ADE is almost upon us. For electronic music lovers it is like Christmas come early. Spread across what seems like every venue in Amsterdam, the dance event is a blazing triumph and a wonderful Dutch export to the global community. Join us as we present our must see artists visiting us here in Amsterdam this October.
© Amsterdam Dance Event / LindeDorenbos
“I make music with the kind of emotions people want to sit in, and loop it, one by one, over and over – it’s the kind of approach I take on making music. Frame those moments of unspeakable feelings, and transcribe them in the most truthful way possible through music.”
JUST IRIS blends rhythmic complexity with emotional depth. Classically trained for 14 years and born with perfect pitch, her sound fuses elements of UK Garage, Breakbeat, IDM, Electronica, Melodic Techno, Downtempo, and Experimental. Born in China, raised in California, and now based between Berlin and Milan, her global background—rooted in classical music and fashion design—shapes a multidisciplinary, genre-fluid artistic identity.
Her productions are emotionally resonant, rich in texture, and crafted to move both bodies and minds. Since starting her music production journey just over 1.5 years ago, JUST IRIS has earned early recognition for her emotionally charged and forward-thinking sound. With her debut track “Invisible Hug” on HABITAT and multiple original projects in motion, she stands as a rising voice in the next wave of boundary-pushing electronic music.
5 hours flies when you have new rave sensation KI/KI dishing out the goods. The Amsterdam based artist is currently flying the flag for Dutch electronic music around the world. Taking it all in her stride with signature sounds and selling out shows in Montreal, Sydney, Melbourne, New York, Los Angeles and London to name but a few.
KI/KI started to generate noise whilst playing at Spielraum. The sweaty rave took place in a 400 capacity club called Garage Noord for one off 12 hour sessions. A Back to back set with VTSS at Glitch Festival saw the duo rake in nearly 2 million views on Youtube. KI/KI live sets on HOR, AVA festival, Warehouse Elemenenstraat and BBC Radio 1 house party has took the artist to new horizons.
© Amsterdam Dance Event /Jasper ten Tusscher
Effortlessly blending trance, acid and techno, the 29 year old is always bold. With over 1.3 million monthly listeners on Spotify and total streams reaching nearly 30 million, the future is certainly bright for the Harderwijk native.
Catch KI/KI presenting 5 hours at Hemkade 48 during a very special ADE show.
Over the past few years, she’s had the chance to open for some of the most influential names in the industry like Stephan Bodzin, Massano, WhoMadeWho, Cassian, Colyn, Zamna Soundsystem, Hunter/Game, Rafael Cerato, Jonas Saalbach, Brina Knauss, Mestiza, Elif, Hugel, andmore.
Her productions have steadily climbed into Beatport’s Top 10, with support from respected artists like Rebuke, Adriatique, and Marco Carola. She’s headlined shows across the Middle East and is looking forward to joining this year’s ADE lineup.
From intimate warm-up sets to high energy all-nighters, she thrives on reading the room and adapting her sound. What sets her apart is her ability to craft a journey, telling a story through music that resonates with the crowd and builds a lasting connection.
“I love playing unreleased music and giving the crowd something they haven’t heard before, instead of relying on trendy or familiar tracks. I’m not a fan of playing music people already know, I’d rather introduce something new, or a fresh take through unreleased edits or remixes. That said, one track I’ve been including lately is my release with SGR, “High Stakes”, it’s one of my favorites so far. Regardless of the music I bring with me, I always read the room and follow the energy of the crowd. Every venue and every audience is different, and adapting my set to fit that specific vibe is something I take very seriously.”
Feeona started her journey in music right after graduating from university. The talented DJ also has a degree in interior architecture. She found myself digging for music more than working on university projects. In 2019, she began learning how to mix professionally, and that’s when everything started to take shape.
Which city stands out for you regarding electronic music?
“Berlin definitely stands out to her as the global capital of electronic music. Its historical legacy, especially the transformation of abandoned buildings in East Berlin into underground venues, laid the foundation for a truly unique scene. The club culture is unmatched, with places like Berghain, the incredible artist community, the labels and studios that have helped shape the global sound and of course the 24/7 party culture there is part of what makes Berlin so iconic.
That said, I also have to highlight my beloved Lebanon, especially Beirut. While smaller in scale than Berlin and facing political and economic challenges, Beirut has become a powerful hub for underground electronic music in the Middle East, and even globally. It’s a city full of spirit and resilience, with a unique sound, world-class clubs, non-stop parties and huge events. Mixmag and Boiler Room have even recognized it as a hidden gem in the global scene.”
Have you visited Amsterdam before?
“No, I’ve never been before and I honestly can’t describe how amazing it feels to be visiting Amsterdam for the first time, especially to perform at ADE. It’s a dream come true.”
The French DJ and Producer is no stranger to Amsterdam. The enigmatic Parisian blends together hard, industrial techno and trance with ease. His sets are raw, packed with emotion and palpable. He provokes the crowds for reaction, waving them on with his hands.
In a scene choked by formulae, we need voices that cut through the noise to present something unapologetically true and devoutly non-conformist. In his singular path as an artist, I Hate Models swerves standardised structures and instead focuses on emotional response. The energy of club music serves as a vessel for his own feelings and a tool to manipulate others with.
The spectrum of moods expressed – in his productions, DJ sets and on his label Disco Inferno – veers from nostalgia and passion to loneliness, melancholia and brutality, often juxtaposing darkness and light in the same pulse as an authentic conduit of his own artistic self-assessment. On his journey thus far, IHM has released music on labels ranging from Arts to Perc Trax, who carried his 2019 album L’Âge Des Métamorphoses.
He’s also remixed artists such as Depeche Mode, while his monster edit of the track ‘Toro’ has taken the world by storm. It’s a fitting clarion call for the relentless rush of monolithic gigs he undertakes, headlining monumental global festivals such as Ultra and EDC as a top-billing emblem for the bleeding edge of hard dance and its legions of worldwide devotees.
At every turn, his disregard for expectations and conventions has resulted in dynamic, ambitious music that feasts on the flesh of techno, industrial and trance without ever becoming beholden to one source. Within the microcosm of one track, the energy can shift from bruising rhythm to swooning ambience and back again – cascades of pearlescent melody giving way to shards of sheet metal, thunderous percussion offset by softly sculpted sine waves.
Unafraid of reinventing himself, he’ll lean into stylistics shifts like the boldly emotive Forever Melancholia EP and make them a natural part of his artistic arc. That the further adventures of I Hate Models feel entirely open-ended is completely by design – generic constriction is the enemy of genuine catharsis. I hate models signature moves behind the decks – a relentless hip thrusting as he transports listeners on a journey.
Espana vibes with a transatlantic twist, welcome ISA. The talented Madrid based DJ has a natural rhythm and groove that is undeniable – just a couple of tracks in to her sets this is clearly to see. At just 21 year, she is already making waves on the electronic dance scene. From Spain to Canada – Isa has held residencies in Victoria, Lula and Goya Social. This will be her third time entertaining the crowds of Amsterdam.
You can expect a relentless, high energy tech-house and disco house masterclass weaving her way from anthem to anthem. Her sets provide a modern groove set against a backdrop of timeless melody – bringing that enthusiasm is what ADE is about. Amongst the regular gigs, ISA monthly streams are on an upward trajectory helping to reach new audiences and keep the beat going.
It is certainly an artist to watch out for and those curious enough will discover a true talent behind the decks at this year’s Amsterdam Dance Event. Isa Carrillo plays at Next NDSM and Prik.
