Prolific house DJ and producer Thierry Tomas recently teamed up with Belgian producer Pat Lezizmo for a two-tracker on Steve Bug’s home for more reduced, hypnotic, and raw sounds, Sublease Music. Thierry Tomas (Yevgeniy Nikolaev) first mastered the place for remote control in 2005, starting a career with classic American deep house, and in his further experiments with techno, has always been faithful to the old school of electronic music. With his latest release out in the open for the world to enjoy, we asked Thierry Thomas to provide us with his very own Hot Picks selection: Argy - Love Dose (Luciano Remix) Unbelievable energy! I guess my love with Poker Flat started after this one. D’Julz - Ze Box Absolute magic stick makes any party wild. Oliver Woog, HateLate - La Mèche House A perfect example of how hypnotic and groovy the tribal rhythm can be! HateLate – Jazz Klub Another HateLate track that’s driving me crazy! I like to put some jazz in my tracks all the time, and this one inspires me every time! Joss Moog - Lili’s Theme Part 2 This dude always amazes me how he samples stuff!! One of my favorite producers! Hodini - One4Fries Once again, when I hear jazz inside the house groove, I can’t pass by. Absolutely brilliant!! Felix Leifur - Hampton Every time when I hear how this guy makes his kind of a little experimental lofi sound I get impressed! Felix one of the best for me in this direction. Ritmo Du Vela – That’s my Sound Massive track!! Always rocks the dance floor! LeBaron James – Ecoutez This is how house music sound should be, at least I think so! Atjazz, Jullian Gomes, Bucie - Out of My Life Everything is great in this track, vocal, rhythm, melody. But my favorite thing is how it sounds!!! Every time when I need to reload my ears through the production process, I put this track on and my ears thanks me. Thierry Tomas: Facebook / Instagram / Soundcloud Explore more Hot Picks: Hot Picks archive · Influences · All features

Baccus is a Parisian House DJ from the South West of France. 
He discovered his musical tastes through Rock & Roll, Jazz and Soul as a result of his parents sharing their love for music with him. 
 For Baccus, groove is an integral part of his influence which led him to love the sound of House music. After several years in the Mancerow duo, he decided to go solo. 
He has had the pleasure of playing in some of Paris' renowned club spaces, including Rex Club, Café Barge, Faust and also festivals such as Marvellous Island. This allowed him to play alongside his idols Dan Ghenacia, Dyed Soundoroum, Franck Roger and many more. Since 2019, Baccus has headed up Groovytude, a young Parisian crew that brings together lovers of electronic music, based on groove. 
Joy and love are the key words of this collective which includes a vinyl label and event brand. Baccus' latest work is a self-released three-track EP titled 'Don't Mind Me', which showcases an in-depth exploration of the sounds that represent him best as an artist. Think deep, groovy and full of emotion from start to finish. To celebrate his latest release, we asked Baccus to join our Hot Picks series with a selection of his favourite tracks: The System ‎- You're In My System (Kerri Chandler Remix) My All-Time Classic! Oden & Fatzo & THEOS - The Sand Troopers My Bros! Baccus - Don't Mind Me My new single that I'm very proud of :) Thurman - Namek City My oldest friend in the industry. ANOTR - Black Box The perfect combination to make people smooth and then crazy Diana Ross - Upside Down (DJOKO Edit) There is no Baccus Set without any Djoko! Jesse Jacob - Ring Whistler (Original Mix) This is the track i'm playing the most at the moment Ruze - Hardwire The combination of the chords, the bass and the vocals are just perfect! Toman - Una Y Nada The break is absolutely gorgeous. Jizz - La Ciudad Mi hermano that deserves way more recognition. Pure talent! Baccus' 'Don't Mind Me' is out now on all good stores and streaming platforms. Explore more Hot Picks: Hot Picks archive · Influences · All features

