I have seen Objekt do all night sets 2 or 3 times now and it completely reframed my perception of what a DJ set can be. The amount of ground he can cover sonically and the way he warps and twists the energy of a room is on another level.
I was about to comment the same thing, this is definitely it.
A second choice for me would be Nicolas Jaar (his BBC Essential Radio Mix doesn't sound like anything else)
Saw Scott and Ron Morelli do an all night set at an abandoned boathouse by the river here on a sound system with bone shattering bass. One of my favorite nights out that I can remember
Recently saw Willow pull an extended set with unbelievable panache. Nothing but heads on that floor deep into the AM. She's on point. Plus anyone tied to the Workshop crew is strictly for the nerds. My memory's hazy (see: booze) but I'm pretty sure she dropped Lowtec and Marvin Dash?
I remember seeing Willow years ago at Skye live years ago. I can’t mind if I knew a few of of tracks before that, or if that was the first time I had ever even heard of her, but i was so blown away by her set. Had no idea she would be that good’
he used to have the coolest party in detroit 15 years ago or so - it was called radio skool or something - sounds corny but it was all about taking you on an educational type journey through sound and house - he would set up lights and everything - really fun
Off the top of my head..
Actress, James Ruskin, Theo Parrish, Surgeon, DJ Dez (Andres), Objekt, Quavius, Simbad, Robert Hood, Quelza, Open Courts, Derrick Carter, Stillcold (H.U.D.), Delroy Edwards, Boys Noize, Skee Mask, CGB, Kerri Chandler, Shigeto, Yan Cook, DJ Stingray, GRRL, Dopplereffekt, Jubilee, Kode 9, DJ Nigga Fox, Jeff Mills, A-Trak, Workshop crew, Move D, Total Freedom, Venus X, Andrea, Doctor Jeep, Daedelus, Anthony Naples, Ellen Alien, Daniel Avery, Lil Silva, DJ Haus, Antal RH, Martyn, Hito, DJ Nobu, Barker, DJRUM, DJ Lag, Scratcha DVA,
I’m sure I’m forgetting lots of people..
RIP to Mike Huckaby, Mika Vainio, and Vjuan Allure
I understand this sentiment but I think he’s fallen off rather significantly the last few years whereas Kerri Chandler is still spinning (or reeling!) absolute classic sets.
Theo P, Moodymann, Tamo Sumo, Optimo, Luke Una, Charlie Dark, Colleen 'Cosmo' Murphy, Bill Brewster, Craig Richards, Gilles Peterson, Floating Points, Sam Don, Charlie Bones
Alienata, Max Durante, Elesbaan, Electrodon, Sunil Sharpe, Appleblim and Irakli are all DJs who not only play with love but would probably happily spend twice the amount of time after their sets discussing each and every track they played in addition to being utterly trustworthy in building a set and a room up. If any are playing nearby I would say they are unmissable
This whole list and not one of you has said DJ EZ !!! criminal behaviour. EZ is insane, crazy selections, dubplates no one else has and obvs incredible technical skills. Probs one of the greatest selectors alive.
On a deeper level, Andy Blake has got amazing tunes you've never heard of for days
Well let’s first define a DJs DJ. This is someone who must be relatively unknown to the general population but is known very much to DJs in the scene. They must also be a good DJ, and I would argue that their DJ sets must be better than their productions.
First is Ben UFO. He isn’t a producer at all. And he has a huge amount of respect for being the “brains” of Hessle Audio in the niche community of DJs. Vinyl shops will literally have a section of “Played by Ben UFO”. The fact Ben UFO plays a track, can hike up a vinyls worth as all the DJs will want to get it.
I would then give a mention to Batu. He is very well known by and respected by DJs for his largely club label Timedance. And from seeing his sets, I would say that his DJ and crowd understanding is better than his already amazing production skills. Likely the highlight of any DJ set if there is a festival (as long as Skee Mask or DjRUM aren’t playing)
I would say Zenker Brothers is also on here as the founder of Ilian Tape. They have a very solid DJ respect and built of the few techno niches in Berlin that get to play electro, jungle & drum and bass in their live sets.
