How in the Bloody Hell Does the UK Keep Spinning Out Top DJ Talent?
In the realm of house and electronic music, one nation stands tall, consistently producing a remarkable array of talented DJs and producers whose music travels worldwide, capturing the hearts and ears of global audiences. Where you may ask? That nation is none other than the United Kingdom, a powerhouse in the world of electronic music. But what is it about this island nation that breeds such an abundance of musical genius?
Why the U.K?
After doing much research on a plethora of our favorite names in house music… we have picked up on a bloody important trend. At the heart of the UK's electronic music, lies its rich cultural heritage. The UK has long been a melting pot of diverse sounds and influences, with a steep history in music innovation. From London's vibrant energy among the underground club scene to the industrial beats of Manchester, the UK has been a hot spot of musical experimentation for years, even decades. This cultural melting pot has provided fertile ground for artists to explore new sounds and push the boundaries of electronic music.
From OG artists like Carl Cox and The Chemical Brothers in the 1990s to the rise of dubstep and other genres in the 2000s, British artists have consistently remained at the forefront of musical creativity and innovation. This spirit of experimentation and willingness to push the electronic music boundaries has helped to keep the UK's electronic music scene fresh and exciting, attracting talent from around the world.
Not only does the environment in the U.K allow for artists and producers to provide the comfortability to experiment, but even the schooling system in the U.K pushes for novel musical experimentation. Institutions like the Manchester MIDI School and the London School of Sound offer courses in music production and DJing. This quite literally hands aspiring artists access to world-class training facilities and industry expertise to help them develop their skills and launch their careers.
Well, now that we delved into the rich history of WHY so many of our favorite and top artists stem from the U.K., you are probably wondering who! Well, the list is quite exhaustive, so we will try to keep it short and sweet (key word, try). So let’s jump in.
James Hype
James Hype was born in a large village called Greasby, located in Merseyside, England. Just look at the hype that James Hype has got now. Hype is known for his energetic and unpredictable creations, specifically while he performs live. Hype has created so much HYPE around himself due to his innovative and unique take on house and electronic music. He has truly done something different with his talent and good ear for music and has built a dedicated and loyal fan base.
Chris Lake
Born in Norwich, we have a long time favorite Chris Lake. Lake is known for his long standing and unwavering dedication to creating new waves in the house and electronic music world. For those who know, Lake has been around for quite some time now. From his older tracks like ‘Only One’, to ‘Changes’, to ‘La Tromba’, to his hit with Steve Aoki ‘Boneless’, Lake really has experimented with essentially all the subgenres within EDM. More recently, Lake has been focusing on the more tech-house sound and now is beginning to lean more into bassy sounds and experiment with other artists and sounds. Lake is a prime definition of an innovative and creative artist that is clearly not going anywhere anytime soon… not with his stacked set of unreleased bangers.
D.O.D
Daniel O’Donnell, better known by his DJ name, D.O.D., was born in Bury. D.O.D is one of the newer names among the EDM scene, but do not be fooled, the sound he brings is truly out of this world. From the years 2010-2020 D.O.D has released a multitude of tracks all wildly different from the other. The older tracks have that old progressive electronic music sound, but as as the decade went on, his sound traversed to the tech-house beat and focused his sound on the more underground tunes like his tracks ‘Cardboard Box’, ‘Down Under’, and ‘Let It Go’. Come 2021, and it’s safe to say D.O.D’s career hit a climax. His track ‘Sleepless’ had the whole world literally sleepless. Fans could not get enough of this absolute hit. Since then, D.O.D has begun to focus his sound more around what fans responded the best to, the feel-good and summery house music vibe that felt similar to ‘Sleepless’. So much so that D.O.D released ‘Still Sleepless’. Is it obvious fans could not get enough? It has been super fun and thrilling to witness D.O.D’s career path and we are eager to see what other sounds he has in store for us.
Hot Since 82
Coming from Athersley South, we have Daley Padley, more famously recognized as Hot Since 82. Talk about HOT, you already know that Hot Since 82’s tracks are burning. And if you don’t know, well you are about to. Hot Since 82 is the epitome of producing the house music that subconsciously has got you head bopping, tapping your foot, or subtly grooving. BEfore you know it, his music will have you dancing into the wee hours of the night. From tracks like ‘Buggin’,to ‘You Are The Light’, to his sexy rendition of the OG ‘Homeless’ that we all love, ‘Makeup’, Hot Since 82 has the recipe to get us dancing downpat. Hot Since 82 has experimented with many sounds and artists, but has successfully curated a perfect vibe for those who crave that underground and bass-filed beats.
