The 50 Best Tracks of 2024

Genre: Breaks / Breakbeat / UK Bass
Label: XL Recordings

How often is it that a track drops in January, rattles speakers throughout the winter, and fills the airwaves in spring, only to come out on the other side as a track of the summer? A rarity, no doubt, but a year-defining dance floor weapon took to the skies when the illustrious Joy Orbison decided to cook up a quick project while on his way to Lost Village Festival. It's a track that shelled Clubland repeatedly with its beefed-up and blotchy bassline, and it's Fred again.. "flex fm" edit — featuring Lil Yachty, Future, and Playboi Carti — even helped bring the tune out of the underground and into the realm of hip-hop. It was even used to soundtrack the unveiling of Chelsea's new football kit. Massive, radical, definitive, Joy O. — Cameron Holbrook

Genre: Afro House
Label: Keinemusik

In June, Adam Port, Stryv, and Malachiii met at the intersection of Afro House and melodic house for a production that, in a titularly self-fulfilling prophecy, made domestic and international dance floors “Move.” Following plays at Keinemusik events across global markets, interest in the sensual slow burn swelled, ratcheting its streams into the millions. Months later the trio’s team-up has stayed hot. “Move” continues to sit within the top 10 on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart, where it has remained for 20-plus weeks. Potent proof of the June single’s staying power. — Rachel Narozniak

Genre: Hard Dance / Hardcore / Neo Rave | Neo Rave
Label: HEKATE Records

Sara Landry led hard dance to a new era of popularity in 2024, but her meteoric rise wasn’t fueled by the pure rage with which the genre is often associated. It was fueled by an intention of healing. Her album is entitled Spiritual Driveby because her music creates a space for spirits to exist as they please. Her tracks are fast, but she also layers in chanting vocals and hypnotic textures as she did on her collaborative production with Godtripper: “Chaos Magicka - Sara's VIP Mix.” In listening to the ensorcelling melodies over the 160 BPM kick, it’s clear that stillness is encouraged just as much as motion. — Harry Levin

Genre: Electronica
Label: Mood Hut

After a string of singles that defined the sound of the Canadian Riviera in the early 2010s (both by himself and as half of Pender Street Steppers), Jack Jutston took a break from releasing records. He re-emerged in 2022 with a guitar in hand, adding an indie twist to his grooves. On "Wrong Again," the lead single from his follow-up album, he finds the perfect middle ground between the old and new iterations of Jack J. The tune is a quintessential sunrise house with its organ chords and a breakbeat. But Jutson adds in a plucked acoustic guitar line and his vocal ruminations on heartbreak, making the tune just as effective at closing out a festival as it would be the final montage of an A24 film. — Henry Ivry

Genre: 140 / Deep Dubstep / Grime
Label: DUPLOC

If you want to know what the future of dubstep sounds like, look no further. “Wayfinder” sums it up in one filthy, earth-shattering, teeth-chattering package. 11th Hour is the alias of Jason Verstraetan, a producer from Belgium, a country pioneering the freshest dubstep and home to DUPLOC, one of the genre’s most forward-thinking labels. “Wayfinder” is the stand-out track from the already outstanding DUPLOC ARTILLERY 2 EP, harnessing a killer build-up and then dropping a nasty bassline that will live in dubstep history. 11th Hour has already built an impressive catalog of heaters with releases on Bassin Records, Locus Sound, and Basskruit, and a whole lot more to come in 2025. — Alice Austin

Genre: Tech House
Label: Limousine Dream 

Gene On Earth is one of a clutch of artists who have made tech house cool again. There is nothing particularly radical about what the American does, it's more the way he does it. From his famous 'stache to the artwork for his Limousine Dream label, he has a sense of swag that cannot be faked. 2024 standout “Fan Man” is less sun-soaked than much of his work has been before. Instead, it's a little deeper, darker, and more suited to the late-night hours. With a tribal tinge to the drums and a deeply buried bassline, it's an enthralling trip to the farthest reaches of the electronic cosmos. — Kristan J Caryl

Genre: Deep House
Label: Ninja Tune

London-based DJ/producer Elkka is an expert at crafting ethereal-yet-euphoric love-struck club tracks, and the buoyant, skittering "Make Me," off her beautiful, queer-love-reflecting debut album Prism of Pleasure, is proof in point. The layered deep house gem — her most popular original tune on Beatport — is confident and energetic, yet the shifting, sometimes sputtering beat, along with the repeated requests to "make me love you" hint at the underlying uncertainty that even the deepest love can foster. “I like to go through different genres and moods and surprise you,” Elkka explained. “‘Make Me’ has something about it that pushes and pulls you in two different directions, but still makes you feel safe.” — Ana Yglesias