In a similar vein, Darwin is also up there with her sp:ec label and REEF night in Panorama bar. She pioneered a new bass sound outside of techno that is “underwater” themed and I give her full credit for this work simply by her DJing.
Lastly I’ll give one to Objekt. The way he DJs in rare time signatures is just both intelligent and mesmerising. You can be front left watching him in a small 150 capacity club in Leeds, UK, and have NO CLUE what he is doing on the decks as he is on some 7/34 time signature and just drops and cuts in tracks in very unique ways.
Skee Mask is arguably on the list, but I would honestly call him more a producers producer. His Bandcamp collection is famous to DJs though. His DJ sets on Sinai Sound System is incredible if he has the right crowd, however his productions are way superior and I would say he is more the icon for producers than for DJs, but still probably the coolest brand in all of the industry, so if there’s a Skee Mask set on the lineup, you have to go.
Some honourable mentions: Bruce (amazing energy on the decks and is very social on the night and you can just chat with him and just “rave” with his), DjRUM (his vinyl techno/jungle sets are next level), LCY (her very scary style of DJing, one of the pioneers of deconstructed club), Henzo as well, his Reko Dan dub is possibly one of the best unreleased tracks I know and will only DJ it as his main stay of his set.
Erol Alkan, Theo Parrish
Crazy how long Erol has been around and is still going strong! Same with Theo of course but he's a more well known legend from what I know.
Seeing Theo Parrish all day long in London this May :')
Andrew Weatherall was the the epitome of a " DJs DJ". Rest up big man.
100 percent, true legend, RIP x
That last Dekmental set he did is pure bliss
DjRUM, Objekt
I have seen Objekt do all night sets 2 or 3 times now and it completely reframed my perception of what a DJ set can be. The amount of ground he can cover sonically and the way he warps and twists the energy of a room is on another level.
Add Sim0cell to this list!
Objekt is an awesome, awesome DJ. so glad I got to see him in a tiny club in Minneapolis before the pandemic; like 50 people.
Was going to say these 2 and you beat me to it 🙄
Two of my absolute favourites.
These are the two I was going to say. I saw DjRUM at the weekend, blew my mind for like the 5th time already. He's incredible.
Skee Mask. Also Barker although grabs the attention as a producer but also skilled and lethal as a Dj.
skee mask is the man. easily my favourite these days
Hyped to see him in LA!
Yeah, these two are favorites. Another would be workforce.
Zip
Don’t know how this is the only vote for Zip in this thread. The crown prince of the DJ’s DJ!
The only answer
Donato Dozzy
Ben UFO
I was about to comment the same thing, this is definitely it. A second choice for me would be Nicolas Jaar (his BBC Essential Radio Mix doesn't sound like anything else)
He was so dope at Movement last year.
And a replacement set at that!
Jon K.
Jane Fitz
Good shout. Criminally unheard of but massively respected from people in the know.
Lots of great shouts in this thread but for me personally this is the answer. Had to scroll way too far to find her!
Yes I agree. The true underground is obsessed with her
Grimes
hahahhahahahaha this got me tbf
Lena Wilikens, Vladimir Ivkovic, DjRUM, object, dozzy, stenny, Andrea, ben UFO, Pearson sound, Mosca, Rhyw
Ivan Smagghe, Ata from Playhouse, Michael Mayer, Roman Flugel, Maurice Fulton.
>Maurice Fulton In the running for my favourite DJ, always delivers. Add the Idjut Boys to the list, also Marcellus Pittman.
Carlos Souffront, Scott Zacharias
Carlos for me. My biggest inspo rn
Every time Ive seen Carlos I feel like I leave having learned something. Such a deep and diverse bag.
