Spotlight: Five artists to check out in November 2024

Making music for the more spiritually tuned dance music fans, China-born, London-based DJ and producer Stella Z finds solace in the slower tempos, inspired by nature, film soundtracks, and textured soundscapes. “I always love to create a synaesthetic effect in my music — you can smell the forest or feel my dog’s dream,” she explains. After being selected as one of six artists to take part in a mentorship programme from Bradley Zero’s Rhythm Section, Stella Z has earned her stripes in the downtempo underground, picking up support from the likes of Ben UFO and Ciel along the way. “Not just in production but also as a DJ, I embrace improvisation and unplanned surprises,” she says. “I’m somewhat obsessed with B2B sets – most of my DJ inspiration comes from the brilliant B2B partners I constantly learn from on the fly. The more adventurous the set, the more I enjoy it.”

When she’s not producing fuzzy textures and ambient, downtempo sonics, Stella Z heads up Quiet Chaos, a “sound curatorial” project with a residency on independent Chinese station Baihui Radio exploring unusual soundscapes, while her other radio appearances have taken her from Kiosk Radio to NTS. “I’m currently working on a new EP set for release early next year, diving deeper into my passion,” she says. “Alongside that, I’ll be starting my residency at the one and only JUMBI early next year, where I’m excited to curate some special nights and connect with the community.”

Recommended work: Stella Z ‘In The Woods, Will Be Late’

“I always aim to create something meaningful to myself first before anything else. My debut LP, ‘In The Woods, Will Be Late’, is a good reflection of my organic, ambient and tribal sound as well as my deeply personal narrative style. These tracks transport you to my mountainous seaside homeland of Fujian, China, which I left 19 years ago. It’s a gift to my family, including my childhood dog, and conveys messages I wish I could tell my teenage self.”