Azzecca: Beatport Next Stories 2025

Azzecca is part of the Beatport Next Class of 2025, and the Chicago based artist has quickly become one of the most talked about new names in dance music. Known for her high energy blend of techno, house, acid and cosmic sounds, she has carved out a reputation for sets that balance euphoria with a darker edge. “Find what makes you unique before you just jump into it,” she says. “What the industry is missing is authenticity and fresh ideas.” That sense of individuality is central to her rise.

Born in Rockford and based in Chicago for the past 15 years, Azzecca first started experimenting with music production during college. What began as playful loops in Ableton grew into a deeper commitment during lockdown, where she honed her craft and developed a sound inspired by the journeys of Sasha and Digweed. Her first DJ sets came at her own parties, where she wanted to create a space for women on Chicago’s dance floors. “I started throwing parties because the scene had become really male dominated. I wanted to bring women back on the dance floor,” she recalls.

That energy evolved into COSIMEA, her event series launched in 2024 to spotlight emerging artists and open minded club sounds. For Azzecca, the project is about community as much as music. “COSIMEA really gives me an opportunity to create the energy I want on a dance floor and to play the quirky weird tracks I love,” she says.

Her productions have found homes on labels like Ninja Tune’s Foreign Family Collective, Kompakt and Gorgon City’s REALM, where she recently released a standout single. Performances at Coachella, Movement Detroit and Printworks have solidified her reputation, but she feels especially connected to Europe. “The culture here has held onto the core values of dance music. People are more open minded and that is what I love about playing here.”

Beatport Next provides her with a platform to take that vision global, joining a cohort of artists who are shaping the sound of tomorrow.