From festivals to live streams and main stages to living rooms; the music industry has experienced unprecedented changes over the past year. Though it all, the rave community grew closer and the importance of dance music only emphasized. Despite the ups and downs and all the hurdles of 2020, these are the artists that pushed through it all to build momentum heading into 2021.

Based on data pulled from other 2021 Artists to Watch lists, we determined this year’s first 10 picks: Papa Khan, Voltra, Knock2, Phonon, Msft, Speaker Honey, Slang Dogs, Sara Landry, Jinx, and Jon Casey. Crossing various genres and styles, these buzz-worthy acts are on the come up and the dance music community is taking notice.

Based on personal taste, Nightenjin staff narrowed down 10 more of our favorite rising artists: Bleu Claire, Ipsiom, Hellbound!, Ace Aura, Prayer Handz, Rossy, Haus of Panda, Freak On, Farrah, and Slowpalace. These promising names in dance music have caught our attention on their own terms with innovative productions and unmistakeable flair.

Nightenjin has stayed ahead of the curve with Artists to Watch picks in recent years. Names like Lizzy Jane, Jeanie, Cloverdale, Masteria, Nostalgix, and more have graced our lists in the past and now they’re taking over. And let’s not forget our friends of the label, sure to make us proud in 2021 — shoutout Adame, Yøungbløød, Achilles, and the rest of our Nightenjin family!

Until we’re able to dance together again, check out these Artists to Watch in 2021! Follow them, stream them, buy their music — and go!

Update: Check out the Spotify Playlist we curated featuring all the artists mentioned.

2014 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020

Data-Driven List

Papa Khan

SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Voltra

SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Knock2

SoundCloud | Spotify | Twitter | Instagram

Phonon

SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Msft

SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Speaker Honey

SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Slang Dogs

SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Sara Landry

SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Jinx

SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Jon Casey

SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Nightenjin Crew Picks

Bleu Claire

SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Ipsiom

SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Hellbound!

SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Ace Aura

SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Prayer Handz

SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Rossy

SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Haus of Panda

SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Freak On

SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Farrah

SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Slowpalace

SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Adame

SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Yøungbløød

SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Achilles

SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Kar Pow

KAR POW serves up in-your-face dance music with a bad bitch mentality. This triple-threat DJ/producer/rapper’s work hard play hard attitude, expert mixing skills, and high-energy, genre-defying shows make her a force to be reckoned with.

The post Nightenjin: Artists to Watch 2021 appeared first on Nightenjin.

Listen:

Stream/Download Exposure

Follow Casey Jones:

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Kar Pow

KAR POW serves up in-your-face dance music with a bad bitch mentality. This triple-threat DJ/producer/rapper’s work hard play hard attitude, expert mixing skills, and high-energy, genre-defying shows make her a force to be reckoned with.

The post RS014: Casey Jones – Exposure appeared first on Nightenjin.

*BRB, Dancin*

Listen:

Stream/Download Dancin

Follow dialedIN:

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Kar Pow

KAR POW serves up in-your-face dance music with a bad bitch mentality. This triple-threat DJ/producer/rapper’s work hard play hard attitude, expert mixing skills, and high-energy, genre-defying shows make her a force to be reckoned with.

The post RS013: dialedIN – Dancin appeared first on Nightenjin.

Achilles’ “NEON RAVE” never stays in one place for too long, blasting unstoppable energy from start to finish with switch ups sure to turn heads of bass and house lovers alike. It’s a real win, win.

Listen:

Stream/Download Neon Rave

Follow Achilles:

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Kar Pow

KAR POW serves up in-your-face dance music with a bad bitch mentality. This triple-threat DJ/producer/rapper’s work hard play hard attitude, expert mixing skills, and high-energy, genre-defying shows make her a force to be reckoned with.

The post RS012: Achilles – Neon Rave appeared first on Nightenjin.

