14 Artists to Watch in 2014

Welcome to 2014, the year where every DJ, producer, and promoter will declare it being "their year." We love the determination, but be forreal: everyo

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Complex Original

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Welcome to 2014, the year where every DJ, producer, and promoter will declare it being "their year." We love the determination, but be forreal: everyone can't own a particular year. Nor is it easy to predict. Last year we had Baauer and Disclosure pegged as artists to watch in 2013; do you think we expected the "Harlem Shake" viral explosion, or the massive Settle, to throw them into the limelight? There's no exact science to it, but judging off of what these artists accomplished in 2013 coupled with their potential, we have a feeling that these 14 artists will have a lot to celebrate come the end of 2014. Here are DAD's picks for the artists to watch this year.

Madeon

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It feels like Madeon is on this type of list every year (and for good reason), but we truly believe that this is going to be the year when he becomes the festival-headlining act that everybody has known he has the potential to be. He spent 2013 working with Lady Gaga, playing the NYSE, and releasing an epic single, "Technicolor." With a highly anticipated album set for release sometime this year, this French youth is more than ready to take on the world in 2014.

Martin Garrix

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We might not agree with everything coming out of his camp, but there's no denying that Mr. Garrix is on the rise in 2014. He signed to Republic Records and got picked up by #1 Belieber Scooter Braun. With a headlining tour in the works and a massive budget to do whatever he wants, Garrix isn't going away.

Cashmere Cat

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Like a lot of the names on this list, Cashmere Cat started 2013 on the right foot. His debut EP came out via Pelican Fly in October 2012, and while it caught all the right peoples' attention, it was his remix of Miguel's "Do You" that made him the "Cashmere Cat" that is respected now. The Cat has been linked to fellow forward-thinking bass luminaries like Sinjin Hawke, Rustie, and Lindsay Lowend as well as rappers like Wiz Khalifa. Adding to that his forthcoming EP for LuckyMe, his 2014 should be full of surprises.

Kaytranada

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Montreal's Kaytranada shouldn't be new to you if you're up on your Internets hype machine. He's officially remixed tracks from Banks and Disclosure, put out an impressive single with HW&W, and is rumored to have some dope projects with big name rappers on the way. He's a dope DJ, and has a great enough ear to dip from hip-hop to dance music without comprimising his sound. If his forthcomings matriculate into something bigger, you can't say you didn't see it coming.

Danny Avila

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Just two years ago (at the age of 16), Danny Avila was seen as the best newcomer at the Vicious Music Awards, and in 2013, he rose even higher in the EDM ranks. Tiesto's been quoted as saying that Avila is EDM's next star, and he's touched down everywhere from the mainstage at the Ultra Music Festival to Coachella. He's knocking out massive electro house numbers, and is keeping up with a rigorous DJ schedule that's taking him all over the world... and he's just getting started.

Mr. Carmack

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Rumor is when Pharell heard Mr. Carmack's beats he said he was "giving up." If that's not the best endorsement, what is? Hawaii's Aaron Carmack became a mainstay in every forward-thinking DJ's crates in 2013 with his slew of crazy cuts. He's been on big mixshows, releasing music on a consistent basis, and is adjusting to the touring life. As Carmack works out his adjustment to the spotlight, he could become a revelation for the combined hip-hop and dance music worlds.

Henry Fong

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The dreadlocked Henry Fong has been on the uptick in 2013, so 2014 should be an extension of that. With releases on OWSLA, Spinnin', Hysteria, Dim Mak, and Revealed at the time of writing, Fong has gone from blogger favorite to bonafide up-and-comer. Hell, he ended 2013 remixing Zedd's "Stay the Night" and Dillon Francis' "Without You." He clearly already has a number of people pulling for him.

Alex Young

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This 16-year-old D.C. native caught a lot of eyes and ears in 2013. He played his first festivals (EDCNY for one), put out some new originals and bootlegs, and continued to work on his live craft as he moved from Circle Talent Agency bookings to Windish. The kid has yet to really carve out a specific sound, but considering his age and progress so far, it's a bit scary, really.

MAKJ

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Few have put themselves in position for a massive launch in 2014 like MAKJ. This former F1 racer is no stranger to the fast lane and that'll help as his dope DJ-ready edits and monster originals are going to land him on the mainstage. Unlike many of his peers, MAKJ has been a DJ for years and brings experience to the craft and after collaborating with Hardwell? Sky's the limit for this dude.

Victor Niglio

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Niglio's one of those guys that seemingly dropped out of thin air and came with a gang of accolades, but that's what happens when an entity like Mad Decent gets a hold of your sound. Most people heard his edit of Martin Garrix's "Animals," which Diplo had been playing during live shows, but it was the Mad Decent/Jeffree's-released "Jiggy" that catapulted his sound to the masses. He capitalized on the "twerk" sound, but with a thunderous bassline, he shook the EDM scene to its core. He has a great sense of humor, and is pegged by many to be one to truly keep your eyes on.

MUST DIE!

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Atlanta's MUST DIE! treated 2013 like it was his, even if you slept on what he truly accomplished. Helping push the evolving bass music sounds of dubstep, drumstep, and anything else that kept him moving, MUST DIE! racked up a steady stream of releases with Dim Mak, Firepower, SMOG, and Never Say Die as well as regularly giving away free remixes and originals when he felt like it. With so much of the EDM scene steering towards electro house and other sounds, it's refreshing to know that MUST DIE! is still having fun (and pushing boundaries) within these oft-forgotten tempos. We're hoping there's an album on the horizon; something that would truly highlight what we feel MUST DIE! is itching to unleash.

Alesia

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Interesting 2013 for this Parisian duo to say the least. They spent much of 2013 as part of one of the year's biggest tunes, "Bird Machine," but it felt like people (at times) overshadowed their work as being a part of the tune. Not that that stopped the crew; they are content to craft truly intriguing material and get it lined up in ill places, like their OWSLA-released Andrea EP. With Bromance and Ed Banger properly representing for the French sound of electronic music, there's no telling where Alesia will end up, but we can guarantee that they'll be providing some captivating material.

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