Beatport has announced its Beatport Next Class of 2022. With its proud history of helping grow the careers of up-and-coming dance music artists, Beatport took this commitment to supporting new artists to a whole new level with the launch of Beatport Next. The initiative provides emerging artists with a full year of dedicated support.
Following the success of the platform’s debut last year, Beatport put together an open call for artists interested in participating in this year’s Next program. Now, after completing its extensive selection process, Beatport is thrilled to announce the eight artists, all with diverse backgrounds and a broad spectrum of sounds, that will make up the Beatport Next Class of 2022:
The Beatport Next program gives a select number of promising artists prime promotional placement on the Beatport store’s homepage and genre pages with dedicated artwork designs, LINK playlists, editorial features on Beatportal, live streams, and extensive social media support that lasts throughout the year.
Hailing from the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, Iryna Shvydka (aka 8Kays) is quickly becoming one of the melodic house & techno scene’s most essential artists. Her passionate and immensely groovy sound can be found on revered labels such as Renaissance Records, Booka Shade‘s Blaufield Music imprint, Above & Beyonds‘ Anjunabeats, Eleatics Records, and more.
When it comes to music, you’ll hear the call of the soul straight from 8Kays inner dimension. Her intriguing and undeniably particular sound has been the reflection of the artistic mind, full of authenticity and depth. There are certainly no borders in 8Kays sound if there is an attempt arising to describe it; though remaining at the point to keep the balance between melodic influence and the eager passion to the intense groove, Ira does what she can do the best – pleasing the audience with sounds. Constantly seeking and developing herself as an artist, 8Kays is solidly set to present the music, which will leave its due memory for the years and decades ahead.
Specializing in Afro-leaning electronic music built upon a foundation of contemporary deep house and tech, West African native Hubert Sodogandji (aka AMÉMÉ) channels his cultural roots and ancestry into everything he does. The rising Afro House star’s music has been released via Watergate Records, the mighty MoBlack Records, and his very own One Tribe label, brand, and global community.
For a relative newcomer to the electronic music world, his rise has been astounding, galvanized by this enlightened approach. AMÉMÉ’s ability to connect with people and make things happen has been evident throughout his entire career. As his empire continues to grow in tandem with his profile, he has demonstrated that his true talent has steadily risen to the top. AMÉMÉ’s sincere and humble determination places music and community at the forefront of his actions, with positive intent behind every new shift and evolution. From Benin to Brooklyn, and then to Berlin, his worldly outlook and unrelenting drive showcases that AMÉMÉ will be hosting his own percussion-fueled rituals on dance floors across the world for many years to come – uniting the global community and reminding us that we are all One Tribe.
20-year-old Worcestershire-based DJ/producer Emily Nash emerged in 2021 with three exquisite releases on Stress Records, kicking off 2022 with her new single “Garden” on Ministry of Sound. In just one year, despite her newcomer status, Emily managed to rack up gigs across the UK at Creamfields, Leeds Festival, Ministry, and Tobacco Dock.
Emily was chosen as one of Beatport’s & Amazon’s “Ones To Watch For 2022” along with Radio 1 making her one of their “Future Stars For 2022” Jaguar from Radio 1 also crowned Emily with the very first “Dance Floor Moment” on BBC Radio 1 Dance with her track “Strangest Thing” From appearing on the Spotify playlists New Music Friday UK, UK House Music, The Drop, mint, Massive Dance Hits and loads more, Emily has set the precedence to do big moves this year, and years to come.
Jaden Thompson lives and breathes UK House. Born in Swindon, the young DJ/producer became a resident at Fabric at just 20 years old, playing alongside legends like Seth Troxler and Annie Mac. Jayden’s juicy house bangers have been snapped up by Emerald City Music, Cuttin Headz, Kitsuné Musique, Moscow Records, and more as he continues to build up his freshly minted Midnight Parade label.
Jaden Thompson has gone from being a promising new name to a quick, established international talent. He’s a fabric resident, a firm favorite of Radio 1’s Pete Tong, and no stranger to the top of the digital charts. His single ‘Only One‘ also picked up more than a million streams. To have done all this before the age of 22 is a testament to the uniqueness of his sound: Thompson makes and plays house music that captures the essence of the Chicago-House Golden-era, but with an all-new, forward-thinking charm and infectious energy. Now, as he steps out with his own label Midnight Parade, this entrepreneurial opportunity will not only give him the chance to release his own music but also champion other great sounds as well.
Rising Parisian DJ/producer Marina Trench has been making serious headway in clubland with her marvelous and tight house style. In addition to scoring remixes from Kerri Chandler and DJ Deep, Trench’s tracks have been picked up by labels like Deeply Rooted, Nowadays Records, Wolf Music Recordings, and Dam Swindle‘s Heist Recordings.
Marina Trench is flying the flag for forward-thinking, bright young talent, and raising the bar in star talent. Now that the world is waking up from the pandemic, this artist is primed to continue her mesmerizing dance odyssey in an explosion of glorious color. Her journey into house music’s profound core began during her time spent studying fine arts in Bordeaux, where she immersed herself in the vibrant local electronic scene, and before too long, her immaculate record collection started to grow while she steadily mastered the art of vinyl-only DJing. After relocating to Paris in 2014, her prototype production adventure began earnestly. After two years of studious experimentation, Marina Trench was ready to launch her distinct sound into the world.
Manchester-based artist Nia Archives found the spotlight in 2021 following her Hospital Records single “Move On” and her debut Headz Gone West EP. Heavily influenced by soundsystem culture and carnival, Nia aims to represent her Jamaican roots and take up space in the jungle scene as a young Black woman, while carving out space for other Black women to see themselves in the genre.
“I literally come from nothing so to be where I’m at now keeps me motivated. If you love something and you really want to do it, you have to keep working hard at it. You can achieve anything you want to achieve.”
Nia Archives
When it comes to the jungle scene, Nia intends for the introverted extroverts to find solace and relatability within the lo-fi jungle genre. Her first memories of music are deeply rooted in her Jamaican heritage; reggae and lovers-rock were always on around her childhood home in Leeds, as well as gospel music as she regularly attended Pentecostal church regularly as a child. After moving out at 16, she relocated to Manchester, where her way of getting to know people was through raves and house parties. A big goal of hers is to make an album using live musicians, as well as traveling to Jamaica to record reggae which she would then be able to sample into jungle-style. On the cusp of beginning her career, Nia is inspired by the possibility of building something for herself completely off her own back.
Tennessee-born, Atlanta-based artist Nikki Nair is a master of chopping breaks and has a keen ear for a soulful sample, crafting full-throttle percussive dance music that takes cues from electro, techno, breaks, and Baltimore club. Nikki’s sound has landed him on highly regarded record labels including Gobstopper, Pretty Weird, Scuffed Recordings, and Dirtybird.
Arriving at the forefront of the dark techno wave that has washed over the underground scene in recent years, Risa Taniguchi has spent the last four years cultivating lofi sound of distorted textures, fizzing synths, and quietly burning energy, which consumes all who hear it. Preferring to play sets which she claims as, “late night, for the weirdos”, Risa has a knack for getting crowds in a nocturnal trance, before delivering shocks and surprises with a curious motif or unpredictable element. For those who like to cut loose in a dark environment, she is the perfect selector. The multi-talented act is also formally trained and a skilled player of the piano, which she continues to play daily. Risa defines herself as a”classical music nerd” too, but of course, prefers to explore the minor rather than major end of the scales.