Why should you care? Cause everybody loves a good come-back story. Andrea Fratangelo (of Crookers fame) and Manny Lateulade joined forces after seeing how organic and effortless their collabs came together. Their debut release as Unidos 'Todo Empezara' comes on Riva Starr's esteemed Snatch! imprint, marking an impressive welcome from the newfound duo. To celebrate their inaugural EP, we asked Unidos to become the next in line to supply us with their Hot Picks: Floorplan - Tell You No Lie Robert Hood has been one of my heroes since the 90's. Him teaming up with his daughter to form Floorplan makes me scream with joy and this track that they created is just beautiful. - Andrea Shermanology - Bon Bini Starting from the crazy good vocal sample they selected for this song to the way the structure unfolds and the beat bangs. this is just a great track. - Andrea Chucky73 - Dominicana (The Martinez Brothers + Florentino Remix) I have been a fan of The Martinez Brothers for quite some time now and this track is amazing because it feels like a proper radio song but it works as well as a club track. That is a rare feature and they nailed it here. - Andrea Catz'n Dogz - TOMA (Riva Starr Back To Basics Mix) I love this beat that Rivastarr did for this great remix. Also, the way the vocals are being worked is perfect and carries you through the whole song. - Andrea Jamie Jones - Mind Meld With Spock I love the synth pattern setting up the tone for the song from the start and the journey of this track just keeps slowly evolving in the most natural of ways. - Andrea LF SYSTEM - Afraid To Feel (Armand Van Helden Remix) The way this track is arranged is fun and fresh. Anything from Armand is always gold in my book. - Manny Bonobo - ATK A lively tune with so much texture. You can always expect something interesting from Bonobo. - Manny Alan Fitzpatrick vs. Patrice Rushen - Haven’t You Heard [Half Charged Mix] A feel-good record, with enough energy to make it an instant crowd pleaser. - Manny Howling - Bind (Rampa Remix) The vibe is set perfectly on this tune. I love the textures they use to paint the full picture. So well done. - Manny Skream & Jackmaster – The Attention Deficit Track (Terrace Mix) This one is always fun to play out. It’s impossible not to move when you hear this. A stand-out tune for sure! - Manny Unidos' 'Todo Empezara' is out now on Snatch! Records. Explore more Hot Picks: Hot Picks archive · Influences · All features

Bengoa is Stathis Karipidis - a Greek musician, producer, songwriter and DJ based in Athens, Greece. His wide ranging taste and multifaceted production skills have resulted in a slew of well received tracks, EPs and remixes since his debut in 2006. With his latest EP 'Memories, Feelings' out now on Steve Bug’s Sublease label, Bengoa treats us to his current Hot Picks: Dez Andres - Danceteria An awesome record by the Detroit label, devoted to two of NYC’’s most legendary nightspots - flawless stuff, my current favorite records, no doubt. Frank & Tony - Eastern Meantimes Looks like the guys are back - this is a sultry deep house record, featuring remixes by NYC legend Timmy Regisford. Jon Dixon – Vocal Sessions Vol1 (Jimpster Remix) Jimpster delivered a gorgeous rework of Jon Dixon’s tech-soul and hi-tech jazz, playing it quite often these days. Ali Kareem - Black Energy Dusty party vibes, inventive and timeless house music. Fell in love instantly. Chasse / Shir I Khan presents Black Jukebox 34 Classic US house – soulful stompers of subtle quality. I will be playing this for a long time Felipe Gordon & Bob the Egoist - Freedom EP 90s house feelings that don't sound retro at all, deep and funky as I like it, top record by Felipe. Bengoa - Memories, Feelings Well, what can I say: I like this tune and I’m playing a lot, hehe. Philippa - There’s a Ghost in my Synthesizer Funk infused rolling grooves, going heavy on strings and chords - good for dance and party! Casbah - Let’s Invade the Amazon Where disco meets soulful house - bubbling bassline, infectious vocals and funky as hell guitars. Flawless. Mr G - Sound Groove Emotion Even if it’s unknown territory for Mr G, he manages to keep that distinct signature sound we love him for. This is a magical ride. Bengoa's 'Memories, Feelings' is out now on Sublease Music. Explore more Hot Picks: Hot Picks archive · Influences · All features

Los Angeles-based production pairing Eurostep have made a firm arrival on the global Tech House stage in a brief time. Already signed to Repopulate Mars, NONSTOP, La Pera, CUFF and now Supernova’s Lapsus Music imprint, the duo is fast becoming an act to keep a firm eye on. Their latest release ‘Drippin’ features two cutting-edge tech cuts, accompanied by a remix from the esteemed label bosses. To celebrate the release of their latest EP, we asked Eurostep to become the next artists to feature in our Hot Picks Series: Paolo Martini, Federico Ambrosi - Behaviour Been feeling this one during our sets, great little message to go along with a solid beat. Proudly People - Bless Up Pace and groove super great percs from Proudly People who’s work we’ve admired for a while. Fancy Fux Feat Constantine & Crystal - Dripping Wet Avant-garde but amazing tune on