20 artists who will make your year in 2017

Flohio actually got a nod in last year's list, as one of the vocalists working with London production duo God Colony. It's with them that she's made her best tracks – including 'Steady', 'My World' and 'SE16' – but her quick flow and introspective lyrics are just as impressive when she's working with other people behind the buttons, like Speech on the 'Nowhere Near' mixtape. All of those things dropped in '16 and are the perfect foundation from which the Bermondsey artist can jump off and own the year ahead. She'll soon deliver a solo EP, produced by God Colony, and may have collabs with E.M.M.A. in the works, as the pair have been doing radio and playing out together. On record, it's clear Flohio is one of the brightest young UK MCs out and her live performances get more incendiary with every show. S Wheeler

Most would never guess that it’s only been two years since Ekali began making music since the producer has already racked up production credits on Drake’s standout mixtape release ‘If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late’. In a blink of an eye, the Vancouver native has ascended the rungs of electronic music standing with remix credits for Ta-Ku & Wafia, Flume, Flux Pavilion and Skrillex. He’s spent much of 2016 touring out heavily (including a stop at The Lab Smirnoff House at HARD Summer), paving the way for a mega music-filled 2017 to come. V Lee

“A bunch of young men all dressed in black dancing extremely aggressively on stage” goes the sample on Skepta’s ‘Shutdown’ satirising the moral panic around grime. If you ever hear someone misguidedly throwing out these opinions, point them towards the output of Sky H1 as a prime example to set the record straight. The Belgian producer crafts sleek and emotive soundscapes that work elements of ambient and grime into experimental club foundations, resulting in a sound that hits a perfect sweet spot between futuristic and resonant. Her DJ sets blend this sound with added bite at the base, working tracks from the likes of Toxe, Fatima Al Qadiri and Mechatok into fluid, mind-bending journeys. Next year an increasingly global audience will have the pleasure of seeing her spin in a club as international promoters queue up for her services.

The ‘Motion’ EP she put out through PAN sublabel Codes this year explored themes of grief and loss, moving listeners with the ambition of its musical depth and sentiment of its inspiration. Sky H1 has said the release marked a closing in a dark chapter of her life, with a new mindset in place for the EP she is working on for 2017. The results are certain to stun us in new and affecting ways. P Hinton

His music might be crafted using a Sega Mega Drive but that doesn’t mean that DJ Sonikku’s sound is dated, far from it. Although his sounds are inherently retro, Tony Dodson’s lo-fi, pina colada-drenched beats really impressed us in 2016. Taking influence from classic video games like Sonic The Hedgehog and Streets of Rage, Sonikku is is one-of-a-kind.Having found a home with the Lobster Theremin family, last year he released two EPs, both nods to Italo house and 8-bit pleasures of times gone by. The ‘All My Friends’ EP was his jewel in the crown and featured three joyous dancefloor cuts guaranteed to fill floors and to raise eyebrows. As far as 2017 is concerned you can expect a lot more music from the Midlands-born producer and with that, more tracks to dance with your pals to. Funster

It's amazing that Nkisi didn't score an "official" release in 2016 as she was so prolific in and out of the studio. The London-based artist placed a series of blistering techno tracks on her SoundCloud, including the frankly fantastic 'DJ KITOKO VOL.1', a searing production for the Embaci mixtape released via NON and NAAFI and 'The Dark Orchestra', a powerful mix featuring many of her own tracks hosted by Fader. Accompanying these uploads were countless visceral DJ sets across Europe and in the US (not to mention her NTS radio show), as fans revelled in Nkisi's energy in darkened club spaces. We're hoping that she'll drop a record via Endless, the label and party she co-runs with Lexxi, or put out more tracks via NON in 2017. Whichever way she chooses to release her music, it's sure to be completely essential. S Wheeler

Although David Futers keeps a low profile, he’s rooted himself firmly into our consciousness this year with the quality of his musical output. That he’s based in Durham is about the amount of information we have on him, but building a picture of the producer from his musical projects paints an interesting and varied figure. Previous work includes a commission from Mancunian experimental music ensemble ACM to compose a piece conceptualised around Denmark, and collaborating in contemporary classical-meets-electronica group Points Of Light. Not the type of sounds commonly heard in the club, but through 2016 Futers has marked himself out as an exciting new talent in the realm of danceflooor bangers.