Genre: Trance (Raw / Deep / Hypnotic) | Raw Trance
Label: Haŵs

The Canadian-born seductive beats priestess Maara has been making waves in the queer prog scene for several years. With releases on labels such as NAFF, Radiant Records, Isla, Step Ball Chain, and Kalahari Oyster Cult, the young artist continues to redefine the 90s trance-infused sound, adding a contemporary touch of hedonistic sensuality. Our top pick this year is “You're So Delicious,” the second track from the summer EP, Haŵs Party Vol. 4 on the Cardiff-based imprint Haŵs. Part of a release featuring music by Adam Pits, Guy Contact, and Solar Suite, Maara’s “You're So Delicious” stands out for its nostalgic analogue feel and richly percussive rhythms, with transcendental vocals that elevate the melodies to euphoric realms of the mind. — Iman Cavargna-Sani

GENRE: Dance | Deconstructed Club
LABEL: Because Music

London-based hip-hop polymath and electronic champion Shygirl pulls the trigger on a new era of Club Shy with her deconstructed dance single “Immaculate,” featuring Cali rapper Saweetie. Stripped-back, sultry, and packed with braggalicious bars, Shygirl teases about the “immaculate” power between her legs that points and shoots on the hook: “Pussy be the gun.” “Immaculate” follows hot on the heels of Shygirl’s dual 2024 releases, Club Shy and Club Shy (RMX) EPs, her feature on Charli Xcx’s “365” remix, as well as jumping on the SWEAT arena tour with Charli Xcx and Troye Sivan. — Tracy Kawalik

Genre: Bass / Club | Juke / Footwork
Label: Planet Mu 

Jlin recruited illustrious guests for her 2024 album Akoma, including Björk and Philip Glass, who brings his iconic piano playing to the closing track “The Precision of Infinity.” The pairing of a Pulitzer-nominated footwork innovator (Jlin) with a legendary minimalist composer (Glass) was always going to be a match made in avant-garde heaven, bolstered by the core presence of repetition in their work. Here, the two artists throw their trademark moves into the ring — nimble-fingered ribbons from Glass and scattershot, head-splitting rhythms from Jlin — for a theatrical masterclass in fusion deserving of its own standing ovation. — April Clare Welsh

Genre: Drum & Bass
Label: EMI

It’s a combination that was only ever going to result in one thing: one of the biggest collaborations drum & bass has ever seen. In a year when Chase & Status have continued to soar to new heights, this track represents their crown jewel. It’s been smashed by DJs far and wide, and is arguably the biggest record the stalwarts have produced. Reaching #1 in the Official Singles Chart, it was a first for drum & bass and a catalyst for new fans discovering the genre. While some people may criticise this, exposure to the sound on a more mainstream level will only help the genre grow in the long term. — Jake Hirst

Genre: Afro House
Label: PLATOON

Released at the height of South African spring, Johannesburg-based producer Mpho “Mpho.Wav” Mohlong reaches out to various South African sonics for “UBUHLE” — an Afro House behemoth on his debut LP The Book of Wav. Spellbinding and smooth, one of the regions’s most prominent pens Njabulo “Mthunzi” Ndimande weaves his incantation, “ubuhle bakho abufani nobabanye” (“your beauty is like no one else’s”), and delivers, as usual, with a soulful and majestic ease. With an ethereal and sexy stride, the two work a nostalgic house groove laden with lofty twinkles over grounding, hypnotic log drums. Amongst a landscape of cut-and-paste Afro-attempts, there’s nothing quite like it. — Shiba Melissa Mazaza

Genre: Dance / Pop
Label: Young

After years of masked DJing behind veils and sending in doubles to perform, mysterious electronic pranksters Two Shell finally dropped their eagerly-awaited debut record this year. A glitchy, deconstructed rave that balanced euphoria and melancholy, it was the jittery digital techno-trance of the non-album single “Talk To Me” that became their biggest hit of 2024. Aided by futuristic auteur and fellow music outsider FKA twigs (whose diva-style vocal showed a new side to her artistry), the unexpected team-up saw the London-based underground enigmas swerve toward the pop sphere in exhilarating fashion while also incorporating elements of happy hardcore, Eurodance and big-beat. — Ben Jolley

