The dance music underground is littered with archetypes, but few artists embody the spirit of their scene quite like DJ XXL the DJ, producer, and label owner, he is the living evolution of a sound, a "professional party starter" forged in the sweat-drenched, DIY bunkers of Vancouver. His journey from these gritty beginnings to becoming known as the “Baba Yaga of Techno" is a testament to his relentless, genre-defying vision.
With over 15 years in the game, DJ XXL has shared the stage with titans like Tale of Us, Nina Kraviz, Claude VonStroke, Marcel Fengler, Radio Slave, Truncate, and Justin Martin, performing at venues around the globe. His true legacy, however, lies in his ability to weaponize basslines and ignite booty-shaking riots. His signature sounds are known to start twerk movements and are designed to rewire clubs and underground spaces, turning any venue into a battleground of high-octane chaos. With crunchy 808s, distorted multi-layered synths and vocals, and lightning-fast mixing, every performance is a call to the rebels, a promise of sweat, bassface, and a relentless party. He delivers a relentless, take-no-prisoners style of production and performance, inviting chaos at every turn.
For over 15 years, XXL has been a driving force, pushing the limits of electronic music with a hybrid sound that’s as raw as it is explosive. With deep roots in hip-hop and a techno soul, the evolution of his expressive style was coined ghettotech. His sets are a masterclass in fast-paced, high-energy DJ sets. His hard-hitting style seamlessly blends the genre’s signature bounce and bassline alchemy with techno’s industrial grit, electro’s dystopian darkness, and the hypnotic swing of UK garage. He is also one of the most versatile vocal lyricists, songwriters, and producers, a true vocal expressionist mixing his own style of ghetto techno. Having collaborated with artists like Gida, Sara Fox, Delsea, Yung Malik, MC Slay, and many more. His production style reflects inspirations from Kraftwerk, Fatboy Slim, Chemical Brothers, The Neptunes, Swizz Beats, Carl Cox, Boys Noize, Pete Tong, Tiga, and Gesaffelstein. This is not a sound for the passive listener; it's a visceral assault on the dancefloor.