Artists of the Future: A Look at 2024's Talent Pool
The world of electronic dance music (EDM) in 2024 saw a surge in the popularity of bass-heavy subgenres, with artists like Calvin Harris, David Guetta, Major Lazer, DJ Snake, and Alan Walker leading the charge.
Calvin Harris continued to reign supreme in the EDM scene, pushing boundaries with innovative productions. His collaboration with Sam Smith, "Desire," showcased a blend of soulful vocals and pulsating beats, reflecting his significant impact on the broader EDM landscape, including bass-driven styles.
David Guetta, alongside MORTEN, made waves in the electronic music community with their collaboration "Something To Hold On To," which explored the realms of future rave — a subgenre closely tied to bass music. Their high-energy track resonated strongly within the bass and dubstep communities.
Major Lazer, the duo of Diplo and collaborators, left an indelible mark on bass music and dubstep with globally impactful tracks such as "Lean On" (with DJ Snake and MØ). This track, which revolutionized EDM through its unique blend of electronic, reggae, and dancehall bass elements, amassed over 2 billion streams, demonstrating their widespread dominance and contribution.
DJ Snake was a key figure across bass music and dubstep circles, with multiple global hits including collaborations like "Lean On" and "Let Me Love You" with Justin Bieber. Both tracks accumulated billions of streams, highlighting his crossover appeal.
Alan Walker, known for his melodic bass music, made a lasting impact with "Faded," a track that became one of the most-streamed EDM songs ever. This significant role in blending emotional melody with bass-heavy production underscores his influence on the bass music scene.
While not explicitly named for 2024, Bass Modulators and Wasted Penguinz remain prominent artists in the harder side of electronic music, including hardstyle. These artists often intersect with high-energy bass sounds and have substantial fan followings.
The strong presence of electronic dance music at major festivals like Coachella 2025, with nearly 40% of performances being electronic-orientated, indicates the continued influence of these and other artists shaping the scene.
In addition to these established names, several up-and-coming artists made significant contributions to the bass music, dubstep, and drum and bass scene in 2024.
Hamdi, an electronic dance music producer from Oxford, had a breakthrough year, reaching the top of the industry. His unique bass and dubstep fused sound reached a global audience, influencing many new artists in the bass-influenced dance music scene. Hamdi's music has been featured in high-profile advertisements, such as the iPhone 16 advertisement by Apple, and he collaborated with notable artists like Skrillex, TAICHU, and OFFAIAH on the groundbreaking 'Push' project.
Tim Reaper, a jungle producer, has consistently been recognized as a leading pioneer in the new jungle sound. His album 'In Full Effect' was released on Hyperdub, marking their first ever jungle project. Tim Reaper also collaborated with Dwarde, DJ Sofa, Coco Bryce, and others on various projects.
[IVY], a standout artist in 2024, seamlessly blends 4×4 rhythms with drum and bass to create a distinctive sound. Beyond music, [IVY] is the owner of the fashion brand Jazzy Garms. [IVY] received a nomination for 'Best Breakthrough DJ' at DJ Mag's Best of British Awards.
Levity, a dubstep act, skyrocketed to stardom after filling in for an artist at Electric Forest in 2023. Levity's music features catchy dubstep versions of radio classics like Britney Spears' "Toxic" and Tame Impala's "The Less I Know The Better." Several artists, including Sammy Virji, Simula, and Taiki Nulight, remixed one of Hamdi's biggest tracks, 'Counting.'
Freddy B, a drum and bass artist based in Manchester, has been making waves in the scene since 2022. His music is characterized by profound and razor-sharp lyricism. Freddy B has worked with several respected labels in the drum and bass scene, such as Overview Music, Sofa Sound Bristol, Critical Music, Yamatai Records, and Love For Low Frequencies.
Tape B, a dubstep artist, had a successful year in 2024, including a headline tour with 30 consecutive sold-out shows across North America. Tape B released the highly-celebrated "Trippy Land" with Mersiv and Juicy J, and a "Gas Pedal" remix with Subtronics and John Summit.
As we look to the future, it's clear that the bass-heavy EDM scene will continue to evolve, with artists like Calvin Harris, David Guetta, Major Lazer, DJ Snake, Alan Walker, Hamdi, Tim Reaper, [IVY], Levity, Freddy B, and Tape B leading the charge. The continued success of these artists and the emergence of new talent promises an exciting future for bass music, dubstep, and drum and bass.
Sound design in various forms of electronic music, particularly bass-heavy subgenres like dubstep and drum and bass, experienced significant advancements in 2024, facilitated by the innovative work of artists such as Calvin Harris, Hamdi, Tim Reaper, [IVY], Levity, Freddy B, and Tape B. The fusion of music technology and lifestyle choices, as demonstrated by these artists' collaborations and artistic output, contributed to the entertainment industry's growing appreciation for bass-driven music.
