Issue 121 PDF

We're kicking off 2025 with a special issue to celebrate UK Grassroots Electronica and the ever-growing number of bedroom producers and independent record labels across the country.

You won't find our usual run of interviews in this month's Electronic Sound. Instead, we are devoting almost half of the issue to amplifying the thrilling and unstoppable buzz of UK grassroots electronica at the start of the second quarter of the 21st century, doing our best to include as many of the artists and labels that make up the scene as we possibly can. Brighton EDM duo Massive Luxury Overdose, Cardiff dreampopper Yellow Belly, Leeds acid freak Ray The Binman, Belfast synthwaver Tripp Mirror, and Aberdeen cassette imprint Ice Cream For Crow, for instance, as well as scores of other new names.

There are lots of great recommendations in our 10 Regional Reports, which take us from South-West England to North-East Scotland, with lots more in our 25 Labels For 2025 feature and our packed-to-bursting 101 Bandcamp Picks. Prepare to spend the next little while down some incredible musical rabbit holes. We have a Round Table Discussion involving 17 key players too, including Mute owner Daniel Miller, Radio 6 Music presenter Deb Grant, Electronic Music Open Mic founder Martin Christie, Girls Twiddling Knobs podcast host Isobel Anderson, and Bandcamp label rep Aly Gillani. 

We think we might have said this before, but this is one issue you really don't want to miss. Your music needs you! And so does your magazine!