2011 was a year of bleak global economics and even bleaker reality TV and if the Mayan’s had it right, then 2012 could be a whole lot worse. Here at The House Dan Built, we believe that where the rest of the world was sulking, Electronic Dance music was casting a warm smirk across the globe. With this in mind, we present the floor-rocking folk we believe YOU should be keeping an ear out for among the breaking of all those perfectly coordinated New Years resolutions.

Alesso

Often mistaken for Sebastian Ingrosso’s son, Alessandro Lindblad has been initiated into the big league on merits outside of his associations with his big-time Swedish peers. With an intense remix of Starkillers & Nadia Ali’s ‘Pressure’ getting things off to a flying start, big-room banger ‘Calling’ alongside the ‘daddy’ of Sweden’s House Mafioso sealed Alesso a intense volume of attention across the globe. With so much positiv ground covered for 2011, 2k12 promises to see the Swedish newcomer raise the bar to an all-time-high.
Alesso of Facebook 

Nicky Romero

As we scaled the vast and hectic realms of the 16th annual Amsterdam Dance Event, we grew a little sick of hearing this young man’s name. With remix duties already including the likes of David Guetta, Tiesto & Flo Rida and originals alongside the likes of Bingo Players & Hardwell, his first major UK appearance alongside David Guetta set for this June, we can be sure to expect more big noise from this promising Dutch producer.
Nicky Romero on Facebook 

Threesixty

When these boys aren’t pushing some of the most exciting underground House grooves through Maquina Music alongside industry peer Dirty Harris, Kirk Shiels & Dave Muirhead can be found filling the voids left unturned under their Threesixty moniker. With support reigning in from the likes of Chus, Amo & Navas and a forthcoming spot on the highly anticipated Funk Farm compilation, the feeling that these boys are slowly outgrowing the underground is unshakable.
Threesixty on Facebook. 

Tommy Trash

Fosters adverts aside, Australia has provided us with one of the years most hard-hitting Electro House artists to date. With’Big Fucking House’ & ‘The End’ starting proceedings off with a bang, With CR2, Great Stuff, Stealth Records, Toolroom and Subliminal already behind him, Tom could be found mixing Oz’s Ministry of Sound annual for the year, all whilst finding time to don his outright charm to Dirty South and Thomas Gold’s ‘Alive’. In the same vein, 2012 screams beautifully orchestrated Electro House wizardry.
Tommy Trash on Facebook 

Jason Chance

As far as British House assets are concerned, Jason Chance remains one of those still in reach of the underground. Headlining the iconic Pacha London in line with his .. lets say 25th Brithday, it was evident that the UK was truly tuned in to his strong and definitive appreciation for all things House music. Add a spate of appearances across the Eurozone and we can be sure that Chance is no longer Britains best kept secret. With Azuli lapping up his latest single ‘Ready For It’ for their first 2012 compilation and the promise of early work alongside My Digital Enemy, be sure to keep an eye out for this traveling Surrey asset in a country near you.
Jason Chance on Facebook

Chris Lake

Already a prominent figure among British Dance music, we didn’t think there could be any rash surprises from the master of UK imprint Rising Music. Already a familiar favourite on the American billboard charts and a sound that had already impressed the realms of Defected, Ultra and Mau5trap, was there really much more we could learn about our man Mr Lake?  ’Secrets in The Dark’, ‘Sleepwalker’ and the immensely popular ‘Sundown’, exceeded all expectations, suggesting that pleasant musical surprises are still at large in the UK.
Chris Lake on Facebook  

Beltek 

Dubbed as a superior producer by none-other than Slovenian Techno heavyweight Umek, Martin Bijelić has been yet another positive notch in the country’s legacy for deep and dark Techno. Armed with a host of remixes and collaborations for 1605 and CR2 Records, 2011 saw Beltek soar alongside the master of 1605 for an essential outing in the Techno yearbook with their first collaborative full-length ‘Out of Play’. Now focussing on his own material, 2012 promises a return to his signature fusion of forward-thinking Techno with an essential Eastern-flare.
Beltek on Facebook   

Dirty Harris

Working his magic alongside his pals Threesixty and their joint imprint Maquina Music, Rich Harris needs little introduction given his glowing presence on the international House scene. Having already wooed the likes of Toolroom Records and Strictly Rhythm, this Brummie beacon of tribalesque Tech House just keeps on raising the bar. With Funk Farm and Toolroom already on the cards for 2012 and a forthcoming compilation for Maquina, it is only getting louder for the Midland’s grasp on hard-hitting House music!
Dirty Harris on Facebook