CUFF, little jersey club been doing work lately. Tommy Farrow - Let's Just (Jansons Remix) Euphoric breakdown sending the dancefloor into feels! DJ Deeon - Licky Licky (Amine Edge & DANCE's Codeine Juke Edit) One of the OG’s, great tune great & mood-setter. Obando & Matheo Velez - Big Prize Been a staple in our sets for the last year or so, sweet groove and great vocal cuts. Aaron Martin - Colocolocada One of our favourite labels at the moment new bomb! Melanie Ribbe - Big (Iglesias Extended Mix) Solid track overall. Yungness & Jaminn - Got This One of our favourites the last few years, great message and crazy beat! Paul Johnson - You Drive Me Crazy Feat. Zoe Thorn (Supernova Extended Remix) Belongs in a museum. Supernova remix of the late and great Paul Johnson. Europstep's 'Drippin' EP (incl Supernova Remix) is out now on Lapsus Music. Explore more Hot Picks: Hot Picks archive · Influences · All features

The Liquid Dude For The Liquid Dude, electronic music has never been about staying within the boundaries of a single genre. Across decades of musical exploration, his sound has moved between electro, acid, house, breaks, machine funk and beyond, always retaining a playful and unpredictable character. That approach sits at the heart of ‘Artificial Ignorance’, his latest six-track EP on his own Liquid Freaks imprint. Following his debut album in 2025, the new release brings old-school funk aesthetics into conversation with futuristic electronic experimentation, moving through analogue textures, elastic basslines, machine rhythms, ambient passages and disco-infused moments. For this edition of Influences, The Liquid Dude digs into five formative records that demonstrate how experimentation, personality and groove have shaped his musical outlook. Bernard Fevre – Dali (1981) “I discovered Bernard Fevre through my obsession with electronic music that existed before genres had names. What I love about this record is that it doesn't feel like it belongs to a specific era. It feels like someone imagining the future with the technology they had at the time. The atmosphere is everything. The synthesisers are not just instruments, they create a world. I always come back to records like this when I need inspiration because they remind me that electronic music is not only about rhythm, it's about creating a feeling and transporting people somewhere else.” Chaz Jankel – 3,000,000 Synths (1981) “This record showed me that electronic music could have humour and personality. A lot of people think about synthesisers as something cold or mechanical, but Chaz Jankel made machines feel funky and alive. I love the balance between the groove of a live band and the possibilities of electronic production. It has this strange energy where everything sounds playful but incredibly precise at the same time. That idea of making machines dance is something that has always stayed with me.” Telex – Moskow Diskow (1979) “Telex were completely different from everyone else. They took disco, electronic music and humour and created something that felt almost like a joke from the future. What inspires me is their attitude. They weren't trying to sound serious or follow a formula. They created their own universe. The robotic vocals, minimal groove and strange melodies show that electronic music can be experimental while still making people move.” Steve Monite – Things Fall Apart (1984) “I found this record while digging deeper into the relationship between funk and electronic music. What immediately caught me was the bassline, it has this incredible physical energy. For me, this track represents the moment where human groove and machines started becoming one. It also reminds me that some of the most futuristic electronic music was coming from places outside the usual history we hear about. Nigeria had its own electronic revolution.” Loose Joints – Is It All Over My Face (1980) “This record represents the freedom of the dancefloor. It doesn't feel polished or designed to be perfect, it feels alive. Arthur Russell understood something very important: sometimes the imperfections are what make a record special. The groove feels organic, unpredictable and emotional. This is the spirit I love in club music, when a track creates a moment that exists only in that exact place and time.” Looking back at these records, the connection between them is not really a genre. It's a feeling. They all come from moments when artists were experimenting, breaking rules and using technology in unexpected ways. Whether it's funk, disco, electronic music or club culture, the thing that inspires me is always the same: records that feel like they have their own personality. Music that sounds like it could only have been made by that person, at that exact moment. The Liquid Dude Instagram - Soundcloud - Spotify Liquid Freaks Instagram - Website - Soundcloud Explore more Influences: Influences archive · Hot Picks · All features

