The 18th Edition DJ Awards had a particularity eclectic feel to
it this year. The theme was “Meet
on the Beat” with a gathering of artists from across many
different genres of electronic music all together under one roof. 10 DJ
categories, voted on by the public, covering Deep House to Tech House, Trance to Techno and
Breakthrough to International DJ. Also presented were 11
Special Awards such as Ibiza Night, Producer and Dance
Nation of the Year chosen
by an independent panel of music professionals, conferred by presenters Lucy
Horobin and Des
Paul.
There were big names and familiar faces with Solomun taking the kryptonite for Deep
House and Carl
Cox still the
king of Techno. Hardwell was a double winner retaining Electro/Progressive
House and, for
the first time, International DJ.
It was memorable night for Black Coffee receiving recognition for a great
year, not only winning in Breakthrough but also accepting the award Dance
Nation Of The Year for
South Africa. Spanish DJ, Cuartero took Newcomer and Hannah Wants added to her impressive CV with the Bass award.
In the Special Awards, Manu
Gonzalez walked
away with Ibiza DJ. International
Festival went
to We are FSTVL. Mask
of the moment Claptone picked up for Producer. After a successful residency at
DC10, Life and Death received Record
Label of the Year. Rekordbox the DJ software coming from
Pioneer DJ took home the Cutting Edge award. Electronic
Music Pioneer award
went to the DJ´s DJ, Arthur Baker, who has been extremely
influential in bringing over the sound of disco, garage and house from America
to the UK.
Pacha Ibiza resident and Seamless Recordings main man Graham
Sahara provided the soundtrack to the proceedings and Martin
Wilson gave a
show stopping performance of one the Ibiza 2015 anthems, Marvinello.
For the first time in recent years, the ceremony was followed by the DJ
Awards Official Party featuring
2015 winners. With the lineup kept secret until winners were announced,
those who turned up were not left disappointed. Claptone played to a
dance floor reminiscent of a masquerade ball. There was a great vibe on the
dance floor. Arthur Baker performed a live set which combining analogue
and digital with an 808,303 and Maschine. Michel Cleis went B2B with
Klement Bonelli before Cuartero closed.
The awards were streamed live by Be.At.TV, and radio media partners;
Pioneerdjradio.