Drift Festival '26

Alarico

Strongly shaped by the raw and forward-leaning sound of 90’s Techno, Milan based artist Alarico Zucchi started his journey into electronic music in 2015 making his way through clubs as a DJ while learning the art of music production. The inauguration of ‘Alarico’ occurred in 2019 after previously exploring several sub-genres of Techno. The alias was formed as a statement to showcase a style that was personal to him. Personal in a way that he became captivated within the patterns and structures of his own sound. Known for fast paced rhythms and kinky grooves he has released music consistently since his debut in 2020 on Joton’s imprint ‘Newrhytmic Records’. Shortly after he launched the vinyl imprint “Katana Records” which showcases the more nose-bleed and mental side of his idea of Techno. Also 2021 so far has been a prolific key year for Alarico. While the world fell seemingly more and more asleep, he continued honing his craft: His debut on Amsterdam based label ‘OOM Records’ was followed by an invitation to a highly acclaimed artists label, which is soon to be disclosed. The same goes for an upcoming remix. Alarico continues to position himself as a unique music lover, continuing to explore the depths and possibilities of sound. He stands for continuously pushing boundaries and stirring this attitude with his background of Hip Hop and Japanese culture.

Yanamaste

Antal

Co-founder of Amsterdam's Rush Hour record shop and label, known as a key figure in preserving and championing rare and obscure dance music.

CARISTA

Utrecht-based DJ and United Identities boss, known for her unmatched energy and electric selections spanning broken beat, house, and soul.

Cinthie

Berlin-based DJ, producer, and label owner known for her raw, classic 90s-inspired house sound.

M-High

Releases on: PIV, Locus, Meta, Moxy, House Puff, Key, K7, Blind Vision, Politics of Dancing, Future Feel, and more. There have not been many who have seen such a quick rise in recent years, as the young multi-instrumentalist producer M-High. Currently being touted as the one to watch within today’s contemporary electronic music scene, the youngster has already received many accolades for his craftmanship in the studio with releases on labels like Locus, House Puff, Meta, Moxy and PIV. A collection of quality productions and a rapidly growing music catalog, including a remix of renowned New York City house legend Jovonn, have resulted in several offers from major labels and ensured a variety of international bookings at high-profile venues such as Fabric London, Tomorrowland, BPM Costa Rica, Mint Warehouse Leeds, Thuishaven Amsterdam, Defected Croatia and more. Carrying the flag for a whole new generation of producers generated from Amsterdam’s dynamic nightlife, he is currently acting as A&R for forward thinking house-music label PIV. This significant position helps him to discover new raw talent and gives a unique perspective on the evolution of the sound globally. His live performances could be characterized by a carefully selected arrangement of unreleased tracks, old and gritty 90's grooves and memorable peak time moments. With many new studio projects currently underway, the future looks bright and is paving the way for a performance on a dancefloor near you.

Marsolo

Marijn van Vliet, better known as Marsolo, is a house DJ and producer, born and raised in The Netherlands. His life took a musical turn when he started stacking drum loops on his computer. Year by year, he became more and more professional at music production. After finishing high school, he got accepted at the well-respected Herman Brood Academy; the perfect chance to settle his name in the Dutch house scene. A typical Marsolo track provokes feelings of euphoria and is recognized by vintage, sample-based drums, complemented by warm, refreshing synths. Although many house artists are doing an impressive job in making people dance, Marsolo adds emotion to that by telling a musical story to be freely interpreted by the listener. His mission is to strike a chord with the crowd. In the studio and on stage, Marsolo isn’t afraid to break rules. His creativity already led to releases on well-known labels, like Eastenderz, House of Love, and House Puff, only to name a few. By constantly finding innovative ways to create house music, his future releases will always be surprising. Being discovered and supported by well-known DJs, like Chris Stussy, East End Dubs and Folamour, his schedule is expanding rapidly. By already having played at renowned venues like Thuishaven and Paradiso, his future looks brighter every day. Keep an eye on Marsolo because he has just embarked on a long musical journey.

