spending a lot of time in the studio this year too, and finally felt ready to release my own production.”
63. Sasha
Over the course of two decades, Sasha has remained a figurehead of the international scene. Not only that, but he's continued to innovate when others have been happy to go stale with superstardom. If you want proof, you only need consider his weekly Never Say Never parties at trendy Ibiza beach club Ushuaia, where never fewer than 4, 000 people partied each week throughout summer 2011.
62. Paul Kalkbrenner
“Next year, a lot of people will hear my name for the first time, but I am still doing the same fucking thing I was always doing,” jokes a zany Paul Kalkbrenner while reflecting on a year in which stages, the amount of people he plays to and the numbers in his tour have grown exponentially.
Listen on Mixcloud / Read more on DJmag.com
61. Skazi
“For me, dubstep is very metal,” he explains.
“I am using synths but I still keep the guitar pumping. People like it, they love the mixture of many styles.”
59. Richard Durand
Having been hotly tipped by Tiësto a few years ago, Richard Durand has done his trance forefather proud in the ensuing years. 2011 has been “an amazing year” and saw the Dutchman mix his second instalment of the Black Hole Recordings 'In Search Of Sunrise' compilation back in the summer.
58. Showtek. Don’t Stay In Mix of the Week Volume 036 - Showtek (Hardstyle) by Don't Stay In
“2011 has been great so far,” say the duo. “Our performance on stage has definitely developed positively, mixing all genres together to create a great vibe on the dancefloor, and with Sjoerd MCing and Wouter DJing,a new visual show and some live singing performances.”
57. DJ FEEL
Noted for his work as an official ambassador for the Dance4Life foundation (promoting awareness of HIV/AIDS), DJ Feel is at the forefront of Russia's bid to become a world superpower in dance music, being the driving force behind the massive Trancemission Festival, label and radio show, and having played the first dance music event in Moscow's Red Square for good measure.
56. Wolfgang Gartner
It's been four years since electro house supremo Wolfgang Gartner reincarnated himself from disco house DJ Joey Youngman, a name which is now consigned to ancient history.
“The fans who listen to my stuff now don't even know about my past,” he states. “I would never go back to doing that thing now.” He's managed to shake off another tag too; that of 'the new Deadmau5'.
55. John Digweed
“The quality of tracks from the underground scene this year has been amazing,” John Digweed tells us, showing that his passion for the music he loves remains as strong as ever.
His forward-thinking attitude has been essential to the continued success of his label Bedrock over the past year, and he puts it down to changing with the times: “The digital age has made it easy to access music in good and bad ways, so you have to adapt and put on events and sell merchandise to add extra revenue,” he explains.
53. Erick Morillo
You don't reach your 13th season at Pacha, Ibiza, without the kind of tireless charisma and drive, both on and off the decks, that Erick Morillo exudes.
“On the DJ front, where else can I go with it? It's phenomenal,” he says reflecting on this achievement.
53. Astrix
2011 has been another strong year for Astrix - Avi Shmailov - with live performances of his euphoric, pounding psy-trance sets having been the producer's main focus. This included a mammoth global tour to support his 2010 album 'Red Means Distortion', which yielded Astrix's 2011 highlights, including playing the tenth anniversary of Brazil's Tribe festival and a show at Privilege Ibiza.
Listen on Mixcloud / Read more on DJmag.com
52. John O'Callaghan
It's been a year of extremes for tech-trance DJ John O'Callaghan, spending the first part of 2011 in the studio working on his 'Unfold' album, followed by non-stop touring after its release, including two weeks around South America.
“These were some of the best shows of 2011,” says O'Callaghan, “and it's a great injection of morale when you play in front of people who love the music so passionately. As a whole, 2011 has seen the strongest rise in up-tempo trance I've seen in years.”
51. Roger Shah
Amazingly, despite the sun-kissed, optimistic glare of his Balearic-trance sound, this summer was the first time that German DJ and producer Roger Shah held a residency in Ibiza, at Gatecrasher.
“The big difference to playing something like Armada for Armin is that people come from all over the world to see you,” he recalls happily on the messages that flooded his Facebook all season.