Federico Epis Federico Epis’ relationship with progressive house stretches back more than two decades. Part of South America’s first generation of progressive producers, the Uruguayan artist built his early career with releases on Audio Therapy and Global Underground, support from Sasha, Hernan Cattaneo, Dave Seaman and Pete Tong, and a residency on the Renaissance South American Tour. Following a 12-year hiatus, his return has opened a second chapter. Releases on Balance Music, The Soundgarden, Manual Music and Mango Alley have reintroduced Epis to the progressive landscape, while his latest move brings things full circle with his debut on Sasha’s Last Night On Earth. The two-track ‘Floyd’ EP deliberately connects those different eras. Electric guitar textures reference the music that shaped Epis before electronic music, while its basslines reach back towards the progressive house records that first pulled him into the scene. For this edition of Influences, he revisits five tracks intrinsically linked to that journey, with memories stretching from Space in Punta del Este to Pacha and Cream in Buenos Aires. Sasha – Xpander “The one that changed everything — and by far. I first heard it at Space in Punta del Este, played by Sasha himself in the summer of 2000, and it was pure magic: that intro building in the dark, the whole club suspended, and then that bassline. I walked out of that room a different person. Twenty-six years later, the bassline in the break of my own track ‘Tribute’ still carries echoes of that night — and somehow the EP it belongs to found its home on Sasha's own label, Last Night On Earth; if you'd told me that at Space that night, I wouldn't have believed a word.” Alanis Morissette – Uninvited (Brothers In Rhythm Remix) “Hernan Cattaneo introduced me to this one at Space Club Punta del Este — an unofficial remix that was never properly released, which made it even more mythical. Brothers In Rhythm (Dave Seaman and Steve Anderson) took a dark, haunting rock ballad and turned it into nine minutes of pure progressive drama. It taught me that our genre could carry real emotional weight — that a dancefloor record could make you feel something far beyond the groove. Hearing Hernan drop tracks like this, records almost nobody could own, was a masterclass in what a DJ could be: a curator of secrets.” Tomaz vs. Filterheadz – Sunshine “Space in Punta del Este again — that room keeps appearing in my story — but this time it was Dave Seaman behind the decks. When ‘Sunshine’ came on, the place simply erupted. It's the perfect example of how a track built on one relentless idea — that tribal groove, that riff — can completely own a dance floor. No tricks, no filler: pure functional energy executed to perfection. It taught me a lesson I still apply when I'm building a climax today: sometimes the strongest thing you can do is commit fully to a single element and let it breathe.” Evolution feat. Jayn Hanna – Walking On Fire (Bedrock Vocal Mix) “Pacha Buenos Aires, Hernan Cattaneo at the peak of his powers, and this record detonating the room — I can still see it. The Bedrock Vocal Mix is everything I love about that era of progressive house: elegant, patient, emotional, with Jayn Hanna's voice floating over a production that never stops moving forward. Buenos Aires crowds have a special relationship with melody, and that night proved it. It shaped my conviction that a proper progressive record should reward both the dancefloor and the headphones — a standard I still chase in the studio.” Sasha vs. Junkie XL – Beauty Never Fades “Sasha again — this time live at Cream in Buenos Aires, and it was tremendous. This track represents the other side of Sasha for me: not just the world's greatest selector, but a producer pushing the sound somewhere new, that Airdrawndagger-era blend of electronics and emotion that nobody else could quite touch. Hearing it live confirmed something I carried through my whole career, including the twelve years I spent away from music: that this sound wasn't a phase — it was home. My list should start and end with Sasha. Some influences you never outgrow.” Federico Epis’ selections tell the story of a relationship with progressive house that never really disappeared. Space in Punta del Este, Pacha and Cream in Buenos Aires provided the formative moments, while Sasha, Hernan Cattaneo and Dave Seaman helped reveal how much depth, emotion and tension the genre could carry. More than two decades later, those lessons remain embedded in his productions. With ‘Floyd’ now finding a home on Last Night On Earth, the connection between Epis’ two eras feels fittingly complete. Federico Epis Instagram - SoundCloud - Spotify Last Night On Earth Instagram - SoundCloud - Website Explore more Influences: Influences archive · Hot Picks · All features

