Image via Complex Original
The term "DJ" in 2013 doesn't mean the same thing it meant 10 years ago. A DJ, especially a successful DJ, is so much more than a person who spins records these days. What makes a DJ "the best," though? Is it based solely on who has the best selection or the biggest cuts? What about acts who have shows on major radio stations, or tour worldwide? Where do you factor in running a label or having successful releases? And what about mainstream appeal?
In looking back at the first half of 2013, DAD applied all of those points (and more) into our look at the best DJs of the year... so far.
Oneman
Oneman's not one of the most known names out there, but that's the beauty of his style. He'll sneak up on you and drop a pair of amazing bits, like his Solitaire mixtape or that two-hour Diplo & Friends takeover, and amaze us for months on end. He puts in a lot of time with his projects, so while he might not be dropping a new mix every week like some DJs, the ones he does drop matter that much more.
DJ Sliink
Newark, NJ's own DJ Sliink must be loving how his 2013 has faired, so far. The Brick Bandits member has been known in the Philly/NJ area for his style of siphoning current hip-hop and r&b into the sounds of trap and club, but he's seen his skills being pretty in-demand. Not too many producers are releasing EPs with Flosstradamus on Fool's Gold, but Sliink did that AND went on tour with the #HOODIEBOYZ in 2013. Sliink's dropped a mix for Mishka, and was featured on SiriusXM's Shade45 as part of the "Fantasy Fridays" guest mix series for Sway in the Morning, and it really does seem like he's reaching another plateau every time we turn around. Sliink's one to watch over the second half of 2013.
Friction
There are a number of talented DJs in the drum & bass realm, but Friction easily takes the cake. Anyone on the flagship drum & bass show on BBC Radio 1 turns into the face of the scene; we're just happy that Friction's selection is diverse enough to satisfy the masses. He's been one of the most technically skilled DJs, and has patiently waited for his time to shine; as the head of Shogun Audio, and a producer who's working on his own album, Friction's time on the sideline was well worth it.
RL Grime
AKA Clockwork. Yes, we're still amazed that these sweeping forces in the trap and electro house scenes is all one guy. His Diplo & Friends guest mix must have made believers out of any naysayers, yet its the back-to-back set with Baauer during SXSW this year that really let us know that we probably haven't seen all sides of RL Grime / Clockwork yet.
Dillon Francis
Dillon's had an eventful 2013; he has a show on Evolution Radio that might be one of the more underrated parts of his litany of gigs. He went on a WURLD TURR this year, although he only hit North America. He's also smashed down sets at Coachella and the UMF, particularly with his official trap rework of Justin Timberlake's "Suit & Tie." Add to that his flip of "Carried Away" by Passion Pit, as well as his single "Messages" for Mad Decent, and see how busy Dillon has been, especially since he's been juggling all of the tour dates and production work with working on his debut album. Could Dillon be quietly trying to own 2013?
Flosstradamus
The trap phenoms have spent more time on the road in 2013 than releasing tracks, but that's the beauty of their inclusion here. They have stuck to their grind since the "old" MySpace days, and made sure to keep things moving since the EDM world fell in love with the 808-heavy trap sound. In late 2012 through early 2013, they were a part of MistaJam's Daily Dose mix series, and their B⚠NNED 2 mixtape was so in-demand that when they released it via torrent (!), the amount of leechers had this mix downloading to your computer in under a minute. The duo hit the Ultra Music Festival for the first time in 2013, and put on their own SXSW showcase, as well as hitting a number of worldwide tours over the last six months. The #HOODIEBOYZ are keeping it pushing!
Laidback Luke
He says he's laidback, but when he hits the decks, it's anything but. He's the kind of DJ who will excite us with multiple Ultra Music Festival sets, then drop a special promo mix damn near anytime he puts out some new material. With Mixmash Radio, he's set to take over the radio game, and we're glad to see him putting on for the EDM scene and his label in such a great way.
Carnage
Carnage's rise in the EDM scene is what new artists should strive towards. A year ago, he was more known for his hip-hop production credits like "Big Spender" than for any of the dance music he was posting to his SoundCloud, but once these "festival trap" bootlegs started popping up, coupled with the ascension of the trap scene in EDM? It was a wrap. Carnage ended up having a single released on Fool's Gold, working on multiple tracks (in multiple styles) alongside Borgore, and touring EDM hotspots that had no idea about who he was months prior.