Michael Bibi
Coming hot out of London, we have a worldwide favorite, Michael Bibi. We all know Bibi. After the life challenges he has been and persisted through this past year, Bibi’s a resilient force among the house and electronic music scene. His music is something that gave him the strength to make it through the hardships he has been through. Bibi has been spinning on the decks for years now and has only come out stronger. From his recent performance at Coachella’s newest stage, Quasar, Bibi made it loud and clear that he isn’t going anywhere. With his new motto and event ‘One Life, Live It’, Bibi has inspired fans and artists worldwide to make the most out of their lives. Do what you can in this life, you only have one. Bibi is a prime example of a house music HERO and we cannot wait to see what other goodies he has in store for us. We expect the best from you Bibi.
Disclosure
Disclosure duo originated from Reigate and has since then spun their energy and music successfully around the world. Two brothers, Howard and Guy Lawrence, combined to form a duo that has successfully curated an entire vibe and sound that we cannot get enough of. Focusing more on those laidback house music vibes, Disclosure has outdone themselves time and time again. Disclosure is not your average DJ, these two have successfully mastered creating hit ALBUMS. Yes, you read that right. Not only did this duo hand us hot tracks time and time again, but ALBUMS. From their hit album ‘Settle’ released in 2013, we were given timeless tracks like: ‘White Noise’ with AlunaGeorge, ‘Latch’ with Sam Smith, ‘You & Me’ with Eliza Doolittle, ‘F For You’ with Mary J. Blige, and so much more. Fast forward to 2015, Disclosure decided it’s time to do it again, and boom we got their album ‘Caracal’, which featured infectious house beats with artist features of The Weeknd, Lorde, Miguel, and Sam Smith again. How do they keep doing it? Bloody hell we don’t understand it, we just keep enjoying it. Disclosure is still making waves among the house music scene and shows no signs of stopping. With unreleased bangers on their way, all we can do it enjoy their timeless tracks and wait for the new ones.
Fred again…
We all know sensation Fred again… What a past few years its been for Fred again… and guess what? Also coming from London! Coincidence? At this point, definitely not. Fred again… has made an immense impact on the electronic music scene. Fred again… has taken an entirely novel perspective on what electronic music is. His music incorporates not only the grooves and rhythm that come with EDM, but he has successfully implemented LIFE into his music. No really - Fred literally will approach individuals going about their daily life, record their interactions, and implement them into his music. His approach to EDM is extremely unique and emotive, which explains his dedicated and loyal fan base. Aside from this aspect of his sound, Fred has experimented with many other elements such as hints of pop, R&B, dubstep, and even progressive electronic sounds. Fred clearly knows no boundaries and we are wholeheartedly here for it. We are eager to witness what over creativity Fred has in mind. But again… all we can say is - what another bloody hell of a success.
Camelphat
This dynamic duo formed in Liverpool circa 2006, and has taken the house and electronic music scene by storm ever since. Dave Whelan and Mike Di Scala have joined forces to go on to produce some of today's most widely known hits among the EDM world. Their 2017 hit ‘Cola’ still circulates worldwide - safe to say, it’s a timeless hit. Their other tracks like ‘Rabbit Hole’, ‘Be Someone’, ‘For A Feeling’, and so on have also become staples for Camelphat. Over the last few years, Camelphat has managed to create more than just incredible musical sounds, but also gets to our emotional depths as well. Broadly speaking, their main niche subgenre is melodic house/melodic techno, but it really is more than that. Camelphats intellectual choice and incorporation of emotive lyrics and talented vocalists hits us listeners in all the right spots. Don’t believe us? Just listen to their album from 2022, ‘Dark Matter’. This album perfectly encapsulates the musical soundscapes and energy of Camelphat. From deep, dark, and mysterious electronic sounds to more emotion filled melodies, this album covers it all. More recently, the duo released their album ‘Spiritual Milk’, also evoking all the right sensations. This duo is one that is not going anywhere anytime soon and we are grateful for their influential contributions to the house and electronic music world.
Jamie Jones
Coming from Caernarfon, we have artist Jamie Jones. Jones is the boss of his own label ‘Hot Creations’ and that’s exactly what Jones does - with each and every single release of his. Beyond this Jones is the founder and curator of the Paradise global event series AND is a member of the band Hot Natured. What makes Jones truly stand out as an artist in the competitive EDM world is his unique and distinct sound that truly paved the way for the more melodic side of techno to emerge. Jones has been releasing hot tracks since we were youngins and is still going hot. From recent releases like ‘Fine Fine Baby’ and ‘Lose My Mind’, Jones has got the moves and the grooves. You can find Jamie Jones just about anywhere - either at the classic Club Space or Ibiza’s own Circoloco festival, Jamie Jones knows the vibes. Yet another bloody brit who knows how to bring the beat.
Clearly, this list of talent from the U.K goes on and on. Some other notable mentions that we know and love are Cloonee, PAWSA, Pete Tong, Calvin Harris, Carl Cox, and much much more. The U.K. has been and remains a bloody staple for breeding house/electronic music machines and we are so thankful for it. What in the bloody HELL would we do without all these artists? We don’t want to know.
