Antal (NL)

If you have ever seen Antal behind the turntables, you know how much energy he puts into his rotary mixer - second to none. This is someone who feels the vibe and knows how to convey it. Apart from being an exceptional DJ, Antal is also an entrepreneur, curator, football coach and co-founder of Rush Hour Records. Yet he once told RA: ‘I spend between three and six hours preparing for a gig.’

With a record collection as large as it is versatile in taste, he plays Chicago- and Detroit-influenced house as easily as rare Afro funk, forgotten disco from every corner of the world or a beautiful boogie gem. However, this breadth of styles comes naturally. ‘Often the best nights are those on which I can play anything, no matter how sharp my selection is,’ he says. It is that selection that is key. Antal makes you dance to an obscure track because he knows exactly how and when to drop it. He plays tracks you didn't know you needed in your life.