toronto DJs

10 up and coming DJs to check out in Toronto

Toronto's new class of Up and coming DJs is a steady herd of talented beat makers/creators/mixers that animate dance floors with both the hottest new music and occasional doses of nostalgia that elicit wild responses from the crowd. They're shaking things up both locally and internationally and we're lucky to have them.

Here are my picks for up and coming Toronto DJs to keep tabs on.

E-Saggila
Remember this name. You'll see it a many key parties around Toronto for the rest of the year and your life. E-Saggila's sound has been described as "cosmically gothic," "magisterial, jet-black electronics" or like "pouring dark glasses of wine out into freezing space." It's noisy, ethereal electronic music for your mind.

Jesse Futerman
Another name that comes up over and over when talking about exciting, up and coming DJs and producers is Jesse Futerman. He releases music on vinyl, he runs a radio show called Body Electric, and his original dance productions have got soul. Think vocal samples and disco-influenced melodies and movements with modern production.

CL
CL, a.k.a. Cindy Li can speak about women in the DJ scene in Toronto, but she can also play tuuunes! She's the founder of Work in Progress, a radio show and party movement that not only highlights female DJs, but simply good techno. She regularly spins at Bambi's and is a huge part of the It's Not U it's Me collective.

Nautiluss
Recently signed to world-renowned electronic label Ghostly International, Nautiluss is a quiet dance music storm hovering over the city. Catch him at Bambi's or Round while you can, but he also plays his deep and delicious electronic, downtempo and house internationally.

Weska
A Hoxton and CODA favourite, DJ Weska produces his own brand of dark and melodic house and electronic music. Now supported by Octopus Recordings, he's a DJ on the rise. Just listen to this moody and jumpy set from Miami. His music gives you room to breath and then forces you to move.

Pony
Pony is a Holy Oak regular and has been popping up here, there and everywhere at underground and after hours parties in the northern reaches of the city. With a style unlike anything else in Toronto right now -- kind of like the National Geographic of techno, tribal and house music -- stepping into one of this Djs sets is like stepping off of planet earth.

Jayemkayem
One listen to Jayemkayem's set at Montreal's Piknic Electronic in September 2016 and you're locked in. Her name is Josephine Cruz and she's not afraid of vocals and big groove. Learn all about her and her adventures on her official website where she logs all her travels, parties, music, interests and creative work. She's a force, she's in demand and she should be on your playlists.

Tasha Rozez
One of Toronto Jamaican dancehall queen spinners is Tasha Rozez, a.k.a. Gunz N Rozez. She spins the dirtiest, grimiest, sweatiest dancehall, reggae and dub for your bum bum on dance floors all over Toronto. She's not afraid to mess around with lyrics, and comes equipped with masterful mixing skills and exclusive tunes from the artists she loves.

Cam Lee
DJ Cam Lee is an alien who plays space-y techno and dance music that at times seems familiar and will take you back, and then will catapult you forward into the future. With regular residencies at Holy Oak, and the human behind Feministry at Round, Cam Lee is a spark in Toronto worth keeping your ears on before a fire starts.

Hudson Alexander
He's played the Course of Time parties and reps the Bedroomer music collective in Toronto, as well as the now defunct, but never dead TRP. He likes R&B, soul vocals and a big deep beat. He's also not afraid to slow it down, and you can catch him at clubs like Velvet Underground on the regular.

Did I miss your favourite up and coming DJ doing their own thing in Toronto? Let us know in the comments.

Photo of Jesse Futerman from the Regime.pl website.


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