Genre: Mainstage
Label: Arcane Music

On “Crawling,” Eli Brown douses self-doubt in gasoline and sets it ablaze in a bullish, techno-forward format. His pumped-up underground sound hits with a heightened sense of vigor substantiated by the single’s self-assured lyrics, driving basslines, and Brown’s quintessential darkness. This cathartic celebration of release and transcendence plays like a pot boiling over. There’s no putting a lid on it. — Rachel Narozniak

Genre: Tech House
Label: Black Book Records

Sammy Virji took the world by storm this year, and his tune with Chris Lake, “Summertime Blues,” proves the duo is a match made in heaven. The chilled-out tech house feeling captures the feeling of a moonlit summer night, defined by a smooth groove that balances on a tightrope between Virji’s vibrant sound design and Chris Lake’s impeccable ear for catchy, soulful samples. — Logan Sasser

Genre: Techno (Peak Time / Driving) | Drum & Bass
Label: Mama Told Ya

Glorious drum & bass from Anetha. The French DJ, producer, and founder of the label Mama Told Ya has had a whirlwind of a year. Following the release of her debut album, Mothearth, Anetha played at the closing ceremony of the Paris Paralympics and announced her first audio-visual tour, EXHIBIT, for Spring 2025. “Let me d&be” is the final track on Mothearth. It’s an emotionally charged yet powerful closer, offering a glimpse into her talents in producing lush drum & bass beyond the textured techno and trance for which she is primarily known. A gorgeous finale to her album, and so much more. — Niamh O'Connor

Genre: 140 / Deep Dubstep / Grime
Label: Atlantic Records

Charli Xcx started performing at London raves when she was 15 in the year 2007. At this point, she was surely being enthralled by a new sound taking over the UK. That sound is called dubstep and it was pioneered by two Croydonians: Skream and Benga. Well, now that Charli has taken over the world with BRAT, and now that Skream and Benga are back together, Charli has the juice to tap the two legends for a remix of her single, “Von Dutch.” Opening with Charli’s auto-tuned, bratty sermon, a pulsating beat slowly expands in erraticism. New layers enter adding to the suspense before dropping with a beat that combines Charli’s confidence in her delivery with Skream and Benga's confidence in dubstep. — Harry Levin

Genre: Indie Dance
Label: Sumoclic

Hailing from Australia, Grammy-nominated artist Maxwell Byrne (AKA 1tbsp) wowed us in 2023 with the arrival of his debut album, Mosquito Love. Originally started as a side-project to his Golden Vessel moniker, his rhapsodic dance music arrangements as 1tbsp have taken off globally, resulting in sold-out shows across North America and yet another album this year, entitled Megacity1000. One of the best cuts off of this brilliant ten-track LP is "The City Never Felt So Good" — a 145 bpm neon-laced joyride of downtown euphoria with trance overtones and a delicious hook that will remind you why nightlife in the city will always reign supreme. — Cameron Holbrook

Genre: Minimal / Deep Tech
Label: DOSMUNDOS

"Only You" by Tre Reynolds is a standout cut from one of the UK’s most exciting emerging talents. Released on a cool label that’s shaping the scene, this track shows Tre truly finding his feet in the minimal genre. The delicate balance of intricate rhythms and hypnotic grooves creates a fresh feel that is effortlessly refined. As one of my favorites of 2024, it’s a testament to Tre’s potential. The minimalist soundscape draws you in, and the subtle layers make it perfect for both intimate settings and peak-time sets. Tre Reynolds is definitely one to watch heading into 2025— Alex Mansuroglu

Genre: Psy-Trance
Label: Sacred Technology

Sonic Species & Zen Mechanics’ classic Spice Travel gets a bold rework from Imagine Mars, blending nostalgia with fresh energy. Keeping the original’s iconic vibe, this remix injects a wild, infectious hook that’s destined to dominate Psy-Trance hotspots and global dance floors as faster-tempo dance music begins to take its place on larger stages. A perfect fusion of the familiar and the futuristic. — Daniel Sokolovskiy

