Eight Emerging Artists On Our Radar: August 2024
Welcome back to On Our Radar, Beatportal’s monthly roundup of the DJs and producers we can’t get enough of.
Rooléh
In July, Netherlands’ Rooléh debuted on George Smeddles’ South Records with his Daylight EP, with remixes From Toman and Tuccillo. Real name Ruud Koole, the Amsterdam-based house DJ and producer began his production journey during the early months of 2020. Since then he’s been mentored by Michel de Hey, Franky Rizardo, Anil Aras and others, and released on labels such as Airtime, Moxy Muzik and Lacuna. His high-energy, sample-based house music draws influence from hip-hop, soul and disco, and his latest EP is a great example of that. With looping house grooves, vocal samples, 4:4 beats and irresistible synths, Rooléh has a knack for creating music that makes dance floor memories. Catch him playing at one of his VOID events this summer in Amsterdam, an intimate backyard gathering for house music heads.
STEYA
Berlin-based artist STEYA has been firmly on the radar of techno heads since 2022 with regular shows at RSO Berlin, Grelle Forelle in Vienna, Tomorrowland, Exhale, Rex Club and Basement NYC. In July she released her long-awaited debut EP Dopamine on Index Marcel Fengler, crystallising twenty years of devotion to techno and exploring a wide array of sonic influences. STEYA’s music taste was formed in Antwerp, where she defied a strict Jewish upbringing to immerse herself in the city’s thriving club scene. Dopamine follows a single-track release with IMF, as well as tracks on compilations for RAW and BCCO. The EP kicks off with the thunderous title track, designed for Berlin’s darkest dance floors, while "Fast Life" is a slick, bass-led cut packed full of low-end kick and punchy synths.
BIG WETT
BIG WETT
Known for her bold, sex-positive and inclusive music, BIG WETT is all about liberating the dance floor. After kicking off her career in Australia, BIG WETT’s fanbase has grown globally thanks to her irresistible productions infused with queer pride and femme power. Her self-released track "EAT MY ASS” quickly caught the attention of the industry, and since then she’s released on Play It Again Sam and most recently Future Classic. Her latest release is “She Got That Thing,” an electro/hyper-pop floor-filler with remixes from the likes of CC:DISCO! and Aldonna. With sold out shows from Australia to London and support from DAZED, Billboard, KALTBLUT, Rolling Stone, triple j, DORK, NME, DIVA and Dummy, BIG WETT is for the girlies, gays and theys and all about letting loose, living your best life, and caring for the community.
Rommii
Fast-rising house music sensation Rommii teamed up with hit vocalist and songwriter Dev for a sizzling new single called “Deep End.” Out on August 15th via dance label Proximity, this is Rommii’s most anticipated release to date; a beautiful blend of deep house elements infused with commercial pop energy. Best known for his unique emotional house music, Rommii has quickly emerged as a formidable new artist. His debut EP multihued has racked up over 10 million streams and the hit single "What We Had Was Real" received extensive airplay on Sirius XM and peaked at number 7 on Diplo's Revolution. Hailing from San Diego, the Mexican-American DJ/producer packages up his fun-loving energy with his "Rommii & The Homies" shows where he’s mastered the art of fostering a sense of community both on and off the dance floor.
ATRIP
This August, London's rising star ATRIP will release his latest single, “Ocean,” alongside KAM-BU. Producing a track that meets at the intersection of dance music and poetry is a fairly air-tight summary of ATRIP, who likes to do things a little differently. He wants to build community around the ATRIP project, creating WhatsApp groups for large pub meet-ups ahead of his gigs so people who come alone feel comfortable. The single follows a big summer for the artist. He recently released his EPs Junction 3 and Ginger (Feel Good) on his own imprint and performed at Parklife, The Great Escape and Secret Garden Party. Coming up he’ll perform at Disclosure’s Friends & Family, Warehouse Project in October and has a mixtape in the works for release by the end of the year.
Jackie Hollander
Ascending from San Francisco’s eclectic underground, Jackie Hollander has risen through the dance music ranks to become a well-respected DJ and producer with a knack for making mesmerising and atmospheric house tracks. Her musical journey began at college in LA, where she fell in love with the city’s clubs and warehouse parties. Her DJ skills have let to sold out shows at renowned clubs such as Sound Nightclub in Los Angeles, and since her first release came out on Fantastic Trax in 2021, Jackie's released on notable labels such as Realm Records, There Is A Light, Nervous Records and Street Tracks, and contributed to Justin Jay's Fantastic Voyage. At the core of her productions is a commitment to fostering connection, an ethos demonstrated in her latest single "Pass You By” with Ellis Moss, released on REALM Records this August.
Optmst
Optmst is a DJ, producer and architect of Belfast nightlife. He’s dedicated much of his career to progressing culture in Northern Ireland, where he heads up online radio station Ayeland in Vault Artist Studios, worked for AVA's venues, platforms new artists with his Ayeland Audio imprint and restores venues to create fresh underground spaces in a region that’s short on them. He’s a formidable DJ, with selections that span hyper-pop, breakbeat and UK bass, and he’s released on some of the UK’s most forward-thinking labels including Duality Trax, R&S Records and Shall Not Fade. His Findin’ Solace EP came out in June, a 5-track project that demonstrates his ability to combine emotive pop sensibilities with elements of house, breaks and IDM, and he’s sitting on a wealth of new music which he’ll release slowly over the course of the year.
SHARE
In June, Rotterdam/Ibiza-based DJ/producer SHARE (AKA Sharon Pieksma) released her Moon EP, out on Mobilee Records. The ethereal title track treads the line between trance and house, while “Connection” is a slower temp, drawing on elements of house and disco to create a track for close-eyed moonlight dancing. The EP follows two major releases on BLOND:ISH's Abracadabra Music imprint and Oliver Koletzki’s A Tribe Called Kotori label, further cementing her name as one of electronica’s most exciting new names. The Netherlands-born artist is no stranger to igniting dance floors - she has a residency at Ibiza’s WooMoon party and has spread her melodic house magic all over the world from Switzerland to South Africa. With the EP receiving early support from Deer Jade, Chloe, Dave Seaman, and Paco Osuna, SHARE’s on an unstoppable upward trajectory.
