Band
Foster the People was founded by Mark Foster in Los Angeles in 2009. The group achieved success with the 2011 release of its debut album, Torches, selling nearly two million albums and more than ten million singles worldwide. Torches features the number-one hit “Pumped Up Kicks,” which Spin declared “the year’s anthem,” and the chart-topping singles “Don’t Stop (Color on the Walls),” “Houdini,” and “Helena Beat.” Foster the People garnered three Grammy nominations for its monumental debut, including Best Alternative Music Album, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Pumped Up Kicks,” and Best Short Form Music Video for “Houdini.”
Producer / DJ Group
Thievery Corporation is a Washington, D.C.-based recording artist consisting of DJ duo Rob Garza and Eric Hilton and their supporting artists. Their music style mixes elements of dub, acid jazz, Indian classical, and Brazilian with a lounge aesthetic. Thievery Corporation is on the Eighteenth Street Lounge record label, but several of their singles and EPs appear on the 4AD and !K7 labels. The group's lyrics are in languages as diverse as English, Spanish, French, Persian, Portuguese, Romanian, and Hindi, reflecting their global feel and collaborative structure.
Singer / songwriter
Alternative R&B artist Gallant, born Christopher Gallant, is known for a striking falsetto utilized over drawn-out synthesizer lines and pointed electronic beats. After moving to Los Angeles post-graduation at NYU, Gallant released a handful of self-made albums and songs. Having impressed the manager of EDM acts Krewella and ZHU, Gallant then associated with Mind of a Genius Records, the outlet for 2015 releases "Open Up," and "Talking in Your Sleep." Like earlier tracks, these songs enhanced Gallant's expressive vocals with deep-probing bass, shadowy layers of percussion, and keyboards.
Band
The duo Bob Moses is often lauded as underground electronica's hope in the mainstream music world. The Brooklyn-based band pumps out original scores of ghostly beats with an unmatched melodic depth. Overlaid with original songwriting, the music is firmly held in the underground electronic genre but dips its toe into something more familiar, for those new to the scene. The result is something for the dance floor and the spirit. In 2015, they released their debut album, Days Gone By.
Band
Rhye is a low-key collaboration between two well-regarded producers, multi-instrumentalists, and vocalists: Denmark native Robin Braun (a.k.a. Robin Hannibal, member of Boom Clap Bachelors, Owusu & Hannibal, Parallel Dance Ensemble, and Quadron) and Canadian Mike Milosh (a.k.a. Milosh). In 2010, Hannibal contacted Milosh, who had released three albums on Plug Research, about working on a remix. The meeting was more productive than anticipated and developed into the initially secretive project Rhye. Their first album was titled Woman.
Performer
Charles "Lil Buck" Riley is a Los Angeles–based dancer originally from Memphis, Tennessee, who specializes in a style of street dance called jookin'. He gained popularity after director Spike Jonze's impromptu recording of an interpretive performance of "The Dying Swan" by Lil Buck and Yo-Yo Ma. He performs regularly all across the nation.
Dancer & Choreographer
Jon Boogz is a movement artist, choreographer, and director whose edgy contemporary work seeks to push the evolution of what dance can be – sharing with audiences of all backgrounds an appreciation of the melding of movement genres while inspiring and bringing awareness to social issues.
Originally motivated to begin dancing by the painstaking choreography of Michael Jackson, Boogz embarked as a movement artist 15 years ago and soon thereafter was participating in dance competitions around the world. Since then he has choreographed work for numerous notable icons including ballet’s Mikhail Baryshnikov, Naomi Campbell, and Gloria Estefan. His collaborations include work with the TriBeCa Film Festival, Lil Buck, and Bonobo and his choreography is used in the FOX TV show “So You Think You Can Dance,” the Cirque du Soleil MJ ONE show in Las Vegas, and he was recently featured at the Geffen Playhouse “Backstage at the Geffen” gala with his dance company Control Freakz and Lil Buck. His forthcoming works in progress seek to seamlessly merge movement with the worlds of fine art, film, and the stage.
Singer/Songwriter
A deep, artful thinker whose singular approach to songwriting and sonics sets him worlds apart, José González is in a class by himself. He has a voice. He has a sound. He has a point of view. Vestiges & Claws – musically gorgeous, strikingly profound in lyric — has a unique and quietly visceral power that is as an outstanding addition to what is now an impressive body of work. The album is, without question, the most highly anticipated of his career.
Rapper and Producer
Born in Washington, D.C., to a Sudanese father and an African American mother, Amir Mohamed grew up in Maryland, influenced by soul and rap as well as myriad musicians on both sides of his family. He was all set to attend the Art Institute of Philadelphia to pursue visual art when a friend of his introduced him to hip-hop production. He was so enamored with it that he changed his plans and concentrated on making beats, ending up with the track "Musik Lounge" on DJ Jazzy Jeff's 2002 record Magnificent. He has released nearly 10 full-lengths and a handful of EPs and mixtapes, including his latest, The Odd Tape.
