[Coachella 2011 Artist Spotlights] Dance/Electronica, Part 1: Boyz Noize, A-Trak, Skrillex, 12th Planet, Mount Kimbie

A-Trak // (Photo by Karl Walter//Getty Images)

One of the major draw factors of Coachella in the its first incarnation was all the electronic and dance bands that played. Combine this with all the production some of these electronic artists have done on some of your favorite rock bands’ albums, the incredible dance remixes of normally undanceable indie tunes, and the sheer volume of hard rock fans that will admit to electronica being their guilty pleasure, and you’ve got a ton of electronic and dance artists worth their weight in obscure vinyl.

Dance/Electronica Artist #1: Boyz Noize

Photo by Charley Gallay//Getty Images

German electronic producer, Alex Ridha, is the mastermind behind the ever-popular and critically-acclaimed club beats of Boyz Noize.  Ridha won the Independent Music Award in 2010 and remixed artists like David Lynch, Snoop Dogg, The Chemical Brothers,Marilyn Manson, Bloc Party, Kaiser Chiefs and Depeche Mode. Currently, Ridha is working on an album with Baltimore booty-bangers, Spank Rock and he has just finished a track with Pulp‘s Jarvis Cocker.

Dance/Electronica Artist #2: Skrillex

Popular man about town and Angeleno, Skrillex, used to be the front man of post-hardcore band, From First To Last, but now he utilizes his time with kinky, spastic electro-house and dubstep. With a deeply entrenched history in the hardcore rock scene, Skrillex surprised when he decided to go the club DJ route and released his debut EP, My Name is Skrillex, for free in June.

Dance/Electronica Artist #3: 12th Planet

Los Angeles-based dubstep producer, John Dadzie, is the brains and deftly moving fingers behind 12th Planet. A former rave kid, Dadzie has gained popularity globally as the American Dubstep King. He has played many festivals around the world, garnering accolades by magazines like URB has their “Next 100.”

Dance/Electronica Artist #4: A-Trak

Photo by Matt Jelonek//Getty Images

One of the famous turntabalists on the scene, A-Trak is the former tour DJ for Kanye West, Fool’s Gold Records founder with Nick Catchdubs, and brother to David Macklovitch from the popular dance-pop band, Chromeo. Outside of all those credits, A-Trak is best known for his award-winning scratching techniques, his production, and his remixes with other electronic artists like MSTRKRFT.

Dance/Electronica Artist #5: Mount Kimbie

Electronic British duo, twenty-four-year-old Kai Campos and twenty-three-year-old Dom Maker make up Mount Kimbie which creates ambient dubstep. Starting off in a home studio, now they have four EPS and in 2010, Mount Kimbie put out their first full-length called, Crooks and Lovers.

• Go ahead. Don’t be shy. Tell us what electronic artists you are looking forward to seeing at Coachella this year.