Compared to the rest of the world, Australia presents a difficult set of challenges for those interested in dance music.

The country can be a logistical nightmare and as a result, everything costs a whole lot more, from the records you purchase to the price you pay to get into a club. We’re dealing with a federal government that has made significant cuts to arts funding and slashed the budget of national radio broadcaster ABC, and at a state level New South Wales has been hit with heavy-handed alcohol and lockout restrictions. On top of this, there has long been a general sense of apathy amongst much of the Australian population, with most Aussies just going out to enjoy themselves rather than maintaining any particular interest in what they’re hearing.

Thankfully though, as I began to take stock of all the emerging producers, DJs, labels and promoters doing exciting things in this pocket of the world and did my best to piece together memories of the countless important musical experiences I’ve had in this country, I eventually realised that we really don’t have it that bad after all.

Australia has a long history when it comes to dance music. The culture first gained major traction down under in the late ‘80s, with the spirit and sounds of dance imported from overseas by British expats mobilising a trend already established in the UK, Chicago and Detroit. Large-scale raves were often held in inner-city warehouses or bush locations outside of major urban centres, and by the end of 1993, UK rave institution Fantazia was holding events across the country.

“There are plenty of Antipodean artists pushing the electronic envelope.”

More than two decades later, dance music has fragmented, diversified and established itself as big business in the Southern Hemisphere. The Australian market is dominated by a proliferation of EDM-type events, with large festivals traveling from city to city annually, providing an almost summer camp-like experience headlined by pretty much the same group of “superstar” DJs each year. There’s not a lot of room left for those aiming to avoid the commercial route, but nevertheless there are plenty of Antipodean artists pushing the electronic envelope.

There are plenty of great parties too, providing you’re prepared to look. If you’re into anything out of the ordinary you’re likely to be dancing in a half-empty room with 100-odd other people, thanks to a couple of promoters who probably lost a shit-load of money and sleep dragging a DJ halfway around the world because that was the only way they’d ever get to see them.

The following list includes a significant amount of producers creating various strains of machine-made house and techno, from boogie, funk and jazz-indebted styles to more industrial and abstract pieces. It is within these realms that the invention seems to be taking place in Australia at the moment. This is by no means a comprehensive selection and in reality the list could have been twice as long without diverging too much from the sounds and styles being presented. It is simply an attempt at highlighting some of the emerging artists bringing quality, craft and innovation to the Australian electronic space.

More 2015 ones to watch:

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