Nautica (UK) Nautica return to 8bit with the release of their ‘Do Anything’ EP, a groove-led four tracker built around control, movement and long-form dancefloor flow. Landing at a moment where the UK duo continue to sharpen their identity through releases on labels like PIV, Solid Grooves and 8bit itself, the project reflects nearly a decade spent refining a sound rooted in subtle evolution rather than quick impact. For this edition of Influences, Josh Lewis and Caolan Savage dig into five records that helped shape both their production approach and their understanding of the dancefloor. From timeless emotional electronica and classic piano house through to rolling tech house weapons that still dominate their sets today, the selections offer a clear insight into the records that continue to guide their musical direction. Moby – ‘Porcelain’ Impossible to look past Moby when talking about inspiration. Taken from his seminal album Play, one of our favourite albums of all time, this record has it all. From the emotional strings to the lead vocal from Moby himself, it is hard not to feel something listening to this one. The sampling is genius and the songwriting feels completely timeless. It is not exactly a club record, but undeniably one of the greatest electronic tracks ever made. There is a real sense of emotion and atmosphere in it that has definitely stayed with us when thinking about how music connects with people beyond just functionality. Johnny D – ‘Walkman’ This one holds a special place for us. Proper underground tech house from 2007 and a record that has never really left our bag since we started playing together nearly ten years ago. Loopy drums, a hooky vocal and a lead stab that cuts through on any dancefloor. It works in warm-up sets and peak-time moments equally well. Almost twenty years on from its release on the legendary 8bit Records, it is still the standout release from the label for us and one of the records that genuinely made us fall in love with the imprint. To now be releasing our second EP on 8bit all these years later feels surreal. Back at university we became obsessed with this track and it completely changed the game for us in terms of understanding groove and repetition. Modjo – ‘Lady (Harry Romero Remix)’ Harry Choo Choo Romero is house music royalty. This remix keeps everything that made the original Modjo version timeless, but adds these chunky, rolling drums that absolutely explode on a big soundsystem. It is the perfect closing record. When the lights come on at the end of the night, this track never fails. One memory that always sticks with us was playing it at the end of our Liverpool residency after Chris Stussy. Around 1,500 people singing every word back during the breakdown. Proper emotion in the room. It is one of those records that reminds you how powerful house music can be when a crowd is fully connected. FPI Project – ‘Risky’ I will always remember my Dad showing me this track for the first time. He used to tell me stories about the 90s rave scene around Liverpool and Manchester and how crazy the reaction would be when the piano kicked in. That instantly stuck with me. The vocal samples throughout the track are so clever and the synth hooks are unforgettable. More than anything, this was one of the records that introduced me to the wider history of dance music and showed me how powerful sampling could be. You can still hear traces of that influence today in how we think about hooks and arrangement. Mark Knight & Prok & Fitch – ‘Into My Life’ This record was everywhere around the time we first started going clubbing at university. All of our friends would be sat having pre-drinks with this blasting in the background before heading out. The female vocal, the rolling drums and that synth melody just grabbed us straight away. The call and response between the bassline and synth elements is something we have always loved and definitely influenced our own productions over the years. It is one of those timeless club records that instantly transports you back to a specific period of your life and still sounds huge every time you hear it. Nautica https://www.instagram.com/nauticauk https://open.spotify.com/artist/1jjc5DIwBYlsToYhng9Cu2 https://soundcloud.com/nauticauk Explore more Influences: Influences archive · Hot Picks · All features