Hardwell
It's not hard to understand why Hardwell would be on this list. Hopefully you were at the Ultra Music Festival this past March, or at least watching the live stream; did you happen to catch the set that Hardwell threw down?! It's part of the reason why EDM is getting so popular... DJs know how to connect with the crowd. He put on a clinic, and unanimously won that first weekend. Add onto that his weekly "Hardwell On Air" show, which has been going strong for the last few years. He's smashing up any venue he hits, and most importantly doing it all with a smile. It's almost hard to believe he only got his start in 2009!
Skream
Skream's had his off-nights, sure, but he's been one of the more consistent DJs throughout the years, first through dubstep and now with his vibrant house and disco sets. It's insane to believe that the guy who crafted the first dubstep hit is now focusing more on the house side of things, but when you have legends like Pete Tong tapping you to drop a special mix outside of your known realm for his compilation series, you're doing something right. He's everywhere, from the Red Bull Music Academy to SXSW, and with his spirit being reignited by this current wave of house, we see his production soaring to new heights as well. And all of this is going down while he's still hosting a bass-heavy show for Radio 1!
A-Trak
The Fool's Gold head is always into something; running one of the most well-known imprints that caters to dance music (among other things) is high on the list. He's a part of POTATO, a YouTube channel that's curated by A-Trak alongside Skrillex and Diplo that is becoming a hub for some of the most interesting visual content the dance music has seen in years. He was part of an adidas Originals campaign earlier this year - a big part of it, with a banger of his AND loads of visuals of him in the studio being integral to the promotional video. Add all of this to him being one of the most technically-sound DJs on the decks and his numerous other projects (including the travel site Infinite Legroom) and you can see why he stays relevant.
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Skrillex
What isn't Skrillex doing? He's winning multiple Grammys, practically sweeping the EDM categories. He's the man behind OWSLA, one of the leading imprints in the EDM scene that's not just focusing on "big tunes," but quality releases of all shapes and sizes. He's 1/2 of a pair of supergroups: Dog Blood, who murdered their sets at Ultra and Coachella, and Jack U with Diplo. He's also crafted sounds for Hollywood films like Spring Breakers, with plans to work on more films in the near future. We're wondering how he finds time to sleep, but we're just going to assume that he's an android.
Tiesto
Tiesto has to be a part of the EDM Mount Rushmore, right? He's making clothes with GUESS and slinging Acer products, but it's his Vegas residency that astounded us. Some DJs might pull a month, three months in the new EDM hotbed; earlier this year, Tiesto announced a special 20 month residency at the MGM Grand. 20 months! And while the art of releasing mixed DJ compilations has dwindled, Tiesto's Club Life Vol. 3: Stockholm has people reacting like Tiesto just released an album. He's one of the most bankable acts in EDM these days, and is even going to be dropping a mix for Diplo & Friends. We're not sure if Tiesto knows how to stop.
Diplo
Hate it or love it, Diplo is on top. Some DJs are lucky enough to get a car when they touch down. Others can reach a status where they're getting chartered flights from gigs overseas. How many DJs do you know hit four gigs in one night... with a helicopter?! Or take their side project and hit a number of gigs by boat? Be it solo or with Major Lazer (who released their second album, Free the Universe, earlier this year), Diplo continues to keep his finger firmly on the pulse of the dance music scene. He's behind Mad Decent, who's Mad Decent Block Party series has grow into a 13 city tour for 2013, and he has his own BBC Radio 1 show, "Diplo & Friends," which weekly provides you with some of the best in the dance music world from a number of talented artists and DJs. He's one of the true sure shots in this scene.
Baauer
The term trap is synonymous with Baauer, even before mainstream America knew what a "Harlem Shake" was. He got his initial rise in 2012 with the release of "Harlem Shake," and had gained steam with trips to the UK, amazing crowds worldwide with his DJ prowess. In a random stroke of luck, Baauer's stock rose when a meme involving his "Harlem Shake" track steamrolled over the world, with everyone and their mother making their own rendition of the viral craze. This ended up shooting the track to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 (and a Billboard cover story), but ultimately made Baauer one of the most in-demand DJs, seeing him tour with Just Blaze, rinse out Coachella, and practically live on the road, although he's had time to knock out remixes for AlunaGeorge and Disclosure along the way.
Photo Credit: Loren Wohl
