by If you’re looking for a new artist to fall in love with, you’ve come to the right place. Focus Five Volume 89 showcases five unique producers showcasing a wide array of sounds. We’ve got a Swedish producer fusing minimal club energy, future bass, and trap, an LA producer who is set to make 2026 her own, an Italian artist characterized as more of a craftsman than a producer, a dnb vet exploring some incredible 140, and a trap and bass artist that I was actually shocked to learn we had yet to feature. Get familiar below.
ablon!
ablon! first landed on my radar last year when his track ‘Andas’ landed as the 20th and final contribution to Good Dub’s THE SOUND DESIGN CLUB II compilation. To be honest, the only thing that brought me to the compilation was Leotrix’s track, but when I started making my way through the rest of the collection, I was pleasantly surprised by the sheer volume of great tracks from artists I had never come across. Among those artists was ablon!, a young Swedish producer who created the perfect ending to the impressive compilation. ‘Andas’ starts with (presumably) Swedish vocals layered above a minimal instrumental section that isn’t super complex but still drives emotion and movement, before the artist continues to build on that emotive energy. Diving deeper into ablon!’s discography, I discovered a common theme of minimal club energy, future bass, and trap all uniquely intertwined to create a distinct signature sound. Don’t sleep on ablon!.
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Klo
With a style spanning 140, UKG, and bass house, Los Angeles-based producer Klo has been steadily taking over. My first exposure to Klo was ‘ROUND N’ ROUND’ alongside SVDKO, which made me audibly yell out “wooooooooo” on my first listen. The combination of ridiculously catchy vocals, shuffly hats, and those ludicrous basslines is enough to drive any basshead wild. But Klo is far from a one-hit wonder. ‘SAY SOMETHING’ offers a similar catchy 140 energy with a vibey reese bass-driven intro and breaks to mix in some feels. She’s also got a collection of dope flips, including reworks of EsDeeKid, JT, and fred again.., to name a few. She’s also been absolutely exploding on social media while getting support from some of the biggest names in bass music, so expect to see Klo everywhere in 2026.
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HLRTY
It’s spelt HLRTY, it’s pronounced HILARITY. This is the moniker behind this Palermo-born, now Bologna-based DJ and producer, who describes himself as “more of a craftsman than a producer.” Closely linked to an artist we’ve previously mentioned here on Focus Five, COIDO, HLRTY is a producer who approaches club music from many different angles without being confined to a single genre. Each of his tracks is an exercise in technical minimalism (he himself says, “I’ve always been afraid of having to complicate the tracks to give them structure”) but more than anything else, an expression of his heart. He pours his whole identity into his beats—his knowledge and experiences, his past and the future he envisions. HLRTY embodies the stereotype of the brilliant Italian producer who is hard to spot in the hyper-fragmentation of the Italian bass scene. He tackles this head-on in the new compilation *ITAITAITA, released by the collective *asterisco, of which he is a co-founder, featuring him alongside seven fellow Italian artists.
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LEWP
UK-based producer LEWP has made a name for himself in the DnB scene with years of dope releases, but it’s his recent foray into 140 that made me really pay attention. ‘Energy’ flips the iconic “Liquid means rewind, gunshot means forward” vocals into a blistering 140 anthem. Chopped vocals, hypnotic leads, snapping drums, beastly horns, and some killer basslines make this one an undeniable anthem. If you’re looking for something a bit more vibey, his liquid DnB flip of Sampha’s ‘Too Much’ has you covered with minimal groove. And if you’re a grime head, he’s also got a fire flip of JME you have to peep.
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Raucous
For a good while now, Raucous has been shattering frequency ceilings with his mind-bending pieces. Showcasing constant evolution with every release, filled to the brim with constant ear candy. Proving to be one of the best in the game. From releases with Partica Artist Group, Dumb Collective, and more, the complexity of his works will make any crowd beg for more. Being heavily underrated, the artist has been working day and night to rise to the top. And in doing so, he’s pushing the electronic trap scene higher and higher. No matter which track of his you choose, you’re in for a wild experience. From his most recent stellar and violent tune, ‘PUMP IT,’ to an earth-shattering tribute to LYNY’s, ‘Fire,’ his perseverance knows no bounds. Completely leaving his audience in a frenzy. It’s overdue for the world to know his name and what he’s truly capable of, and we’re stoked to hear much more from him throughout the year!
-JD
Written by Alessio, Colin, John & Steph
