2023 — where did that one go, eh? It’s been a momentous year for electronic music, with the spectre of Covid finally shaken off and events firing with more vim and vigour than they have been for many years. It’s been an incredible year, particularly for our cover artist this month, Nia Archives, who’s shot from relative obscurity to bona fide festival headliner in an impressively short space of time. Nia’s jungle origin story is expertly told by Christine Ochefu from page 22 onwards.
Elsewhere this issue we pinpoint our standout singles, albums and comps from 2023, when a wealth of amazing new music was released (page 36); there’s a great feature on South African ballroom, focusing on how the country has put its own spin on the movement (page 57); we report from the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), where DJ Mag was again well represented on panels and at parties (page 84); and celebrate 20 years of Armada Music, Armin van Buuren’s Amsterdam-based label that just so happens to have grown into the biggest independent label in the business (page 67). It’s another action-packed issue, and I hope you enjoy it.
The year is nearly over, but before everywhere shuts down for Christmas we’ve got our Best Of British awards party on Thursday 14th December at the ace Steelyard venue in London. If you’re in town, come on down!
Carl Loben
Editor