Six artists you need to check this month

As a former member of all-female DJ collective Apeiron Crew, Copenhagen-based Courtesy is renowned in her hometown for her ear for razor-sharp techno. Now she’s starting to draw attention from outside of the Danish capital, too. Her sets are brimming with cutting-edge sounds that she’s showcased at the likes of Tresor, De School and Electric Brixton. She hosts Scenery Copenhagen on RBMA radio, too, and launched the label Ectotherm with Apeiron member Mama Snake.

Courtesy plays Simple Things festival in Bristol on 22 October

An album created, in part, using ‘the ambient sound effects of digital menu systems’ might sound more university science project than captivating record, but don’t be put off. New Yorker Joe Williams’ debut LP under the Motion Graphics moniker employs all those sounds that have become ubiquitous in the 21st century – like the click of a scroll wheel or an iPhone notification – and turns them into brilliantly intimate songs using the most unlikely of instruments. A must-hear album.

‘Motion Graphics’ is out now on Domino

Industrial is back, say Naked, and it’s as dark as ever. The duo met in Edinburgh but are based in London, where vocalist Agnes Gryczkowska works at the Serpentine Galleries. She and Alex Johnston’s debut album ‘Zone’ is on its way from LuckyMe, the occasional home to Hudson Mohawke, TNGHT and Baauer, and it’s a monster, as harsh Throbbing Gristle-esque beats merge with Gryczkowska’s Grimes-style bubblegum vocals and lyrics about sexuality, cyberpunk and the information age.

‘Zone’ is out on now on LuckyMe

Besides being a member of the booking team at London festival Field Day, Casper Clark, aka Volte-Face, is also killing it with his techno alias. As head of BleeD Music, an extension of his popular underground parties, he’s established a reputation for malevolent yet oddly alluring techno, picking up gigs at Berghain, Fabric and many more. His label is crushing it, too, with his friendship with Daniel Avery extending into the mind-melting project Rote, as well as releases from DJ Spider and Phil Moffa.

Volte-Face plays Hope Works, Sheffield on October 28

Formed only a year ago, Pola & Bryson are already demanding the attention of many of the biggest names in bass music. Their unique brand of dreamy liquid d’n’b has landed them releases on Spearhead, Liquicity and Hospital Records and won them fans in Friction, London Elektricity and more. Their debut album ’This Time Last Year’, released on their own Soulvent Records, is packed full of floating synth lines and driving beats. One of the freshest voices to come out of d’n’ b for a long time.

‘This Time Last Year’ is out now on Soulvent Records

The Canadian producer Nathan Shaw, aka Ekali, quit his job as bassist in indie rock band Said The Whale earlier this year in order to focus on a different kind of low-end. With multiple writing credits on Drake’s ‘If You’re Reading This…’ mixtape, it’d be easy to label Ekali as a hip hop producer, but he’s also getting attention for his own, more dancefloor-focused remixes. He’s mixed What So Not, Skrillex and Gallant, and his rework of Flume’s ‘Smoke & Retribution’ is smoother than the original.

Official remixes for Skrillex & Diplo and Ta-ku & Wafia out soon