In a world where algorithms relentlessly home in on your musical taste (creating a hyper-personalised bubble), the possibility of discovering new sounds organically feels like a privilege. It’s only natural to crave something new, a genuine breakthrough that the machine hasn’t already calculated for you. This year, we’re turning off that engine, and we’ve got our hands dirty in the digging work.
As we believe the best artists don’t just mimic what’s trending, they essentially carve out an entirely new sound of their own, we’ve put together a list of 10 Artists to Watch in 2026: the true disruptors and golden finds as a fruit of our obsession with finding the next gem.
Pépe
Pépe‘s music is far from linear. If one had to describe his taste, it would be a mix of emotional deep techno, ambient-leaning IDM, UK Garage, complex breakbeat and glitchy textures. As the Spanish curator knows no boundaries, he constantly experiments with contrasting influences, finding something completely different in the intersections of his sound.
Having achieved renown throughout the European circuit, Pépe now operates as a commanding producer and DJ, getting recognition on labels like Lapsus Records, where he’s released some of his work, including his acclaimed album Reclaim and his Futurepresent EP, finding a comfortable spot in the contemporary and so-called underground.
Sciama
A northerner at heart and a southerner at base, Sciama is the production alias of Micheal Watters, now working closely with ASC’s Auxiliary imprint, where he’s released a run of EPs that cement his status in the UK platform. Having dived deep into the atmospheric areas of techno, the rare instinct in his sound places him in trailblazer territory, heard in records like Between Veils, Decipher, and Myriad.
There’s nothing average about his music. It lies somewhere between drum and bass, deep techno, and ambient, using broken rhythms and a detailed percussion that flies far from the usual 4/4. A sound that has carried him into lineups for club nights and radio shows alongside labels such as Samurai Music and collectives like Danza Nativa. Listen to his sets, and you’ll understand.
Carré
The LA-raised DJ who eventually moved to London calls for no surprise – if you listen to her music, you’ll understand what I mean. Carré, the co-founder of the underground party series and label Fast At Work, has quickly gained a reputation for showcasing the likes of subversive dance music styles and a tangible feel for low-end heavy sounds.
She earned her spot on this list thanks to her subs and nuanced exploration of dubstep, leftfield techno and other bass-heavy styles. Often favouring the 140-160 bpm ranges, she easily crafts an energy that feels both futuristic and rooted in the deep traditions of London’s sound system culture.
Kia
Drifting between dream states and the dancefloor, Kia has built a world where psychedelic atmospheres and low rhythms combine beautifully. First known in Melbourne as quite the obsessive digger, she ventured into the mixing world as a DJ, proceeded to create her own label and, as a party starter in her own right, she threads together bass, trippy techno and dubbed-out breaks into slow-burn narratives that pull you under.
As the force behind the Animalia label (and its ambient offshoot Cirrus) Kia curates a family of producers who share her taste for psychedelia and hypnotic grooves. While building her empire of experimental narratives, she is carrying her sound across Europe, the UK and beyond, and we recommend you hop aboard.
Azu Tiwaline
Now, one of the mesmerising forces in electronic music. The curator who blends North African rhythms with dub, techno and trance to create otherworldly scapes that could only be described as hypnotic. Giving you both ancient and futuristic vibes, Azu Tiwaline‘s musical vision centres around rhythm and atmosphere rather than melody.
It’s her Tunisian-Berber roots that have shaped her love for tribal percussion and swirling journeys that quite literally echo the Sahara desert. Releases like her acclaimed album Draw Me A Silence and the EP Magnetic Service – fresh off Livity Sound – showcase her electronic sound design.
AIDA
Hailing from Canada and now based in San Francisco, AIDA brings a fresh breeze into the electronic music scene. With Iranian roots fueling her sound, she was another obsessed record collector who filtered through the mess and found a sound that has resonated with many. By blending world-inspired rhythms with groovy house, techno and breaks, she’s really taken it into her own.
As co-founder of the Iranian-focused Apranik Records, AIDA’s influence easily extends beyond sound, but it is her music, including the captivating track Collective Coma on Faith Beat, that has captivated and maintained a loyal crowd. She is a true creative driven by emotional depth, and so the scene greets her enthusiastically.
Purelink
So, here’s a different one. An indie rock band disguised as ambient, dub-techno producers, mixing sets around the states. That’s pretty much how I’d sum it up. And yeah, they’re really cool too. The Chicago-born trio Purelink, Tommy Paslaski (Concave Reflection), Ben Paulson (Kindtree), and Akeem Asani (Millia), now reside in New York, fulfilling their dream after relocating a couple of years back.
Crafting immersive ambient techno and dub-inspired soundscapes, their glitchy early-2000s loop influences blend seamlessly with percussion and warm, band-like tracks that evoke something completely unique. They’re the fresh new ambient, dub-techno wave, stepping up when Chicago’s scene lacked that extra oomph and recognised after their acclaimed 2023 debut Signs on Peak Oil.
Verraco
A former music journalist who abandoned academia to lay his passions out loud and clear towards music production. Launching the Verraco alias back in 2017, he opened the doors to a whole new world of techno, dembow, IDM‑influenced design, and Latin rhythms, evolving from his debut piece Grial into the club stoppers he brings today.
Recently signed to XL Recordings with the Basic Maneuvers EP, the Colombian artist shows no signs of slowing down his genre-defying and fearless need for more. And after seeing him live at MIRA Festival in Barcelona, we were left craving more of his contagious energy. Also co-founder of TraTraTrax (with DJ Lomalinda and Nyksan) and Insurgentes label, he has pretty much championed Latin American talent.
Martinou
Spanning two decades of sound exploration, Martinou stands as a veteran. His sound is curated by an analogue feel we’ve come to appreciate today. Based in Sweden, the producer has appeared on acclaimed labels such as Nous’klaer Audio, Turbo Recordings, Mule Musiq, Studio Barnhus, and more — each channelling different facets of his style.
And he’s no sheep; Martinou consciously avoids trends, focusing instead on the diligent pursuit of sonic permanence. His standout pieces, like Chiral and Rift, are characterised by pads, synth textures and a distinct melodic sensitivity (a signature Scandinavian move). The hypnotic atmosphere he crafts transcends typical boundaries, balancing deep house, dub techno, and essential ambient textures.
Dokta OOZ
Khanya Nzama, aka Dokta OOZ, is the new vital figure in South Africa. With a sound built on rhythmic foundations, the selector not only oozes pure talent (no pun intended), but also contributes to the scene in his own well-crafted manner through a dedication to vinyl format and his role as an event organiser.
He’s specifically known for founding the specialised event series “WaxOn. WaxOff.“, which champions those authentic, vinyl-only sets and deep selections, making space for purists of deep house and techno. As a resident DJ at key Johannesburg venues like The Loft and And Club (for parties like TOYTOY), Dokta Ooz brings a mix of soulful house, techno, and sweltering electro to the dancefloor.
We’ve brought our suggestions to the table, and we’ll never get tired of sharing the sounds we’re obsessed with, but now it’s your turn to get lost in them. And the only thing better than hearing these sets through your headphones is feeling them in a room, so go find the next event in your city and show up!
