One of the refreshing things about dance music right now is how unafraid artists and DJs are to engage with politics and social issues. If some mainstream pop stars and celebrities still remain unwilling to risk upsetting elements of their fanbase, most DJs and artists are unafraid of sharing their opinions about everything from Brexit and Trump to climate change and feminism.

Over the past 10 years, DJing has undergone seismic transformations in technology and process. New styles of DJing have emerged, and some have had huge impacts on dance music culture — even birthing new genres and music production techniques.

Sometimes, a year can seem like an awful long time in DJing. Last January, I wrote a summary of the past 12 months for the previous edition. Looking at what has happened since, it’s hard to believe what was in store for us. How little we knew…

It’s an all-too-familiar story: a DJ of any experience level with plenty of mixing skills, fancy DJ gear, and the latest killer tracks, but no gigs in sight. As DJing continues to grow in popularity around the world, gigs can be difficult to pick up

Everyone has a unique way of spending their time in the studio. It could be practicing a new technique, tapping out a fresh beat, digging for new music, or reading gear reviews

On the surface, DJing seems like a one-man job; the perfect field for personalities who are well-suited to working on their own. However, behind every major successful DJ is a team of people who work together to build the DJ’s brand and keep them at the forefront of the industry.

Dance music book recommendations, some fascinating analysis of the hit songs of 2019, a vinyl DJ tips and more to keep you occupied if you’ve suddenly found yourself grounded… 

Your palms are sweating and your heart is racing. You could cut the nervous tension with a knife. The club is full of expectant people who all want to see what you can do. All eyes are on you as you step behind the decks and prepare to pull off what just a short while ago might have seemed impossible to you. It’s your first gig and as far as you’re concerned, everyone in the club is wondering the same thing: “Does this girl know what she’s doing?”

I decided for a long time, looking for self-confidence, thinking about what I would really like, where to move. It didn’t matter what we planned, because this year just didn’t work out from point one. Does not matter. I’m a girl who doesn’t give up, and if I do, I just need time to get back on my feet. However, I do not deny that this year is one of the most difficult for me. I’m not going to be completely depressed here, because I want this article to be about positive energy. About new beginnings. About new strength, self-love and self-confidence. For new hope. Indeed.

Music is a powerful thing. Aside from its entertainment value, listening to music is known to have incredible positive effects to our brain.