[Pure Taste] Why DJ Treasure Hot Since 82 Is the Best

I am writing this in October 2020, around the time a certain magazine announces its DJ rankings.

I think, as Resident Advisor stopped its ranking vote, everyone can simply have their own ranking of favorite DJs. But 2020 was a year when festivals and club events stopped on an unprecedented scale, changing how DJs worked to some extent. Showing what dance music audiences are now interested in may therefore have some value.

There was a wide variety of online activity, and it was quite enjoyable to watch.

My Top Three DJs of 2020

If I had to name my top three DJs of 2020,

would probably be the choices. Honestly, though, this is not an exhaustive list; the best are impossible to narrow down.

There are also all-time favorites, such as Nick Curly's 8bit in general, and Fred Everything, Ian Pooley, Steve Bug's Poker Flat in general.

Sounds have trends, but what I find the best regardless of trends is encountering music that is deep and sometimes progressive. These artists present that sound wonderfully.

Moreover, deep and sometimes progressive music is great whether heard on the floor or at home, attentively or in the background, through speakers or earphones.

The Appeal of Hot Since 82

So this time I will introduce the appeal of Hot Since82, one of my top three DJs of 2020.

First, I will quote the success story, so please read it.

Growing up in council housing in Barnsley, England, Daley began his DJ education from birth. Growing up with four siblings meant different genres of music were playing in every room of the house. His father also helped build the foundations of Daley's House music stardom—or his tolerance for heavy bass—inviting young Daley into his weekend workshop working on VW Beetles modified with powerful sound systems. “My brother and I were always in the garage listening to music at high volume.”

He began DJing seriously at 17, playing twelve- to thirteen-hour sets at a local club every Sunday. His residency soon became the most popular afterparty, drawing clubbers from far away and long lines around the club. “I brought four record boxes and made sure never to play the same record twice.” His reputation spread, and in 2006 he became a resident under Leeds club Glasshouse's banner at Cream Ibiza in Amnesia. His love of Ibiza never changed, but bridging the gap between the sound he was instructed to play and the sound he truly loved became increasingly impossible. “I first went to DC10 in 2003,” he recalls. “By around 2007, I was getting into a more underground sound.”

His heart had completely left the music that had earned him recognition, and Daley abruptly stopped producing and DJing. Fortunately for House lovers, that did not last long. In 2010, he “went into central Leeds and started raving again. Quality House music was back!” Then came the night out that prompted his return. “I went to Ibiza in summer with friends and we went to an afterparty. When the music stopped, I plugged in my iPhone and one of my own records happened to play. It had sat on my hard drive for months. I had no intention of releasing it or starting DJing again.” But the people there persuaded him to release the track. He contacted his friend, Danish DJ and producer Noir, and that summer “Let It Ride” was released on Noir Music. It quickly topped the Deep House chart, and its new style of bass-heavy, garage-influenced “Deep House” became explosively popular. Thus Hot Since 82 was born.

Hot Since 82's journey since then has been nothing short of wonderful: four appearances in Pete Tong's Essential New Tunes and two BBC Essential Mixes; the striking debut album Little Black Book in 2013 and mix album Knee Deep In Sound in 2014; a Top 10 Beatport seller with his remix of Green Velvet's “Bigger Than Prince”; a Mixmag cover; live performances with a string quartet; four sold-out North American tours including Coachella; regular Ibiza appearances for three seasons; and, recently, a uniquely extraordinary clubbing experience with TAKEN, an event series that “kidnaps” fans.

Source: https://www.contacttokyo.com/artist/8507/

The rapid turn of events after that iPhone was plugged in is incredible, haha. It feels like a DJ Cinderella story.

Hot Since 82 has also visited Japan frequently: Takkyu Ishino's STERNE at Shibuya's WOMB in 2015, the now-defunct Sankeys TYO in Daikanyama in 2016, Contact Tokyo in Shibuya in 2018, and Sound Museum Vision in Shibuya in 2019.

On the 2018 visit, which I attended, Hot Since 82 also played a weekday afterparty-style event at Bar Bridge in Shibuya. There were also shows in five cities, including Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, and Takamatsu, generating tremendous excitement.

1: A Great DJ

Selection, flow, dynamics, pleasure… The high-level House DJ skills that let you fully enjoy a musical journey are the first things that come to mind about Hot Since 82's appeal.

If Hot Since 82 is booked for an event with a guaranteed long set, it is a MUST GO.

I will share several good sets, mainly recent ones. Please listen through earphones, headphones, or speakers with strong bass.

*Live From A Pirate Ship in Ibiza predates COVID, but try to watch the video too. House music × summer × sea is an unbeatable combination, and it will make you eager for events like this to resume.

Hot Since 82 Live @ EXIT LIFE STREAM 2020

Hot Since 82 – Live in Yorkshire!

Hot Since 82 – Knee Deep In Sound // Centennial Mixtape

BBC Radio 1’s Essential Mix – Hot Since 82

Hot Since 82 – Live From A Pirate Ship in Ibiza

Hot Since 82 / Buenos Aires / Pop Up Party!

2: The Label Knee Deep In Sound Is Wonderful

Knee Deep In Sound is a quality House music label run by Hot Since 82.

As mentioned, the DJing is great, and many of the tracks played come from the label, including Hot Since 82's own, so naturally the label's tracks are good too.

Many artists releasing there are current key figures in House music, making it truly one of House's most important labels, haha.

Recommended Knee Deep In Sound Tracks

I cannot narrow them down at all, haha.

Hot Since 82's tracks are collected in “3: The Tracks Are Wonderful.”

Cristoph Let It Go (Riva Starr Remix)

Ben Rau & Jansons – Le Fonque

Ronnie Spiteri – Lose Control

3: The Tracks Are Wonderful

There is no doubt.

And once again, I cannot narrow them down…

Hot Since 82 – Knee Deep In Sound released

I made a playlist of Hot Since 82 tracks released on Knee Deep In Sound.

Hot Since 82 – Veins (Original Mix) [TRUESOUL]

A signature track.

Joe Goddard – Music Is the Answer (Hot Since 82 Remix) [Domino]

Music Is the Answer is a House classic; this is its remix.