From: The Netherlands

DJ style: “Ummet Ozcan style.”

Best known for: “Tracks like ‘Xanadu’ and ‘Baiame’.”
 

This year, Ummet Ozcan has been continuing his quest to “explore the realms of culture diversity in music” by adding yet more organic musical instruments to his already enormous collection, and at the same time teaching himself how to play them. He’ll take these skills and meld them into his newest material by way of expressing himself and crafting something otherworldly and fresh.

Don’t miss a chance to catch his unique live performances, where you’ll witness all his research and creativity coming into play, including an impressive talent to throat-sing along over his tunes while intermittently grabbing for flutes and horns to also play over his sets.

Besides working on his forthcoming techno-enhanced releases, Ozcan is also developing new plugins related to music production. “I like to share my knowledge to the producers community,” he generously explains. And by documenting the process and history behind throat-singing with mini tutorials, he cleverly demystifies his vocal abilities and at the same time welcomes his fanbase into his world of analogue meets digital music. 
 

Hero of 2023: “Xing Xing.”
 

Fave tune of 2023: “Aaron Hibell ‘Oppenheimer’.”
 

Best DJ set you’ve seen in 2023: “Honestly, I haven’t seen many outstanding sets, but the year isn’t over yet.”
 

What was the most exciting tech development of 2023? “That must be the AI revolution; it is a very useful tool, and I am over-excited to see what the future holds.”
 

Rising star DJ/producer of 2023: “Mau P.”
 

What gives you hope for 2024? “Choice, freedom and free will, and I still believe in the power of imagination and creativity.”