2011 was a huge year for dance music. The dance music community saw a massive boom in interest, and the number of EDM fans–in America in particular–has spiked dramatically. This, of course, is great news for the community, and even better news for the artists. Many artists have emerged as some of the best in the game this year. Some of them were virtually unknown before 2011. Some of them were artists who were already established within the EDM community, but after a massive year in 2011, have achieved stadium status and mainstream popularity. Here is my list of the artists for whom 2011 served as a pivotal year in their journey to the top.
Deniz Koyu
When I first heard Deniz Koyu’s “Tung!” and “Hydra” this summer, there was no doubt in my mind that this man was going places. Sure enough, I was not alone in my sentiments, and 2011 saw some of the biggest names in the industry incorporating Koyu’s music into their sets. Later in the year, Koyu released his hits “Hydra” and his remix of James Blunt’s “Dangerous” with Johan Wedel, both of which were some of the most successful tracks of the fall 2011 season. Be on the lookout for big things in 2012 from Deniz Koyu.
Quintino & Sandro Silva
Both of these artists are, well, ‘epic’ in their own right, but when the two producers came together to create a track, they produced one of the biggest hits of the year. “Epic” is an absolute banger, winning the hearts of fans worldwide. It even got to #1 on the iTunes overall charts in Holland. Music festival Tomorrowland put out an after-movie of the festival that went viral, featuring many songs, including “Epic”. The song has certainly generated a lot of attention this year, and its success is a testament to the great artists who produced it.
Nervo
Nervo is Olivia and Miriam Nervo, twin models, DJs, and producers. The duo has achieved worldwide fame and success, with 2011 being a huge year for their musical careers. Along with venerated EDM artists Afrojack, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, they produced the official Tomorrowland anthem, “The Way We See The World,” and toured around the United States for Identity Festival this year.
Nicky Romero
Nicky Romero is starting to become a household name after a massive year in 2011. With hits like “Camorra”, “Bootcamp”, “Beta” with Hardwell, and most recently “Toulouse”, Romero is becoming one of the most popular acts in the EDM scene. His remix of Green Velvet’s “Flash” was heard in almost every prominent DJ’s sets at EDC this summer, and David Guetta cited him as the top breakout performer of 2011 when he was named #1 DJ in the world by DJ Mag’s annual poll.
Porter Robinson
Everyone’s favorite high school aged producer, Porter Robinson, had a huge year. He quickly skyrocketed to fame, and by early 2011, he was known as one of the biggest DJs in the world. He released a massive EP entitled “Spitfire”, and even accompanied music legend Tiesto on his College Invasion Tour, drawing in huge crowds. I expect that more huge things are on the horizon for this talented young producer.
Avicii
The Swedish sensation became one of the most beloved acts in dance music. At least one of his big room progressive house hits are heard in practically every major DJ set, and he is an absolute fan favorite. His song “Levels” is arguably the single biggest dance music song of 2011, and has been remixed by numerous artists; it was even sampled by Flo Rida for his song “Good Feeling.” Avicii is unstoppable.
Skrillex
Skillex is largely responsible for the popularization of dance music, and has helped to bridge the gap between dance music and the mainstream. Seemingly overnight, he went from relatively unknown to one of the world’s most popular artists in 2011. From my 12 year old sister, to seasoned veteran dance music fans, it seems as though everyone is a Skrillex fan. Skrillex recently received an unprecedented five Grammy nominations, a huge feat for a dance music artist. Skrillex is undoubtedly a pioneer, and has made valuable contributions to the world of music.
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