If you follow any big name DJ's on twitter or facebook, I'm sure you've already seen some of the campaigning some artists have done to wedge their way onto the list. Every year there is tons and tons of speculation of who deserves it and who got snubbed. Well we here at VCH have decided to give you some guidance in the most important election of them all.
Ted:
1: Afrojack
When choosing top 5 djs, the decision definitely is going to include personal preference, but it should include more if you ask me. I chose Afrojack because he tours like a beast and still puts out tracks often. He makes amazing tunes in my opinion and I've liked all his tunes since I've first heard about him a little over 2 years ago. He's my favorite DJ, and he deserved my number 1 pick from me.
2: Chris Lake
Chris lake is a very close second. He's got a great ear for house music, and it's evident from listening to his monthly iTunes podcast. He's got a great music label going, rising records and I've seen him like 4 times - every time he's proven to me that he has significant talent as a DJ. He's got a massive bag of tricks. He earns #2.
3: Thomas Gold
I love his tunes, he has only been around for a little while really... and he already has a well known sound. Makes a massive remix when he wants to and throws down heavy beats. Can't wait to see him live sometime in the future, he earns my #3 spot.
4: Fedde Le Grand
What can I say? He's a vet, he's a legend, he's young and puts out massive tunes one after another. He owns Flamingo Recordings, and that's got to be my favorite record label, they put out brilliant tunes.
5: Mord Fustang
The Beatport winner for breakthrough artist of the year. He's by far the best electro house producer I've heard in years. He put out a ton of tracks this year and is thankful to his fans. Played a great Ultra music festival set, I really like this guy's talent, he deserved a vote to boost his name.
Ryan:
1: Above and Beyond
I think A&B deserves a #1 spot in the rankings mainly because of their long career, their success with Anuja Beats, and their new Group Therapy tour that has hit many American and European festivals this year. They are a great example of a group that works together to make quality music again and again.
2: Deadmau5
The mau5 is someone who has been in the mix for quite a few years now, but with the new popularity of electronic in the US, his fame has skyrocketed. However, he has the skill and background to back it up. Joel is just what EDM needs right now. Someone who holds his ground to keep the standards that were set with Justice and Daft Punk. Plus his idea to take two duel production studios on tour to have more control over his live set is ingenious
3: Armin van Buuren
The king of Trance, Armin held the #1 spot for half a decade before "he who shall not be named" stole it away. Personally, I'm not a die hard fan, but I respect his droves of fans with undying support. Plus he manages to push genres boundaries with his progressive house tracks without losing his integrity of just making good music.
4: Sander van Doorn
This is basically based upon the live set I saw that Sander had at Meltdown. I saw a producer who had the potential to be great because of the love he had for his job. With a group of singles on the way to the top (including a personal favorite "Chasin'". Sander is exactly the guy to continue a dutch house tradition (along with up-comer Hardwell) ,
5: Fedde Le Grande
He has been around for longer than you would think. But now with all of the remixes and tracks out in the recent year, Fedde has gained some much needed recognition. He does dance anthems right (unlike some other DJ's ahem..). He gained some notoriety when Coldplay had him as an opener on their European tour leg. His sound may be dancey and pop-y, but it still manages to be original.
Grant:
1: Tiesto
Tiesto is the obvious choice for me as the best DJ in the world this past year. Ever since he released Maximal Crazy back in September he has been on an absolute tear. Listen to Club Life Volume 2 and the magnitude of his productions and remixes is apparent. I personally love his flexibility and his ability to be open to what his sound is going to be. He is not the Trance guy anymore and thank god. But the other reason why Tiesto is his weekly podcast club life. The man every single Friday gives the best cross-section of EDM for that week. It is beautiful. Oh and his live show is iight.
2: Avicii
I have heard all of the hate around Avicii and how people bash his abilities on the decks and such, but first of all I don’t give a shit. Second, to my ears, he produces the best tracks. Period. He has a bank of songs that he doesn’t or has not even released that would be number 1 beatport hits. I feel like often people hear levels and bromance and say he is the piano man. No No. His sound live is dirty grimey nasty and lovely and beautiful at the same time. No one else does it right now like the Berginator (that’s avicii aka Tim Bergling). Niktim? Yup.
