Detroit, Berlin and Birmingham might be the first places you think of when you hear the word ‘techno’, but Tokyo should be right up there. Japan has produced a steady stream of instantly identifiable techno artists, from Ken Ishii and Susumu Yokota in the 1990s through to present-day practitioners like DJ Nobu and Wata Igarashi. Osaka-born and Tokyo-based DJ MARIA. is already well on her way to becoming the next chapter in this storied tradition. 

Her sets are already legendary for their depth, texture and pacing, layering acid, trance and techno on top of each other for maximum psychedelic effect. Maintaining a constant steady groove, she weaves in everything from field recordings to minimal house and moody downtempo, overwhelming dancers and listeners with perfectly-pitched waves of sound. Hot off a series of dates at Europe’s best underground clubs, and with a collaborative EP with Audrey Danza under her belt, she’ll make her debut at Sónar next June. Make sure you’re there.