Chris Stussy (NL)
Chris Stussy (Up The Stuss)
DJ, producer and Up The Stuss label boss Chris Stussy has established himself as a central figure within the modern house landscape, crafting a sound that is entirely his own while maturing as a tastemaker and a selector at the forefront of the scene.
2020 welcomed a significant moment as he unveiled his label, Up The Stuss. A vinyl-driven outlet for Stussy and friends to release forward-thinking, timeless club-driven productions, the imprint has become a must-visit hub for quality cuts across the electronic sphere. Home to his ‘Get Together’ project alongside S.A.M., plus material from Malin Genie, Janeret, Varhat, Paolo Rocco and more, the label not only showcases how well-rounded Stussy is as a producer but also his ever-maturing talents as an A&R and label head.
The summer of 2023 saw the launch of new series UTSOFF with Stussy’s biggest release to date, ‘All Night Long’ -a track perfectly representing his musical realm, becoming one of the hottest tracks of the year while racking up over a million plays well before it was even released. Add in new projects such as his Across Boundaries alias with close friend Locklead and the release of their ‘Sense Of Future’ EP, with the duo selling out international shows in recordtime, and it’s clear that Up The Stuss has evolved into much more than just a label to become Stussy’s central creative hub and a platform for him to take things even further.
Not stopping there, 2023 also brought a highly-anticipated debut on Enzo Siragusa’s renowned FUSE imprint with the long-awaited release of ‘Midtown Playground’ -a track already dubbed as a ‘future classic’ by house royalty Kerri Chandler. Taking his profile to another level once again, the EP preceded a monumental moment and a career milestone for the Dutchman, featuring as DJ Mag’s cover star for October and delving deep into his substantial rise as one of the most exciting talents in the game -all while doing things on his own terms.
As a DJ, Stussy is just as widely informed and draws on styles to suit the many different settings he plays -often zigzagging from intimate clubs to leading festivals within 24 hours. Main stages at the likes of Awakenings and DGTL, and clubs such as Warehouse Project (Manchester), KOKO (London), Club Space (Miami), Fabrik (Madrid), and Sound (LA) all come under his spell in equally memorable ways. You can add his rise as an Ibiza favourite with appearances at DC10, Hï and Amnesia for events such as Circoloco, Paradise, Solid Grooves and The MartinezBrothers, plus Hï & Ushuaïa’s notorious day-to-night opening party, ‘The Signal’. That, coupled with his highly successful Rinse FM residency, regular tours of North and South America, Australia & New Zealand, and extended headline sets across his home city, ensure his diary is always stacked.
Yet, he continues to serve up the heat with a wealth of original material, collaborations and remixes showcasing his innate musical nous. And while each new production shows a subtle evolution, they continue to feedinto the singular Stussy sound that both DJs and dancers have come to know and love.
2024 sees Stussy raise the bar once again, building on debuts over the past twelve months at the likes of Coachella and Timewarp USA with more impressive first-time outings such as his eagerly-awaited Boiler Room debut. Serving up another heavily sought-after anthem, ‘Desire’, showcasing his diverse sound once more and ensuring the frenzy and groundswell worldwide continue to soar, his UK tour sold out in minutes, with a double-header return to KOKO providing the extra cherry on top, while back home tickets for his infamous 10-hour show at Thuishaven barely lasted three minutes. A second outing as Across Boundaries with the pair’s anticipated ‘Synergy’ EP adds to a debut merch drop, the introduction of a new scholarship programme, which will see Stussy use his platform to provide a spotlight and resources for up-and-coming talent, and the launch of his own event series. Expect the unexpected as he prepares to reveal a myriad of new ideas and concepts in the months ahead...