New Year, new scene? 2023 left us with an industry that’s more alive yet, in the eyes of many, more corrupted than ever. Endless debates revolve around genres, sub-genres, and the behaviors of an increasingly young audience who’ve turned avid listeners into self-proclaimed “experts” who often eye each other suspiciously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s been a year of questioning the underground, sporting all-black outfits, but also a year of introspection, the quest for new horizons, and unprecedented expansion that redefines known boundaries. 2023 invited us to embrace a rapidly evolving industry. And now, we stand at the threshold of 2024, brimming with possibilities. Join us with a crystal ball to decipher what lies ahead!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s been hinted at throughout the year and will be confirmed in the current one. The harder side of techno and schranz are experiencing a golden age akin to progressive house in 2012. Dimitri Vegas<\/a> <\/strong>is now Nico Moreno<\/a><\/strong>, and Steve Aoki<\/a><\/strong>‘s cakes have been replaced by tattooed backs like Oguz<\/a><\/strong>‘s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In mainstream festivals, headliners have shifted to artists delivering +140 BPM beats, and sunglasses are the hottest accessory. TikTok <\/strong>is undoubtedly one of the main triggers for this fever, catapulting promoters like Unreal<\/a>, Blackworks <\/strong>or Verknipt<\/strong> <\/a>to the forefront and convincing established names like elrow <\/strong>to include it in their line-ups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The speed, power, and darkness of the sound reflect the pent-up euphoria that new generations experienced during the pandemic. The positive aspect? More business, more fans. And as DVS1 <\/a><\/strong>wisely noted in our interview: “The moment someone with money sees it and wants to make it bigger, it loses some credibility. Maybe 5-10% of those people start looking for something different, deeper, more soulfull, more real<\/em>“. We’re already seeing it with groove and hardgroove, with their vocals, tribal and funk influences conquering charts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n