Band
Escort, enjoying accolades ranging from the New York Times to Pitchfork, NYC's disco champions are an incredible cast of musicians including founder/producer Eugene Cho, JKriv, Dave Sharma and lead singer Adeline Michèle.
Escort’s long awaited second LP “Animal Nature” is a leap forward from their critically acclaimed debut. “Animal Nature” stays true to the tradition of clubland’s holy trinity – New York, Chicago and Detroit – while staying on the forefront of modern disco and a new era of not-so-underground dance music. In an age where the dance music is over saturated with countless producers churning out an endless stream beats and remixes, Escort stands out, in part, by creating dance music the old fashioned way: with impeccable production, musicianship, and songwriting. Their explosive live performances have cemented their reputation as one of the city's premier live acts and has enabled them to showcase their unique live dance sound around the globe.
Musician
Quantic is the recording alias of British-born musician Will Holland. Will's sound is rooted in the richness of the golden age of recording, with a fearless modern bite made for the dance floor. His pioneering and enigmatic productions as a guitarist, accordionist, DJ, studio engineer, and music compiler have earned him an international fan base and constant engagements as a music selector, remixer, and band director. He has 16 studio albums under his belt and has collaborated and recorded with the likes of Ana Tijoux, Jorge Drexler, Shinehead, Anibal Velasquez, and more. Currently residing in Brooklyn, Will has a new musical release (or two!) planned for 2016.
DJ Duo
Chances with Wolves is an eclectic online music phenomenon with a six-year-running radio program on East Village Radio in NYC. Operated by two Brooklyn-raised DJs, Kenan and Kray—whose love of music has bonded them since they were kids—Chances with Wolves has freed itself of the traditional constraints of modern-day radio programming by ignoring genre categories in favor of "feel" and "mood." The duo spin obscure, older records, mixing in different genres of music, quotes from movies, and of course high-pitched wolf howls.
Musician
Allen Stone's music melts moods into the feelings his songs bring. The soulful American musician, from Chewelah, Washington, takes his listeners with him on a journey of love and life with his down-to-earth lyrics and R&B-style music. Pulling from retro influences like Stevie Wonder, Prince, and Bill Withers, the tunes switch from funky and lighthearted to deep and introspective, all the while keeping a strong, relatable tone. Describing himself as a "hippie with soul," Allen and his music feel like an old friend with an old soul.
Producer / Songwriter
Hip-hop artist, producer, and songwriter Jermaine Dupri has collaborated with artists such as Usher, Mariah Carey, and Nelly over the span of his 20-plus-year career in the music business. In 2011, Jermaine launched Global 14, which consists of more than 1,100 groups that share common interests, from fashion to hip-hop and R&B. He has been steadily building Global 14’s international presence, expanding into Europe and Latin America. Jermaine is also the CEO of So So Def Recordings, which he founded in 1989.
Producer / DJ
Nineteen-year-old Kweku Collins (pronounced kway-koo) is from Evanston, Illinois, living just beyond the fray of the city dubbed Chiraq—and the distinctive music scene that has arisen there. While still in high school, he was signed to buzzing Chicago label Closed Sessions on the strength of his prolific sound, which resonates upon listening to just a track or two.
soundcloud.kwekucollins.com
@kwekucollins
Producer / DJ
Hailing from Berlin, Rampue produces a sound that can be called keta-disco/house at the same time that it is defiant of such genres. His music combines soul vocals, deep bass lines, and accurate high-hat placement in a continuous search for just the right sounds. Rampue has performed all over the world, from Fusion Festival to Burning Man.
DJ
DJ Green Lantern, a.k.a. the Evil Genius, rose to prominence practically overnight when he aligned himself with Eminem, who wanted to get his Shady Records label into the mixtape game. Green Lantern first hooked up with Em for Shady Invasion, which highlighted the Detroit rapper's then-ongoing battle with Benzino. His other highlights include his own remix of the Nas/2Pac collaboration "Thugz Mansion."
soundcloud.com/djgreenlantern
@djgreenlantern
Producer / DJ
Founded in Istanbul by Safak Oz Kutle, Oceanvs Orientalis is a formation that aims to challenge the aesthetic perception in electronic music. It blends itself with the archaeological tunes of mankind’s cumulative musical history. Despite being an electronic-based formation, Oceansvs Orientalis intends to transform into a dance orchestra where each instrument will be played by its own instrumentalist.
soundcloud.com/oceanvsorientalis
DJ
Powel is a German DJ based in Berlin who mixes a chilled-out melodic and lush vibe through his boards. He has a penchant for a sensual after-hours vibe and an outer-space sound. Powel recently toured from Berlin to San Francisco, and his 2016 EP Kalophain was released by Das Sind Wir.
Producer / DJ
Viken Arman is a French producer, born and raised in Paris. He considers music the mirror of his feelings. Having worked in everything from jazz and classical to film scores and electronic music, the versatile and elusive artist doesn't like to restrict himself to a single musical universe. He founded the French collective Minimal Trip, which allows him to collaborate with great artists from all over the world, and he is becoming more and more recognized for his creativity. Viken always strives to maintain a surprising perspective. He is now at work on his debut album.
