From the industrial dance floors in his hometown of Detroit to the coveted clubs in his adopted city of Berlin, Ryan Elliott is a must-see DJ who has put his distinctive sonic stamp on these two techno capitals. Back in the mid-to-late-2000s, Elliot was working a nine-to-five as a financial analyst for Ford Motor Corporation in The Motor City, but spent his nights and weekends going B2B with Matthew Dear and performing at venues across Detroit and the Midwest as a core member of the Spectral Sound crew.

It wasn't until 2009 that Elliott decided to leave corporate America behind and hop across the pond to settle in Berlin. It was here that his ascent into clubland stardom would take place. His reputation for weaving together meticulous and endlessly intuitive sets would eventually secure him a residency at the world-famous Berghain / Panorama Bar. On the production front, his catalouge boasts releases from some of dance music's most esteemed labels, such as Ostgut Ton, Dekmantel, Innervisions, Rekids, and beyond.

After a decade of living in Berlin, Ryan Elliott launched his own label, Faith Beat, in 2019. Despite the deep roots he's put down in Europe, the history, sound, and spirit of America's underground dance music scene remains a crucial aspect of Elliott's musical identity and motivation. With this in mind, Ryan Elliott set out on a two-year-long quest to seek out some of the most impressive underground players across the US who represent a new generation of house and techno innovators and are taking the evolution of American dance music into their own hands.

The result? Have Faith — a 34-track mix/compilation that celebrates five years of his expertly curated Faith Beat imprint. Eighty percent of the tracks on the compilation come from US-based acts who are committed to pushing their local underground scenes into new and exciting sonic territory.

"I wanted to do a compilation that focused on emerging US talent but also included some European favorites," Ryan Elliott tells Beatportal. "The US has so many unique, interesting dance music scenes (NYC, DC, Detroit, Miami, etc.), and they are all a little bit different musically than each other, so I wanted to highlight that. I was also ready to release another DJ Mix, as my last one was ten years ago, and I like the challenge of turning a 34-track compilation into a mix that makes sense and tells a story."

To investigate this story further, we contacted nine artists involved in the Have Faith compilation to learn more about their sound, dance floor philosophies, and the local scenes/communities they champion — from sea to shining sea.

For the purpose of this list, Ryan Elliott and Beatportal wanted to shine a particular spotlight on the female talent who appeared on the compilation. After all, it is women like the selected artists below who, by and large, are leading the charge in bringing a new golden age of sound to the US electronic music landscape.

Ladymonix

City: Detroit | Baltimore

My work is always in the deep, jazzy, a little bit cunty house realm. This track here on Ryan's gorgeous comp was inspired by the dancers that give me energy at one of my favorite gigs in Detroit. It's a night full of house heads and true dancers who let me be me and go for the journey. When starting any new project, it's not with a vision of who this is for specifically, but more like what kind of moment in the night I want to lean into. With this one I was in exploration of very dreamy sounds, things that felt like being in space, and everything I was making at this moment felt this way. But I love to give an anthem too, of course! It's all about the range.

Juana

City: Washington, DC

Washington, DC, has been my home base as a DJ for over 20 years, and while the scene is small, it is home to some of the most committed and talented people anywhere. We believe in and support each others' work and events, and collectives like Black Techno Matters, Dance Club, Flower Factory, Xunt, and my own party, Noxy, embody that spirit. My work as a producer and DJ though is always in some way an homage to my original hometown of Chicago. I can often clock Chicago-crafted techno and I can't describe how, but if you know, you know.

Seelene

City: Seattle

The Seattle dance music scene is unique because it's big enough to support regular underground events and world-class talent but small enough that the community is not fragmented. We are also relatively geographically isolated from the dance music meccas, which can be hard at times, but really contributes to a "by us for us" ethos. We're all pushing each other creatively in this relatively unbridled way because there's not a lot of financial incentive or clout-chasing. This can be really freeing and, I think, leads to a more open-minded and unique approach. We have a lot of fun making things happen on our own terms.