3: Armin Van Burren
Twilight (AVB Remix) – Kristy is my favorite track of the year. Period. It is so good. I just want to listen to it over and over again, which Is what I have been doing for months. Also the release of “We are here to make some nosie” as well as his bomb sets from Ultra and EDC cemented him in at 3.
4: Calvin Harris
He has been my second favorite producer for the past year. His sound is always unique and really brings it when he does his own vocals. Also the “oops I played that song by accident” at EDC NY gave him some points in my book.
5: Hardwell
I love how he blends progressive and electro sounds that litterally sucks my brain out of my head. I saw him live and what a set i was sober and i blacked out i was dancing so hard. nuff said.
Eric:
1: Deadmau5
We all know tracks like Ghosts 'N' Stuff, Some Chords, Strobe, Aural Psynapse, I Remember, and recently The Veldt, but there are literally hundreds of tracks that he has never released just floating around on the internet. Plus who can argue with some crazy dude dancing around on top of a giant rubix cube with a Mau5 head on.... I don't want to get on the bad side of that.
2: Above and Beyond
For 12 years there have been very few names in music that have released more hits than these Britts. Their label Anjunabeats has arguably (close to Armada) the best number of trance producers out there, like Arty and Matt Zo. Plus the Group Therapy tour has been unreal this year.
3: Swedish House Mafia
First of all let me say R.I.P. Axwell, Steve Angello, and Sebastian Ingrosso have made insane careers on their own, but together they have made the sickest tracks. Somehow they have only been together for four years, but it seems like forever, in the best of ways possible. Tracks like Save the World, Greyhound, Antidote, and Miami 2 Ibiza will be greatly missed in the EDM world.
4: Tiesto
There is really nothing that can be said about him that hasn't been said in the past by someone else. DJ Mag rated him the top in the world from 2002-2004. And he hasn't left the top 5 since, and for the foreseeable future he won't be leaving.
5: Hardwell
Recently he has been dropping some insane beats like Spaceman, Cobra, Beta, and Three Triangles. I can't get enough of the bass that he puts into each and every of his songs. He is arguably one of the top 5 people in the world for live shows, and honestly isn't that what we all love?
almost made it..... Dada Life, Daft Punk, Afrojack, Avicii, Calvin Harris, and Eric Prydz
El Capitano (Conor):
1: Diplo
Who would have thought a guy who used to be a subway "sandwich artist" would today be in the running for top DJ? Being an anthropology major in college, it is clear how he implements all different kinds of music into his productions and his sets. I truly believe that he has reinvented the art of DJ'ing in a time when a new image of the practice is needed. Not to mention the Mad Decent Block Party coming on the 5th to NYC does sweeten the deal for me, spoken like a true politician.
2: Dillon Francis
As Moombah rises in popularity, so does L.A. native Dillon Francis. Sky rocketing through the charts via Mad Decent Records, Dillon has been a great medium in showing more of the public the joy of moombahton/moombahcore. The innovative and cajones it takes to stray into something new like this should be rewarded.
3: The Bloody Beetroots
My hero Sir Bob Cornelius Rifo has been a proud stamp in celebrating great music and art not only through his productions, but through his publication, The Bloody Beetroots Gazzette. But this isn't about his humanitarian efforts, this is about his musical ability. Well, that's undeniable in every sense of the word. His newest work, "Rocksteady" is in BBR's element: that electro punk house that's in your face, and I love every moment of it.
4: Dada Life
Well the Dada has arrived. I have seen limited photos of there studio but I assume the corners and walls are padded because the sausage fattener synthed bass on their productions does nothing else but compel you to get out of your seat and bounce around. Still having as much fun as they did when they began, I will always admire the enjoyment these guys seem to have being on stage playing and in the studio creating great music.
5: Jack Beats
Now I know this one is a big surprise but there is nobody who even comes close to emulating the JB sound. Playing big sets at events like Sonar in Barcelona and getting a premiere slot at Electric Zoo on labor day, these guys are here to stay and demand to be heard.
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