Meet the Freshman Class of EDC 2014

With almost 200 names on it, the EDC lineup can be an overwhelming document to gander at. Hidden amidst it, though, is the next wave, the DJs pushing things forward who might just end up being headliners a few years down the road. So while your friends are all atwitter about Calvin Harris and how tall he is, you can be like “Whatever. Only basic ravers stay at the mainstage all day.” Here are our selections:

What So Not

Originally consisting of Aussie-mates, Emoh Instead and the now-worldwide sensation, Flume, What So Not have become one of the buzziest duos in dance music. With a lethal blend of trap riddims, massive festival synths and a buffet of everything from squelchy bass farts to trance breakdowns—these dudes have a lot going on. Currently, they’ve been operating as a solo gig with just Emoh at the helm, but for massive gigs like EDC, we have a feeling Flume will fly in on a magical kangaroo to feel up a CDJ or two. -David Garber

Oliver Heldens

First there was “Gecko” and then there was the “Overdrive” rework, both of which have become necessary future house anthems. He’s a handsome teenager with a big sound and a bright future. He has “crossover” written all over him. Also, that’s quite a beard for a 19 year old. -Jemayel Khawaja

Dusky

Yes, Dusky, Disclosure and Gorgon City often feel a bit interchangeable, but that’s not to say they aren’t all still immensely talented. While Disclosure operates more on the side of buttery house shufflers, Dusky is more fond of fat, chunky basslines, paired with airy vocal-lines that will sneak right now into your innards and make you gyrate in strange, possesed ways. Over the last year, they’ve catapulted into one of the most demand duo’s in the biz, and something tells us there set at EDC will cement their place as one of London town’s most prosperous creations. Also maybe there’ll be another massive dust storm in the middle of the night—and people can get dusty, with Dusky. Get it? Thanks, folk, I’m here all week! -DG

Tchami

THUMP MIXED BY. -JK

GTA

-DG

Mr. Carmack

-JK

Trippy Turtle

Along with Cashmere Cat, Trippy Turtle is fast becoming the face of this whole hipster-fied Jersey club thing (we’re still waiting for Petulant Panda and Morose Monkey to release their first tunes). He’s just dropped his own theme and is on the verge of going from “that guy you’ve heard of” to “that guy you’re dancing to.” -JK

Kove

Although acts like GTA champion the ‘death to genres’ mantra, Kove lives it from across the Atlantic. His sets range from heavy drum and bass to vocal-centric acid house tunes, all with a distinctly UK vibe and stitched together with a unique flair. -JK

Le Youth

As EDM makes its way out of the limelight, people want melody, and they want groove, two entities that have invaded the mainstream over the pond in the UK as of late. L.A.-born and bred producer/DJ Le Youth has both of those things, and presents them to the world in the form of pop-infused, slick, sunshine-loving anthems like the recent charmer with vocalist Javeon, “Feel Your Love.” Is that a totally cliche title for a piano house singalong? Probably. But who cares? The EDC Vegas-ites will be eating up his jams like Hunter S. Thompson at a Silk Road garage sale. -DG

Wax Motif

-JK

Audio

Audio is basically everything your parents told you to fear about drum’n’bass personified. He has “drum” tattooed over one set of knuckles, “bass” on the other, no SoundCloud to speak of, and an active MySpace account where one of his Top 8 friends is a guy named “Meth.” He looks like the kind of dude who would rob you for your tracksuit, but here’s the thing: His tunes are fucking awesome so he can have my tracksuit if he wants it. -JK

European Twerk Mafia (DJ Snake / Yellow Claw)

Seems like Europeans do trapstyle better than Americans do these days. “Turn Down For What” was one of the biggest crossover hits of the year and had pretty much the most culturally important video ever. Yellow Claw have been flying the flag for Amsterdam Twerk and this co-lab between them is a big hot mess of awesome. -JK

Oh, our opinion isn’t good enough for you?
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David and Jemayel are probably arguing on Twitter about who has better taste – @JemayelK // @DLGarber