Aida

City: San Francisco

I view my work in music as a self expression without bounds. It is a creative outlet that gives me the freedom to pursue what inspires me in that moment and share it with the world without any limitations. This way, for some moments in time, I can invite others to view the world through my musical lens. Coming back to San Francisco after a year-long trip to Europe, I feel the city has a new stamina in its nightlife. The scene always had small pockets where the music and party etiquette we often find in the European scene existed in small form and I appreciated that a lot. Now, it feels like the scene is growing even more, with more events, DJs, and a growing crowd who truly come out to listen to music.

Jacky Sommer

City: New York City

The New York scene is poppin'! There’s so much diversity in the sound. We have some of the best clubs and sound systems, so many parties, so many afters. And record store culture feels like it’s fully back now. The nightlife and the underground is just incredibly vibrant and basically nonstop. And there are so many talented artists and DJs. There’s an energy here where things are constantly in motion. New clubs and spaces are always opening. The scene just keeps expanding. But it’s still very underground. It’s something that definitely inspires my sound.

I’ve been a DJ in NY for 20+ years. My style is varied but always deep and a mood. My production style is pretty similar to my DJ style. It’s about a vibe or a feeling in the moment. It’s less about the genre and style and more about the groove. "Woman on a Wire is a deep, downbeat mediation in both feeling and being, whether that’s right on the edge or being perfectly balanced.

Suade

City: San Francisco

The San Francisco Bay Area has such a rich history of music, DIY, and renegade culture, imbued with an ethos of community support and collaboration. The ethos lives on through some of the hardest working yet most humble people here, like the lovely folks over at SutroFM, HydeFM, and Cone Shape Top. I feel firmly rooted in this city and am grateful to be part of the current wave of artists and organizers shaping nightlife experiences. As part of the collective Club Moniker, we’re all about pairing expansive music with elements to delight the senses, whether through light or smell. I also help run the label side where we showcase forward-thinking music from the Bay and beyond.

My approach to production mirrors my approach to DJing—mood over genre, constantly shapeshifting like my inspirations. I’ve been producing for a long time and I have to credit my friends here for encouraging me to release music.

“Nite Groove” came together in Tisno two summers ago, watching the sun rise over the placid waters. I wanted to capture the dreamlike quality of that morning and it felt natural to have it laced with organ riffs, floaty countermelodies, and a punchy groove.

Joyce Lim

City: Washington, DC

I think of making music as a way of talking to God, the Tao, and the divine, a way to escape the mortal plane. Can I make a kick drum sound holy? I seek Buddha in the circuitry. The music scene in Washington, DC, is an expansive sonic space filled with opportunities for this level of awe.

AK

City: Detroit

Detroit is a very special place; you will never hear the music you hear here anywhere else or with the spirit of real Detroit players, musicians, producers, and DJs. As we all know, music is medicine! Music is a healer and, for me, the perfect medium for expression. I like to tell a story in my mixes and in my music, consisting of thoughts in my consciousness or vibrations I want to feel in the club. It’s always love.

Sister Zo

City: New York City | Kansas City

Community is everything. And music—at least to me—is all about community. About sharing. With family, with friends, with people locally and globally. I feel blessed to be able to connect with local communities (I'm saying that a lot) all over the world through my DJing. But honestly, touring has been a challenging lifestyle. When I started down my musical path, it was the community-building that most fulfilled me. 

Building spaces for marginalized people to express themselves fully and safely. Spaces to connect with each other and share music. Spaces that empower people to live authentically and fearlessly. In a way, my solo career has taken me away from that. There's a lot of lonely nights for a touring DJ. Long flights and time spent alone in airports, catching naps in hotels. It's hard to handle without a good support system. So yeah. Community is everything. Friendship is everything. Nothing matters without love. Music certainly doesn't. That's what I've come back to after years spent chasing some vague idea of success. 

It's not about looking cool on TikTok or having a million followers, or playing the most prestigious clubs and festivals in the world. It's about making people dance, sure. But more than that, it's about taking care of each other. It's about sharing. It's about collective resistance and reimagining. And right now, at this phase of my life, I'm choosing to recommit myself to these values, in and beyond dance music. And on that note, Free Palestine.

The immense 34-track compilation Have Faith (Compiled by Ryan Elliot) is out now via Faith Beat. Listen below and check it out on Beatport.