Damian Lazarus

Few figures in electronic music have shaped both sound and culture as profoundly as Damian Lazarus. DJ, producer, label head and ritual architect, he has built worlds as much as careers — from the globally influential Crosstown Rebels label to transformational gatherings like Day Zero, Get Lost and Rebel Rave. Lazarus stands not just as a leading exponent of contemporary house and techno, but as one of its most visionary tastemakers and pathfinders.

As a DJ, Damian’s mastery is exceptional. A true storyteller, he often commands those liminal moments of the day — sunrise, sunset, and the hours in between — when only his kind of set will suffice. These are moments that demand a soundtrack capable not just of fitting the mood, but of elevating it, transporting audiences to a deeper, more immersive state. While he remains a fixture at the world’s most revered clubbing institutions, Damian is equally renowned for performances beyond the traditional club environment. From jungles, beaches and deserts to mountains and ancient ruins, he is adept at conjuring unforgettable experiences in extraordinary locations.

Nowhere is this ethos more apparent than at Day Zero, the longstanding Tulum institution which, in 2026, expands with new editions in Brazil and Bali. Alongside the seminal Get Lost and Rebel Rave events — both scene-defining parties in their own right — these gatherings epitomise Damian’s approach to creating singular, transformative moments. Increasingly, this vision is intertwined with a commitment to environmental responsibility, with a growing focus on making his life, labels and events as sustainable and conscious as possible.

Damian’s visionary instincts are equally evident in his work as a curator and label head. Through Crosstown Rebels and Rebellion, he has been instrumental in discovering and nurturing some of the most influential artists in modern electronic music, including Jamie Jones, Maceo Plex and Art Department. His A&R sensibility is widely regarded as second to none, driven by an unwavering dedication to sounds that exist at the outer edges of the dancefloor. This commitment has ensured a constant renewal of both his own sound and his global following. In 2023, Crosstown Rebels celebrated its 20th anniversary — a milestone marked by a book, a compilation, and a world tour spanning the clubs, cities and places that have inspired and shaped the label.

As anyone who has witnessed Lazarus DJ or listened to his Lazpod series can attest, his musical influences are deep and wide-ranging, encompassing show tunes, drum & bass, jazz, electro, soul, house, techno and everything in between. From his debut album Smoke The Monster Out, through the more expansive releases with the Ancient Moons collective (featuring Moses Sumney among a host of collaborators), to his 2020 solo album Flourish (Crosstown Rebels / Higher Ground), Damian’s recorded output reflects a lifetime immersed in diverse scenes and movements — from London’s drum & bass underground, to electroclash, and ultimately to his pivotal role in shaping contemporary underground house and techno. These musical journeys are at once shadowed and uplifting, introspective yet expansive.

This same philosophy carries through to his Re-Shapes (remixes) for artists such as Bedouin, Black Coffee, Krust and Teddy Pendergrass, as well as a series of high-profile collaborations. Highlights include the Grammy-nominated Don’t Be Afraid with Diplo and Jungle (Higher Ground / Because, 2021), and Start Over with Gorgon City featuring Leia Contois (Crosstown Rebels, 2022).

Collaboration continued at the heart of Damian’s most recent album, Magickal, released in 2025 on Crosstown Rebels during the week of Day Zero Tulum. Met with widespread critical acclaim, Magickal weaves together threads from across his catalogue to form a cohesive tapestry of sound, serving as both a continuation and a re-imagining of earlier narratives. Featuring an expansive cast of collaborators — including Jem Cooke, Fink, JOJO ABOT, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, A-Trak, Mathew Jonson, Mestiza and Zoe Kypri — the album explores themes of mental elevation, psychedelia and transformative sonic journeys.

True to form, Damian rejected convention in the album’s release strategy. Magickal was kept entirely under wraps before being announced and released without warning on 8 January 2025, bypassing the modern cycle of extended single campaigns and fragmented album rollouts. The result was a bold reaffirmation of the album as a complete artistic statement — intended to be experienced in full from beginning to end. Singles, edits and remixes followed, alongside a world tour and a series of immersive presentations, including tarot-inspired magicians, and a Magickal Mystery night in New York.

Ibiza remains a central pillar of Damian’s story. After a four-year residency in the Club Room at Hï Ibiza alongside his longtime friend Black Coffee, he chose to close that chapter in 2026 in order to embrace new freedom — returning to Saturday night parties around the world and resuming guest appearances at the island’s most iconic events. From early moments playing live with the techno string sextet Instrumental at Café del Mar in 1999, through Manumission’s Back Room and an impromptu terrace appearance at Space in 2001, it is at CircoLoco where Damian has most indelibly etched his name into Ibizan folklore. His legendary Main Room sets have closed the CircoLoco season for over a decade.

Throughout a career defined by consistency, curiosity and reinvention, Damian Lazarus has maintained an unrelenting flow of creativity and innovation. Ever evolving yet unmistakably himself, he continues along his mystical path — sharing his vision, energy and spirit with dancefloors across the globe. Open your mind, embrace the magic, and prepare for the next bewitching chapter.