Genre: Melodic House & Techno
Label: X Recordings

“Like a Dream” by Rivo and Adriatique has quickly become one of my most-played tracks this year. From the moment it starts, the track lives up to its name, unfolding like an ethereal journey through lush, melodic layers and hauntingly beautiful synths. What I love most is how Rivo and Adriatique masterfully balance emotional depth with a driving rhythm, making it perfect for both introspective moments and peak-time dance floor energy. It’s a track that stays with you long after it ends — hypnotic, immersive, and utterly timeless. — Sergio Alonso Garcia

Genre: Dance / Pop
Label: Genesis (Because)

In 2024, the iconic French electro duo Justice dropped their excellent fourth studio album — their first in eight years — Hyperdrama, along with a new version of their dizzying, must-see live show. "One Night/All Night" is Hyperdrama's ear-catching lead single and one of two featuring Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker. He sings on the funky yet massive production like an incantation over a driving, shifting beat. The propulsive electro pop tune's loop-like nature will burrow itself deep into your being. — Ana Yglesias

Genre: Bass / Club
Label: TraTraTrax Records 

It doesn’t get any catchier than “Bikini,” the sticky-sweet head rush from Nick León and Erika de Casier that became a low-key underground club anthem this summer. Having worked together on de Casier’s celebrated 2021 LP, Still, the pair reunited for a dembow trance-pop fantasy about romancing in the sand, one that lingers long after the sun has dipped below the horizon and the towels have been packed away. “Bikini” bottles a hopeful outlook, set adrift on a sea of loved-up lyrics, roof-down rhythms, and heavenly arps that point to brighter skies ahead. Meet you on the beach? — April Clare Welsh

Genre: UK Garage / Bassline
Label: Spin Suga

2024 was one of UK Garage’s strongest years in a while, with artists like Sammy Virji, Interplanetary Criminal, and Oppidan slinging their scraping beats. There’s a growing appetite for the genre from younger fans, and it’s leading them to a bubbling pool of underground talents who’ve been grafting in the background. Bklava is one of these names who’s been gaining momentum, and it’s no wonder why when you hear productions like “Free.” Feeling like an ode to the dance floor and the euphoric feeling of escapism raving provides us, this tune encapsulates what Bklava is about: heady breaks, ethereal soundscapes, and immaculate vocals performed by herself. — Jake Hirst

Genre: Dance / Pop
Label: Polydor Records

Janet Planet, Sugar Bones, Clarence McGuffie, and Reggie Goodchild — aka Aussie party-starters Confidence Man — have had an undeniably huge year. After taking their euphoric rave spectacle to Glastonbury, they headed straight to the club with their ridiculously fun fabric compilation and escapist third album. Critics rightly hailed 3AM (LA LA LA) as 2024’s best dance album. All singles from it have become underground anthems and fan favourites at their wildly energetic live shows. But “I CAN’T LOSE YOU” is the runaway success. Its impossible-not-to-scream-along-to earworm chorus resulted in mainstream crossover success, and deservedly so. — Ben Jolley

Genre: Techno (Peak Time / Driving)
Label: Drumcode

A paragon of the driving, peak-time techno upon which Drumcode has built its rock-solid reputation, “When I Push” elevates Eli Brown, Layton Giordani, and OFFAIAH from respective producers to a techno holy trinity. On it, Brown and Giordani pull OFFAIAH's 2018 single, "Push Pull," out of the shadows, add a primetime plot twist to the Defected Records original, and push it into the limelight. The throttler has worked overtime on the dance floor since it hit digital streaming platforms in January. — Rachel Narozniak

Genre: Bass / Club
Label: Kapsela

Every new Objekt track is a notable event. Whether it's the otherworldly reggaeton of "Ballast" or the anthemic garage of "Theme From Q," each 12-inch from TJ Hertz is a perfect marriage of party-starting irreverence and technical finesse. This year's transmission from Objekt HQ was no different. On "Chicken Garaage," he builds a crystalline cosmos of strange robot bleeps and machine squeaks over swung 2-step drum programming and a bassline naughtier than a teenager stealing from the "take one" Halloween bowl. Funky and cerebral, no one makes flawless sound design sound as cheeky as Hertz can. — Henry Ivry

