From: Spain

DJ style: “Mainstage techno.”

Best known for: “Mainstage Techno.”

“My main goal is to make people feel a lot of energy,” Danny Avila said last year in our How I DJ video series. It’s a straightforward MO, but it’s one that the Madrid DJ and producer has executed seamlessly around the world in 2023. With tours across the US, China, South-East Asia and Europe, the Mainstage Techno brand founder has been busier than ever, and he’s still managed to find the time to record a regular radio show and make music of his own. He clearly has enough energy to share.   

He kicked off the year with a technofied remix of Skrillex, Fred again.. & Flowdan’s hit, ‘Rumble’. His Soundcloud is kept generously topped up with edits like this, all available as free downloads. His official remix of John Summit’s ode to excess, ‘Chicago’, landed in February, followed by a VIP remake of his own 2019 anthem ‘Chase The Sun’, and a collab with Heerhorst, ‘The Procedure’. “I’m so happy with how things went in 2023,” he says. “But I’m really excited about what is coming next: big collaborations, big singles for MT music, new music from amazing artists on MT music, a new visual show, new production. Get ready for Mainstage Techno 2.0.” 

Hero of 2023: “Michael Bibi.”

Fave tune of 2023: “Teenage Mutants feat. Heerhorst & Peter Pahn ‘Dark Clouds’.”

Best set you’ve seen in 2023: “I really enjoyed Paul Kalkbrenner’s set live at Airbeat One in Germany this summer.”

What was the most exciting tech development of 2023? “I’ve been using some AI tools that helped me out during my creative process in the studio. Also for organising my libraries, folders etc.”

Rising star DJ/producer of 2023: “For me it’s Prophecy! Incredibly talented guys doing amazing house and melodic productions.”

What gives you hope for 2024? “Seeing the industry as united as it is now makes me so happy. It’s all about the music again.”