Listen:

Stream/Download GLP

Follow Yøungbløød:

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Twitter
Instagram
Soundcloud
Spotify

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Kar Pow

KAR POW serves up in-your-face dance music with a bad bitch mentality. This triple-threat DJ/producer/rapper’s work hard play hard attitude, expert mixing skills, and high-energy, genre-defying shows make her a force to be reckoned with.

The post RS-011: Yøungbløød – GLP appeared first on Nightenjin.

Based on data pulled from other 2020 Artists to Watch lists we determined this year’s first 10 picks: Birthdayy Partyy, Control Freak, Effin, Ekali, Kendoll, Lucille Croft, Masteria, Nostalgix, Reaper and Saint Punk. These are the top names taking over lineups and SoundCloud streams everywhere, blowing us away at every opportunity with their distinct, uncompromisable styles. While it’s perplexing as to why Ekali has flown under the radar for so long, he still has yet to release his debut album, so there’s much anticipation surrounding the project this year.

From there, we selected 10 more of our personal favorites: ALRT, Case of the Mondays, Cloverdale, Galo, Hunter, ISOxo, John Summit, Juelz, Lizzy Jane and X&G. These are the artists who turned our heads in one way or another, regardless of status or social followings, or the number of times they appeared on Artists to Watch lists. Nightenjin was built from the underground, which makes our team especially excited to hear where these projects are heading. Shoutout to Lizzy Jane and Galo, who both dropped tracks on our label this past year.

The immediate future of dance music looks brighter than ever in 2020 and these are the artists leading the pack! Listen up!

Birthdayy Partyy (Photo by Brand1films)

Artist to Watch 2020

ALRT

Follow ALRT: SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Birthdayy Partyy

Follow Birthdayy Partyy: SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Case of the Mondays

Follow Case of the Mondays: SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram

Cloverdale

Follow Cloverdale: SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Control Freak

Follow Control Freak: SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Effin

Follow Effin: SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Ekali

Follow Ekali: SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Galo

Follow Galo: SoundCloud | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Hunter

Follow Hunter: SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Hunter

ISOxo

Follow ISOxo: SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

John Summit

Follow John Summit: SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Juelz

Follow Juelz: SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Kendoll

Follow Kendoll: SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Lizzy Jane

Follow Lizzy Jane: SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Lucille Croft

Follow Lucille Croft: SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Masteria

Follow Masteria: SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Nostalgix

Follow Nostalgix: SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Nostalgix

Reaper

Follow Reaper: SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Saint Punk

Follow Saint Punk: SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

X&G

Follow X&G: SoundCloud | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

P.S. We could go on all day about the fresh, new talent killing it out there — so we’d love to hear about the artists rocking your musical world. Link us and just maybe we can coordinate a Nightenjin collab. Anything is possible.

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Kar Pow

KAR POW serves up in-your-face dance music with a bad bitch mentality. This triple-threat DJ/producer/rapper’s work hard play hard attitude, expert mixing skills, and high-energy, genre-defying shows make her a force to be reckoned with.

The post Artists to Watch 2020 appeared first on Nightenjin.

First up, returning artist Lizzy Jane drops “My Heart,” leading the pack with the heaviest of bass. Lizzy finds a stride all her own with sonic precision and overall execution. This heart is a relentless one with much imagination and hybrid flair.

Flozone’s “Back” is every bass lover’s dream. It’s hype level 1,000 with massive, buzzing growls and gritty layers in the mid-to-low range to keep the headbangers more than satisfied. Lengthy double-drops mean more bass in your face.

Indvstry turns it up a notch with perhaps the most energetic production on the compilation. Quick hits and dirty stabs go off in untamed formation, with a wild rhythm that feels instinctual. “Legit” packs the bounce and therefore the dance floor.

Switching gears to the house side, the “Night Is Young” and KillWill knows it. Cut this magnetic track open and it would bleed Nightenjin vibes, with a bumping bassline and big club energy. The production is mysterious, unexpected and your latest obsession.

