From: The Netherlands

DJ style: “Ummet Ozcan style.”

Best known for: “‘Mongolian Techno'.”

Fave tune of 2022: “Kate Bush ‘Running up That Hill’.”

Rising star DJ/producer of 2022: “DJ Colyn.”

Ummet Ozcan reached all new heights this year in the most unexpected of ways. Having tried his hand at throat singing, he put the results into his Mongolian techno tune ‘Xanadu (Mongolian Techno)’ and it blew up in big style on TikTok. The video went viral, hugely raising his profile in Asia and elsewhere.

The Dutch DJ, who is of Turkish origin, describes the whole experience as "crazy" and admits, "I’ve always been very experimental and open to new stuff. It’s the only way to make progress and change things. Sometimes I just keep music for myself and sometimes I release it."

This year he has been exploring the combinations of techno-driven tunes made with authentic analogue instrument. "It’s very inspiring to learn to play these instruments and use them to make great tracks," he says. He has more of these analogue/digital hybrid tracks on the way, including some with "really cool indigenous instruments from all over the world. I've got quite a collection already!”

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

“The year is not over yet!”
 

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

"Biggesee Open Air 2022, a festival with beautiful lake-view scenery.”
 

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

“4.5 hours.”
 

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

“A genuine vintage Mellotron, it’s an ancient synthesizer with a very distinctive sound that works with magnetic tape loops.”
 

What’s the last tune you bought?

“Asterix & Rising Dust ‘Universo’.”
 

What’s the next big sound?

“Not a clue, I am always experimenting in uncharted waters. That’s where the hidden treasures are.”