From: The Netherlands

DJ style: “Big room.”

Best known for: “High energy festival anthems.”

Dutch duo Bassjackers are eyeing up a decade in the Top 100 DJs poll as 2023 marks their ninth consecutive ranking. This year DJ Marlon Flohr and studio whizz Ralph van Hilst have shown little sign of slowing down, with a visibly renewed zeal for their self-styled “Phat kick” big room at festivals and elsewhere. ‘Les Pays Bass’ EP was released via Smash The House in February before the pair put thick kicks front and centre on ‘Traffic’, a reimagining of Tiësto’s classic with a techno thud. ‘Eternity’, their August collaboration with Timmy Trumpet and KSHMR, heard them dip into the waters of Eurodance and became a popular set-closer. Other projects saw Bassjackers experiment with different media including producing ‘It’s Gala’, an exclusive track for the Galaverse event which explores the intersection of social media, augmented reality and blockchain tech. One of the highlights of 2023 was Bassjackers’ return to Spinnin’ Records with ‘Wrong Or Right (The Riddle)’ based on Nik Kershaw‘s 1984 song ‘The Riddle’, studded by teeth-chattering bass. 

Hero of 2023: “Fred again.. for pushing the boundaries of music production, reshaping the electronic music landscape and setting the bar high for everyone else!”

Fave tune of 2023: “Skrillex & Boys Noize, ‘Fine Day Anthem’. Such a masterpiece!”

Best DJ set you’ve seen in 2023: “FISHER at Hï Ibiza. The guy has insane energy.”

What was the most exciting tech development of 2023? “AI-assisted music production tools — not to replace singers, musicians or producers, but to enable creativity and efficiency in the studio.”

Rising star DJ/producer of 2023: “Maddix: his fresh techno-infused sound is taking over the main stages everywhere.”

What gives you hope for 2024? “Energy is coming back to the dancefloors.”