World-class DJ, producer, radio titan, and celebrated author – DJ Semtex wears many hats. To fans, he is a trusted authority, to peers, he is a creative force advancing the culture. 

He first cut his teeth as a DJ in his hometown, Manchester. In the years since, he has become one of the premier DJs in hip hop, touring, opening, and performing onstage with the likes of Nas, Wu-Tang Clan, Rick Ross, Travis Scott, Dave, Skepta, Migos, and Dizzee Rascal.

Producing and releasing his own music under his label Seminal Sound. With recent work featuring Vic Mensa, Backroad Gee, Kwesi Arthur, and Afro B. Semtex is constantly inspired by the crowds he plays for to craft tracks that could shut down any show. 

On-air, he made his mark as a thought-provoking interviewer, turning his 15-year-strong slot on BBC 1Xtra and then a show on Capital Xtra into must-visits for artists. Anchored by an impulse to share hip-hop’s story, as a radio personality he is known to coax unusual realness out of closed-off megastars like Kanye West, Drake, Jay-Z, and Eminem. 

A dedicated, knowledgeable hip-hop head, DJ Semtex certified himself as one of the most potent voices in the scene when he penned the pioneering book, 2016’s Hip Hop Raised Me. Then, in 2020, he turned the critically-lauded memoir-cum-definitive history into his own interview series, the Hip Hop Raised Me Podcast. 

And with more international collaborations and creative moments in the pipeline, DJ Semtex continues pushing the culture forward. 

Follow / Listen

Co-founder of Coldframe Records and Little Leaf Recordings, and proudly signed to Wordplay Records - Norwich-based Producer/Artist Lieu has gained commercial success producing songs for many household names such as Porsche, Bosch, and Forbes, amongst others 

Lieu prides himself on working with local artists and trying to develop their sound whilst also working with bigger names in hip hop. He was named as one of BBC Introducing's  artists to watch in 2023

Follow / Listen

Singer, songwriter, pianist, producer and visual creator - JOIISOL embodies artistry and tackles every element. Refusing to be tied down by genre JOIISOL is a creator, taking influence but never settling with the likes of Neo Soul, Jazz, Hip Hop, Garage, RnB, and she does so with style. We’re honored to have her join Novembars this year supplying two beats for you to lace!

Follow / Listen

It’s a huge pleasure to welcome Neone The Wonderer to this years roster of producers! One of the U.K’s finest lyricists, captivating audiences with flows and experimental jazzy sounds, NEONE offers up something new for you to try. Jump in and show him what you’ve got.

And Yo! It’s pronounced ANY ONE…… N.E - ONE.

Follow / Listen

Yes yes! Winner of the very first Octobeats competition, Kayncee joins us this year as our very special guest producer!

Kayncee, founder of Go For It Tribe & affiliated with legendary UK Hip-Hop collective The Peoples Army, is a Crawley based Hip-Hop musician, born in '99. From his rhymes to his beats, Kayncee crafts his own sound inspired by that of musicians including Jay Dee, DJ Premier, A Tribe Called Quest, Lowkey, Akala & The Roots & he can often be found with his MPC making music on a train, or a plane, or the beach.

Follow / Listen