Everyone has to start somewhere in electronic dance music. And however you first get into the game, you probably need a leg up from somebody more experienced in order to get anywhere yourself. This can take the form of mentorship, lessons, wisdom being passed down, or even just simple encouragement and advice. And, crucially, the space to be able to try creative things for the first time. Our feature on page 119 this issue talks about how youth clubs traditionally helped nurture musical teenage talent (including at least three Mercury Prize winners), while all of our three cover artists this quarter have spoken about how they were helped when they first got started in dance music too.
Having caught some breaks in her ascent, Charlotte de Witte — now at the top of her game as the World’s No.1 Techno DJ, and in the top 10 in the Top 100 DJs poll (p40 onwards) — discusses how she’s now helping young talent through her KNTXT label in her cover story (p28). DJ Mag put Charlotte on the cover in 2017 as ‘Techno’s next-gen superstar’. Now she is techno’s superstar.
Sub Focus, the No.1 drum & bass artist on Beatport, talks about how RAM Records boss Andy C mentored him when he was first starting out (p70), giving him feedback on his productions. People in the drum & bass community are forever helping and supporting each other — it’s definitely ingrained in the ethos of the genre.
Meanwhile, some of the most exciting music around now is coming out of Africa, and following in the slipstream of Black Coffee and various gqom and amapiano artists who have gone global (DJ Lag, DBN Gogo, Major League Djz, etc.) is Shimza. Shimza is now at a pivotal international breakthrough moment himself, but is also big on helping others, and recalls in his cover story (p92) how a DJ in his home township first taught him how to play. An example of how altruistic generosity of spirit fuels our scene. We rise by lifting others.
Carl Loben
Editor