Deadmau5

Toronto-based progressive house-keeper Deadmau5 is groovin' proof, if any were needed, that the international superstar DJ wasn't killed off during the ascendancy of the skinny jean and the '00s guitar revival — he merely returned to nature and pulled on a giant cartoon rodent head. The stage name and persona behind which Joel Zimmerman loiters has provided a unique and captivating stage presence, but none of that would work without great tunes, and he supplies them in buckets . . . from breakthrough track "Faxing Berlin" (championed by Pete Tong), through sky-surfing Kaskade collaboration "I Remember," to the GRAMMY®-nominated remix of Morgan Page's "The Longest Road."

Feel even more alive with Deadmau5 by heading over to Next Steps.

Not only has Deadmau5 split his time between crafting world-class original beats and adding his alchemical remix touch to the work of others, but he has also spoken out against lazy DJs who lack innovative skills — and, as you'll hear in Next Steps, mend-bending originality is a Deadmau5 trademark. Check out his contemplative treatment of the Calvin Harris track "I'm Not Alone" before dialing up the stun guns and android foot-stomps of Wolfgang Gartner collaboration "Animal Rights," the circuit-scorching minimalism of "Fustercluck" from 2006's Vexillology, and the frenetic, funked-up debut-album-opener, "The Oshawa Connection."

Not too many humanoid rodent DJs get to play a set at the Winter Olympics, but Deadmau5 managed to notch that gig on his ever-swelling list of high-profile engagements, during the Whistler Medals Ceremony in 2010. But, hey, the Toronto native is way more than a slightly cheesy, sound-spinning novelty: he's a truly global phenomenon, a star draw on the worldwide dance-festival circuit, with a massive following in multiple countries. Joel Zimmerman (for that is his real name) has achieved more #1 hits on Billboard's Hot Dance Airplay chart than any other Canadian, largely because he's a master of mood and atmosphere, able to switch up from sidewinding sonic weirdness to dedicated floor-banging at the flick of a mix-switch. Here we bridge the gap between the more ambient stylings of early track "I Forget" and high-voltage offerings like "Sofi Needs a Ladder" from 2010's production compilation 4x4=12. Go ahead — it's OK to feed the mau5.