Galo plays with vocal sampling and acid synths for a deep, dark result as heard with “Whack.” Punctuated notes guide the production forward through a winding, underground maze whilst nostalgic dance plucks add familiarity to the track.

Finally, the label’s mainstay duo, Bush League take it home with their ultra swaggy “Gucci Fit.” This masterful, four on the floor groove is highly addictive with its low, driving bass, catchy lyrics and expert use of signature tech-house elements.

Pit Crew V1 Compilation

Download/Stream:

Download/Stream

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Kar Pow

KAR POW serves up in-your-face dance music with a bad bitch mentality. This triple-threat DJ/producer/rapper’s work hard play hard attitude, expert mixing skills, and high-energy, genre-defying shows make her a force to be reckoned with.

The post Pit Crew V1 Compilation Featuring Bush League, Flozone, Galo, Indvstry, KillWill and Lizzy Jane appeared first on Nightenjin.

Nightenjin is proud to present the latest from Lizzy Jane — “Illusion.”

This fresh take on trap works time and space to its advantage, as Jane shapes a mind-bending atmosphere through distinct hybrid elements and boundless imagination. As you’ll hear, she never stays in one place for too long. Instead, there’s a constant, driving force embedded deep within the music that takes the listener on a journey through the lighter moments and the heavy in a seamless way.

The raw, unspoken emotion Jane manages to stir throughout the production is insane, as her artistic vision takes full form. There’s something about the song that feels tangible and real, like something you can reach out and touch — but, remember, it’s only an “Illusion.”

Listen here and get to know Lizzy Jane.

Listen:

Stream Illusion

Follow Lizzy Jane:

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Kar Pow

KAR POW serves up in-your-face dance music with a bad bitch mentality. This triple-threat DJ/producer/rapper’s work hard play hard attitude, expert mixing skills, and high-energy, genre-defying shows make her a force to be reckoned with.

The post RS-009: Lizzy Jane – Illusion appeared first on Nightenjin.

Based out of Chicago, the DJ/producer is surrounded by music and like many of us, it has become his life force. He just recently put out a single on BUYGORE, which follows up a handful of other powerhouse productions. It’s obvious the music path DOGMA is on agrees with him.

Behind the relentless sounds of the DOGMA project, there’s a down to earth guy — Daniel Kelly — which is who we set out to get to know through this interview. He talks his forthcoming “Monstrously Evil” debut EP, playing and making music, future goals, and his closest homie, his dog, Oliver.

So what makes DOGMA tick? Get inside the mind that brought us “Psychlone Cannon,” “Mortals,” “The Fallen” with ELEVATD, and more. He’s only just getting started.

The Interview

Nightenjin: What inspired you to start the Dogma project?
DOGMA:
It’s really pretty simple when I first experienced this music it was the first time I had ever connected with music so deeply. Especially dubstep, it was like the musical representation of what goes on inside my brain every day. Hearing that and seeing the powerful reaction this music elicits from people was the most incredible thing I’d ever experienced. That planted a seed in me that just grew until one day the thought of not trying to chase this dream and looking back on life wondering if I could have done it was the scariest thought in the world. So I took the leap of faith, quit my job, and started DOGMA. Best decision I’ve ever made.

NE: For those out there who aren’t familiar with your music, please describe your style.
D:
Obviously, dubstep is often likened to being the Metal of electronic music, which is spot on. Though beyond that I’d like to think that if you put a chainsaw, Trent Reznor, explosives, and one of the transformers into a blender, DOGMA is what would come out the other side lol

NE: What tools and software do you use to create your music?
D:
Ableton, Kontakt, Serum, Ozone & Fab Filter suites, VPS Avenger, Synplant, Omnisphere, and the whole Kilohearts bundle is great, to name a few. Always looking for and experimenting with new ways to do stuff.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by DOGMA (@dogmamusique) on Oct 22, 2018 at 11:43am PDT

NE: What do you think makes you unique in an industry flooded with talent?
D:
I’m pretty self-deprecating so it’s tough to answer a question that essentially asks me to describe why I think DOGMA is better than the people around me. Though I will say that we use everything as a motivator, now being in the company of the producers we used to, and still look up to, is a massive catalyst to continually improve the quality of everything we do so that fans have the best experience possible.

