Where My Head’s At: Kunal’s DJ Mag Top 100 picks
Even though the DJ Mag Top 100 is essentially a popularity contest, we think everyone who loves dance music should vote. It’s a great way to support your favorite DJs and engage in some spirited debate with fellow dance fans. As an extension of our Where My Head’s At series, our editors will share their five favorite CDJ technicians, and tell you what makes them so great.
First up: Kunal Bambawale.
1. Dubfire
A vote for Dubfire is a vote for style. While you are at home reading this article, Mr. Ali Shirazinia is probably somewhere exotic, twiddling the knobs of a mysterious contraption that is making strange clicking noises. In front of him, there is probably a crowd of people dancing to the strange clicking noises. They are having a great time.
Some are twisting their hips and tapping their toes. Some are waving their arms and nodding their heads. The dance moves vary from person to person, but one thing is certain: they are all shifting their weight from one foot to the other — forward, backward, left foot, right foot. They are joined together by Dubfire’s spell. They move as one.
On stage, Mr. Ali Shirazinia is probably wearing a black v-neck t-shirt. He is gracefully and almost imperceptibly bouncing on his toes. His torso sways, but his shoulders never seem to move. His dark eyes scan the crowd, absorbing its energy. These people are ready. And just like that, the bassline kicks. Everyone who can hear it loses his/her shit.
2. John Digweed
John Digweed makes progressive house. Real progressive house. You know, the type that isn’t sugary-sweet and Swedish and rhythmically offensive. When John Digweed is spinning progressive, the beat does not always have to go DUM-DUM-DUM-DUM, over and over again. You don’t have to fist pump. But you do have to dance.
When John Digweed sequences records and sounds together into a DJ set, you feel connected to every person who has ever had the pleasure of watching him perform. You appreciate the sense of history. You realize that maybe the DJ Mag rankings aren’t so horrible, after all, because there was a time when John Digweed was #1.
The mix grows more complex. Melody combines with intricate structure. Not all of the songs are happy — some are spooky and dark and mysterious. It’s a spiritual experience that touches every frequency in the spectrum of human emotion.
3. Mark Knight
The intersection between house and techno is an unpredictable place. It’s a place where time feels arbitrary, where minutes can last a lifetime but hours can speed by in an instant. Tech house is a land of possibility and magic. When the groove is right and the crowd is in sync, tech house can make the world outside a nightclub’s comforting walls feel distant and insignificant.
Since 2006, Mark Knight and his Toolroom cronies have blurred and smeared the lines between house’s irresistible rhythm and techno’s elegant sparsity. They have explored tech house’s endless possibilities, and made some pretty fine music. The Toolroom boss has many formidable tunes, but my favorite will always be his remix of Florence + The Machine’s “You’ve Got the Love.” Sure, there are many times when I feel like throwing my hands in the air. When “You’ve Got the Love” plays, however, it’s not a conscious choice. I don’t throw my hands anywhere. I don’t even think about my hands. But somehow, they drift inexorably upward, as if they have minds of their own.
4. Luciano
Luciano makes “modern swing dance music” that bursts with Latin American effervescence. By voting for him, I’ve broken one of my biggest rules — only vote for DJs that you have experienced live. To be honest, I’ve heard mixed things about his sets from those who have danced to them. Some people say he’s an overrated primadonna. Others validate my view — that his music makes it very easy to have fun.
Whenever I hear a Luciano mix, I become convinced that I can foxtrot and jive and boogie-woogie. I cannot do those dances, but I try them, and manage to enjoy myself when I fail. I am filled with a sort of irrepressible pre-adolescent joy. I forgive Luciano for the atrocious pink highlights in his hair. I am reminded that, at its core, great music is always very, very simple — that less is always more.
Luciano and Cadenza Records are not for people who live for the drop. They are for people who understand that life is about the search for the perfect groove.
5. Above & Beyond
Because even though they don’t need my vote, I still feel obligated to give it to them. Because Anjunabeats is a phenomenon for which there are no appropriate words. Because without them we wouldn’t have Arty or Andrew Bayer or Mat Zo or Norin & Rad. Because Paavo looks a little bit like a lesbian and watching him ride the trance wave is supremely entertaining. Because Group Therapy is good for society. Because Tony writes lyrics that are soppy and sentimental and existential… and I enjoy being soppy and sentimental and existential. Because Jono is my favorite bald person who isn’t named Marco Carola. Because both their Essential Mixes were transmissions from heaven. Because Above & Beyond changed my life — and if you’ve seen them, then they’ve probably changed yours too.
So, where’s your head at?
