Every year we have watched the electronic scene grow and grow with larger venues, longer festivals, and nightclubs popping up all across the country. This rise in popularity has also allowed for a growing roster of stars as well as a constant flow of new talent to fill the slots at all of these events. While we see many of these acts enter, only a few have been able to climb up the charts and get world wide attention. We classify our breakout artists as the ones that have really taken their talents to the next level – from playing shows for under 1,000 people last year to headlining shows and festival stages around the country/world.
Disclosure
By far the biggest act to breakout in 2013 is the UK based brother duo. It was only last October that I first caught the guys live, playing a set at the tiny Larimer Lounge in Denver, Colorado. Fast forward to today and you would be hard press to get tickets to a show two months ahead of time as the group is selling out venues around the WORLD and is already being booked to headline festivals this coming summer. The unique sound they captured in their debut album, Settle, has created countless fans while their live sets have brought a splash of life back to the live electronic music scene.
Hot Since 82
Another artist to release a dynamic debut album, Hot Since 82 took deep house mainstream with the release of Little Black Book. But before the album their was a simple remix that transformed the deep house genre, of course we are speaking of Bigger Than Prince by Green Velvet. The remix spread through around the internet at light speed, finding its’ way onto every blog and music publication in no time. And as that remix spread, so did the catchy monier, Hot Since 82. The English based producer is now one of the most sought after bookings across four continents. Recently tearing up the Australian based Sterosonic festival tour, he is heading down to Mexico for the BPM Festival before coming back to the states for another series of headlining gigs.
The Chainsmokers
The charismatic team from New York has won over countless hearts this year with a combination of good looks, social media debauchery, and insane amount of remixes released over the past year. I have not seen the use of free advertising through social media with such success since the rise of Dillon Francis a few years ago. Over the summer it seemed like the guys were releasing a remix every other week, always with a free download link to increase the potential exposure for the group. This organic rise is extremely refreshing, as they still write all of their own press releases and stay in touch with as many fans as possible. Getting selected for such festivals as Tomorrowworld definitely confirmed their place on this list, if their awesome name wasn’t enough.
TJR
TJR finds his way onto this list, but unlike the other selections, this bouncy producer has been around the block. First trying his hand in the fields of acid house and techno, he transformed his style and moniker in 2012 with the widely acclaimed single, Funky Vodka. With the signing to Chris Lake’s label at the end of 2012, it was a straight sky rocket to fame this past year as the Melbourne house sound took off. Releasing What’s Up Sucka in the summer rocked the electronic community as no mainstage was safe from the addicting bassline. A highlight for us was watching him close out the mainstage at Wavefront with a back to back set with Chris Lake in lieu of Erick Morillo’s drug addiction.
DJ Snake
The proud Frenchman had a widely successful second half of 2013 after his remix of Disclosure’s You Know You Like It a massive collaboration with Lil Lon. Turn Down for What is just one of those songs that hits everyone. From hearing it on hip hop radio channels and at any Diplo show, the track has put DJ Snake directly under the limelight. Ending his year opening for Major Lazer and Boys Noize in NYC (Dec. 30th) then flying to California for back to back shows on NYE in San Diego and Los Angeles helps you gauge the demand of this artist. Fusing the power of pop and underground trap movements has positioned DJ Snake to be a prominent player in the landscape of 2014.