pdqb With ‘DER TRANSIENTE ZEUGE’, pdqb expands its already singular universe into something even more ambitious and psychologically immersive. Landing via Synaptic Cliffs on 26th June, the 17-track double vinyl project unfolds less like a conventional electronic album and more like a fragmented transmission recovered from some collapsed parallel timeline, balancing futuristic Electro, machine funk and warped rhythmic experimentation through what the artist describes as an ‘Electro-Cognition’ lens. The conceptual depth running through the project is mirrored in the influences behind it. Rather than obvious dancefloor reference points, the records and ideas shaping pdqb’s work often come from unexpected places: cinematic sound design, ambient fragility, video game soundtracks, emotionally charged pop songwriting and futuristic Detroit techno. For this edition of Influences, pdqb traces five key works that continue to shape the emotional, conceptual and sonic architecture behind its world. Dr. James A. Moorer – THX Deep Note "What appears to be a simple cinematic sound logo is, in fact, a masterclass in tension and release. Beginning as a cloud of seemingly unrelated pitches, its many voices gradually converge through carefully controlled voice leading until they resolve into an overwhelming harmonic destination. For Dornhöfer, this moment remains one of the purest examples of emotional release in music. A comparable feeling can be found in certain Ennio Morricone-scored scenes, where an intensely personal moment suddenly opens into a vast cinematic panorama. The THX audio logo carries that same sense of revelation: a transition from uncertainty to clarity, from confinement to scale. The pursuit of this liberating ‘wide shot’ continues to shape pdqb's soundscapes, particularly in its most emotional drops and moments of resolution." Nine Inch Nails – A Warm Place "Almost no other track has come closer to translating pure comfort into sound. Through its slow harmonic movement, fragile melodies and weightless atmosphere, the track evokes a state of emotional warmth that feels almost chemical in nature. What makes the piece extraordinary is that this comfort is never secure. Beneath its beauty lies an unmistakable sense of vulnerability. The moment could collapse at any second. The warmth exists only because it is temporary. This tension between refuge and loss has become a defining characteristic of pdqb's music. Moments of beauty, resolution and emotional relief are often introduced only to be interrupted, distorted or withdrawn shortly afterwards." Masakatsu Maekawa – Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu, Stage 1-2 "Some influences appear unexpectedly and simply refuse to leave. ‘Stage 1-2’ from Maekawa's soundtrack for the Japanese PC Engine game Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu has remained lodged somewhere in Dornhöfer's mind ever since he first encountered it. Its melody carries an almost restless optimism, always pushing forward, always suggesting that something exciting lies just out of reach. It captures a feeling that many other forms of electronic music rarely achieve: the joy of exploration. That influence can still be heard throughout pdqb's work. The fascination with movement, discovery and unexpected detours owes as much to video games as it does to music itself. Many tracks are less concerned with reaching a destination than with making the journey feel worthwhile." New Order – Crystal "Every element sits in exactly the right place: the propulsion, the melody, the melancholy, the sense of scale, and above all the combination of instant emotional impact and lasting fascination. It is a song that reveals itself within seconds, yet remains rewarding after hundreds of listens. For Dornhöfer, it remains one of the clearest examples of the perfect pop song. This influence may seem surprising given the often unconventional nature of pdqb's music. But beneath the experiments, detours and conceptual layers lies a similar ambition: a repeated attempt to reach the emotional directness of great pop music while resisting its conventions at the same time. In that sense, pdqb is constantly searching for the perfect pop song, only to sabotage the search whenever it gets too close." Underground Resistance – The Final Frontier "This track by Mike Banks is one of the rare pieces of music that demonstrates