Genre: Melodic House & Techno
Label: Anjunadeep 

2024’s been a huge year for the multi-talented DJ, producer, singer, and songwriter Nicky Elisabeth. She released her debut album The Way Of Love on Anjunadeep, played her first all-night-long set at Paradiso in Amsterdam, and sprinkled her deep house fairy dust on dance floors from London to Mumbai. But perhaps her biggest achievement this year has been “The Lights,” the lead single from her album and a stunning demonstration of Nicky's ability to create music that’s emotive, compelling, and ethereal all at the same time. “The Lights” is a shining example of Nicky’s songwriting talent. It’s the kind of track that won’t leave a dry eye in the club. — Alice Austin

Genre: Dubstep
Label: Deadbeats

Levity and ALLEYCVT are two of the hottest acts in North America’s dubstep and festival community, there’s no doubt about it. It makes sense then that their first collaboration, “One For You,” is absolute fireworks. From the Tom & Jerry-inspired cover art and the melodic hook sung by ALLEYCVT to the vibrant, high-octane bass drops, this one is for a new generation of dubstep fans who enjoy some lighthearted dance floor bangers. — Logan Sasser

Genre: Deep House
Label: Aus Music 

Just like a painter has recognisable brush strokes and a signature colour palette, K-Lone makes music that could belong to no one else. There's a louche swing to his drums, elasticity in his bass, and neon shades in his synths that all elevate his tunes beyond their functional roots. The bubbly rhythms and soft melodic daubs of “Give It Up” made this one his standout this year. Whatever he turns his hand to, K-Lone's sounds are personal and intimate but punchy enough to ignite any dance floor. — Kristan J Caryl

Genre: Drum & Bass | Jungle
Label: Goddezz

Sheffield-based DJ and producer DJ Deep Heat is a regular name on the UK-based label Goddezz: a purveyor of ravey dreamscapes with surrealist artwork to match. On the imprint’s shared V/A, Genesis Pool, DJ Deep Heat cropped up again with the breezy “Only U.” Rippling with an aquatic bassline, twinkling keys, slabs of skittery jungle, and a soulful vocal, the track beautifully blends hyper atmospherics with softer, blissed-out motifs and bouncy textures. “Only U” joins several more stellar productions from DJ Deep Heat this year, with plays and support from Manami, X-Coast, I. Jordan, DJ Fingerblast and many more. — Niamh O'Connor

Genre: Electro (Classic / Modern / Detroit)
Label: Tresor Records

In 2023, Detroit's techno and electro pioneer Juan Atkins revisited his influential Cybotron project, releasing his first new music under the alias in 28 years. This year, partnering once again with Laurens von Oswald and Tresor Records, Atkins presented us with his Parallel Shift EP. The title track features soothing interstellar synths and shimmering drum patterns, accompanied by a robotic voice that calmly asserts, "We must insist on a parallel shift." This tune reflects sonic fiction crafted by electro royalty and raises questions about the future implications of our military-industrial complex and the possibility of other worlds. It's stunning, classic, and particularly relevant for our times. — Cameron Holbrook

Genre: House
Label: NLV Records

As a DJ first, Anna Lunoe has always brought a certain freedom to her productions. Before she learned what music she likes to make, she learned what works on the dance floor, and her knowledge is spread all throughout the fiery and eclectic originals on her debut album, Pearl. “Right Here” sees the Australian selector link once again with her dear friend Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs. With over a decade of chemistry, they combined their powers into a high-flying house tune that coasts on sweeping yet sharp chords and catchy vocals. — Harry Levin

Genre: House
Label: Warner Records

Who wouldn't want to hear dance pop queen Kylie Minogue on a Blessed Madonna Chicago house track dedicated to losing yourself on the dance floor? On the "Edge of Saturday Night," Minogue's joyful, anthemic vocal gets down with a pounding bassline, euphoric piano-driven breakdown, and a healthy sprinkling of sparkling synths. The colorful music video directed by Sophie Muller features the pair partying at the famed Pike's Ibiza with a gaggle of gays, channeling the chaos and fun that comes with the madcap career of a touring artist. The visual also gives life to the exuberance encapsulated in this firecracker collaboration, along with so much of each of their catalogs. — Ana Yglesias

Genre: House
Label: Moodswing Music

Two twins who know how to make beautiful, dreamy tracks, Coco & Breezy have seriously impressed this year. There’s a serene sense of connection to the world in their music, and “I Am Free” epitomises this. Empowering lyricism meets whimsical afro-house in this track, which landed right at the start of the year, but continues to motor into one of the pair’s stand-out offerings of 2024. Sometimes music has the ability to lift you in the darkest of times, and “I Am Free” is certainly one of these productions. A much-needed warm embrace on the coldest of days. — Jake Hirst