In July he minted Natural Sciences sublabel Dolphin Traxx with a 12” fronted by infectious garage-house fusion ‘I Care’ which won the title of festival season anthem after receiving regular rotation by the likes of Pender Street Steppers, Ruf Dug and Beautiful Swimmers. On the flip he showcased his range, turning in the grittier ‘Never Givin’ Up’, an impressively crafted blend of full-throttle jungle beats, reverb-soaked pads and a skewed Aaliyah sample.

An EP titled ‘U Get Me’ also arrived through Ron Wilson’s prized 777 Recordings outlet, exploring lo-fi ambient, rolling acid and hip hop turntablist sounds across its four tracks. The pick of the bunch was ‘Mackin’’, which sampled both Ron Hall & The MuthaFunkaz’s soulful house tune ‘The Way You Love Me’, recognisable to fans of D1’s funky-dubstep fusion ‘I’m Loving’, and gangsta rap vocals from Lil Gin, underpinning them with a propulsive percussive line. It’s a track that epitomises Futers’ deftness at merging disparate influences into unique club thumpers. With releases on 777 and Gene’s Liquor already lined up for next year, we’re banking on him making a splash in 2017 with more thrilling, unclassifiable material. P Hinton

With a career set to blossom in 2017, all eyes are on Italian producer Giorgia Angiuli. Having been brought up in a musical family, she was turned on to electronic music by innovative material from the likes of Björk, Ellen Allien, Apparat, Autechre and The Chemical Brothers. Now she is fueled by deep and moody tones, showcasing her unparalleled skill in the studio by producing dancefloor focused tracks, which have landed on labels like Crosstown Rebels, Still vor Talent, Einmusika and Harry Klein Records among others.

Giorgia Angiuli’s deeply moving original productions are highlighted by her creative live performances, not to be missed when given the chance to witness. There’s no denying she has one of the most unique live sets in the industry, using a combination of vintage musical toys and cutting-edge technology to deliver steady and hypnotic soundscapes. She regularly posts videos of her using here toys in the studio, which have quickly amassed hundreds of thousands of views. 2017 will see her expand on the foundation she has established with an extensive touring schedule and more music set to grace the airwaves. Don’t sleep on this rising star who will surely be making her way around the world soon. H Williams

"100% SLAMMERS" reads the tag on TRP's Lobster Theremin podcast. It doesn't lie. What the German producer gives us is an hour of raw, pounding, stripped-to-the-bone house music. He didn't have to borrow anyone else's tunes to make it, though. They're all his and, at the time of going live, all unreleased. The Lobster Theremin relationship extends to his 'Pano' EP released in May, a four-track coming together of cracking 4/4, skippy acid and glitchy techno. It hits hard and the title track is an example of lo-fi done exceedingly crisply.

The 'Saturday Morning' EP for Shall Not Fade is full of more warming house cuts as well. If you like your pads tender, TRP's ready to give you the treatment. More doses are on the way via a white label for Lobster, a release on Lobster sub-label Mörk and a 12" on Lone's Magicwire. While you're waiting for those, we suggest listening to his back-to-back set with Hungarian producer Route 8 for Rinse FM France. It's a hazy, spaced out beauty. D Turner

Soraya Lutangu began making music in late 2015 after the death of her nephew Bonaventure. Feeling intense grieving emotions, she began pouring herself into creating sounds that are personal with an outward-looking focus, adopting her nephew’s name as an artist moniker and exploring politically-charged themes of identity and race. She’s now beginning to emerge as one of the most vital new artists in underground electronic music.

The output of NON Worldwide and its radical intent in redressing imbalances afflicting the world is a driving influence behind her work. Earlier this year the imprint added Bonaventure to its esteemed roster of boundary-pushing artists, putting out her debut release ‘Complexion’ of emotionally resonant deconstructed club music. Last week an agitated new cut titled ‘Riposte’ appeared on the discrimination challenging ‘Co-Op’ compilation, marking one way in which Bonaventure is enacting positive change through her music.

After Berlin Community Radio selected Bonaventure as a winner of its Incubator project, aimed at promoting “underrepresented and marginalised creative voices”, the station commissioned a collaboration between her and artist and writer Hannah Black called ANXIETINA, conceptually rooted around a character whose anxiety powers her into actions such as fighting fascism and battling demons of capitalism, which was performed live at multiple venues in London and Berlin.

