Ben Sterling is a British DJ and

electronic music Electronic music broadly is a group of music genres that employ electronic musical instruments, circuitry-based music technology and software, or general-purpose electronics (such as personal computers) in its creation. It includes both music ...

producer from

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

. He has been described as "a leader of the UK’s new school" by ''

Mixmag ''Mixmag'' is a British electronic dance and clubbing magazine published in London. Launched in 1983 as a print magazine, it has branched into dance events, including festivals and club nights. History The first issue of ''Mixmag'' was printe ...

''.

Career

In 2019, Sterling made his debut on the label Hot Creations with the release of his EP, ''The Energy,'' marking a significant milestone in his career. The EP features features three tracks blending

acid An acid is a molecule or ion capable of either donating a proton (i.e. Hydron, hydrogen cation, H+), known as a Brønsted–Lowry acid–base theory, Brønsted–Lowry acid, or forming a covalent bond with an electron pair, known as a Lewis ...

and

tech house Tech house is a subgenre of house music that combines stylistic features of techno with house. The term ''tech house'' developed as a shorthand record store name for a category of electronic dance music that combined musical aspects of techno, ...

elements. Sterling's connection with the label stemmed from his previous release, ''Anonymous'' EP, on Josh Butler's label, which attracted attention from Jamie Jones. Sterling, who gained early recognition through his residency at London's

Ministry of Sound Ministry of Sound or Ministry of Sound Group is a multimedia entertainment business based in London with a nightclub, shared workspace and private members' club, worldwide events operation, music publisher (popular music), music publishing busin ...

, has been influenced by

disco Disco is a music genre, genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the late 1960s from the United States' urban nightclub, nightlife, particularly in African Americans, African-American, Italian-Americans, Italian-American, LGBTQ ...

, modern electro, as well as

Chicago house Chicago house refers to house music produced during the mid to late 1980s within Chicago. The term is generally used to refer to the original house music of DJs and producers from the area, such as Ron Hardy and Phuture History and origins D ...

and

Detroit techno Detroit techno is a type of techno music that generally includes the first techno productions by Detroit-based artists during the 1980s and early 1990s. Prominent Detroit techno artists include Juan Atkins, Eddie Fowlkes, Derrick May, Jeff Mi ...

. In September 2022, Sterling made his debut on the label Solid Grooves with the EP ''Uno Dos Tres''. He has also worked on labels such as Hot Creations, Diynamic, Crosstown Rebels, OBLONG, and Hottrax. Sterling also owns his own brands, Planet X and X-Files, where he promotes young talents. In July 2023, Sterling released the single "Eeez". Later in September, he made his debut on Damian Lazarus' Crosstown Rebels with "Don’t Truss," a collaboration with Caitlyn Scarlett. The track was praised for its rolling production and Scarlett's captivating vocals. In January 2024, Sterling released his EP ''Step Forward'', which was described as "an ode to the late great

Nathan Coles Nathan Coles was a British tech house DJ. Described as an "originator of tech house" and a "towering figure of the tech house scene," he played a pivotal role in shaping the UK's tech house scene during the late 1990s and 2000s. Career Coles b ...

". In July, he released the single, "Tribal Badman," on his label Planet X. Mixed and mastered by

Harry Romero Harry Romero, better known as Harry "Choo Choo" Romero, is an American DJ and record producer. Biography Harry Romero is linked with the label Subliminal with Erick Morillo and Jose Nuñez, with whom he also produced and remixed several tr ...

, the track features a combination of skippy drums, a bassline, and vocal elements. This release marked Sterling's return to Planet X since his 2023 single, "Lost Illusions," following work with labels such as PIAS Electronique, Oblong, and Higher Ground. The year saw Sterling debut at

Coachella Coachella (officially called the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and sometimes known as Coachella Festival) is an annual music festival, music and arts festival held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, in the Coachella Valle ...

and present a notable showcase of his Planet X project during Miami Music Week. Later that year, he was nominated for RIOT Noise Breakthrough Artist of 2024 by

DJ Awards DJ Awards is a celebration of electronic music, and aims to recognise and honour Disc jockey, DJs and individuals who have influenced electronic dance music worldwide. Held annually in Ibiza at the end of the summer season, DJ Awards has retaine ...

. Sterling has also performed at Baum Festival,

EDC Las Vegas EDC or EdC may refer to: Education * East Devon College, in Tiverton, Devon, England * EDC Paris Business School, a French business school * Education Development Center, an American educational organization * Department for Education (South A ...

, Sunwaves Festival, and

The Warehouse Project The Warehouse Project is a series of club nights organised in Greater Manchester, England, since 2006. Unlike most other clubs, it has a limited seasonal approach rather than running all year. Each year's season runs from September through to N ...

. He has become a mainstay at events like Music On and Solid Grooves and has performed at clubs like Ibiza's DC10 and

Amnesia Amnesia is a deficit in memory caused by brain damage or brain diseases,Gazzaniga, M., Ivry, R., & Mangun, G. (2009) Cognitive Neuroscience: The biology of the mind. New York: W.W. Norton & Company. but it can also be temporarily caused by t ...

. Sterling has cited artists like Nathan Coles,

Terry Francis Terry Francis (born 28 July 1966) is a British tech house DJ and producer.Bush, JohnTerry Francis Biography, Allmusic, retrieved 2011-06-23 Francis won ''Muzik'' Magazine's "Best New DJ" award in 1997.Comer, M. Tye (1999)Mixed Signals, ''CMJ New ...

, Bushwacka!, Solomun,

Frankie Knuckles Francis Warren Nicholls Jr. (January 18, 1955 – March 31, 2014), known professionally as Frankie Knuckles, was an American DJ, record producer, and remixer. He played an important role in developing and popularizing house music, a genre of mus ...

, and

The Martinez Brothers The Martinez Brothers are a duo of disc jockeys, music producers, and remixers from The Bronx, New York known for their long-term residencies at clubs in Ibiza. In 2014, they were named as DJs of the year by ''Mixmag'', who wrote that "no other ...

as major influences. He has defined his sound as "electronic

acid house Acid house (also simply known as just " acid") is a subgenre of house music developed around the mid-1980s by DJs from Chicago. The style is defined primarily by the squelching sounds and basslines of the Roland TB-303 electronic bass synt ...

Discography

Singles

* "Dance Machine" (2019) * "Es Nasty" (2021) * "Rok the House" (2022) * "Mind Dimension (Ben Sterling Remix)" (2022) * "All Over My Body" (2023) * "Lost Illusions" (2023) * "Eeez" (2023) * "(Hey You) What's That Sound" (ft. Les Rythmes Digitales) (2024) * "Speed Up (Ben Sterling Remix)" (2024) * "Tribal Badman" (2024)

EPs

* ''The Energy'' (2019) * ''Durh Brain'' (2022) * ''Uno Dos Tres'' (2022) * ''Don't Truss'' (2023) * ''Hey Mister'' (2023) * ''BBB'' (2023) * ''Step Forward'' (2024)

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sterling, Ben British DJs DJs from London British electronic musicians British house musicians British electronic dance music DJs Living people Year of birth missing (living people)