27 CARL COX
UP 7
Style:
“Techno and house – played with passion.”
Best known for:
“Sharing the love of all music styles, bringing a positive energy to the dancefloor and still known as the People’s Choice.”
Tune of the year:
“Dubfire & Flug ‘Rubber’.”
From: UK
Rising star DJ/producer of 2021: “Franky Wah. He is coming at ya!”
Carl Cox: maestro, legend, genius — he’s been called it all and that’s probably why he’s never left the Top 100 DJs list ever since it began. If our figures are right, in this year alone Coxy has remixed five tracks, featured on one single and played on three continents — not bad during a pandemic. To top it off, he began his BBC Radio 1 Residency, published his autobiography Oh Yes, Oh Yes! — which made the bestsellers list — and announced his first album in a decade. All good reasons for him to make the 2021 list.
But perhaps what’s kept Coxy at the top all these years, aside from his mastery of the craft — across all DJ formats — is the pure joy he exudes when playing, even up to this very day. Anyone who watched one of his Cabin Fever sessions online over the past year would have noticed this. It’s the kind of passion you can’t fake or maintain unless it’s coming from a real place. He really does embody the spirit of the rave: peace, love, unity and respect.
How was your first gig back after lockdown?
“I’d already been playing big shows in Australia but my first gig back in the UK, to 5,000 people on Brighton Beach, was beyond amazing.”
How have the last 18 months changed how you view your work/life balance?
“Probably by learning what balance was! Of course, I was working just as hard but without touring. I used to fit everything around the shows but now I can see how to let everything flow together.”
What further steps should the industry take to combat climate change?
“As an industry we are on the whole mindful of the environment, but we also have a loud voice and a huge global reach and can make sure that industrialists and politicians listen to us.”
What’s the best bit of tech you’ve added to your studio or DJ setup this year?
“I started to use the Pioneer DJS-1000, it’s such a powerful piece of kit, I love it.”
What’s the best album you’ve heard this year?
“London Elektricity ‘Building Better Worlds’. I just cannot stop playing it.”