Daft Punk revolutionized electronic music with their futuristic sound and enigmatic personas, crafting timeless hits like One More Time and Get Lucky from behind their iconic robot helmets. Their refusal to conform to industry norms extended beyond their music—they famously rejected high-profile collaborations and rarely performed live after 2007, with their final appearance being a surprise cameo during The Weeknd’s Starboy music video before their unexpected split in 2021.

Carl Cox is one of techno’s most legendary figures, commanding dancefloors for decades with his infectious energy and expert mixing. His legacy is tied to Ibiza, where he held one of the longest-running residencies at Space, turning it into one of the most revered club nights in the world. Even after Space closed, he refused to stop playing on the island, proving that his love for music always came before business.

Avicii changed dance music forever with his melodic, emotionally driven tracks like Wake Me Up and Levels, proving that electronic music could have storytelling depth. Despite his global fame, he was deeply introverted and once admitted that he preferred producing music alone in his hotel room to attending industry parties, making his sudden rise to fame overwhelming for him.

Swedish House Mafia became the ultimate EDM supergroup, uniting Axwell, Sebastian Ingrosso, and Steve Angello to create massive anthems like Don’t You Worry Child and Save the World. Their chemistry was undeniable, but their personalities often clashed behind the scenes, leading to their unexpected breakup in 2013—only for them to reunite years later due to the overwhelming demand from fans.

Tiësto became one of the first DJs to achieve rockstar-level status, headlining festivals and pushing trance music into the mainstream. His impact was so massive that he was chosen to perform at the 2004 Olympics opening ceremony, making him one of the first DJs to bring electronic music to a global stage.

David Guetta became one of the most successful DJs in the world by bridging the gap between EDM and pop, creating festival anthems like Titanium and When Love Takes Over. His rise to fame wasn’t instant—he spent years DJing in Paris nightclubs before his big break, proving that even global superstars have to grind before making it big.

Diplo built a music empire with his genre-blending productions, from dancehall-infused beats with Major Lazer to hip-hop collaborations with artists like M.I.A. and Beyoncé. Despite his larger-than-life image, he started out as a schoolteacher, and his love for education has led him to work on charity projects that bring music programs to underprivileged schools.

Richie Hawtin redefined techno with his futuristic sound and pioneering use of technology, always staying ahead of the curve with innovations like real-time visual mixing. Despite his futuristic approach, he has a strong appreciation for history—his family was deeply involved in classical music, and he once studied the connection between techno and traditional composition techniques.

Deadmau5’s signature helmet and progressive sound made him one of the most recognizable figures in electronic music, blending intricate melodies with massive beats in tracks like Strobe and Ghosts ’n’ Stuff. His passion for technology extends beyond music—he once built his own gaming PC live on a Twitch stream, proving that his obsession with high-quality production isn’t just limited to his music.

Skrillex brought dubstep to the mainstream with explosive tracks like Bangarang and Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites, making him one of the most influential electronic artists of his generation. Long before he became a bass music icon, he was the lead singer of a post-hardcore band, and that punk energy never left his music, giving his productions an aggressive, high-energy feel.

A-Trak became a turntable prodigy, winning the DMC World Championship at just 15, which later led him to become Kanye West’s personal tour DJ. While most DJs transition away from scratching as they enter mainstream dance music, he never abandoned his roots, incorporating live turntablism into festival sets, making him one of the few superstar DJs to keep the art alive.

Porter Robinson redefined electronic music by blending anime, video game soundtracks, and emotional storytelling into albums like Worlds and Nurture, creating a deeply personal connection with his fans. He was so dedicated to artistic integrity that he scrapped an entire album’s worth of material because it didn’t feel true to his vision, proving that for him, music was never just about following trends.

Cassy built a reputation for hypnotic deep house sets, seamlessly blending groove-driven beats with an intimate dancefloor connection. Despite her underground credibility, she originally trained as a jazz singer, and that early experience helped shape her natural sense of rhythm and improvisation when crafting her DJ sets.

Carl Craig pushed Detroit techno to new creative heights, fusing jazz and orchestral elements with electronic beats in groundbreaking ways. He once took his love of orchestration so seriously that he reworked his own tracks into symphonic compositions, performing them live with a full orchestra and bringing techno into the world of classical music.

Loco Dice became one of house and techno’s most respected selectors, known for marathon DJ sets that hypnotize crowds with deep, rolling grooves. Before he became a global DJ, he was a rapper in Germany, and his love for hip-hop still influences the way he structures his sets, often treating beats and basslines like verses and choruses.

Bassnectar became a bass music pioneer, creating an almost cult-like following with his immersive, heavy-hitting live shows. His early career started in metal bands, and he only discovered electronic music after attending a rave in the ‘90s, where he was so inspired that he immediately began producing beats that fused rock and electronic influences.

Maya Jane Coles became a deep house sensation with her moody, atmospheric productions, earning respect in a male-dominated industry through sheer talent. While many DJs rely on ghost producers, she insists on doing everything herself, from writing and producing to mixing and even designing the artwork for her releases.

Danny Tenaglia is a house music legend, blending tribal rhythms and deep grooves to create some of the most memorable DJ sets in dance music history. His love for DJing is so intense that he once played a continuous 36-hour set, proving that his stamina and passion for music are unmatched.

Ricardo Villalobos is a true icon of minimal techno, known for marathon DJ sets that weave hypnotic soundscapes over hours. His love for extended mixes comes from his upbringing—he was born in Chile but fled with his family during political unrest, leading him to develop a unique musical identity that blends Latin rhythms with German precision.

DJ Harvey became a legend of underground disco and house, known for digging up rare records and keeping dance music unpredictable. His reputation as a free spirit was solidified when he was once banned from the U.S. for several years due to visa issues, yet he turned the setback into a new chapter by becoming an icon in the European club scene.

Boys Noize blurred the lines between techno, electro, and industrial sounds, creating raw, high-energy productions that still sound fresh years later. He’s one of the few DJs who has collaborated with both underground techno artists and pop superstars like Lady Gaga and Skrillex, proving that his sound can cross any boundary.

James Murphy turned LCD Soundsystem into one of the most critically acclaimed dance-punk acts, merging indie rock with electronic grooves. Though he’s celebrated for his cool, effortlessly stylish sound, he actually started as a sound engineer and nearly became a comedy writer before music took over his life.

Kaskade became a pioneer of uplifting house music, creating emotional, melodic tracks that turned him into a festival headliner. He was one of the first DJs to headline massive stadiums, but he’s still known for doing surprise small-club sets just to stay connected with his fans.