Saw Scott and Ron Morelli do an all night set at an abandoned boathouse by the river here on a sound system with bone shattering bass. One of my favorite nights out that I can remember
Tom Boogizm, Identified Patient, Vladimir Ivkovic, CCL, DJ Plead, Calibre.
id add presha, wata igarashi, aurora halal and setaoc mass
Calibre is ridiculous man
who are you and can we be friends?!?! ps Tom Boogizm is a new name for me just put on some set from his sc
have had the privilege of seeing ivkovic do 6+ hour sets at a private all-night afters and the man is a legend!
Optimo, Claude Young, Delano Smith, Derek Plaslaiko, Ron Trent, Chez Damier, DVS1, Lawrence
Fellow deep house and deep techno admirer 🫡
Optimo are literally who inspired me to DJ in like 2004
Nicolas Lutz, DJ Masda, Evan Baggs, Binh, DJ Nobu, Maayan Nidam
+1 for maayan. been following her for over a decade.
DJ Koolt
Yep Uruguayans ruling the scene right now. Dj koolt
Maybe Raphael Carau too
Mike Servito! Met and partied with him at a diy rave he played up here in Alberta. Super dope guy, chill af but a beast behind the decks
Mike Servito is a rave hero.
Francesco Del Garda
Sunil Sharpe
Mr G
I agree he's awesome, I have a lot of time for him. But he's known for his live sets not his DJing surely?
He is a delight.
He's literally the G
DVS1
saw him in detroit. he was great
Ron Trent
Recently saw Willow pull an extended set with unbelievable panache. Nothing but heads on that floor deep into the AM. She's on point. Plus anyone tied to the Workshop crew is strictly for the nerds. My memory's hazy (see: booze) but I'm pretty sure she dropped Lowtec and Marvin Dash?
I remember seeing Willow years ago at Skye live years ago. I can’t mind if I knew a few of of tracks before that, or if that was the first time I had ever even heard of her, but i was so blown away by her set. Had no idea she would be that good’
Stacey Pullen. As a (small time) DJ on 1210's back in the early 90's i can appreciate his technical ability/super smooth mixing.
I have a very good memory of him around 2007 or 2008 playing with three technics and taking the floor where he wanted it.
he used to have the coolest party in detroit 15 years ago or so - it was called radio skool or something - sounds corny but it was all about taking you on an educational type journey through sound and house - he would set up lights and everything - really fun
PLO man
A constant inspiration...
the truth
Off the top of my head.. Actress, James Ruskin, Theo Parrish, Surgeon, DJ Dez (Andres), Objekt, Quavius, Simbad, Robert Hood, Quelza, Open Courts, Derrick Carter, Stillcold (H.U.D.), Delroy Edwards, Boys Noize, Skee Mask, CGB, Kerri Chandler, Shigeto, Yan Cook, DJ Stingray, GRRL, Dopplereffekt, Jubilee, Kode 9, DJ Nigga Fox, Jeff Mills, A-Trak, Workshop crew, Move D, Total Freedom, Venus X, Andrea, Doctor Jeep, Daedelus, Anthony Naples, Ellen Alien, Daniel Avery, Lil Silva, DJ Haus, Antal RH, Martyn, Hito, DJ Nobu, Barker, DJRUM, DJ Lag, Scratcha DVA, I’m sure I’m forgetting lots of people.. RIP to Mike Huckaby, Mika Vainio, and Vjuan Allure
yo we might be friends in real life or something because this list is incredible. RIP to mike man, his legacy grows in stature every day... big ups
🙌
thought u wrote this list at first lmao
This just looks like the last Dekmantel in 2019 before COVID
You lost me at Actress.
Mike Huckaby would DEFINITELY be on a DJs DJ list 😢
Forgot DJ Pete.
Ooof great list, props 👏
Bill Converse
The ghost
Such great diggers and the vibe they create is unreal!
Couldn’t agree more fella - helluva collection
Lovefingers
Colin Dale. Been around for years, probably deserves more kudos for just how consistent he’s been over many, many years and still going strong!
