The turn of the year always brings that familiar pressure to reinvent yourself, to set ambitious goals, to finally finish that project you've been sitting on. For electronic music producers, that pressure gets amplified by the relentless pace of the industry. Streaming algorithms demand constant output. Festival season waits for no one. The conversation around AI and authenticity grows louder every month.
But some artists are approaching 2026 differently. Rather than chasing trends or forcing productivity, they're digging deeper into their creative process, refining their sound, and reconnecting with what made them fall in love with making music in the first place. We asked five producers about their creative goals for the year ahead. Their answers reveal artists grappling with vulnerability, evolution, and the courage to trust their instincts in an industry that rarely rewards patience.
James Kennedy
James Kennedy has spent the past year absorbing everything happening in dance music, watching producers push boundaries and set new standards. That process of soaking in influence has left him ready to contribute his own voice to the conversation. After breaking through on Vanderpump Rules and building a reputation through performances at Coachella's Neon Carnival, Stagecoach, EDC, and North Coast Music Festival, Kennedy has proven himself in front of crowds. He currently holds residencies at LIV at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, Big Night Entertainment Group in New England, and Borgata in Atlantic City. His January 16th single "Try Again" on Don Diablo's Hexagon Records marks his return to releasing original music, bringing a gritty tech house update to Aaliyah's iconic hit. Beyond music, Kennedy has spent the past year supporting causes including fundraising for Los Angeles' Midnight Mission and championing dog adoption through Pups Without Borders.
What's the one creative goal or project you're prioritizing in 2026, and why does it matter to you?
I definitely want to focus more on getting original productions out this year. I feel like 2025 was such an important time for dance music with so many talented producers dropping amazing tracks so I soaked all of that in and got very inspired. I have so many ideas that I've been putting down on paper "DAW" and finally ready to share with the world. Connecting with my fans has always meant so much to me and with this new music I hope I can create some beautiful memories for them. 2026 for me is the year of releasing lots of original music.
What do you want your sound to evolve toward in 2026, and what's the first step to get there?
Music is always evolving and with that, so am I. I've always enjoyed keeping up sonically with the sound that sets the bar. That's why I had so much respect for the producers really pushing boundaries and creating sounds that create memories that last a lifetime. For my sound this year, I'm definitely concentrating on big baselines, leveled up production, and of course, some big vocals. Perhaps my Tech House sound can reach a crossroads where it meets its Techno cousin. What's going to get me there? Endless studio nights, writing as much music as possible, and just diving deeper than ever before. I couldn't be more excited.
Connect with James Kennedy: Instagram | Spotify
Lauren Mia
Lauren Mia's first album RE:BIRTH documented her Saturn Return, that cosmic rite of passage between ages 27 and 30 when the universe forces you to reckon with who you are and who you want to become. Released in late 2023, the album garnered support from industry titans including Tiësto, ANNA, Innellea, Kevin De Vries, Joris Voorn, Camelphat, Tale of Us, Lane 8, Vintage Culture, Above & Beyond, Fideles, and Argy. Now fully emerged into her thirties with that astrological milestone behind her, she's ready to capture where she is now. Her sound has shifted into harder techno territory, drawing from the spiritual, trancy, psy space she began exploring in the final three tracks of RE:BIRTH. In 2025, she launched Halcyon Label, an imprint dedicated to emotionally intelligent electronic music, releasing deeply personal collaborations like "Rhythm of Refuge" with vocalist Gabrielle Roman. Her approach combines technical sophistication with emotional depth, creating music designed for both the dancefloor and deeper introspective moments. The body of work she's developing for 2026 picks up where RE:BIRTH ended, using that conclusion as the foundation for what comes next.
What's the one creative goal or project you're prioritizing in 2026, and why does it matter to you right now?
Right now, I have my focus on a large body of work I'm currently working on that I intend to put out in 2026. I'm afraid to call it the 'A' word yet until it's done haha, but for me, I feel it's time for another one. My first album was written about my Saturn Return and cosmic right of passage into adulthood which for all humans is 27 to 30 years old. Now that I'm in this new decade, Saturn return complete and fully emerged into my thirties, I've evolved, my sound has evolved, shifted…and well, I think it's important to capture where I'm at sonically and share with my listeners and the world. I can say, this body of work is picking up where I left off with the first album. The end of that album is the inspiration of where I begin.
What do you want your sound to evolve toward in 2026, and what's the first step to get there?
My sound has already evolved immensely and I hope for it to continue to mature in this new space. I love that the industry is so genre blended right now giving us artists so much creative freedom. I feel at this stage, what I really want, and will work towards is for my sound to deepen and mature in this new harder techno, spiritual, trancy, psy space, similar to the last 3 pieces of my album I produced back in 2022, but bigger, better, stronger, finer. A piece of me to be shared with the collective in hopes of contributing only good to our deeply loved and cherished music industry and community. I'm really excited and extremely grateful for this next chapter of my sound and project and even more excited to see how much more my sound will evolve. Ever growing. Ever evolving.