R3HAB

Having accummulated a reputation as ‘The Chainsaw Massacre’ of Dutch House for all the right reasons, The Flying Dutchman that is Fadil El Ghould has conquered America with the utmost ease. Breaking the boarders of EDM with ‘Sending My Love’ alongside Swanky Tunes and Max C and for Afrojack’s Wall Recording’s with ‘The Bottle Song’ his fearless approach to remixing has proven him a violently popular face across the wider spectrum of popular music. On the merits of a statement as bold as ‘I’d love to fuck with Skrillex’s music’ and a hugely popular residency in Las Vegas, we will be watching with great interest. We suggest you follow suit.
R3hab on Facebook 

Denis A

Russian master of deep and dark underground Techno Denis Alentieff has established himself as an incredibly powerful force across the globe for 2011. Under the guise of his DAR imprint, the diverse Electronic artist donned his forward-thinking club grooves to a host of new avenues across the globe. With the likes of John Digweed and Nick Warren singing his praises, we believe that 2012 will prove a pivotal year for this unpretentious injection of Electronic music.
Denis A on Facebook 

Wolfgang Gartner

Making your move towards the mainstream crowds is always a controversial move. For , the process has been with the same air of ease as he took the  Electro House underground with ‘Wolfgang’s 5th Symphony’ back in 2009. With his debut album ‘Weekend In America’ bridging the gap between Hip Hop and hard-hitting Electro House with little compromise of the usual WG quality, we eagerly await his genre-defying activity for 2012.
Wolfgang Gartner on Facebook 

Shermanology

As the blood-clan of legendary soul outfit The Sherman Brothers, Andy, Leon and Dorothy Sherman are no strangers to the limelight. Already a bonafide outlet for intense live House music on their home turf of Amsterdam, top 10 success alongside Tim Berg with ‘Blessed’ in the Dutch charts signaled a dynamic leap for the soulful trio. With collaborations alongside Afrojack and songwriting duty for new-found Dance enthusiast Paris Hilton already on the cards, 2012 will signal another leap for the Netherland’s hottest House outlet.
Shermanology on Facebook 

Nathan C

Whilst mystery has often surrounded Nathan Cross’s mysterious surname, his shining talent has been of far less perplexity to House music. Already a rising name on the underground House circuit, 2011 was the year that Jersey’s finest Nathan C tore into the limelight. Previously smashing the Beatport top 10 alongside Ant Brooks with ‘Argiato’ in 2010, a vivacious cut of DJ Fresh’s ‘Louder’ lapped up a wealth of support across the board. Donning his final outing for 2011 ‘No Sleep’ alongside Suzee X to Funk Farm, Nathan shows no sign of simmering down in the new year.
Nathan C on Facebook  

Spektre

Already hailed as one of the most productive production forces in Techno music, Paul Maddox and Richard (Filthy Rich) Wakely have been anything but lazy this year. With a collection of peak time bombs and shared audiences alongside the likes of Umek & Beltek, the duo have shone a light for British Dance music with a force that few other acts could even comprehend. Currently making a stateside connection for the final part of 2011, the duo are already set to take their distintive sound to the likes of India, Mexico and across Europe for the first half of 2012.
Spektre on Facebook  

Patrick M

Dropping diverse Latin bombs alongside DJ Chus and his crew at Stereo Productions is a grueling task, but someone has to do it. Cue Argentinian House maestro turned might Miami resident Patrick M, a new breed of central American producer with an arsenal of outright floor fillers already under his belt. With positive noise already surrounding our Argentinian friend, we look forward to seeing his true colours in the limelight next year.
Patrick M on Facebook 

Kid Massive
Danish producer Benjamin Pedersen has made massive noise in his more than a decade on the scene. With regular stints for Stealth Records and Floorplay already under his belt, 2011 saw ‘A Little Louder’ and ‘Don’t Cry’ set the tone for his highly anticipated full-length outing by the same name as the prior, which is due in the early stages of the New Year. Given the first two instalments, ‘A Little Louder’ could prove to be 2012′s most exciting  injection of International Dance music.
Kid Massive on Facebook  

Yousef

Established as a beacon for Liverpool’s promising club scene, Circus ringmaster Yousef Zahir has spent the majority of 2011 scaling the globe’s finest clubs and festivals courtesy of an eclectic dance floor dialect that few have been able to top. After an incredibly successful season alongside Carl Cox at Space Ibiza, Zahir’s globetrotting has not stopped him laying the foundations for the follow-up to 2009′s ‘A Collection of Scars and Situations’ LP, which is set to drop in the early 2012. More globetrotting, more diverse Tech grooves and further heartfelt outings in his hometown suggest a winning streak of epic proportions not just for Yousef or his renowned imprint, but genuine and original British Dance music.
Yousef on Facebook