Where’s My Head’s At: JR’s DJ Mag Top 100 Picks
In my view, there is no reason to get wound up over the DJ Mag Top 100. In all likelihood, nothing will change. Twenty million people, who, for some bizarre reason, still like David Guetta, will probably ensure he takes the top spot. Hundreds of people who are really into the “underground scene” will be outraged that a) Carl Cox isn’t ranked number one, and b) their favorite minimal producer from Toronto (who incidentally no one else has ever heard of) didn’t make the list. Oh and Tiesto will be ranked in the top five for the 47th year in a row.
With that in mind, I’m not going to justify my choices with an elaborate algorithm of DJ skill + production ability / sellout-ness. Here are five DJs/Producers that I like and am going to vote for:
1. A-Trak
There is something undeniably awesome about A-Trak. Maybe it’s because he won the DMC World DJ Championships when he was fifteen years old. Or maybe it is the fact that he continues to put out incredible music on his Fools Gold label. He is someone who effortlessly seems to bridge the divide between pop and house. Who else could produce a track for Converse with Mark Foster (of Foster and the People), while at the same time put out a track like “Stingray?” If you’re looking for someone who is one of the best producers in the business, as well as one of the best DJs, A-Trak is your guy.
2. Pete Tong
Nicknamed the “Lord of Dance,” Pete Tong has been around since the beginning. Unarguably one of the most influential people in the dance music world, Pete Tong’s Radio 1 show has been unveiling new talents and dictating the direction of dance music for more than twenty years. His Essential Mix is a program that is unparalleled by any other, and week in week out draws the biggest names in the industry. If you haven’t heard an episode of his show yet, be sure to check it out; it makes SiriusXM’s BPM look laughably bad in comparison. You can catch Pete Tong this summer in Ibiza at his Friday night Pacha residency.
3. Jack Beats
This British duo is far and away the least well-known name on my list. For those of you who are unfamiliar with them, Jack Beats is a fidget house duo made up of Plus One and Beni G. In a music world where it seems as though every other track being released is generic big room progressive, it is wonderfully refreshing to hear something different. Drawing on influences from dubstep, electro, drum and bass, garage, hip-hop, to Chicago house, Jack Beats’ productions are simply unparalleled in uniqueness. Have a listen to their track “Get Down” below and you’ll see what I mean. Oh and did I mention that Plus One is also a DMC World Champion DJ?
P.S. Check out the preview of their upcoming album!
4. Eric Prydz
In my view, Eric Prydz has been the producer of 2012. He followed up his remix of M83′s “Midnight City” with two more smash hits in “Allein” and “SW4″ — not to mention finally dropping his Eric Prydz Presents Pryda album on the world. On top of all of that he just previewed another single which sounds as though it is going to be just as big as the prior three tracks (and the album they’re on). Now that he has finally returned to the United States, we expect his legion of fans to grow exponentially as more and more people get to experience Pryda live. We don’t know how you do it Eric, but whatever it is that you are doing, keep doing it because we’re all loving the results.
5. Kaskade
Ryan Raddon, AKA Kaskade, makes my list for two main reasons. One, I absolutely love his productions and two, because of the way he reinvents his own music during his live performances. Obviously most DJs incorporate bootlegs into their sets, but many either recycle the same ones that others use or layer incredibly unoriginal vocals over one of their own tracks. How many times have you heard the “We Are Your Friends” acapella? (Or “Somebody That I Used To Know,” or “Rolling In The Deep”…?) Kaskade takes it to the next level and allows fans to enjoy all of his classic tracks, but in a new way. For example, at EDC he played Swanky Tunes’ “The Edge” with his track “Be Still” and then out of nowhere come the vocals from his house anthem “Sorry.” Brilliant, simply brilliant.
So, where’s your head at?
pete tong seriously ?
ffs let him do what he does best, talk on the radio and let the real dj do their job.
(sry for bad english)
Kaskade is special. His vocals are so incredible that allows him to create the most amazing mashups. He’ll be djing till hes 60 and his shows will just be getting bigger and better. Not to mention his light show and lasers are tops in the biz. I know people are hating on his Freaks of Nature tour, and I just saw him a bout a week ago for the first time and it was very similar to his Coachella 2012 set. But he’s expanding, and growing, and nobody will ever get mad hearing Eyes open or close his show. Oh yea, and he’s American. Boom. Best in the Biz.
JR I feel you man. Four of my top 5 favorites minus Pete Tong and plus Fedde Le Grand. Good shit.
would love is prydz was top 5… true legend. best house producer/dj out there hands down. and one of the only producers to not let his music get influenced by the mainstream/commerial
A track is unreal live especially his mixing ability. And kaskade should be higher. I live in Miami and just saw his freaks of nature show Saturday and it was unreal. The only show I’ve been to that was a little better lately was masquerade motel cause SHM brings an energy out from the crowd like no one else. Idk if kaskade was just going extra hard for us or what cause it was Miami but his bootlegs are so sick when he plays them that sometimes there 500x better than his own originals but he has the modesty to understand that and there for by playing them he gets much respect
with the exception of tong, ur list is on point and identical to mine
This list is great. Seriously, these are the guys that the rest of dance music should be looking up to. A-trak is absolutely unreal on stage, as are jack beats and kaskade. I’ve never seen Prydz live and am counting down the days till I see him in Mountain View. Much respect for Tong as well, but I’d probably have boys noize in there as my number 5 instead of him personally, but thats just my taste. What it comes down to is that these guys all know how to tear up any party and how to do what comes best and naturally to them instead of imitating what the Aviciis and SHMs of the word are doing, and thats what I love about them.
he actually just tweeted recently that he cleared a floor when he opened with eyes. no one there knew the song and it was just crickets haha. this was outside the US and there was one american in the crowd with a flag and was the only one cheering
I have to say..Pete Tong was one of the worst live DJ’s I have listened to. Prydz…Kaskade & A-Trak are good choices though!
Good list and I like the reasoning behind it. A-trak and kaskade are both amazing producers and amazing DJ’s (Named those 2 because I haven’t seen the others live)
Kaskade isn’t successful anywhere else but the U.S. He’s all right, but not top tier by ay means
i cannot agree more with this top 5. A-trak is no doubt number 1. Jack beats technical abilities are overlooked to the highest proportion and pete tong and Erik prydz are both the foundations of house music. great picks.
One of the best top 5s I’ve seen. So glad to see a-trak at the top, he truly deserves to be there. His archetypal dj skills (spanning from hip hop to the more definitive “EDM” genres) remain unparalleled by any dj today. Just watch the fucker beat juggle and you’ll be sold. Pryda continues to deliver flawless production after production and is constantly overlooked, another solid pick. Pete Tong has a great ear and has played a large part in the development and direction of electronic music, but when it comes to “dj” and “production” skills, I don’t know if I’d put him in my top 5. The only other dj I would say is absolutely missing from this list is Dash Berlin–anyone who’s ever experienced one of his shows will agree that he truly is the god of vocal trance. More moving, personal, and inspiring than any other live set, Dash Berlin is sure to become a quick favorite of any fan in the crowd.