how profoundly emotion can be triggered through sound alone. Without lyrics, narrative or explanation, the track creates a sense of wonder, transcendence and limitless possibility. More than thirty years after its release, it does not merely sound futuristic. It sounds as if it came from the future itself. Few records have captured the feeling of drifting through space, suspended between technology, imagination and the unknown, with such conviction. This vision of the future feels so complete that it remains more futuristic than any Kraftwerk record ever released. As an extraterrestrial entity with the ability to travel through time, pdqb requires little imagination when it comes to the future. However, The Final Frontier resonates throughout its work." Much like ‘DER TRANSIENTE ZEUGE’ itself, pdqb’s influences refuse to sit neatly inside one musical world. Cinematic sound design, industrial fragility, classic synth pop, video game composition and Detroit futurism all collide into something that feels strangely unified. What connects them is not genre, but atmosphere and emotional architecture. Each piece creates a sense of movement through unknown space, whether personal, psychological or entirely imagined. That same feeling now sits at the centre of pdqb’s most ambitious project to date pdqb https://www.instagram.com/infamouslucifer https://open.spotify.com/artist/5XklOrb66BkFupm2tblCVw https://soundcloud.com/pdqb-himself Explore more Influences: Influences archive · Hot Picks · All features

Berlin artist Joplyn has gained serious traction of late, as a result of her dramatic live and hybrid shows. At the end of last year, she was invited to speak at the Berlin Dance Music Event and spoke at an Ableton masterclass soon after, followed by Pete Tong listing her in his ‘Future Stars of 2022’. Fresh from the success of Joplyn’s recent Crosstown Rebels debut in the form of We Will Forgive Ourselves, prolific producer MK and label-head Damian Lazarus will be re-inventing the original this May. Serving up two remixes in the form of MK’s Dub and Damian Lazarus’ Re-Shape, it acts as another milestone release for the near twenty-year-old imprint. To celebrate the release of the revamped remix package of Joplyn's 'We Will Forgive Ourselves', we asked her to join our Hot Picks series. I'm sure you'll agree she shows a deepened level of musical understanding and impeccable taste from these selections alone: 1) Nicolas Jaar - Colomb I remember first stumbling upon this track when I was super young. Roaming the internet on a hunt for special sounds I hadn’t heard before. To me there was something so otherworldly and rare about it that I couldn’t stop listening. Nowadays it grounds me, and calms me down on busy days. 2) Ornette - Crazy (Nôze Remix) This is the one track I always listen to when I feel like I’ve lost myself musically. Making songs, there’s so many roads to go down on, that sometimes you take a wrong turn and end up getting lost. In those times, this song acts like a guide sign bringing me back to the main road. 3) Björk - Venus As A Boy A classic. Björk is such a huge inspiration. The music video is a forever mood and influence too. 4) The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition (Undercatt Remix) I sometimes find it extremely hard putting full songs with vocals into a club context. It often feels overloaded or just in the wrong place. This song is a reminder that it is possible to make it work and even elevate club music through vocals. 5) Jane - It’s A Fine Day There’s this eerie nostalgia to this acapella. It seems so innocent but heavy at the same time - with this maternal, reassuring feeling, that in the end it’s all going to be fine. And the fact that it went from this to becoming the club anthem we know it as today, makes it that more beautiful. 6) Robag Wruhme - Wortkabular (Luciano Remix) Such an OG track that convinced me that the German language can be beautiful. 7) Kraftwerk - Mensch Maschine I mean? Obviously. Kraftwerk has become part of German identity. They started it all. Who knows where we’d be today if they hadn’t picked up that synth (or whatever it was) all those years ago. 8) Marie Davidson - Work It (Soulwax Remix) This is so different to anything else out there. A breath of fresh air. There’s something so absurd and fun about it. A real mood-lifter. Didn’t think I would become this addicted to it when I first put it on… But here we are. 9) Fred again…, Romy, HAAi - Lights Out Fred again… has become a huge inspiration this last year. The energy of this track is unbeatable. It’s my self-proclaimed goal to experience it live one day. Then I can die happily. 10) Sade - Cherish The Day This song is special. It’s the song I grew up listening to (my Dad’s favorite song) and brings me back to my childhood. There’s something so effortless, timeless about it. Like it’s free flowing. I always feel so lightweight when I listen to it. Joplyn's 'We Will Forgive Ourselves (Remixes)' is out on Crosstown Rebels on 20th May. Explore more Hot Picks: Hot Picks archive · Influences · All features