Great list, Kunal. Mine is something like this:
1. Sasha
2. Eric Prydz
3. John Digweed
4. Hernan Catteneo
5. Axwell
I like where your heads at. and I like your rule about not voting for people you haven’t seen live – I’m not sure why so many people conflate dj and producer – I have the same rule. I voted for Angger Dimas, Armin van Buuren, Bassjackers, Bingo Players, and Gabriel & Dresden, just because they have thrown down some of the most memorable sets I’ve seen this year, and I am excited as hell whenever I know I am going to have another chance to see them.
love your pics – hope you really mean them and aren’t just trying to be different than everything else on this blog :)
luciano is unbelievable – the cadenza party at pacha ibiza is easily the party to go to on the island now (although the ENTER. party is making some noise too). also – if you haven’t already, check out digweed’s new “live in cordoba” album. great, great stuff.
but most importantly – above and beyond. they’re a feeling, not a group <3.
lots of nice underground picks on there. id love to see a juxtaposition of the DA staff’s picks from last year to this year. i got Marco Carola, Boys Noize, Brodinski, Loco Dice, Richie Hawtin
it truly is impossible to pick THE top 5 DJs – there are so many of them doing so many amazing things. guys like armin are such pioneers and great ambassadors for the scene. then guys like joris voorn are putting out straight fire and ripping dance floors up until the sun comes up.
if this poll were to be done right by the fans – it’s about picking any DJ that truly contributes to the scene. whether it’s through their own productions, through supporting underground and up and coming through their labels or through putting together sets that will be remembered for years.. that’s what dance music is all about.
one of the reasons i still admire tiesto is because he always supports newcomers. his sets may be cheesy crap now, but his radio show and label consistently discover new artists and expose them to the world. that is much more of a contribution than playing beatport top 100 hits like he does on stage (sigh). look at what armin does with ASOT. those live streams are UNBELIEVABLE. being there in person is obviously incredible – but he brings the party to everyone’s bedroom. my gf and i stayed up on a sunday night the entire night listening to the ASOT EDC Vegas broadcast – it was special to hear it live, tweet about it with people from every part of the globe and just enjoy myself. then you have the techno maestros like carl cox and richie hawtin who manage to be more effective with a crowd using less sounds and productions than the pop DJs.
the dance scene is absolutely bigger and better than ever. but not because of avicii and afrojack, but because the real-deal artists are doing things more amazing than ever before.
from my experiences in the last year, here would be my top 5, in no particular order:
Joris Voorn, AVB, Carl Cox, Orjan Nilsen and Paris Hilton. ..kidding. Pauly D. kidding again. John 00 Fleming.
Kunal- I thoroughly enjoyed reading this…..and learned a few things. Coverage of artists like these on DA would be nice and keep me coming back.
Great choices Kunal! How come dancingastronaut doesn’t cover more from producers/djs like these?
FINALLY SOMEONE AT DA WITH SOME TASTE!!!
Solid choices
Thank you all for the nice words! If you guys use Twitter, please get in touch, I love talking dance music and would love to expand the conversation. Those of you in Ibiza this summer, have a truly wonderful time, and spare a thought for those of us who can’t afford the trip… yet…
Joris Voorn would have been on this list had he showed up for his B2B set with Nic Fanciulli at EDC Vegas. Richie Hawtin would have been had the wind not cancelled his set. Am I still bitter? Yes.
Great comment by the way. Appreciate the effort you put in!
kunal, you’re the shit, #5 was my favorite
Amazing picks and justification for them. You have a way with words Kunal.
the heavy hitters who throw down hard at memorable events:fatboy slim
brodinskiarty
and the magicians whose mixes intrigue me more and more each time:four tet
maya jane coles
I’m surprised you didn’t put me on this list.
1. Armin van Buuren
2. Kaskade
3. Above & Beyond
4. Dash Berlin
5. Ferry Corsten
There are so many more names that I’d interchange in there if given the chance to vote multiple times or change my vote. Carl Cox for example is someone who opened the door for me to old school house/techno/funk. Under normal circumstances I wouldn’t just go out and about listening to it, but when he’s on the decks it’s just different. I could listen to him DJ for hours on end and never get bored. Between the pure excitement on his face and the progression of his sets he’ll be amongst the top for as long as he’s around for me. As of recent times I’ve gotten into more and more techno and tech house and I must say I love the sounds of UMEK, Mark Knight, Nic Fanciulli, Richie Hawtin, and more.
http://www.theundergroundsnob.com
Hernan Cattaneo?! It’s so refreshing to hear somebody on this forum be familiar with him. Smoothest guy in the game. Real deep house.