100 DJS OF ALL STRIPES OFFER UP THE YEAR’S TOP TRACKS & BEST MUSICAL MOMENTS
2023 IN REVIEW
ZHU
Wax Motif
Paul van Dyk
Here we are, finally, where 2023 meets 2024. For the most part, the past year eased further into relative normalcy – whether we’re talking clubs, festivals or the private-party scene. So, as we wrapped up ’23, we conducted a quickie poll to DJs of all stripes and from all over the world, inquiring about the past year. We asked three simple questions: What’s your top tune of the year? What was your best accomplishment? What was the best DJ/musical moment you experienced? Here are the first 100 responses we got. Off we go…
other DJs at the DJX opening party at HQ2 in Atlantic City.
1 Wax Motif, Divided Souls Records, LA Tune: Odd Mob & OMNOM’s “Losing Control.” Accomplishment: Selling out the Shrine Expo Hall in LA, along with 13 other dates on my House Of Wax Tour. Musical Moment: Performing at mainstage EDC Las Vegas.
7 Todd Terry, InHouse Records, Atlanta Tune: Piero Pirupa’s “To The Sky.” Accomplishment: Not missing a flight all year... hahaha! Musical Moment: Hamilton The Musical... The Bootleg.
2 Paul van Dyk, VANDIT Records, Berlin Tune: Vakabular’s “Proper Time.” Accomplishment: Bringing my new project, VENTURE X, successfully on the road with amazing shows in NYC, Montreal, Amsterdam, London, & many other cities. Musical Moment: Having 20,000 people at Dreamstate SoCal sing at the top of their lungs alongside my SOLIKIEN live band to “Home” – a goosebumps moment! 3 ZHU, Astralwerks, LA Tune: Peggy Gou’s “(It Goes Like) Nanana.” Accomplishment: Crushing the GRACE Tour without having dropped an album. Musical Moment: Seeing Lauryn Hill with The Fugees at Denver’s Ball Arena was a proper history lesson. 4 ACRAZE, Capitol Records/Thrive Music, Orlando Tune: Fisher & Aatig’s “Take It Off.” Accomplishment: Sleeping at least seven hours every day. Musical Moment: Selling out my own show at the Hollywood Palladium in LA this year – it was life-changing. 5 Dave Audé, Audacious Records, Nashville Tune: John Summit & Hayla’s “Where You Are.” Accomplishment: In ’23, I found myself writing & producing almost as many records as I remixed. Musical Moment: I had an amazing time playing & connecting with 24
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6 Ferry Corsten, Flashover Recordings, Rotterdam, Netherlands Tune: Kevin de Vries & Mau P’s “Metro.” Accomplishment: Committing myself to working on my next “Ferry Corsten” album – my first since Blueprint, which was released five years ago. Musical Moment: All of my “What The F” shows this year – playing open until close, often eight hours, of my own music feels like an accomplishment in itself.
8 Jauz, Bite This, LA Tune: Dom Dolla’s “Miracle Maker” dominated every set all year in a bunch of different versions. Accomplishment: Raising my daughter & watching her turn one. Nothing else even comes close. Musical Moment: Getting to remix deadmau5’s “Ghosts N Stuff” & then seeing the reaction to it was pretty unreal. And it was such a nervewracking song to remix. 9 Markus Schulz, Coldharbour Recordings, Miami Tune: Kevin de Vries & Mau P’s “Metro.” Accomplishment: The Rabbit Hole Circus, my album & tour, which featured singers and aerialists. Musical Moment: In October, during the last few hours of my 12-hour open-to-close set at Stereo in Montreal, I had been down mentally from a rough summer. But, at that moment, I realized that I still love what I do to the core of my being. 10 Booka Shade, Blaufield Music, Berlin Tune: Oliver Koletzki & Andhim’s track “Branka.” Accomplishment: Celebrating 20 years of Booka Shade this summer with a selection of special European shows. We also had a remix package featuring wonderful artists such as 8Kays, Joachim Pastor, Nils Hoffmann, & Qrion. Musical Moment: Watching our girl JOPLYN making her way up & up. We’ve supported her since she was 14, & now she’s playing the biggest festivals.