Dirty South

Kicking his career off as a mash-up artist, Serbian-Australian producer Dragan Roganović has released many successful EDM productions and remixes under the moniker Dirty South. Prone to grandiose crescendos and euphoric dance cuts, he began issuing a series of original progressive and electro house albums in the 2010s and even branched out into film with his indie pop-inspired second album, 2014's With You, which included a self-directed visual accompaniment piece. In the latter part of the decade, his shimmering sound took on a slightly darker hue, especially with his fourth full-length, 2018's Darko.

Born in Belgrade, Dragan moved with his family to Australia when he was 13. He first began making bootleg remixes of dance tracks with only a tape deck, a mixer, and a splicer at his disposal, but in 2004 he bought his first laptop computer and Dirty South was born. The <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Vicious+Vinyl%22">Vicious Vinyl</a> label would issue his debut single, "Sleazy," in 2005, while 2006 saw his remix of <a href="spotify:artist:5VWIuZAPbBdtFHdbDyYeHQ">Evermore</a>'s "It's Too Late" top the Australian club charts. In 2008 his remix of <a href="spotify:artist:6TQj5BFPooTa08A7pk8AQ1">Kaskade</a>'s "Sorry" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Remixed Recording, while 2011 saw him nominated for the award again for his work on <a href="spotify:artist:4W48hZAnAHVOC2c8WH8pcq">the Temper Trap</a>'s "Sweet Disposition." The compilation Strictly Dirty South was released in 2011 as well. In 2012 he released the "City of Dreams" single in collaboration with Swedish DJ <a href="spotify:artist:4AVFqumd2ogHFlRbKIjp1t">Alesso</a>, while 2013 saw him make his official debut with the album Speed of Life. His 2014 LP, With You, was influenced by indie pop and was accompanied by a 38-minute film directed by Roganović with songs from the album as its soundtrack. While he continued to issue singles like "Find a Way," "All of Us," and "I Swear," he wouldn't return with another full-length until XV. Released in February 2018, the set featured <a href="spotify:artist:3xbmS6qcRWTyILBoaqAPT4">ANIMA!</a> on "Next to You" and "If It All Stops," Rudy on "Love Story" and "Higher," and <a href="spotify:artist:31Eea8xaK1xAMyJy2iWE0z">Eden Prince</a> on "Believe." Roganović returned later that year with his fourth Dirty South album, Darko, which he described as the "moodier cousin of XV." The moody vibes continued on the more club-driven 2019 EP Little Devious, though the 2020 single, "Kiss from God," saw a return to the lofty celestial pop of his earlier style. ~ David Jeffries, Rovi