Producer and Musician
Satori is inspired to capture electronic world music, in which he combines blends of seductive trance and mind-altering earthy tones. Satori satisfies meditative music lovers by provoking a spiritual journey through his infinite sound-garden. Listen as you take on new dimensions of his musical world, where movement, dreaming, and creativity are endless. Satori’s sound is more than just a switch on a soundboard; he is the man behind the instrument, creating melodies from the piano, kora, kalimba, and guitar in combination with a deeper form of electronic music.
Spoken Word Poet
A founding member of L.A.'s Da Poetry Lounge, In-Q is a National Poetry Slam champion and multi-platinum songwriter who's shared the stage with John Legend, Eminem, De La Soul, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He's also performed on Russell Simmons’s HBO Def Poetry Jam, alongside Richard Branson at the first TEDx, and for President Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Quincy Jones. His mission is to bring poetry back as a force in popular culture, and while he always entertains and inspires, he also challenges audiences to bring a greater curiosity to the human experience.
Producer / DJ
Equal is a New York City–based producer and DJ. Originally hailing from Asheville, North Carolina, he has played top-tier music and fashion events such as the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year awards, Art Basel at the Versace Mansion, and private parties for Marc Jacobs and Yves Saint Laurent. Though he's a lifelong drummer, the transition into production was an easy one, and kicked off with his 2013 single "Lost In The Evening." His brand of leisurely funk music easily translates from day to night and is capable of inciting a dance party in any situation.
Comedian / TV Host / Political Podcaster / News Anchor
Ben Gleib is a stand-up comedian, actor, and host of the hit TV show Idiotest, now in its second season on GSN. He was also a roundtable regular on Chelsea Lately on E! throughout its seven-year run, appearing on the show more than 100 times. No stranger to the Internet, Gleib’s online videos have received a total of more than 16 million views. When in Los Angeles, he can often be seen performing at the legendary Hollywood Improv. You can catch him as the host of Idiotest on GSN every week.
Composer & Performer
Composer, performer, and "artpreneur" Micahel Thurber is perhaps best known as the co-founder and music director of CDZA, a YouTube-based music collective that features over 100 young, conservatory-trained performers. Using popular culture as its base, CDZA translates and remixes the familiar into one-take music performance videos. Whether composing music for the Royal Shakespeare Company, creating a digital ad campaign for AT&T, or performing live with T-Pain at the YouTube Music Awards, Michael’s musical voice defies genre and category. He has forged an entirely individualized path that is based solely off his eclectic love of music, culture and people.
michaelthurber.org
@michaeltstweets
DJ Duo
Stavroz was formed in 2011 by IJsbrand and Gert, DJs and sound engineers looking for a way to channel their musical antics. Maxim and Pieter joined for live shows and in the studio. The Belgian act's first vinyl on Délicieuse Records was picked up on international blogs, reaching No. 1 on Hype Machine, and was named vinyl of the month by Germany's Faze magazine. Known for injecting an ethnic, acoustic, and organic vibe to electronic music, these four friends pocketed releases for Kindisch, Bedrock, and their own label, Moodfamily, in Ghent.
DJ
Crussen started his DJ career in Oslo, Norway, while completing his studies in sound design. He brings a tropical, laid-back vibe to every set, along with his shining smile, capturing the spirituality of nature through his music.
Producer / DJ Trio
Basecamp hails from Nashville, but their sound has little if anything in common with the music typically associated with Tennessee. The trio, consisting of Aaron Miller, Aaron Harmon, and Jordan Reyes, creates moody electronic pop songs with subtle, glitchy production effects, haunting cello and guitar, and R&B-inspired vocals. Their measured, detailed beats are reminiscent of UK garage/post-dubstep artists such as Mount Kimbie and SBTRKT. They typically maintain a slow tempo but occasionally quicken the pulse to emphasize particularly dramatic moments.
DJ Duo
Made in Montreal but currently based in London, DJs Anstascia and Vivie-Ann have established themselves globally by proving that they don’t fit the quintessential stereotype. Fueled by sharp tastemaker instincts, Blond:ish has charmed the industry masses. In the past few years, the duo has carved out a unique production recipe that focuses on the art of creating organic, multidimensional music. Provocative bass lines contrast with smooth textures and sticky vocals that blend into a genre of house that rebels against being pigeonholed to any specific category.
Producer / DJ
San Francisco native Viceroy has seen success in his self-made summertime disco genre and is a staple at the top of the Hype Machine charts. One day he’s at school, playing local parties under a different moniker, and the next he’s earning a spot on the forefront of the nu-disco world. Creating a genre of his own, Viceroy has been featured heavily in music media and travels the world playing at festivals and shows.
Writer and Poet
Hailing from the Bay Area, musician, writer, producer, and poet Rafael Casal was a champion of the National Poetry Slam as a teen. He has since performed at hundreds of venues across the country, sharing the stage with greats like Carole King, Kanye West, Ludacris, Lauryn Hill, Alanis Morissette, and George Clinton. Rafael’s music projects include The Monster LP, Mean Ones, The Bay Boy Mixtape, and Black Mushroom, a collaboration with Nico Cary.