In 2017 the pair will perform together at the mumok museum in Vienna and MoMA PS1 in New York, and Bonaventure has plenty more projects in the works. Six tracks are ready, one for each of her siblings, for a new EP, high-profile gigs are lined up across Europe alongside the likes of embaci, JG Biberkopf and Gaika, and she will be hosting a show on Berlin Community Radio on the first Wednesday of every month where she’ll spin wide-ranging sets blending everything from dancehall to spoken word polemics. As the world attempts to move on from the concerning trends that have dominated this past year, Bonaventure will be an artist at the heart of progressive movements in 2017. P Hinton

The melodic TÂCHES, hailing from the Mediterranean Mallorca Island, started his journey into electronic music with a sound reminiscent of tropical and future house signatures. His early work, such as ‘Don’t You Know’ and remixes of Zhu found him heading younger, more fair crowds. But as of late, TÂCHES has re-emerged with a seasoned house taste that landed him releases with Desert Hearts and premieres with Mixmag, showcasing the proper way a young artist can evolve with the right resources and music abilities. TÂCHES’ work in 2016, including his infectious Deep House London mix and edit of Marbs’ ‘Tusks & Tales’, lands him on the list for artists to watch this upcoming year. Based on his natural progression of sound, 2017 will have him gaining the attention of top label producers and curators around the globe. S Jow

Cry Baby, also known as Lauren Martinez, has become a household name in New York City’s underground scene. The Miami native arrived to the concrete jungle in 2010, launching her own party series right off the bat and branching into Brooklyn with full force. In just a few years time, Cry Baby has graced the city scene with residencies at Output, Submercer and Le Brain as well as releases on Euphoria and Nervous Records. This year, Martinez joined Mixmag’s Smirnoff Sound Collective program, catapulting her into the limelight alongside mentors Kevin Saunderson, Roy Davis Jr. and Autograf. S Jow

Kojey Radical is one of the most compelling voices in UK music right now. He's been called a rapper, but it'd be a disservice to label him just that. The tracks on this year's '23 Winters' EP are like poetry, the London-based musician reciting poignant words on love, his philosophies, society and his Ghanaian heritage, with conversations with his father acting as interludes. It's a beautifully delivered piece of work, 'Footsteps' and 'Bambu' especially, and puts him up high with fellow UK spoken word artist and Big Dada affiliate Kate Tempest. The release also earned him two MOBO nominations this year, one for Best Newcomer and the other Best Video for 'Footsteps'.

Combining Kojey with Gaika on 'Loose Residuals' was expectedly potent, hosted by Afropunk Festival the same day Kojey sold out The Jazz Cafe in London. It's not just music he's excelling in, either. A man with suave and eclectic fashion sense, he was strolling down the catwalk for Oliver Spencer at London Fashion Week in September. Check this outrageous suit he donned at the MOBOs for more evidence of his swagger. He's out to help the UK's future stars, too, presenting workshops and creative writing sessions in spoken word. We're in for a treat if up-and-comers are learning from him. D Turner

Links between Norway and Jamaica are few and far between, but the sets of Norwegian DJ Svani are a bridge between the Scandinavian country and the Caribbean island. Listen to her TRUANTS mix from earlier this year and you'll be dutty wining to Konshens' 'Gal Thing' and 'Champion Boy' by Alkaline. Elsewhere in the mix there's charging club tracks like Mobilegirl's 'GGC' and a selection of Svani's own edits. It's through some of these that Svani's gained love. No surprise judging by the tropical reworking of TLC's 'Creep', the choppy flip of Sean Paul and Beyonce's 'Baby Boy' and a sass-oozing rework of Toni Braxton's 'You're Making Me High'.

She's taken the party to radio in 2016, too, joining Martha on Radar and being welcomed by Classical Trax on NTS, while just last month she joined Benji B for a gig at Doornroosje in Nijmegen. With her promise of new music in 2017, we better get some new dancing shoes for the new year because Svani sure knows how to boss the dance. D Turner

In the realm of lo-fi house, few names are as recognizable as Ross From Friends, a South-London based producer who has a knack for producing gritty dance tracks paired with a subtle melodicism that’s attracting thousands of new listeners. Although he’s only released two 12” records within the past two years, he’s been a guiding force in the underground due to the creative nature of his material and a string of standout remixes. He’s the man behind arguably one of the most highly anticipated EPs on the Lobster Theremin sub-label Distant Hawaii with 'Talk To Me You'll Understand' and his following on SoundCloud is as loyal as they come. Now he’s set to truly break through in a big way in 2017, think how Mall Grab recently exploded in popularity, and surely we can expect more new music to be released in the very near future. H Williams