Hailing from London, Niteplan is one of the standout producers to emerge from the UK underground music scene and has rapidly gained support worldwide for his sound. After having multiple releases on Detlef's label Issues, he has received consistent backing from some of the most influential artists in the scene; Jamie Jones, Detlef, The Martinez Brothers, Michael Bibi, Marco Carola, Lee Foss and Skream, to name a few alongside early support at Radio 1 and BBC Introducing from Jaguar. Niteplan's latest release, 'Hypnotic', has just dropped on his new sub-label Nitecutz and is currently making its way up the Beatport charts and receiving widespread support from the DJ community. To mark his latest release, Niteplan joins our 'Hot Picks' series with an eclectic selection of tracks: 1) Peace Division - What is this Sound? The groove and energy on this is unmatched for me. The rolling hypnotic vocals, percussion and bassline hit different. 2) Jamie Fielding - Sea World A track from a close friend of mine, on an important label to me - This track has that stripped back tech sound that I represent in most of my sets. 3) Rub A Dub, Joey Daniel - End Of Discussion The flavours on this one are incredible, the lowkey vocals, textures and percussion keep me completely hooked from start to finish. It's such a versatile track which can be used at any time. 4) Detlef - Vibing A super cool track with a real solid groove. The jazz sound incorporated into this beat delivers a whole different feeling to me which is sick. 5) Niteplan - Hypnotic Last is the new cut on my label Nitecutz. A skippy and percussive beat with many subtle elements - hopefully making it perfect to set the tone on any floor. Niteplan's 'Hypnotic' is out now on Nitecutz! Explore more Hot Picks: Hot Picks archive · Influences · All features

Home to stand-out collaborations such as Todd Terry and Riva Starr's recent 'This Is The Sound' through to classics such as Jamie Jones and The Martinez Brothers' 'Bappi', Hot Creations has always been a platform and label pairing unique and exciting artist combinations with impressive results. Closing July, the label now invites a stacked selection of artists for a big collaborative release as label signee Andre Salmon returns for his second release on the imprint and combines with Orlando's Michael Joseph and Barcelona's Lexlay for their four-track 'Momii' EP - featuring Figio, Francis Davila and Cami Jones. You can buy/stream it here: https://orcd.co/hotc215. To celebrate this milestone label release, we asked Andre Salmon to share an inspired list of some of his favourite records as he serves up his own Hot Picks selection: Modjo' Lady' This song reminds me of many good memories of when I was younger and some really great moments. Dirty Vegas' Days Go By' Another huge 'theme song' for my life, it has constantly inspired me forever! Dusty Kid 'The Cat' (Crookers Remix) This is one of those songs that I used to listen to every day. Again, this track inspired me a lot when I was younger. Beastie Boys' Intergalactic' This song reminds me of when I was young and used to spend all day with my skateboard exploring and discovering. Chemical Brothers' Get Yourself High' A masterpiece, this track makes me move and dance immediately. Seth Troxler' Evangelion' This record makes me wanna go to a techno nightclub immediately. Another masterpiece in my eyes. Howling 'Signs' (Rodhad Remix) This track has been a part of my life through a lot of moments. I used to play it when I met my wife and have essentially lived with it ever since! Massive Attack 'Angel' This is one of my wife's favourite songs ever and one of mine, too. We combined our hearts after we knew we both loved this record! Archive 'Again' My wife actually showed me this song, and I fell in love with it straight away. Robert Hood 'Minus' I still play this insane minimal song all the time. Me and my whole family love it! My wife and I used to play when we were just friends. Andre Salmon Facebook - Instagram - Soundcloud - Twitter Hot Creations Facebook - Instagram - Soundcloud - Twitter Explore more Hot Picks: Hot Picks archive · Influences · All features