Genre: Amapiano
Label: Baby Blue Entertainment

When that unmistakable clarion call of “bare ke LeeMcKe!” takes hold, it’s impossible not to get on your feet. The vocally distinct and dexterous LeeMcKrazy rides a heady groove on a coaxing verse here, engineered by super-producer Tyler ICU, best known for his repeat offenses holding fans hostage on every dance floor he commandeers. Enlisting a string of featured faves for this viral track in transit, “Ebasini” dominated the streets long before its official February release. Currently at upwards of 9 million streams, this 2024 essential makes for a communal pre- or post-club anthem, whether you’re on your way to your favorite hometown spot or packing it up for the night once the second location has lost its fire. — Shiba Melissa Mazaza

Genre: Dance / Pop
Label: Afterlife Recordings

This piercing heart check came at the top of a year that would raise Anyma’s profile to new heights. It broods with romantic resignation and ensuing resolve to move on — a searing reminder that the only way out is through. After hurdling out of the Tale of Us member’s visceral melodic techno playbook in February, “Pictures Of You” evolved into a standout of his sophomore studio album, Genesys II. At the end of the year, he’ll formally wind the Genesys era to a close across eight dates at Sphere in Las Vegas. There, Anyma’s tight, intricate audiovisual production will hit its immersive apex, putting an exclamation point on 2024 — his strongest year yet. — Rachel Narozniak

Genre: UK Garage / Bassline
Label: ec2a 

Introspekt has been at the forefront of a new generation of UK garage producers revitalizing the genre outside of its South London home. Across the Pacific, the duo INVT are key figures in this generation of the American underground, putting a modern spin on myriad classic dance styles. On their collaborative EP for legendary label ec2a, the triad of producers find the perfect middle ground of bass weight and contemporary techno. No tune captures this better than "Me Prendi." It is a sparse and dark 2-step, but it still oozes sex appeal with the duet between the rubbery bassline and groaning vocals, climaxing with a fizzing subs happy ending. — Henry Ivry

Genre: Minimal / Deep Tech
Label: Method 808

This summer, Papa Nugs and IN2STELLAR teamed up to make the happiest, boinkiest, cheekiest house track this side of the twenty-first century. London-based Papa Nugs, AKA Joe Nugent, has been championing UK house music for several years now, progressing the sound through his sharp production style and tongue-in-cheek take on the genre. IN2STELLAR, AKA Sarah Morgan and Georgia Bird, are Australia’s most compelling dance music duo, and “Ce Soir” is an airtight summary of everything these artists have to offer: vibrant, future-facing, fun, and f***ing irresistible. — Alice Austin

Genre: House
Label: SoundKream

Marshall James is what happens when a savvy social media approach meets fantastic music. The result is overnight virality and an elevator ride to stardom. What makes “Feelin' Low” so appealing is the minimalistic groove that proves beyond a reasonable doubt dance music is about feeling first and foremost. There’s not much to “Feelin’ Low,” but that’s the appeal. It’s an easygoing track that embraces simplicity in all the right ways, and the dance floor is better for it. — Logan Sasser

Genre: Melodic House & Techno
Label: Ninja Tune 

Carlita has continued to ascend in the last 12 months because dancers can't get enough of the way she blends lush electronics, steely grooves, and a hint of nostalgia in her work. “Wish You Knew” arrived back in September but it’s the sort of tune that embodies everything you want to hear in a summer festival banger. The groove is big and bold enough to carry off a main stage and the melodies are bright, sun-kissed, and full of glossy optimism that makes crowds swell with excitement. Now that winter has hit, it works just as well in low-ceiling clubs with flashing strobes amping up the rush of the synths to a whole new level. — Kristan J Caryl

Genre: Drum & Bass
Label: Skant.net

If you had to pick one sound that has defined drum & bass this year then it would without doubt be the frog noise. It’s hard to describe, but once you hear the ribbiting, robotic bass noises piercing through sound systems, you’ll never forget it. Skantia has been an artist at the forefront of this unique soundscape this year, and “Yoyo Bop” is a tune that many have tried to imitate. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a DJ who hasn’t used this tune as a weapon in their sets this year – and for good reason – as it absolutely slaps as a double drop. — Jake Hirst

