2021 was a breakout year for many artists, DJs and producers.  

Since we were in lockdown in 2020, the silence that was thrust upon so many in the music industry tested these successful creatives to the core.  A reflection of “Who the fuck am I” as a DJ, as an artist, as a producer affected many.

Either you became bitter or better after the global shutdown.  And from all of the interviews, I’ve done, along with the many groups I’ve been part of…

The word “reset” comes to mind.  Facing the mirror as an artist who thrives on stage, performing in different cities night after night, all of a sudden the wheels stop moving and the carriage you were once traveling on held by your fans disappear in a flash!

When the nightclubs closed down, everyone scrambled because the reality of the majority of the DJs of the world still didn’t have a large enough volume of music to help sustain them through royalties, their bread and butter were the actual live performances themselves.  

All that is left is you in your carriage, sitting in the middle of nowhere and it’s silent.

Maybe the term Buddhists use by saying that, “the answer lies within”,  could sound cliche but, in what we experienced globally, maybe these monks were onto something.

The silence created the upheaval of intimacy I feel was missing between the DJ and their fans.  

When the nightclubs closed down, everyone scrambled because the reality of the majority of the DJs of the world still didn’t have a large enough volume of music to help sustain them through royalties, their bread and butter were the actual live performances themselves.  

Problem is… Unless you’re the Paul Oakenfold’s of the world that have songs streaming from video games, musical scores in movies and more, our residual income would hold you over, however, your linear income as a DJ in performances was done!

2020 Brought out our inner voices.  It lit us up in areas that were silent even before the pandemic began.  It made us take a hard look at our inner being. 

For EDM artists, music was being created in reflection of this human experience. It allowed for many of the artists who lost touch with their so-called realities and literally got real with themselves.  You can clearly hear it in their creations.

What evolved from 2020, was released in 2021 for dance music and in all of my years in this industry…

2021 Will go down as the best year in EDM for me.

There were so many songs that were so enriching to the soul and rightfully so because a lot of these DJ/producers and artists didn’t have anywhere to go except to their studio and pour their hearts out in their work.

Why and how did you hear it? Well, it’s because they had time on their hands and knew that what they were creating in 2020 was going to set them up for success in 2021…

So, the work you EDM lovers old and new were hearing as far as releases in 2021, had that extra soul attached to it because they had more time than they normally do to nurture it and evolve organically.

Here’s my list of the best in the “Year End in EDM” 2021:

Let’s talk about live streams in 2021:

Out of the flood gates and accelerating to levels of musical consciousness that made me speak in tongues for live streaming was David Guetta.

He brought the fever of future rave sounds to light as he in his David Guetta fashion brought some serious fire to the decks as he DJ’ed in Dubai and around the world, at breathtaking locations, with a full-on laser and light show, providing a positive commentary and a “We will be together again” mentality.  He also used the stage to share his charitable endorsements too…

I suggest if you want to feel like you’re in the epicenter of a festival and want David Guetta to personally DJ for you while you’re living your best life in your living room…. Download his streams and play that shit loud!

It’s worth getting a knock on the door from the neighbor for being too noisy….

Now onto live events in 2021:

Hands down, delivering the goods with everything they got, Insomniac takes the cake for producing and unleashing EDC Las Vegas and EDC Orlando. I have been to a ton of festivals and EDC Orlando blew my mthafkn mind! There were thousands of people who came near and far to watch some of their favorite EDM DJs play.

From their stage production, event staff, security and more, you felt safe being transported to another world!  The circus rides, amazing lighting and sound plus the thousands of party-goers just happy to be there dressed up and living their best life made this one of the best festivals I’ve been to in a long time!

Best break out DJ and producer:

Chi-town’s very own John Summit. There is no denying that this guy is dominating the dance music scene by storm.  Following the release of ‘Deep End’, on Defected Records, in June 2020, it became the longest-running Beatport #1 of the year catapulting this guy to stardom!  Not only is he a cutie, but, he is a super talented DJ and producer and loves his 1942 tequila… you know I’m going to try to interview him on groove cruise.

Best club re-opening and staying open:

Vixens Cabaret in Davie, Florida and Avalon in Los Angeles

Best didn’t know if it was going to happen event that was holding onto a string in all of 2021 while everyone was freaking out and is still happening no matter what in 2022 is:

Groove Cruise (I’ll leave it at that!)

And finally, our MMOFADJ’s chimed in with what they were rocking as their top picks of 2021:

DJ Laz said: Farruko with Pepas was a song he rocked in 2021 and rightfully so, with a sick vocal hook and a streaming baseline that keeps you dancing non-stop…the video is pretty intense too…it got close to 300 million views on YouTube!

Ivano Bellini went a more the non-EDM route with Billie Eilish – No Time To Die which was featured in the 25th James Bond film back in 2020 as her video got 69 million views on YouTube.

DJ Nathan Bliss stated his top pick was Taraka by Gordo on ultra music which is the alias Carnage is using to release this next phase of musical sound.  Carnage said in an interview with DJ mag, “He is not doing this for streams or for radio, he’s doing this for culture.” 

DJ Andy Ruiz says that “do it to it” by acraze has been his 2021 go-to track to make the room explode as his residency at vixens cabaret continues to grow!

Groove Cruise resident DJ Keith Christopher shared that Chemical Surf’s – Cambuca (return of the jaded remix) has been a top pick for him in 2021 and I can hear why! It’s bouncy, it’s fun, it’s simple with fun drops which perfectly fits the description of Mr. Diskopretty…

Deep house brunch creator and GC resident DJ Scotty Boy also chimed in with his fave of 2021 with later bitches by Prince Karma via Ultra Music. It’s a fun track that will have you wrapped up, similar to the vibe you find with Farruko’s track – Pepas.  Driving baseline with a fun bouncy feel that has a good hook to it…the music video on YouTube is one to check out because it looks like you’re walking into an Andy Warhol afterparty… I’ll leave it at that.

What evolved from 2020, was released in 2021 for dance music and in all of my years in this industry…

2021 will go down as the best year in EDM for me.

There were so many songs that were so enriching to the soul and rightfully so because a lot of these DJ/producers and artists didn’t have anywhere to go except to their studio and pour their hearts out in their work.