When it comes to tech-house, Cloonee’s rise has been nothing short of epic. From Worcestershire to Los Angeles, the DJ has done what many UK selectors have only aspired to — cracked the US and found legions of fans abroad. DJ Mag’s Kristan J Caryl traces how his nu-metal roots and dubstep detours have shaped his musical progression.Also this issue we have in-depth artist features with Lilly Palmer and Girls Don’t Sync; a focus on the scene in Portugal capital Lisbon; a piece on motherhood and DJing; a discussion on how smaller labels are navigating an increasingly corporate landscape amidst shrinking margins; a feature on how a small record shop in Croydon, south of London, was instrumental in birthing the worldwide dubstep scene; our official artists to watch in 2026; the Game Changer is Dave Angel ‘Timeless (Remix)’; Tiga in the Hot Seat; Vital Label: Ghostly International; plus all the regular music reviews, new artist profiles and technology focuses. Carl Loben Editor
