Top 10 Techno DJs of 2022
Discover the top 10 techno DJs of 2022! Celebrating the best in techno, join us in honoring these artists who kept the beats alive.
Last Updated: December 31, 2022 (31.12.2022)
The series prepared by Techno Airlines is here with the “best of the year“. In this list, which brings together the greatest names of techno and derivative genres, the ten most impressive names of the past year are gathered. We would like to thank these breathtaking DJs and their performances, who did not leave us alone with their beats, mixes, and shows this year; that was one of the most challenging years not only for music but also for the entire world in any case.
Also Read: Top 10 Techno DJs of 2023.
Let’s examine the top ten successful techno DJs in 2022 who managed to impress us in the list prepared without ranking or comparison purposes.
Amelie Lens
Belgium | Techno | Lenske | “Affection“
Revered personality in the fast and hard techno of dance music scenes. Amelie Lens, a name accepted and supported by the whole techno music universe with her debut song in 2016, was approved by Masters in a short time. While the tracks she made were featured at all major events, many also remixed them. The artist, who received all these honors in difficult times last year, took part in more than 30 events, possibly showing the maximum performance that could fit in a calendar for a year.
“I’ve been touring heavily because of rescheduled gigs from 2020 and 2021.“
Amelie Lens, currently the number one name wanted for all events and organizations, shares the stage with all popular names as well as veterans of techno music. Using the black-and-white contrasts she creates in her shows, the artist integrates modern times into music with neon structures, thus gaining the audience’s appreciation in terms of aesthetics.
Amelie Lens often plays her live sets using a Pioneer effects box that she uses to “add layers” to her mixes, which has a built-in sampler that can be essential and very fun when adding your own taste to a track. Accordingly, “minimalistic percussion locked grooves will work well with the device“. Ableton Live music sequencer and digital audio workstation, along with the Elektron Analog Four Synth and sequencer, is what she mostly uses when recording.
Amelie Lens produced kinetic rhythms that comprise her signature sound, which is well represented on her Lenske label this year. Farrago‘s ‘Flashpoint’ EP was stuffed with galloping beats and intense warehouse atmospherics, while Amelie Lens‘ own ‘In My Mind’ EP matched psychedelic sound design with trippy riffs and granite-tough kicks that hit like a drop-hammer. She also found time to drop a new ‘Global Underground: Antwerp‘ mix compilation in October 2022.
ARMIN VAN BUUREN
Netherlands | Trance | Armada Music| ‘Offshore‘
It takes little to recognize that Armin van Buuren has been one of the world’s biggest DJs and producers in electronic music for over twenty years. His life-long dedication to the scene has earned him a Grammy nomination for ‘This Is What It Feels Like’ and critical acclaim for global hit singles such as ‘Blah Blah Blah‘, ‘Great Spirit‘ (with Vini Vici), ‘Leave A Little Love‘ (with Alesso) and ‘Music Means Love Forever‘ (with Steve Aoki). Additionally, he claimed the number one spot in the annual DJs poll for an unprecedented five times, contributing to the twenty consecutive top 5 spots to date.
His two-hour radio show, A State of Trance (ASOT), is broadcast weekly from his own radio studio in the Armada Music HQ in Amsterdam to over 44 million listeners in more than 80 countries, as well as online via audio and video live stream on YouTube, Facebook and Twitch. ASOT, which surpassed the milestone number of 1000 episodes in January 2021, has grown from a small radio show into a complete dance music brand with stages and events across the globe. In addition to all of this, Armin van Buuren is the co-founder of Armada Music, the biggest independent dance music label in the world. The Amsterdam-, NYC- and London-based record label, which was founded in tandem with Maykel Piron and David Lewis, is acclaimed internationally for releasing music across the electronic music spectrum
“It’s been great to be back on the road after the pandemic. If anything, I’m more thankful than ever to be on stage and to be able to share my music with the crowd.”
