Playlist of the Week: [IVY]
[IVY]
[IVY] is all about fusing old-school rave sounds and 4x4 bangers with modern drum & bass. Three words to describe my music would be euphoric, nostalgic, and fun. My music and DJ style has been deemed “controversial” by some, but I’m all about innovating, pushing boundaries, and celebrating the best of rave music while blurring genre lines and keeping it fun – all at an exhilarating 174–180 BPM.
I started off in the French rave scene when I was 14, but I grew up listening to UK rave music with my dad in the car on the way to school. My sound today reflects that musical journey, and I’ve built this playlist to showcase what inspires me, my favorite tracks, and my DJ go-to’s.
For me, 2026 is all about continuing my fusion of rave genres, growing my new techno/trance alias [SAFYRE], and finding more ways to shock and surprise people on the dance floor. Life’s too short for boring music, ey?
I need to start this list with my fave [IVY] release so far. 18 months of work went into this track and it is my idea of the perfect encapsulation of my sound – a fusion of euphoric old school trance and energetic DnB. Probably my fave production EVER. So happy with how all of this came together with A Little Sound and hearing people sing along to it in the rave.
Hardstyle was a massive part of my teenage years and considerably forged my sound today. I grew up in the techno scene in France, but we would drive 11 hours to the Netherlands multiple times a year to attend hardstyle festivals like Defqon.1, Qlimax, etc. I knew all of the words and all of the kick rolls. I was obsessed. I’m honored to be able to incorporate some of those old-school hardstyle sounds from my childhood into my sets and productions today. Hardstyle isn’t really a thing in the UK, so I love introducing it to people.
I moved to the UK (Bristol) when I was 18 and fell in love with drum & bass. I thought I would have to leave my techno and hardstyle roots behind, but then I heard this track from Dimension crossing over 4x4 and DnB. Around that time, I was also introduced to Mandidextrous, who was doing the same. This inspired me to start producing and to embrace my love for DnB and techno while fusing the two together.
Even though I like to branch out into other genres, drum & bass is where I base myself. I love the scene, the people, the tempo, the nerdiness. While being different, I feel so at home there, and I had to give an ode to my favorite DnB producer Sub Focus, with my current favorite DnB track. “Entwined” embodies everything I love about dance floor DnB and seamlessly embraces trance and 4x4 elements. Also, Grimes on a DnB track? Historic.
I wouldn’t be where I am without my love for bouncy techno, so I had to include my favorite track. I love the late-night euphoria that comes from the breakdown; this track always gives me that goosebump feeling I try to embody in my own music. I can’t even begin to think about how many times I’ve listened to this.
Genre fusion tracks are my favorite, and this is probably my top pick of 2025. The 4x4 drop is so clean and unique; I don’t think I’ve ever heard a track like this before. I love it when producers push boundaries, and Grafix did this in such a cool way. Hoping to hear more unique stuff like this from artists in 2026.
I can’t talk about what defines my sound without mentioning “To The Sky.” This track fuses eurodance with dance floor DnB and has been my most successful track to date. I didn’t know what to expect when I released it, but it went completely crazy and I owe a lot of my current success to this song. It gave me the confidence to keep pushing genre fusion and solidified my sound.
My top track on my 2025 Spotify Wrapped, and I’m proud of it. The melodies, the vocal, the bass, the progression – near perfection in my opinion. Bounce/Trance is probably my favorite genre alongside DnB, which is why I created my new alias [SAFYRE]. This track is definitely one of my main “Saffy” inspirations. I remember tearing up to this during a sunset rave in Berlin — one of my highlights from last year.
* This track is not available on Beatport in North American territories. Listen here.
If you’ve seen any of my DJ sets in the last two years, you’ll know that this track is a staple. I’ve probably played it out hundreds of times and double-dropped it with anything and everything. I’m obsessed with the sassy vocals and the late-night dance floor DnB vibes. It probably won’t be leaving my set anytime soon, and I’m not ashamed of it.
A big inspiration and influence for me is shamelessly early 2000s cheese. It is, in my humble opinion, the golden era of music. It’s probably because it’s what I grew up with, but I love a throwback, and my sets are filled with naughty 2000s bootlegs and fun sing-alongs. My favorite thing is dropping a track you’d forgotten about from your childhood, but somehow remember all the words to. I love creating fun, nostalgic, and euphoric moments, and “Cry For You” is probably one of the most iconic 2000s tracks for me.
* UK/Europe version available here.
