Thanks to our weekly List’n up post, we keep you up to date on the top events in the area, but what about the top electronic music producers and DJs from the great state of Colorado? There is a plethora of live music opportunities, but what of the local talent that opens or is now headlining their own shows and festivals? This list is far from all inclusive; I originally started with top 5, but that quickly grew. Feel free to let us know who your favorite local DJ/producer is!
16. Sektah
Hailing from Fort Collins, dupstep producer and Dj Sektah has been killing it with some intense and masterfully mixed sets at places like The Black Box and Cervantes. A regular with Sub.mission events, any fan of riddim and dubstep will appreciate this guy! Need a taster? Check out this mix on Soundcloud.
15. Ind33p
For the fans of the darker, deeper dub, check out Ind33p, the Sub.mission resident DJ from Colorado Springs. He’ll take you on a journey down the rabbit hole of deep bass.
14. Ecotek
You can’t think Beta or The Church Nightclub without thinking local house celebrity Ecotek. Moving to Denver from Athens, Greece, Kostas Kouremenos has been a staple in the city’s dance music scene for years.
13. Phiilo
Started by producer/instrumentalist Nick Carruth and singer/songwriter Jonny William, the electronic vocal duo Phiilo had dreams of being in a full band, but instead decided to focus on electronic music. We’re glad they did, because the duo has been making headlines on blogs and record labels with some amazing releases.
12. Sortof Vague
Sortof Vague is an artist to keep on eye on. Spinning a mix of downtempo, ambient, and everything in between, there is a reason this guy has been invited to play at almost every Tipper and Friends event.
11. Gangus
For those not familiar with Gangus or Courteous Family, do yourself a favor and go on over to their Soundcloud and bring a good pair of headphones too. Gangus is a fantastic producer and his set is a mix of all sounds underground.
10. VibesquaD
Even though Aaron Holstein, AKA VibesquaD, technically retired after killing it in Denver and beyond for years, he’s still playing an important role in the scene. He’s supported the likes of Bassnectar in the past, and now he’s putting on a monthly music production clinic at The Black Box. His blend of electro, funk, and all around bass music will leave you feeling good!
9. Tyro
It wouldn’t be a proper dubstep event without Tyro opening the night! I can’t count how many times I’ve seen this guy play, and it’s always top notch. Catch this veteran DJ at your local bass outlet, be that Beta Nightclub, Cervantes, or The Black Box.
8. DJ Fury
No list of Denver talent would be complete without DJ Fury aka Steve Blakley. Founder of Reload Productions, this guy has been a crucial player in the Denver electronic scene since the early 1990s! Spinning mostly drum and bass, he is a regular at Beta Nightclub, so make sure to pay tribute to this local legend.
7. DJ Despise
Any fan of local drum and bass, jungle, breakbeat, you name it, will have heard of DJ Despise, aka Maggie Balas who is the overlord of ReconDnB. Her mixing is second to none, so check out her or any of the Recon DnB family who are regulars at The Black Box.
6. Sunsquabi
The Boulder-based live electronic band Sunsquabi, consisting of Chris Anderson,
Josh Fairman, and Kevin Donohue has been making waves lately with an amazing EP, frequent collabs with the likes of GRiZ, and a string of concerts and festival slots. Their blend of electro soul, funk, and all around feel-good jams is getting more popular by the day.
5. Dirt Monkey
Dirt Monkey, aka Patrick Megeath, has been killing it all over the Denver/Boulder metropolis for years. Usually spinning dubstep, there are some who have been privileged enough to catch a jungle set at The Black Box, among other places. This versatile DJ is not one to miss!
4. Jantsen
You can’t have Dirt Monkey on a list of Colorado DJs and not have Jantsen. Any self-respecting basshead will no doubt know who this guy is; he and Bassnectar have been teaming on songs for quite some time. His style of dubstep just oozes bass and heaviness. If he teams up with Dirt Monkey for a B2B, watch out! The energy of the two of them is incredible.
3. Illenium
Illenium aka Nick Miller, has risen remarkably fast in the EDM world and for good reason! About to embark on his own headlining tour, the first stop is 1stBank Center in Broomfield, so grab tickets before it sells out. His masterful production of “heaven trap” and all around feel-good music is not to miss.
2. GRiZ
The last two on this list kind of go without saying, but I still feel obligated to throw them in. Even though Grant is technically from Michigan, Colorado has long-been a second home for him. GRiZ has been absolutely killing it, producing some amazing albums and headlining numerous festivals and even a (sold out) two-night Red Rocks run this year! Debuting a live band, this event will be one for the books. I can’t think of an artist putting out more good vibes than GRiZ! Read his latest article written for Huffington Post if you need some inspiration!
1. Big Gigantic
The top 2 on this list go hand in hand. If you talk about Big G, you usually mention GRiZ in the same sentence. You can’t think of Colorado and not hear the sounds of Big G on the slopes of the Rockies. This duo has been killing it for years, headlining festivals like Electric Forest time after time.