This is a man driven by an unbridled and relentless passion for music. Armin van Buuren is a born perfectionist, striving to stay on top of the scene he’s helped build. As the flag-bearer of the trance movement, he’s one of the most influential figures in EDM worldwide. Even though he lives an extraordinary life as one of the world’s most popular DJs, he has always remained a down-to-earth guy. Armin van Buuren is constantly on the move, whether creating music in his studio or en route to his next high-end club or festival show around the globe.
BLACK COFFEE
South Africa | House | Soulistic Music | ‘Silence & Secrets‘
Black Coffee kicked off 2022 with a triumphant Grammy Award win for Best Dance/Electronic Album for his 2021 album ‘Subconsciously’, he then went on to perform 2 incredible sets on Coachella’s Sahara stage. Coffee has most recently Executive Produced Drake’s 7th studio album release ‘Honestly, Nevermind’, and will continue the year with an array of exciting musical collaborations as well as taking on the role of Executive Music Producer in Director Hicham Hajja’s upcoming film ‘God Is A DJ’.
Over the last two decades, DJ, Producer and Entrepreneur Black Coffee has established himself as one of the most prominent global names in Electronic music. Black Coffee has broken down boundaries musically; bringing his South African roots to the world with a blend of heavily traditional African percussion and distinctively metropolitan techno, dubbed by many as “Afropolitan House”.
He also returned to the White Isle for a full summer’s residency at the world-famous Hï Ibiza, filling his season with a roster of top-tier talent, including Kerri Chandler, Seth Troxler, DJ Minx and recent DJ Mag cover star TSHA. And to top it all off, he produced two tracks on Drake’s new album ‘Honestly, Nevermind’ — the hip-hop star even made a surprise appearance at one of Coffee’s highly coveted Hï nights.
CARL COX
UK | Techno, House | Intec Digital | ‘Speed Trials on Acid‘
Undoubtedly, the symbolic and number one name of the list, Carl Cox is today’s representative of techno and even electronic music. The Three Deck Wizard, as well as being the founder of acid house in Britain, also gave direction to techno music. Cox, who has always been at the top of the list for about 30 years, is undoubtedly the most respected name in the music community today. A recent Ibiza resident, the artist was part of the comeback of Space Ibiza, one of the hottest events of the past year. He also wrote about his life, which has an amazing story, “Oh Yes, Oh Yes!” He presented an autobiographical work with his book.
“”I also got back doing all the shows that got postponed over the last two years”
Cox was one of the names that could not attend to the events due to corona. In addition to the live broadcasts or podcasts he appeared on different channels, his first organization was in Philadelphia. Afterwards, Cox took the stage at a queer party in Australia and started his European tour that would last until October. Meanwhile, he became the sought-after face of the set at events such as Pure Open Air, Delta Festival, Saga and Parklife. Cox completed the rest of the year in various stages of the U.S. For the first time ever he started to beat on Dour Festival at Belgium.
Without even going into his motorsport exploits, he also readied his ‘Electronic Generations’ album for release late in the year — a feast of Plastikman-style underground techno, recorded chiefly during lockdown — and debuted it live at London’s Wembley Arena in mid-October. Coxy is unstoppable.
CHARLOTTE DE WITTE
Belgium | Techno, Acid | KNTXT | ‘Kali‘
The most popular name of recent times, the fastest breaking out of the charts, is sometimes referred as the goddess of beats. Charlotte, who is came into prominence, has achieved great success in a short time and has proven them all. Despite being the artist whose organizations were canceled the most due to the epidemic last year, she never stopped and furthermore, strengthened the KNTXT temple she established. Behind her success is not only the single EPs she released last year and topped the music charts, but also the collaboration with Formula 1, plus, being the pioneer of the first remix deals to be made with Apple Music, and agreements between 42|54, one of Belgium’s top clothing companies. She is not just a goddess of music, but the embodiment of art combined with aesthetics and image.
“I believe things are going more and more eclectic. The edges of the boxes that used to encapsulate electronic music genres are becoming more and more blurry. It probably doesn’t hurt to have a more open-minded vision about music and genres.”
