Skiddle's Artist of the Year 2024 - Sammy Virji
After such an incredible year releasing banger after banger and taking UKG Global, Sammy Virji had to be our artist of the year.
Last updated: 31st Dec 2024
Originally published: 30th Dec 2024
2024 is all but over, and what a year it’s been in the music world.
Whether you had a Brat Summer, you were locked into the Kendrick and Drake beef, or you fished out your parkas (and actually managed to get tickets) for the Oasis reunion; The world of popular music has had a wild ride.
Where dance music culture is concerned, everyone and their nan made a Flight FM remix, french house titans Justice returned with their new record ‘Hyperdrama’, and UK Garage has made a remarkable resurgence both in its home across the UK and beyond in the rest of the world.
UK Garage's global revolution is due to several factors. Still, above all, it has been down to the creativity of the artists at its forefront, and the man leading that charge is also who Skiddle has chosen as our Artist Of The Year…
Of course, it’s none other than Sammy Virji.
Ever since his nomination by DJ Mag for Best Producer in their Best of British awards late last year following his live set at their HQ (which has clocked up over a million views on YouTube) Sammy’s profile has skyrocketed.
Such astronomical heights reached by Virji not only include achievements on home soil, of which he has had a sell-out tour, but he took UKG global with sell-out tours in both North America and Japan too.
On the latter, Virji in said interview with Skiddle early in the year; "I think the maddest place to see was Japan, I just came back from there last week and they know the tunes and they're all singing along and going mad, and just baffles me that it's reached that far. It's really cool."
Read the rest of our interview with Sammy Virji - HERE
The former concluded in one of most the notable sets of Virji’s career, his Boiler Room in Denver. A showcase of the eminent positivity that Virji is spreading globally, a flagpole in the sands of shores afar that UKG is here to stay, and a set that is a bottomless pit of bangers.
Yet to reduce Sammy’s exploits to his live sets would be reductive of his impact. 2024 saw him produce a string of bangers that includes ‘Moonlight’ and ‘Bogeyman’ as well as some wicked collabs with the likes of Joy Anonymous on ‘JOY (By My Side)’, Chris Lake on ‘Summertime Blues’ ft Nathan Nicholson, and most recently with Interplanetary Criminal on 'Damager'.
Basically, the boy can't stop making bangers.
2024 also saw Sammy receive spins from some of the industry's darlings, most notably during the epic collaboration between Jamie XX, Floating Points, and Daphni at this year’s Coachella. Daphni both kicked off the set with Virji and Champion’s “Hot In Here” and selected “Shella Verse” as its penultimate track, showcasing Sammy’s talent to one of the US's biggest audiences.
We at Skiddle absolutely love Sammy Virji. No one emanates such positivity and radiance when playing, no one so in tune and in love with his scene, and no one who makes wobbly UKG-fused basslines quite like him.
Whether, like us, you’re already in love with Sammy Virji or fancy seeing what she’s all about yourself, click or tap here to see his artist page and give her a follow to ensure you’re the first to know about any events he announces with Skiddle. Expect to see more of this fantastic DJ and producer in 2025 because we’re certain he’s just going to keep rising and rising.
Check out our What's On Guide to discover even more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.
