The Beatport Next class of ’24 includes Aida Arko, Baalti, Bianca Oblivion, Charisse C, Maruwa, Nala, Olive F, and more.
As the global leader in music for DJs, producers, and fans, Beatport has just announced the Beatport Next Class of 2024. From its inception in 2021, Beatport Next has become a cornerstone of the brand’s commitment to accelerating the rise of emerging talent. Beatport Next takes pride in its unique approach, strategically connecting with, and championing, emerging talent. The Beatport Group is dedicated to providing these artists with unparalleled exposure, featuring them across their real-estate of products and services. This comprehensive support extends to curated playlists, exclusive coverage on Beatportal, engaging live streams, and robust social media backing.
In 2023, Beatport Next selected eight extraordinary acts – ANNĒ, Closet Yi, Coco & Breezy, Confidential Recipe, HoneyLuv, Junior Simba, Lens & Mala Ikai – and championed their projects to Beatport’s global DJ and fan community through its diverse features and offerings.
“We are thrilled to announce the Beatport Next Artists’ development program for 2024, growing from 8 to 12 exceptional artists hailing from diverse corners of the globe,” said Emilie Birks, VP of Marketing at The Beatport Group. “This expansion not only emphasizes our commitment to supporting local talent, but also underscores our dedication to showcasing a rich tapestry of musical genres. The Beatport Next artist development program is poised to become a catalyst for the global recognition of extraordinary talent, reinforcing our belief in the power of music to unite us all, leaning into our global theme of 2024: Music Is Unstoppable.”
After completing its extensive selection process, Beatport is thrilled to announce 12 new artists, hailing from all corners of the globe, all with a broad spectrum of sounds, to make up the Beatport Next Class of 2024. They are…
Ahadadream: Ahadadream’s music is pure percussive energy with menacing, coiled energy waiting to be unfurled. His unique drum-focused production draws influence from sounds across the UK, his homeland of Pakistan, the African Diaspora, and beyond. With unflagging passion, the London-based artist manages various facets of his creative self, predominantly as a DJ and producer, but also A&R, label-head, event director, and one of the UK club scene’s leading tastemakers.
Aida Arko: An Iranian-born electronic music producer and DJ, Aida Arko has become a prominent figure in the techno scene. Influenced by the Persian underground scene and her cultural heritage, Aida left her academic pursuits in biology to embark on a global journey in performance and music. As she continues to challenge the status quo, she remains an inspiration to women in the music industry and beyond.
Anaïs: Blazing the trail for a new generation of D&B artists, Bristol-based Anaïs’ fierce dedication to the art of DJing is propelling her to the forefront of the scene. Her dynamic selections and energetic mixing style leave every audience shouting for more, while earning the artist prime spots at flagship events including Boomtown, Hospitality, DnB Allstars, Electric Woodlands, and countless others.
Baalti: Baalti makes underground dance music with South Asian flavor. Their highly percussive and rhythm-driven style effortlessly blends UK-influenced club music with sounds rooted in their Indian identities. They released their sophomore EP Better Together to critical acclaim and have toured their live show and DJ sets across the US, Europe, and India, supporting acts like Overmono and Bonobo, to name a few.
Bianca Oblivion: Bianca Oblivion is a connector of the global club underground, drawing lines between US & UK bass music, baile funk, reggaeton, grime, vogue, and beyond. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she has long been involved in multiple facets of nightlife, continuously working to create spaces for femme, non-binary, queer, and POC artists, most recently with her DJ crew/event series Warp Mode.
Charisse C: DJ, artist, founder of Abantu, one half of The Ascension, and NTS Resident, Charisse C draws her selections from her experience of existing between worlds. Rooted in her Zimbabwean and South African heritage, and raised in the UK, her taste is curious, soundful, and bass-heavy, with a playful and intentional demeanor.
KILIMANJARO: Born in the UK with Zambian heritage, KILIMANJARO is known for combining Afro-centric rhythms with Western elements to create genre-bending records. Known for his high-energy performances and crowd-raising persona, KILIMANJARO is no stranger to starting parties and never fails to leave the night with new fans. He operates his own brand, KILIMANJARO MUSIC, which champions black, POC, female, and other marginalized creatives.
Maruwa: Maruwa channels forceful energy, effortlessly blending trance, progressive house, hard-house, and techno in her own productions and on dance floors worldwide. Her signature sound combines the nostalgic elements of the ’90s and early 2000s, enriched with a modern twist. Now based in (and inspired by) Frankfurt, she has carved her niche with a number of multifaceted EPs on labels like Steel City Dance Discs and X-Kalay.
Nala: Hailing from the vibrant city of Miami, Nala got her start playing in underground nightclubs where she developed a reputation as a reliable tastemaker and energetic performer. Her knowledge of house, indie dance, electro, and breaks. Currently, Nala is a hardworking member of the Los Angeles music scene. Her unique take on Riot Grrrl-style vocals and affinity for analog soundscapes helped garner the attention of the industry’s top producers.
Olive F: Olive F is an avid vinyl collector with a true passion for music. Living and breathing music as a fan and as a follower, Olive’s evolution into production and DJing was a logical progression after several summers in Ibiza and several years of record-collecting. Olive has so far released on Moxy Muzik, Seven Dials and Too Many Rules.
Sinego: Sinego is the face of a new generation of Latin dance music. Sinego’s live show features himself as an orchestrator, multi-instrumentalist, and vocalist alongside a band of virtuosic Latin-jazz trained keyboard and guitar players. As a DJ Sinego is known to mix regional Latin songs with underground techno selections, frequently DJing for 6+ consecutive hours.
Stones Taro: Stones Taro is a DJ/producer, based in Kyoto, Japan. He started his career in 2014 and has been active in the Kyoto scene, with some of the best releases on many of today’s hottest UK underground labels, from Scuffed Recordings and Time Is Now to Hardline Sound. Since 2017, has run NC4K, a dance music label from Kyoto, with Lomax.
More information on Beatport Next can be found here.