She has become a favourite on the festival circuit, hosting her own stage at Tomorrowland, as well as becoming the first female techno headliner, and made appearances at Sonár, Time Warp’s Brazil and Chile editions, and UK festivals like Parklife and Glasgow’s Riverside. She also performed her first headline set at Ibiza’s Hï club, and still has a string of gigs across the USA, South America and Europe later this year. De Witte has found the perfect formula for her own strain of acid techno, and it’s being rightfully recognised.
CLAPTONE
Germany | House | Different Recordings | ‘Calabria‘
The mysterious DJ with a golden mask has been at the top of the alternative lists for the past few years, while continuing to claim in the House genre. The artist, whom we believe will continue this development and reach the summit, is seen among the most valuable of the last year. The artist has been on the stage for 10 years and succeeded in releasing albums and making hits. Up to the present day, Claptone releases have been birthed on Germany’s influential Exploited label but who or whatever Claptone is, it is alive, with a life of its own, evolving and revolving in equal measure, exploring new sounds naturally and forever taking inspiration from long gone and occult worlds.
“Masks can be changed, but they cannot be taken off.”
The leading lists of the artist, who managed to fit many albums in the past year; this year he’s kept his foot firmly on the dancefloor, remixing Rune’s iconic ‘Calabria’, and has collaborated with Mylo for a rework of ‘Drop The Pressure’, as well as releasing a single ‘Make Love Not War’ featuring the vocals of Nathan Nicholson.
Claptone, who was left behind from his shows due to closed stages, was resurrected with the reopening of clubs and made a comeback with The Masquerade parties, which he designed in accordance with his unique style. USA and Europe-based gigs were the events that symbolized him. The lighting and production he designed specifically for his show is commendable. This summer his renowned Masquerade parties returned for a season at Pacha in Ibiza, inviting the likes of Kerri Chandler, Todd Terry, Paul Woolford and many more to join him. The Masquerade parties have gained worldwide recognition and this year he took the concept round the globe with events in Peru, Bogota, Barcelona, Amsterdam and is heading to Melbourne, Australia in November.
FEDDE LE GRAND
Netherlands | House | Spinnin Records | ‘Free‘
Fedde Le Grand is considered to be one of the most defining figures in the fastevolving genre of House music. His influence is felt continually throughout theelectronic landscape; Fedde’s beats, grooves, melodies and rhythms surround us.
Hundreds of thousands have witnessed him at the world’s biggest festivals and mostlegendary dance floors: Coachella, Exit Festival, Global Gathering, Electric Z oo,Mysteryland, Tomorrowland, Electric Daisy Carnival, Ministry of Sound, Ultra,Sensation and many more, while millions tune in to his Dark Light Sessions radioshow each week. A touchstone, an inspiration and a true pioneer of sound, he issimply Fedde Le Grand.
Dutch house whiz Fedde Le Grand’s tour schedule kicked back into overdrive. The author of perennial club and radio hits like ‘Put Your Hands Up For Detroit‘ and ‘The Creeps‘ played shows across the United States, stopping off in Miami, Philadelphia, Chicago, Boston, Kansas City and St. Louis. He also appeared at South Outdoor Festival in the new summer season hotspot of Albania, and the massive Mysteryland event, back on his home turf of The Netherlands.
Yet through all the success – the international chart-topping heights and global DJ fame – Fedde’s focus is simply fixed on making and playing great tracks. His dedication to music and his unwavering passion for the dancefloor continue to make him an intrinsic and dominant part of the ever-evolving electronic scene. A touchstone, an inspiration and a pioneer; he is definitive, he is essential, he is house music at its finest. He is Fedde Le Grand.
JAMIE JONES
UK | House, Techno | Hot Creations | ‘My Paradise‘
Jamie Jones is an Ibiza resident and is described as an unstoppable force in the techno music world with his Paradise parties. The club shows and festivals he performed in the UK and the pieces he edited for his label always catch great attention. Although the clubs were closed due to health reasons, Jones never stopped this entertainment and kept it going with Amnesia. Leading the way by including new artists on his labels, Jones determines his own reputation and even determines the music himself. This year, everything is going well for Jones, who also became a father, and it seems that he aims to continue this happiness on the sets for upcoming events
“I love techno and I love what I do. But sometimes it can be a little closed minded. I love to be involved in this world, but I try to always see what else is out there. If my ambition was to be the biggest techno minimal DJ whatever there is, then I wouldnt be doing things the way Im doing them, Im not interested in that kind of success, Im interested in reaching as many people as possible with my productions and playing parties that mean something to me, so that I can always be satisfied when the lights come up.”