Masalo

An inte­gral part of the Ams­ter­dam scene, Masa­lo’s abun­dant cre­ativ­i­ty blends sophis­ti­ca­tion with a sol­id dose of rebel­lious­ness. His sets shift effort­less­ly between house, tech­no, hi-NRG, and dis­co, while incor­po­rat­ing his own tracks and gems from decades of digging. For­ma­tive years at Ams­ter­dam insti­tu­tions like Trouw and Par­adiso placed Masa­lo in the thick of the city’s under­ground dance com­mu­ni­ty. He cites his fam­i­ly as an even ear­li­er inspi­ra­tion: jam ses­sions and a pas­sion for ana­log machines from his father, a love of danc­ing and cul­tur­al influ­ences from his Japan­ese moth­er, and hip-hop and turntab­lism cour­tesy of his broth­er. Extend­ing the fam­i­ly feel­ing, Masa­lo has con­tin­ued to build com­mu­ni­ty through the Brighter Days event and com­pi­la­tion series he runs along­side his long­time musi­cal part­ner Kamma. A pro­lif­ic pro­duc­er, 2017 saw Masalo’s first offi­cial release; a remix of Bassek­ou Kouyate’s Jama Ko, turn­ing the Malian soul bal­lad into a hyp­not­i­cal­ly ener­getic house tune. He then joined the illus­tri­ous ranks at Rush Hour – a label and crew that has been inte­gral to his cre­ative jour­ney – releas­ing his debut EP ​‘New Dance’ in 2019, fol­lowed by col­lab­o­ra­tions with Soichi Ter­a­da, Jamie 3:26, and Palms Trax. His sta­tus as a sure-fire tastemak­er goes beyond the offi­cial cat­a­log, with unre­leased edits like his Acid Dream ver­sion of Oliv­er N’Goma’s ​‘Lina’ and a rework of Prince’s ​‘Rave Unto The Joy Fan­tas­tic’ becom­ing sought-after club anthems. The next evo­lu­tion of his artistry takes the shape of a live show, which he will debut on Dekmantel’s for­mi­da­ble main stage this year. The live set delves into the more elec­tron­ic spec­trum of his sig­na­ture sound — a high-octane jour­ney of lush synths, hard-hit­ting drum pat­terns, and euphor­ic arpeg­gio basslines, blend­ing new mate­r­i­al with nods to his beloved clas­sics. His set-up is called The Trin­i­ty — a cus­tom-made rig, designed and built in col­lab­o­ra­tion with new school archi­tects. Through a ded­i­cat­ed process of build­ing, pro­gram­ming, and mas­ter­ing The Trin­i­ty, Masa­lo impro­vis­es in con­ver­sa­tion with the crowd, ensur­ing no two per­for­mances sound exact­ly the same. Stu­dio ren­di­tions of sev­er­al tracks on The Trin­i­ty will be released by Rush Hour, Safe Trip, and Dek­man­tel in late 2024. Get in touch: chiara@octopus-agents.com

Sam Alfred

As Australia rises as a global leader in electronic music, a few distinct mastheads of the form emerge. Sam Alfred is one of those, a fastidious DJ and precocious artist pushing the sound of Australian dance music and cultivating its growth in the global circuit. With sold-out shows across Asia, Europe and Australia, a memorable Boiler Room at AVA Festival in Belfast, and a number of well-rinsed releases under his belt, Sam Alfred is in a position of dominance. Stylistically, Sam Alfred is a conduit for the modern resurgence of 90s house, garage and techno. His music is large, thumping four-on-the-floor bangers suitable for massive sound systems and parties, akin to collaborators and friends X CLUB., LB aka LABAT, and SWIM. 2024’s Roadblocks EP, out on global tastemaker label Running Back, has moved the needle far in Sam Alfred’s favour, five flavourful house tracks that have moved dancefloors across the world. A thrilling collaboration with Kyle Starkey and acclaimed remix of Royel Otis later, 2024 has seen Sam Alfred placed firmly in dance music canon. The Egypt-born, Sudanese DJ’s performances epitomise his distinct sound, euphoric and maximal sets that absorb his crowds into one singular mass. Dominating the Australian circuit across stages at Pitch Music & Arts, Strawberry Fields and Beyond the Valley, Sam Alfred is now taking to festivals worldwide after a particularly successful European tour in 2024. As he effortlessly navigates jazz-tipped house, deep cuts, and UK garage, all with a distinct 90s lens, dance music feels brighter with Sam Alfred.

Ajuma

With her carefully curated records, she knows how to set the right mood, that keeps the crowd engaged and captivated. By weaving together diverse sounds from all over the world, she blends genres such as: afrobeat and (leftfield) disco, together with a diverse array of house music. She understands the power of music to evoke emotions and embrace the joy of dancing together. Her drive to curate engaging sets ensure dynamic experience for everyone on the dance floor. With Ajuma behind the decks, you can expect a journey through surprising, sometimes obscure, but always dance floor-ready records.

BELLA (NL)

Born and raised in Amsterdam, BELLA brings a fresh perspective to uplifting house music, infusing it with a blend of '90s nostalgia and elements of acid, breakbeat, and progressive sounds. Her debut EP, "Note to Self," released on the Big Saldos Chunkers label, introduces listeners to her distinctive sound, characterized by energy, rhythms and originality. BELLA's music is a tapestry of rhythms and melodic journeys that defy easy categorization. Her approach to blending genres gives each track a unique energy, resonating with listeners in a way that's hard to pin down. Her performances serve as a testament to her individuality, captivating audiences at festivals like Lowlands, DTRH, Wildeburg and DGTL, as well as venues such as De School, LOFI, and Ministry of Sound. With each set, she invites listeners on a musical adventure, leaving a mark on all who experience her performances.

