WILDCARD Stand-in:He’s BACK. Due to one of the finalists pulling out of the competition at the last minute, we’ve invited LJ Shellings, an All-Stars finalist from 2024 back into the competition.

Hailing from the vibrant streets of South London, LJ Shellings has carved a niche for himself in the thriving music scene as a producer and dynamic DJ. As the head of up and coming events brand, Akin, LJ is committed to showcasing the best of what South London has to offer while propelling local talent to the forefront with inclusive and balanced line ups.

LJ's sound is a captivating fusion of house and garage, seamlessly interwoven with the energetic influences of grime, hip hop, and UK rap that fueled his childhood passion for music. This gives his sets a fresh edge.

With a deep understanding of the South London music landscape, LJ Shellings plays tracks but tells stories through sound, filling floors at local venues or headlining memorable events under the Akin banner, LJ is dedicated to fostering community and connection through music.

As he continues to evolve as an artist, keep an eye on LJ Shellings; his journey is just beginning, and South London is ready to embrace the next wave of sound that he and Akin will unleash on the scene.

Instagram @LJShellings
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Leor is a seasoned DJ/Producer who’s been in the game for 15 years captivating audiences across the UK. His journey began with a passion for UK Garage, which became the foundation for his versatile and dynamic approach to DJing.

While at university, Leor joined a prominent DJ collective, helping to organise iconic events at venues like The Rainbow and Custard Factory, earning his reputation as both a skilled artist and savvy promoter.

Known for his high-energy, crowd-pleasing sets, with strong open-format skills, he continues to represent UK Garage and Bass culture. As a resident DJ on Flex FM, he champions the latest sounds in the scene. Alongside his DJ sets, Leor is also dedicated to producing and releasing original tracks and dubs, further cementing his influence in the genre.

From spinning at The Box at Ministry of Sound to exclusive album launch parties, Leor’s talent and passion for evolving his craft continues to push boundaries and solidify his influence in the DJ culture he loves.

“I have three children who are the world to me. I love meeting like-minded people and collaborating
My other passion and professional area is community and education.”

Instagram @itsleordj
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Hailing from Canada, but now based in the UK, Lotus Phaze is a DJ and producer who’s no stranger to combining global sounds and popular UK genres. Anything from electro, breaks, gqom, dubstep, hip hop, Desi fusion, jungle, reggaeton, techno, and trance; you can expect an eclectic array of genres that seamlessly blend to tell their own story.

Lotus Phaze has recently supported artists such as Burna, Tash LC, Nooriyah, Brown Excellence, BUNNEY, Sicaria, Bianca Oblivion, and Girl’s Don’t Sync. Last year she made her debut at Dialled In Festival and Keep Hush.

Lotus Phaze also prioritises community and sustainability within the music scene which lead to co-founding Global Bass Union, TechTechTech Leeds, and Lilac Unknown; which aim to elevate DJs and producers from under-represented backgrounds.

“1. I have lived in one of the coldest places on Earth
2. I am a self-taught guitarist
3. My favourite colour is blue
4. I can only wiggle one ear
5. I have met the real Lemony Snicket (years ago)”

Instagram @lotus_phaze
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Malaysian-born and London-based MI/EN is a purveyor of big vibes and electric energy. She has a love for sounds that are hypnotic, otherworldly, and uplifting. A classically trained pianist, her musical upbringing heavily influences her eclectic sets, blending techno (from acid and raw to groove and hard), garage and breaks, and chuggy electro-house.

MI/EN’s mission as a DJ is to connect communities through music and create accessible spaces for minority groups, particularly those from Southeast Asia, where she grew up.

Beyond the decks, she’s diving into music production, remixing, and vinyl spinning, while curating events that celebrate diversity.

In December 2024, she launched her debut sold-out event, Kosmic Kommune, which she hopes will become a platform for continued creativity and connection.

