ALSO RISING

For AMPLIFIER’s mainman Sel Balamir (left, front), his group’s objective is “exploring existence through rock”. The Manchester’s quintet’s latest album Trippin’ With Dr Faustus distils the essence of their sound and modus. “It definitely ticks all the boxes,” says Balamir. “Massive riffs. Wall of guitar. Drums like John Bonham on steroids. Queen-esque layered vocals.” Recorded analogue – “rock music sounds better on magnetic tape, that’s just a simple fact” – and released on their Rockosmos label, “TWDF is basically about how bonkers and schizophrenic human life and society is,” explains Balamir. “If you’re an artist living in the 21st century, how can there be any other topic?” Joe Banks

While NINA KRAVIZ’s acclaim may rest on sending thousands-strong crowds ape with beats and bleeps, the Siberian-born DJ/producer/ singer prefers talking about George Orwell, Middle Eastern cities and “wild and romantic stuff” to party anecdotes. And she’s used her platform to champion obscure and gloriously strange electronica alongside her own hypnotic techno releases, such as the recent Pochuvstvui EP. Her трип (Trip) label has featured everything from Aphex Twin to young Icelandic prodigies, and her even more out-there Galaxiid imprint has just launched with a reissue of 1990s electronica from Moscow cults Species Of Fishes. The perfect antidote to superstar DJ culture. Joe Muggs