Ukrainian DJs You Should Know

Europe certainly isn’t short on celebrated house and techno artists. In 2021’s annual curated list of dance music’s creme-de-la-creme - DJ MAG’s Hot 100 - over 60% of the awarded artists were Euro-based. While the UK, Ibiza, Belgium, and The Netherlands often own the label of “house music hotspots,” Ukrainian DJs are also on the rise. Recent world events have only highlighted the fact that the resilient artists of Ukraine have always shown a true passion for their community and their craft. We’re honored to celebrate Ukrainian DJs, their music, and their legacy.

Miss Monique

Since making her Ibiza debut in recent years, Miss Monique has graced hundreds of stages across the globe. Her eclectic mix of techno, trance, and progressive house has racked up a serious online fanbase. The producer turned to her YouTube channel through the pandemic to connect with fans and play music. There, her livestream sets have racked up millions of hits. Her biggest one is a live set from Atlas Weekend Festival in 2020. The stream boasts an impressive 5 million views. She also has a fan-favorite podcast, Mind Games, where listeners are treated to a fresh DJ set every month. Those close to New York might want to check Miss Monique out this summer at Superior Ingredients in Brooklyn.

Artbat

This duo of Artur Kryvenko and Vitalii Limarenko earned a nod as superstar David Guetta’s favorite tune of 2020 with their CamelPhat collaboration “For a Feeling.” The French “Titanium” producer called Artbat “rising stars.” Hailing from Ukraine, the two friends create an energetic and innovative melodic house sound recognized by artists like Deadmau5 and Richie Hawtin.

DJ Nastia

Anastasia Topolskaia, better known as Dj Nastia, is known best for her dynamic mix of jungle house and techno. Nastia is openly proud of her Ukrainian heritage, and she’s touted as the most toured DJ in the history of her country by Resident Advisor. Born in a small village in eastern Ukraine, she started visiting nightclubs in Donetsk with her older sisters as a young girl. Though she had no formal music education, she loved to dance. After she started spinning in ’05, she took gigs at radio stations and clubs across the country - including a residency with the media giant BBC Radio 1. A true DJ at heart, she says her goal is to get as many people on the dancefloor as possible.

Juicy M

Juicy started her DJ career in 2007 as a resident DJ in fashionable nightclubs like Orangerea Supper Club and Matrix in Ukraine. Known for her wicked technical skills and her mixing videos on YouTube, she was also named “Best Female DJ of the Year” by the 2010 ProDJ Awards. In the early 2010s, she took her first international gigs as an opening act hip hop and R&B DJ. By 2015 she’d become the first woman to sign to the heralded Armada imprint since she’s shared the stage with Skrillex, Afrojack, Black Eyed Peas, and Backstreet Boys and played in some of the world’s top destinations and festivals like Green Valley, Pacha, Privilege, and Creamfields.

Woo York

After releasing a string of successful EPs on Soma Records and Planet Rhythm in 2012, Woo York went from a local heroic duo to internationally recognized artists. Their unique, hardware-based sets and their melodic approach to techno have made them standouts in the underground scene. Their 2018 debut album, Chasing The Dream, includes hits like “Second Breath” and “Equilibrium.”

Korolova

One day, Olga Korolova decided to switch her studies from mathematics to music. Her parents were unsure of her newfound career path as a DJ, but Korolova knew what she wanted. After intensive touring and performing hard-hitting EDM on big festival stages, she started to feel a disconnect. After finding herself mesmerized by a techno stage at Daydream Festival in 2017, she knew she had found the music of her soul. She’s leaned into her soul music with her visually stunning YouTube videos and intimate performances.

Daria Kolosova

Daria Kolosova grew up living in Lutugino, Ukraine. After falling in love with electronic music at a young age, her formative creative years came after she relocated to Kyiv. After headlining nearly every club in Kyiv, she joined forces with DJ Nastia for an international tour before eventually becoming a resident of Nastia’s newly launched label, NECHTO.

Nastya Muravyova

Nastya Muravyova is one of Ukraine's most active DJs somehow balancing a job as a flight attendant with a consistent touring schedule that takes her across Europe to gigs at institutions like Tressor and Berghain. She's held down the decks at institutions like Berghain, Fabric, She blends pumping four-to-the-floor techno with edgy breakbeat for an infectiously sexy sound. We love her 2018 warehouse set from The Boiler Room on YouTube.

Xenia

Xenia’s high-energy style of techno has made her a rising star in the underground scene. Her fuzzed-out banger “Stimulant X” asks dancers the adage “how low can you go,” but with a sinister twist and a massive beat. Last year the rising star joined Analog, a powerful worldwide agency, as she declared her position in the techno scene.