DJ style: “EDM / house.”

Best known for: Being one of China’s top DJs.

Fave tune of 2021: “HENNZ, Johan Oslah, Mike Slvg ‘Layers’.”

Rising star DJ/producer of 2021: “Westend. He deserves to rise to the absolute top!”

Not many people can pull off titling a track ‘EDM’. How, after all, can a single track stand-in for the entire genre? But Shanghai-based, Hong-Kong born Carta pulled it off with style this past year. ‘EDM’ is about as perfect a distillation of the future of EDM as anything else out there — pumping basslines, anthemic chords, and understated but driving drum programming. It's also a perfect introduction to Carta's world. He's a dance music purist — his tracks are short and precise, built around sound design bespoke for the world's biggest clubs. 

Last year, Carta wanted to focus on meditation and spending more time offline. While we can't say how much time he's spent off social media, it's clear that he brought a new level of focus to his productions. He released four singles this past year, each outdoing the previous for how much emotion can be packed into the breathless drops. It's clear that whatever Carta has lined up next, he'll be doing it with a continued level of laser-like precision.

What’s the best DJ set you’ve seen this year? 

“I wasn’t able to see many DJ sets because I was in China all the time and not many international DJs were there. It’s probably one from my friend Luminn.”

Name one great festival you played for the first time this year…

“Since I haven’t been playing a lot because of Covid and haven’t played outside China, I’ll leave this one open and get back to you next year.”

What’s the longest DJ set you’ve ever played?

“An all-nighter at a small venue. I loved it because I could play everything I wanted.”

What’s one piece of studio hardware you wish you owned?

“That’s a difficult one, but probably the VIRUS TI2.”

What’s the last tune you bought?

“Meduza & Supermode ‘Tell Me Why’.”

What’s the next big sound?

“Dance music.”