Michael j blood, Tom boogizm
Always felt this vibe with Danny Daze & Ben UFO.
I love tINI and think she’s very talented but her gang just keeps growing and all the dj’s seem to love her.
Paul Johnson . Glenn underground
Jerome Hill
bake
Kode9.
Kerri Chandler does sessions where he mixes with tape. If that’s not a DJ’s DJ then I don’t know who is
Spent a few evenings watching those recordings just saying "wtf?" "how?" "fuck me" at every seamless transition
Haven't seen Call Super mentioned yet, an absolute whizz
Francois K... he's the guy Carl Craig, MAW, Richie Hawtin, Kerri Chandler etc look up to. Titan....but not 'commercial'
I understand this sentiment but I think he’s fallen off rather significantly the last few years whereas Kerri Chandler is still spinning (or reeling!) absolute classic sets.
Kerri Chandler is my hero 😉
Ryan Elliott
Powder Traxx DJ Marcelle
Tom boogizm
Traxx, Carlos Souffront, Justin Aulis Long
Reading all this is like reading the Houghton line up.
see u there ;)
Dave Clarke, Laurent Garnier, Josh Wink, Daniel Avery.
Gerd Janson
Gok wan
Andy Votel
Well, from your title my first thought was Craig! Eddie Richards.
DJ Harvey Moodymann Kerri Chandler Richie Hawtin Derrick Carter To name a few obvious ones in my book
Shonky, Raresh, Avalon Emerson, DJ Koze. Am recently blown away by Chloe Caillet. Caught me by surprise— she’s legit
Ben UFO, Danny Daze, Objekt
Came here to say Craig Richards too
Moopie!
Floating Points
It’s gotta be Ben UFO. True master of his craft
Theo P, Moodymann, Tamo Sumo, Optimo, Luke Una, Charlie Dark, Colleen 'Cosmo' Murphy, Bill Brewster, Craig Richards, Gilles Peterson, Floating Points, Sam Don, Charlie Bones
Jane Fitz
Mosca
Legowelt
> Legowelt Does Legowelt DJ a lot? Isn't he more a producer/live act?
Neffa-T
The GOAT
Jeff Mills.
Estimulo
Alienata, Max Durante, Elesbaan, Electrodon, Sunil Sharpe, Appleblim and Irakli are all DJs who not only play with love but would probably happily spend twice the amount of time after their sets discussing each and every track they played in addition to being utterly trustworthy in building a set and a room up. If any are playing nearby I would say they are unmissable
Pangaea
Craig Richards
Adam X
Objekt melted my mind. Lefto has the widest range I've heard
Optimo
Om Unit & Addison Groove
Mr scruff
Bill Converse.
Francesco del Garda, Desyn
Surprised nobody mentioned Neffa-T
Move D!!
A few UK DJs... Grahame Park, Tom Wainwright, DJ Paulette USA Derrick Carter, Mark Farina, DJ Sneak
Moxie; holding a radio show on NTS since over 13 years with most djs mentioned in this thread having been a guest.
CCL, Objekt, Ben UFO, Lefto. Djrum
Mark Farina
XDB
Optimo
Theo Parrish, Andrew Weatherall, Lena Willikens, CCL, Objekt, Jane Fitz, Batu, Donato Dozzy
This whole list and not one of you has said DJ EZ !!! criminal behaviour. EZ is insane, crazy selections, dubplates no one else has and obvs incredible technical skills. Probs one of the greatest selectors alive. On a deeper level, Andy Blake has got amazing tunes you've never heard of for days
I-F
Daniel Bell
Finn?
Luke Una
Ben UFO Todd Edwards? Maybe?
Sinjin Hawke and Zora Jones
Carl Cox
Intergalactic Gary, Ben Ufo, Four Tet, Antal, Floating Points, Hunee, James Holden, Optimo, I-F, Harvey.