NE: What are your goals for your music career for the next few years?
D:
I just want to grow this project into the best form of itself that allows us to share music with as many people as we possibly can. Really I’d love to be able to curate a tour with my own ideas for production. I have so many ideas for creating amazing life experiences that we don’t have an outlet for… yet.

Really I'd love to be able to curate a tour with my own ideas for production.

NE: What do you enjoy doing when your not making or playing music?
D:
Mostly hanging out with my dog, Oliver. Also, like most, I am a gamer. League of Legends and Diablo 3 are probably my two favorites. I’m a massive aviation nerd. If it flies I want to learn more about it. There’s an amazing book called “Skunk Works” by Ben Rich about the height of the cold war and how we built some amazing aircraft in total secrecy. Check it out.

NE: If you weren’t a DJ, what would you be doing instead?
D:
At this point, if I wasn’t producing music I’d love to be a Chef. I think cooking and sharing good food is one of the only comparable and equally therapeutic experiences to sharing good music.

NE: Are there any new projects that we can know about?
D:
Yes, the follow up to this single, Decimation, is coming late next month. A monstrously evil debut EP that I cannot wait to share with everyone.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by DOGMA (@dogmamusique) on May 10, 2019 at 12:31pm PDT

Nightenjin: Anything else not mentioned here that you’d like to tell the fans?
DOGMA:
Thank you. Honestly from the bottom of my heart thank you. I feel like I am the luckiest person in the world to be able to do this for people even at this small level and it would be entirely impossible without fans supporting us. From every like, share, and comment to taking time out of your lives to come see DOGMA, this quite literally only happens because of them. I think we live in a world where everyone is so ego-centric that they forget none of us would have the opportunity to be out here doing the amazing things we are without each and every person sitting at home listening to a tune we made, liking or sharing content, telling your friends about us, etc. And for that I love each and every one of you! <3

The Music

New Single Decimation

The SpeedRound

City? Chicago
Song? Crazy Maybe – Feed Me & Kill The Noise
DJ? Downlink
Sports? Hockey
Food? Ramen
Drink? Vodka
Car? Alfa Romeo 4C
Festival? GRIDLIFE
Techno? TechYES
Nightenjin? is an Actual Engine

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Kar Pow

KAR POW serves up in-your-face dance music with a bad bitch mentality. This triple-threat DJ/producer/rapper’s work hard play hard attitude, expert mixing skills, and high-energy, genre-defying shows make her a force to be reckoned with.

The post DOGMA Interview + New Single Decimation appeared first on Nightenjin.

First up, “Going In” rocks a powerful, four on the floor rhythm that will force you to surrender to the groove. The quirky, bubbling textures and pristinely clean, booming bass are signatures of the Hot Pot sound. Listen as the Boston-based producer preps his spicy, “schezuan g house,” served up especially for the Nightenjin crowd.

“Sippin On” switches gears just a bit with darker tones and echoed vocals that adhere to a more underground vibe. High-intensity risers and uniquely crafted synths drive the track into a previously untapped space as Hot Pot expertly cranks the energy up and back down. It’s totally ok to get weird with it.

Nightenjin is proud to present Hot Pot’s ‘Going In’ EP. If this sounds like your latest obsession — that’s because it is. Enjoy!

Listen:

 
Download/Stream

Follow Hot Pot:

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Kar Pow

KAR POW serves up in-your-face dance music with a bad bitch mentality. This triple-threat DJ/producer/rapper’s work hard play hard attitude, expert mixing skills, and high-energy, genre-defying shows make her a force to be reckoned with.

The post RS-007: Hot Pot – Going In EP appeared first on Nightenjin.