From: Germany

DJ style: “High-energy house music.”

Best known for: “Live performances all around the globe and Beatport chart-topping house music.”

“Genres and norms are melting and I’m here for it,” says Marten Hørger. “No rules, no boundaries, just good music!” In 2023, the artist — who first made his name as one-half of breakbeat act Boogie Army on Westway Records, going on to release on the Stanton Warriors’ Punks label and work with ex-Prodigy man Leeroy Thornhill — has been inspired by the eclecticism in dance music, and has been busy in the studio cooking up collaborations and solo tracks. In February, he teamed up with David Guetta to release ‘The Freaks’, a huge house track with a moody arpeggiated bassline, before putting out a parade of bangers with Shift K3Y, Alexandra Prince, Tchami and Dr. Fresch over the summer. His solo track, ‘Love All Night’, meanwhile, landed in September, with its stadium-sized breakdown, infectious vocal and trance touches.

Hørger spent the rest of his summer playing massive festivals, among them EDC Las Vegas, Tomorrowland, and Parookaville, and made a monthly appearance at Ushuaïa Ibiza as part of David Guetta’s F*** Me I’m Famous! residency. As if all this wasn’t enough, look out for new collabs with Dillon Francis and Sonny Fodera soon. 

Hero of 2023: “My mom!”

Fave tune of 2023: “AC Slater x Chris Lorenzo ‘Seismic’."

Best DJ set you’ve seen in 2023: “David Guetta.”

What was the most exciting tech development of 2023? “For me, it’s the abundance of processing power. I can make music on the road just as well as in the studio now.”

Rising star DJ/producer of 2023: “BRANDON."

What gives you hope for 2024? “2024, even more than the past few years, will be the year of ‘do whatever the f**k makes you feel good.”