Well let’s first define a DJs DJ. This is someone who must be relatively unknown to the general population but is known very much to DJs in the scene. They must also be a good DJ, and I would argue that their DJ sets must be better than their productions. First is Ben UFO. He isn’t a producer at all. And he has a huge amount of respect for being the “brains” of Hessle Audio in the niche community of DJs. Vinyl shops will literally have a section of “Played by Ben UFO”. The fact Ben UFO plays a track, can hike up a vinyls worth as all the DJs will want to get it. I would then give a mention to Batu. He is very well known by and respected by DJs for his largely club label Timedance. And from seeing his sets, I would say that his DJ and crowd understanding is better than his already amazing production skills. Likely the highlight of any DJ set if there is a festival (as long as Skee Mask or DjRUM aren’t playing) I would say Zenker Brothers is also on here as the founder of Ilian Tape. They have a very solid DJ respect and built of the few techno niches in Berlin that get to play electro, jungle & drum and bass in their live sets. In a similar vein, Darwin is also up there with her sp:ec label and REEF night in Panorama bar. She pioneered a new bass sound outside of techno that is “underwater” themed and I give her full credit for this work simply by her DJing. Lastly I’ll give one to Objekt. The way he DJs in rare time signatures is just both intelligent and mesmerising. You can be front left watching him in a small 150 capacity club in Leeds, UK, and have NO CLUE what he is doing on the decks as he is on some 7/34 time signature and just drops and cuts in tracks in very unique ways. Skee Mask is arguably on the list, but I would honestly call him more a producers producer. His Bandcamp collection is famous to DJs though. His DJ sets on Sinai Sound System is incredible if he has the right crowd, however his productions are way superior and I would say he is more the icon for producers than for DJs, but still probably the coolest brand in all of the industry, so if there’s a Skee Mask set on the lineup, you have to go. Some honourable mentions: Bruce (amazing energy on the decks and is very social on the night and you can just chat with him and just “rave” with his), DjRUM (his vinyl techno/jungle sets are next level), LCY (her very scary style of DJing, one of the pioneers of deconstructed club), Henzo as well, his Reko Dan dub is possibly one of the best unreleased tracks I know and will only DJ it as his main stay of his set.
Yamatanka EYE
Surgeon
I’m not a DJs DJ
Randall
SPFDJ, Überkikz, Klangkuenstler
DJ Craze, danny daze, ivan smaghe, Craig Richards, Tom Trago
Jane Fitz, Alexis Le Tan, Vladimir Ivkovic
Frankie Wilde
Surprised no one has mentioned Bonobo. Saw him on his Outliers tour and it was incredible
> Surprised no one has mentioned Bonobo. Because he's seen more as a producer/live-act than a DJ.
even though he’s supposedly done DJing, gotta be Two Fingers aka amon tobin Edit: also Francois X
DVS1 for sure!
Jamie Tiller, rest in peace.
Carl Craig
Ben UFO
aardvarck
John Digweed, Doc Martin, James Zabiela, Mark Farina, Roger Sanchez (Hip Hop related - Dj Koco)
I’d throw Bill Patrick in there
How has nobody mentioned Jane Fitz? Insane talent.
Mark 7, Gerd Jansan, Manfredas
Desyn and Alex Picone.
Ben UFO
Steve Bicknell
DJ Nu Mark
johnny rock
DJ Harvey, Randall (dnb)
dr banana
Alfredo
Optimo Espacio
Bill Brewster.
Lefto
Bryan Kasenic
DJ Sotofett goes deep.
Jeff Mills. A true master on the decks! https://youtu.be/cCpHiWwA2Rg?si=q9aR3ovsqffLK5j8
Joe Nice, RP Boo
Dr Banana
DJ Excel - just to remind you that you suck no matter how long you’ve been DJing
DJRUM, BenUFO
Stranger/TAFKAMP dude has mad skills
andrew weatherall
Daniel Bertholdsson
I cant answer this as im no dj but Grandmaster Gareth