Wax Motif

Tech House

Wax Motif is one of the key figures in the modern bass house and g-house conversation, but what has always made him stand out is that his sound feels nastier and more rhythmically informed than a lot of artists who came up in that same wave. The Australian-born, LA-based producer built his name on chunky low end, hip-hop swagger, and club records that feel stripped, punchy, and dirty in the right way, and you can hear the influence of R&B, disco, and UK bass in how he builds groove rather than just going for blunt-force drops. He helped shape the g-house lane in the U.S., but he has never felt limited to that tag, because his sets can move from slick house rollers to tougher bass pressure without losing that signature bounce. More than anything, he feels like an artist who understands how to make functional dancefloor records still carry attitude, which is why he has had real staying power beyond just one moment or subgenre.

AQUTIE

Afro House

AQUTIE (pronounced “A‑Cutie”), born and based in Harlem, NYC, is a South African–Guinean DJ and producer who has become a leading voice in Afro-house, amapiano, deep‑tech, and NYC queer nightlife. As founder of the selectHER label and curator of her Brooklyn-based "Heat House" party series, she fuses soulful percussion, wraparound club edits, and visual storytelling in every set. Her iconic Boiler Room Toronto “AMAPROBLEM” set and recent Brooklyn Mirage appearance alongside Black Coffee showcase her fierce presence and rhythmic authority. She represents both the Afro-diasporic club sound and emerging queer underground ecosystem in New York.

Luke Alexander

Tech House

Luke Alexander feels like a very New York kind of dance artist in the sense that his whole identity is built around nightlife instinct, crowd connection, and knowing how to move between different shades of electronic music without losing energy. Born and raised in NYC, he came up through local residencies before expanding into a broader touring profile, and that background shows in the way he plays: big room aware, polished, and very tuned to what actually works in front of real party crowds. His sound leans toward house, tech house, and more accessible EDM, but a big part of the appeal is how he folds in nostalgic edits and crossover moments without making it feel totally cheesy or formulaic. He is not really coming from a deep-underground purist lane. The draw is more that he knows how to deliver high-energy, rave-ready sets with a strong pop instinct, which is why he has built momentum in the more mainstream-facing club and festival world while still keeping one foot in New York nightlife culture.

Shermanology

Tech House

Hailing from the Netherlands with deep roots in Curaçao, the brother and sister duo Andy and Dorothy Sherman form the electronic act Shermanology. They refine a signature sound known as soultec, which fuses house music with elements of funk, soul, and Caribbean rhythms. Their discography includes notable releases such as the viral Boyz N Da Club on their own D'EAUPE label, the FISHER collaboration It's A Killa on Catch & Release, and the 2031 EP on Sola Nauts. The duo maintains a global touring presence with appearances at festivals like Kappa Futur and residencies at iconic parties including Elrow. By blending Dorothy's gospel-trained vocals with Andy's production experience in the UK garage and Dutch underground circuits, they create a distinctively groove-led and vocal-forward aesthetic. Shermanology stands out for their ability to bridge the gap between classic soul heritage and modern club functionality, consistently centering Black musical influences within the contemporary house landscape.

Kevin Aviance

House

Kevin Aviance is a vocalist, producer, and drag performer who emerged from Richmond, Virginia, before becoming a central figure in the New York City ballroom and club circuits. Known for his commanding presence and forceful house sound, he anchored legendary 1990s dancefloors like Sound Factory, Twilo, and Roxy alongside collaborators such as Junior Vasquez and Danny Tenaglia. His discography includes club anthems like the 1996 Wave Records release "Cunty" and the 1999 debut album "Box of Chocolates," which cemented his aggressive and vocal forward aesthetic. Experiencing a modern resurgence after Beyoncé sampled his work on her 2022 album "Renaissance," Aviance recently released his 2025 studio album "HIPPOPOTAMUS" and continues to perform at underground techno and house events like dweller festival and FIST at BASEMENT. Bridging the classic era of queer nightlife with contemporary electronic music, his enduring catalog and kinetic live performances maintain a clear influence on the global dance community.

Zainab

Electronic

Born in Lahore and raised in New York City, Brooklyn-based DJ and producer ZAINAB weaves global rhythms and underground club music into her selections. Formerly known as ZEEMUFFIN, she blends house, hip-hop, amapiano, and South Asian diasporic sounds to create a distinct cross-cultural aesthetic. ZAINAB released her debut single "Jadoo" in March 2026, followed by "Her Eyes" in April 2026, both arriving via Ninja Tune's Technicolor imprint. Her live presence includes performances at Boiler Room, Glastonbury, Lollapalooza, and a back-to-back set with DJ Habibeats at the Coachella Do LaB stage. Beyond her own productions, she champions global south music through her party series and future label Azadi. By bridging New York club culture with international sounds, ZAINAB builds spaces where diasporic identity and electronic music converge.

Dennis Free

House

Dennis Free is a highly dynamic and rapidly rising DJ within the fiercely innovative New York City underground circuit. Known for his impeccable taste and seamless technical abilities, Free frequently performs at the city's most respected electronic music spaces, including The EDGE and Public Records. Sharing bills with international heavyweights like Carl Craig and Moodymann, as well as collaborating closely with local peers like Pedrose, he curates sets that are deeply rooted in classic Detroit techno and Chicago house, updated with a modern, percussive edge. His performances at culturally significant events, such as the dweller festival, which specifically platforms Black electronic artists, highlight his deep dedication to the community and his vital role in shaping the contemporary soundscape of NYC nightlife.