Theo Kottis

A fixture on the European festival circuit, Theo has played standout sets everywhere from the Dekmantel main stage to Panorama Bar, Lux Fragil and Robert Johnson, where his high-energy, euphoric sound seamlessly blends with hypnotic, minimalist grooves. His productions have earned equal acclaim. 2024 saw the release of two stellar EPs on Dekmantel and Palms Trax’s CWPT imprint - with lead track Lighthouse hailed as “song of the summer” by Resident Advisor - drawing support from top-tier selectors including Ben UFO, Francesco Del Garda and Eris Drew. Now in 2025, Theo continues to ascend, with acclaimed releases on Fabric Records, Fuse London and a second EP lined up for Dekmantel, further cementing his place among the scene’s most exciting artists. Grounded in UK club culture and shaped by years of experience, Theo’s music draws on the past while looking firmly forward.

DJ Life

Drawing influences from 90's Tech house, progressive techno and trance. Having built up a sizable discography, each release showcases a different range of musical influence and taste.

Mario Marini

Mario Marini is a Nijmegen based record dealer and DJ. The selector incorporates a broad array of groovy stuff into his sonic tapestries. The eclectic current runs through the musical journeys of Mario Marini: Balearic Boogie, AOR, Bubblegum, Fusion or even smooth Folk Rock. If there’s a certain delicacy, quirkiness, or tender bass line, Mario Marini’s there for it. Since starting DJ’ing in early 2016, Marijn aan de Stegge has rapidly made name, playing at clubs and festivals such as Doornroosje, Drift, Subcultuur, Paradise Now, Claire and Brebl, playing allongside DJ’s as Hunee, Kamma & Masalo, Mr Scruff, Esa Williams and Mafalda. Marijn started to impress selectors’ ears internationally with carefully crafted, soulful mixes for Rinse, Refuge and Worldwide FM. With many gigs to his name throughout the Netherlands, a bi-monthly radio show at Nijmegen’s Open Source Radio, and an ever-growing record collection, Marijn founded Marini Records in 2019. As the more isolated years came by, his online presence and reach grew as an independent record seller. Marini Records drew the attention of internationally renomated dj’s, collectors and selectors. In 2022, Mario Marini was ready for his next big move: taking his stock to the analog shelves. Early Spring 2022, Marini’s opened his pick-up location in collaboration with PAAK Vinyl Bar. With an ever-expanding musical network and an ever-growing record collection, Marijn is preparing himself for an international tour throughout different areas of France, Germany, the UK and other European countries. With the finest selection of breezy grooves, gems from unexpected places and good Boogie classics on his side, there’s no doubt Mario Marini will put a smile on your face and the boogie sweat on your forehead.

Maruwa

Maruwa channels forceful energy, effortlessly blending trance, progressive house, hard-house, and techno in her own productions and on dance-floors worldwide. Her signature sound combines the nostalgic elements of the '90s and early 2000s, enriched with a modern twist. Now based in (and inspired by) Frankfurt, she has carved her niche with a number of multifaceted EPs on labels like Steel City Dance Discs and X-Kalay. Her remixes, on both scene veterans like Dusky, Skream, Catz ‘n’ Dogz, and underground artists like Azo, Subsism, Denham Audio and others have found their way into the hearts of ravers around the world. One can catch her delivering a long opening at Robert Johnson or a day-time set at Intercell, igniting vigorous mornings at Panorama Bar, or navigating the deeper nights in Nante’s Macadam.

Dean (NL)

SAIDAH

Amsterdam-based with London roots, SAIDAH takes inspiration from the birthplace of garage to bring high energy four to the floor beats to her sets. Combining well known UKG classics with underground releases across the garage, house and bassline genres, she aims to open up the UK scene to new audiences with a fresh sound and perspective. She is a resident of Amsterdam’s Radio Radio FM where she hosts her radio show ‘sweet like chocolate’ focused on dance music soundscapes primarily from the UK.

Esch

ESTRELLA

Freitas de Torres

Mees Javois

With a raw yet refined sound that balances hypnotic grooves and unrelenting energy, his sets carry an intensity far beyond his years. What began as a fascination with drum machines and modular textures has grown into a distinct sonic identity that’s already making waves across Europe’s dance floors. Despite his young age, Mees Javois has already stood behind the decks of some of the most infamous clubs in the circuit, including RAUM, BRET, Perron, Radion, and Paris’ Badaboum. He’s been asked to play alongside Bastienne, Effy, FJAAK, Mall Grab, Marrøn, DVS1, VIL and more respected names. Each performance is a narrative, threading together moments of tension and release, and always pushing the room deeper into the night. His ability to lock into the crowd’s pulse has also taken him to festival stages like Nuits Sonores in Lyon, Wildeburg Festival, Into the Woods and beyond, where his forward-driving selections have earned him a loyal following. On the production side, Mees Javois is just as uncompromising. His releases on labels such as Fragrance Recordings, and the more techno outlets Antidote and Frenzy showcase a fearless approach to sound design; combining deep, atmospheric layers with pounding rhythms that nod to the warehouse spirit of techno’s roots while shaping its future. His track DSTOP on Fragrance is a festival favorite and to this day played by Carista, Daphni, Effy, Mall Grab and more artists around the world. His unreleased music regularly ends up in the record bags of tastemakers like Chlär, TAFKAMP (Stranger), Grace Dahl and Ben Sims to name just a few. With both his DJ sets and studio output, he stands at the frontier of underground culture, proving that talent and vision speak louder than experience.