Genre: Dubstep
Label: Monstercat

Bass music artist Ray Volpe has had an explosive year and his standout single, “See You Drop,” by way of Monstercat was the perfect way to celebrate his ongoing success. The track, which quickly gained attention upon its release, showcases the artist's signature blend of heavy bass, sharp drops, and infectious rhythms. Volpe’s precise production and ability to create attention-grabbing drops made the track a weapon in the dubstep scene throughout 2024. — Jeanette Kats

Genre: Breaks / Breakbeat / UK Bass
Label: Classico 

There is absolutely nothing subtle about Jialing's "Freaky Horns." From the colossal drums to the chopped-up brass to the vocals (at one point, there is a man literally screaming in indecipherable excitement), this is as big a tune as you'll hear. But it's also a case study of how largesse doesn't have to come at the expense of precision. As the tune gathers momentum like a McLaren with fresh tires, little details add to the velocity — from the rolling hand drum lines to the bass drops. "Freaky Horns" was a calling card for Baltimore's newest superstar and an easy contender for that fabled sound of the summer. — Henry Ivry

Genre: Tech House
Label: Nervous Records

What happens when you combine NYC powerhouse label Nervous Records with Sister Zo’s juicy, explorative brand of tech house? Arguably the heater of the year. “Root of Desire” is house music at its very best. It’s playful, nostalgic, and explorative with the ability to transport listeners to another realm. Taking elements from NYC, Chicago, tech, and Latin house, Sister Zo once again reminds us that she’s one of the best in the game. Over the years, the Kansas City-born artist has released on Scuffed Recordings, Screw Cheek, Faith Beat, Fever AM, and many more, and with “Root of Desire” she’s become a staple producer for every DJ. — Alice Austin

Genre: Melodic House & Techno
Label: Counter Records

LP Giobbi’s talent for the piano is known far and wide, but underneath her skills on 88-keys is an underlying musical sensibility that supports every one of her tracks. On “Succession,” a cut from her new album, Dotr, that sensibility takes center stage as she composes a dance music symphony. Combining buoyant electronics with glistening strings and, of course, resonant piano melodies, this six-minute epic flows through different movements. A special mention goes to the breakdown which utilizes space and dynamics to create palpable tension. Listeners can feel the drama emanating from the speakers before the release comes in the form of an airtight drop — Harry Levin

Genre: Drum & Bass
Label: Crucast

"Pow" by Eksman and AC13 is a huge track that showcases the explosive energy these two bring to the scene. Eksman’s sharp vocal delivery paired with AC13’s dynamic production creates an electrifying synergy that’s hard to ignore. What makes this track one of 2024’s best is its relentless energy and precision. The heavy bassline and expertly crafted drops are pure fire, while Eksman’s presence takes it to another level. It’s a track that commands attention from start to finish and energizes every crowd. — Alex Mansuroglu

Genre: Afro House
Label: MoBlack Records

“Famax” by RAFFA GUIDO, released on the legendary MoBlack Records, is easily one of my favorite Afro House tracks of 2024. This masterpiece feels like a journey, as Guido draws from his Spanish roots to craft a soundscape rich in Iberian soul and afro house nuances. The sultry Spanish vocals, layered over dynamic percussion and emotive swells, completely pull me in every time I listen. — Sergio Alonso Garcia

Genre: Tech House
Label: Peach Discs

Few EPs have made waves this year quite like the tsunami of Saoirse’s The Monogamous EP. “Mangomouse” was getting played out non-stop all over the world way before the official release date. Its delicious Latin house groove and rolling tech house energy made it a fail-safe hit that glides seamlessly into any set. “Mangomouse” was written in what Saoirse describes as her tribal era. “I was a drummer for years but put the sticks and djembe down once I found electronic music,” she says. “This is a path I think I’ll keep following as the rhythm comes naturally to me.” — Alice Austin

Genre: Electronica
Label: Smugglers Way

A match made in modular heaven, Hot Chip's Joe Goddard links with his longtime friend and remix cohort, electronic avant-garde composer Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, to create this rousing, intricate, and singular banger. "Neptunes" is truly unlike anything we've heard. Combining Goddard's fierce rhythmic sensibilities with Smith's alluring, free-flowing modular synthesis chops, the result is a dance-floor-forward track with viscous lows, kinetic drum work, bewildering vocal cuts, and illusory electronic patterns that will leave you gobsmacked. — Cameron Holbrook