“I can't whistle, KitKat dark is my ultimate chocolate, I'm a very fast walker, I am fascinated by WWII military history, I can peel a banana with my toes (don't ask)”

Instagram @mien_musik
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Peanut is all about the of dubs and wubs. From dark, grungy garage sounds to the growling energy of speed bass. He loves tracks with mysterious basslines that keep you bouncing, even if you don't know the song. A big fan of Mandidextrous, whose unique sound has fueled his obsession of fast, dynamic beats - perfect for mixing and layering with vocals.

Inspired by technical wizards like DJ EZ, Neffa T, AMC, and James Hype, he’s always pushing himself to master challenging techniques like cue drumming, wordplay, switches, and backspins.

Peanut creates seamless, jaw-dropping transitions that thrill the crowd. Mixing his own mashups and seeing the crowd’s reaction to unexpected remixes is my ultimate high.

“In 2023 I climbed Kilamanjaro and then went and taught skateboarding at a nearby school in Tanzania. I love skateboarding, making edits and fitting them to music, my biggest accomplishment is kick flipping the Southbank 7 stair.

I took my trumpet to Boomtown and got on stage and managed to play with some artists, we coined the new genre of 'Trum and bass'. In my day job I am a software engineer, I have been coding all my life and when I was younger, I created a robot to solve a Rubik's cube and could in theory instruct a blind person to solve one”

Instagram @jonnyi__
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SHINZEE is a pioneering DJ and music producer known for his vibrant fusion of Baile Funk, Desi Funk, Afro House, and other genres. Growing up in a musically diverse environment, he developed a passion for blending global sounds into captivating dance music.

As a producer, SHINZEE continually explores new sounds and techniques, creating tracks that are both fresh and timeless. His dedication to his craft and pursuit of new musical expressions make every performance a memorable experience, leaving a lasting impression on listeners everywhere.

“1. I am double-jointed, so can do the weird finger bendy-thingy that everyone gets creeped out by.

2. I am left-handed for holding cutlery and writing, but right-handed for everything else.

3. I get the "why are you not DJing" comment from every colleague at every work social.

4. The reason I started DJing was because of a YouTube B2B battle series called Beats and Liquor.

5. A big part of my inspiration for the music I play and produce comes from blending the diverse genres of the countries I've visited, the fresh sounds my DJ friends introduce me to, and experimenting with unexpected/ridiculous combinations - think Mozart fused with Baile Funk (ridiculous right?!).”

Instagram @Shinzeeeeeee
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Mel (aka Melly/Smelly) is a 24-year-old DJ and producer from Dalston, London with an obsession with Footwork and Juke. Inspired by the vibrant, creative energy of artists like Rashad, Earl, and Bastiengoat.

Mel brings contagious energy and humour to their sets, connecting with audiences through 160bpm beats.

Starting up in Edinburgh’s free party scene, she’s since performed on BMC and Brixton Radio, warmed up for Angel D’lite, Two Shell and performing at the festival’s radio stage.

Now living on London’s canals, she works with pirate.radio.crew, producing fresh tracks and spreading the inclusive, high-energy culture of footwork.

“1. Im smelly (😜)
2. I’m obsessed w canals
3. Im a worrier (⚔️)
4. I learnt to speak russian
5. Can’t dance but I will dance?…”

Instagram @sssmmeelllyyy
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Unkuul is a dynamic DJ bringing Afropean and Afrofuturistic vibes to every party. As a second-generation immigrant from West Africa, his sets celebrate global sounds, blending Afrohouse, Kuduro, Gqom, Amapiano, Afrotech, Global Bass, Footwork, and Bubbling. With a passion for sharing joy and culture, Unkuul keeps the crowd bouncing with lesser-known tracks connecting people through rhythm and energy.

For Unkuul, DJing is more than just music—it’s a way to authentically share stories and build community on the dancefloor. His mission is to create vibrant spaces that unite people through the universal language of sound.

“I've lived in 6 different countries and have visited 29, I intend on seeing the world before my send off! I am the MC at my family's xmas talent show.

I've been a Pharrell stan for as long as I can remember and featured in one of his music videos, you can't see me because I'm in a sea of concert goers getting live, but I know where I am!
Favourite TV shows are Survivor and Traitors and I fully intend on being on both of them!”

Instagram @unkuulteej
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