To date, Jamie’s label Hot Creations has put out over 100 releases, with the 100th, ‘Kooky Chords’, coming from Jamie himself last September, hitting the number 2 spot on Beatport’s chart. The label has also helped launch the careers of numerous artists such as Patrick Topping, Richy Ahmed and Detlef, who also make up part of the loyal Paradise family Jamie has built around him. It makes sense, then, that after hosting his Paradise parties at Ibiza’s DC-10 for the last decade, 2022 saw one of the biggest moves in Jones’ career to date, with Paradise making its new home at White Isle superclub Amnesia. Alongside helming the new residency, the artist has released a slew of EPs and singles this year, on his own Hot Creations imprint, as well as via the purveyors of new school house, Defected. He’s also graced festival stages from Creamfields to Sonus.
PEGGY GOU
South Korea | House | Gudu | ‘I Go‘
Everything was going badly for Peggy Gou, who had to be confined to home just as her career was at the point where it took a leap. But stopping Peggy Gou is not that easy. This celestial feature, which reflects the boundless energy behind her success at every opportunity and transmit it to the other side, is undoubtedly enough to include her in this list at the top ones. Peggy Gou, who conveyed her energy correctly despite all these negativities, became one of the few artists who managed to convey her rhythm correctly through live broadcasts and social platforms, such as YouTube or IGTV.
“Creative people need to sometimes do nothing to be creative.”
In this way, she managed to make an impact with the two singles released on her own label during the summer. She had such a grace in herself that right after the warm rhythmic songs with this summer breeze, clubs started to open again and it was as if all roads were preparing for her. Peggy Gou, who managed to create a positivity amidst all the negativities, began to take the stage nonstop in all continents and following her success, she managed to make partnerships with brands such as Nike, Samsung and Louis Vuitton. Peggy Gou’s next step was to establish her own fashion brand, Kirin. She also reflected this fashion trend, which included Korean motifs, also in her music.
Few have had a year like Peggy Gou. With regular gigs on both US coasts, festival sets across Europe — from Portugal’s Neopop in Forte de Santiago da Barra to Decoder in Tbilisi — the South Korean DJ has been, for the best part of 12 months, at full speed. She returned to Finsbury Park for her highly-anticipated Pleasure Gardens Fest in August, adding a second stage to the proceedings and showcasing artists on her Gudu label, and returned to London weeks later for Field Day, playing a faithful, bubbling house set — with a few choice curveballs thrown in, too.
UMMET OZCAN
Netherlands | Techno, Sub-genres | OzRecords | “Apex“
Turkish-Dutch EDM producer began his musical career at a young age. Having the ability to play a plethora of instruments (including flute and keyboards), he began producing dance music. Taking his production influences from tech trance, he released his first single, “Chica Good,”. Since then, he followed this up with several digital releases via his own Beatproviders imprint. Slowly building his reputation as a prolific and talented trance DJ and producer, he went on to issue a steady stream of tracks for labels such as Liquid, Doorn, and Spinnin’s offshoot label Reset Records. The Dutch DJ, who is of Turkish origin, describes the whole experience as “crazy” and admits:
“I’ve always been very experimental and open to new stuff. It’s the only way to make progress and change things. Sometimes I just keep music for myself and sometimes I release it.”
This year he has been exploring the combinations of techno-driven tunes made with authentic analogue instrument. “It’s very inspiring to learn to play these instruments and use them to make great tracks,” he says. He has more of these analogue/digital hybrid tracks on the way, including some with “really cool indigenous instruments from all over the world. I’ve got quite a collection already!”