Connect with Lauren Mia: Instagram | Spotify
Tesh
Tesh operates at the intersection of emotional songwriting and club driven energy, creating music that works equally well on packed dancefloors and in solitary headphone moments. His sound pulls from UK garage and underground club culture, balancing groove, texture, and vulnerability in ways that feel increasingly rare in electronic music. Entering 2026, he's defined his next chapter with No More Tears, a focused EP featuring collaborators Mulay, Pollena, and Zhuli that represents his most cohesive work to date. The project pairs forward leaning production with honest emotional weight, capturing growth, restraint, and intention. Beyond the EP, Tesh has been testing unreleased club records in real spaces, refining a sound centered on connection, movement, and lasting impact. His approach lately explores UK rave culture, EU hard groove techno, and the LA underground scene, blending that groove and energy into more vulnerable songwriting.
What's the one creative goal or project you're prioritizing in 2026, and why does it matter to you right now?
My main focus in 2026 is finishing and releasing my No More Tears EP in a way that feels fully realized, not rushed, not fragmented. It's a project that reflects a lot of emotional growth for me, both personally and creatively, and it's the most honest body of work I've put out so far. Right now it matters because I'm at a point where I want my releases to feel intentional and cohesive, not just singles, but a story that listeners can really sit with.
What do you want your sound to evolve toward in 2026, and what's the first step to get there?
In 2026, I want my sound to lean deeper into club driven energy while still holding onto the emotional weight that defines my music. Lately I've been exploring UK rave culture, EU hard groove techno, and the LA underground scene, with the intention of blending that groove and energy into more vulnerable songwriting. The first step is already underway. I have a vault of unreleased club records ready to go, and I am focused on testing them in real spaces and refining how they connect on the dancefloor.
Connect with Tesh: Instagram | Spotify
Hex Cougar
Hex Cougar has built a devoted following over six years through his sinister, mysterious persona and emotionally charged, genre bending productions. The LA based producer has earned over 70 million streams across platforms, with support from Diplo, Skrillex, Porter Robinson, DJ Snake, The Chainsmokers, and Jauz. His resume includes remixes for Baauer, RL Grime, Illenium, Alison Wonderland, KRANE, and Sia, alongside numerous original productions. In early 2020, he released his debut EP Under The Light Of A Dying Moon with a fully immersive nine and a half minute short film. Singles like "Hourglass" with AWAY and josh pan, and "Sacrifice" featuring Ruby Red have collectively earned over four million streams. Beyond his artist project, Hex Cougar continues building his reputation as a tastemaker through his label Alter/Ego, launched in late 2020 to showcase eclectic, complex underground electronic music.
What's the one creative goal or project you're prioritizing in 2026, and why does it matter to you right now?
I tend to overthink and second guess myself, which can stall great ideas before they ever see the light of day. This year, my goal is to stop letting perfectionism control my process. I'm focused on trusting my instincts, creating faster, and letting the work exist. That shift is crucial as I finish and release my debut album.
What do you want your sound to evolve toward in 2026, and what's the first step to get there?
There's so much pressure right now to chase what's commercial or algorithm friendly, and I think that's taken a lot of the soul out of music. In 2026, I want to be more fearless and experimental with my sound, making work that challenges people, reframes genres, and doesn't fit neatly into a box. The first step is giving myself permission to take risks again, prioritizing curiosity and originality over optimization.
Connect with Hex Cougar: Instagram | Spotify
Roddy Lima
Roddy Lima has rapidly emerged as one of electronic music's most exciting global talents through a combination of raw, captivating sound and relentless work ethic. The São Paulo native transformed from bedroom producer to international touring artist in remarkably short time, earning his place on some of the world's most respected stages including Club Space Miami and Hï Ibiza. His releases on Repopulate Mars, Experts Only, and Black Book Records have charted on Beatport and become dancefloor staples, with support from tastemakers including FISHER, John Summit, Anyma, and PAWSA. A pivotal breakout period brought a number one Beatport Techno chart release, BBC Radio 1 support from Pete Tong, and sold out headline shows across North America. His collaboration with Vintage Culture on "Analog Ascent" echoed across major stages worldwide, while his latest single "LICK IT" with Sarah de Warren on Insomniac Records signals his continued ascent into bigger rooms and bolder territory.
What's the one creative goal or project you're prioritizing in 2026, and why does it matter to you right now?
In 2026, my main creative priority is releasing a cohesive body of work that fully represents where I am artistically and personally. It matters right now because I'm at a point where my skills, taste, and perspective are aligning at the right time. I'm less interested in chasing moments and more focused on building something honest and lasting that people can really connect with.
What do you want your sound to evolve toward in 2026, and what's the first step to get there?
I want my sound to evolve toward something more refined and emotionally direct. Still rooted in what I love, but with more space and confidence. Less overthinking, more feeling.
