It’s been a decade since Mechatok first caught our attention with his emotionally rich, intricate productions as a member of the STAYCORE crew. Since then he’s established himself as a sought-after producer among alt-stars, tapped by the likes of Yung Lean, Evian Christ and (a pre-’brat’ mania) Charli xcx. Now stepping back to the fore with his first solo material in over three years, the debut on Young is described as the start of an “ambitious new era” for the Munich-born, London-based artist, though it carries some of his beloved hallmarks: sprightly, interlocking melodies and a sense of fizzing euphoria that’s a joy to listen to. With a “kaleidoscope of new music” promised this year, our ears are pricked.

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A sublime piece of music from Djrum, with soul-stirring cello, intricately flowing piano, fluttery jazz drums, and even some breaks thrown in for good measure. Both rhythmically inventive and breath-takingly beautiful.

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We named Wata Igarashi as one of our DJs who defined 2024 on the back of a flawless year spreading his mind-melting techno around the globe, and he’s carrying that searing form in 2025 with a new four-track EP on Dekmantel. Standout track ‘The Sailage’ is serotonin-charged techno bliss, bringing heavenly sounds with a driving throb at its core.

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God Colony link up with UK drill don PS Hitsquad to bring a rowdy club edge to his feisty flow. The South London rapper attacks the beat from the off, as bass throbs ominously and chops of percussion and vocals sew anticipation for a big, hands-in-the-air synth build. Stuttering beats and vigorous bars interlock, and at times it hits delirious peaks, before the tension is pulled away to give PS Htisquad’s raps space to dominate.

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File under: wavy gun fingers and screwface business. Roska’s beat whistles and wobbles irresistibly, while Kristie Killick and Manga Saint Hilare elevate it with lyrical flair.

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Our freaky fave of alt-pop has never really done things by halves, and in her explosive, ever-shifting weirdo club anthem ‘Room of Fools’, twigs goes to extreme lengths to convey the sensual, otherworldly pull of a dancefloor filled with fellow hotties (who, given time, you might get to snog). Beginning with a flickering bassline that’ll send ASMR-loving clubheads twitching, twigs sounds enraptured as she opens with the line, “Stranger… In a dark room… Dancing… Almost lost you.” The British multi-hyphenate certainly doesn’t lose us though, locking us in with her barrage of beats, surging synths and piercing Björk-esque vocals - all of which build to dizzying heights until reaching, finally, something that sounds a little like nirvana. Same time next Friday?

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As the lead single from Brooklynite duo Baalti’s forthcoming EP ‘Mela’, the West Bengal-inspired ‘Overbit’ just had to slap. And it really does, hard, repeatedly, and at breakneck speed. The pair take notes from both the UK club scene and the percussive music they heard while growing up in India to create a vibrant, blended sound. Powered by its propulsive dhol-drum rhythm and thumping bassline, this is an East-meets-West dance track - not just to lose yourself in - but to flail around to in a fugue state of pure happiness.

On his latest single, ‘Llamando’, the masked producer Camoufly has transformed a 1970s Latin pop song - ‘María Teresa’ by Cortijo Y Kako Y sus Tambores - into a ridiculously bouncy banger. The pumping, bass-y beat and smart sampling are typical of the European DJ, who’s partial to wearing a bunny-earred balaclava and has so far kept his identity under wraps. Fresh from his energising new hit, the previously released, aptly-named ‘Hiding’ EP, and with tours of North America and the Pacific on the way, is Camoufly getting ready for the limelight?

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Having ended 2024 as the undisputed king of the banger, primarily off the back of his inescapable single ‘flight fm’, Joy Orbison opts for a pared-back approach on Joe James collaboration ‘bastard’. Rolling, woozy synths bubble and expand above faded kicks — allowing trickling percussive squelches and chimes to take centre stage alongside James’ soft vocals. It’s simple, effective and with a texture that retains that quintessential Joy O quality.

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A spoonful of sugary club makes January go down, and the first single from Yetsuby’s forthcoming album ‘4EVA’ is as sweet as it gets. Scattered, rolling breaks slash and dash between hard-edged kicks and a honeyed, pitched-up vocal on ‘Aestheti-Q’, evoking futuristic, buoyant bass alongside glistening 17-bit video game soundscapes. Fresh, fun and forceful… exactly what we need as we kick off the New Year.

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Releasing the first record in 10 years on pioneering dubstep label Tempa is an intimidating prospect to say the least, but Kenyan experimental producer Slikback’s three-tracker ‘Data’ makes combining new-age intensity and faithfully homaging Tempa’s groundbreaking catalogue feel effortless. Title-track ‘Data’ is a perfect example of this; overflowing with references to the low-end, golden-age of dubstep alongside stabbing breaks and searing bass, dipping elegantly between dub wobble and full-throttle techno.

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London’s Darkai tightens up a slingshot of heavy, tension-building synths on his DEEP MEDi debut ‘Ogun’, firing into a low-end ensemble of murky kicks and snares. This eyes-to-the-floor dubstep cut sounds equally fit for a mammoth warehouse soundsystem as it would a low-ceiling, 100-cap club, flaunting a muddied bass that reverberates, rattles, and induces some kind of hypnosis.

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Recent Mixmag cover star John Glacier is back with her first release of the year, this time in collaboration with Sampha – a match made in heaven for fans of delicious downtempo R&B. ‘Ocean Steppin’’ is a stripped-back single that fizzes with heartfelt lyricism and stony delivery from John Glacier, met with the South London singer’s smooth and soulful vocal chants.

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There’s a serious dose of 2010s nostalgia oozing from the latest Oklou single, ‘take me by the hand’, and it’s with the help of Drain Gang anchor Bladee, who pairs the French singer’s wispy vocals with his distinct laid-back bars. Glittering, effervescent synths bubble out of this dreamy new single – a simple but truly luscious effort.

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Ahadadream is kicking off the year with a storm as he finally drops ‘Big Boy Tracks’ with Champion and Logan_olm. Played across the world in his sets from Toronto to Glasto, this scorcher has left a mark as it captures the attention of every raver on the dancefloor. Champion shares that ‘Big Boy Tracks’ was made in Skrillex’s studio back in 2023. He calls the track a “tune I dreamt would reference my 2012 release: ‘Lighter VIP’, which [Ahadadream] calls a ‘a UK stone cold classic’ & maybe the first tune we bonded over.”

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Co-produced by Nick León, Oscar Scheller, and Shygirl, ‘True Religion’ is the latest glimpse of what’s to come on the next rendition of ‘Club Shy’. Giving that y2k feel of wearing a pair of True Religion jeans, Shygirl blends hyperpop with the haziness of the ‘00s clubland, and who best to feature on this than pop-girly queens Isabella Lovestory and PinkPantheress. As per usual with Shygirl, this track is for girls and the gays.

Thudding through the speakers comes Marie Davidson’s newest exploration of electro poetry. The Canadian artist’s project is built around the concept of a modern day tech company named Demolition. In this corporate world Marie demands your personal identity as she calls out: “I want your data, data, baby!” By the end of the track I’m sure you’ll be hynotised to handing it all over to the new boss, Marie Davidson.

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