Thu 10 Apr 2025 • Freddie Hill
World-class DJs make their Defected Croatia debut
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We spotlight the incredible artists playing our summer festival for the very first time
Defected Croatia 2025 will begin on Wednesday 30 July until the early hours of Monday 04 August. Festival tickets are available via the tabs above.
To celebrate the ninth edition at The Garden Resort in Tisno, we will be spotlighting nine incredible artists playing our summer festival for the very first time.
We will continue to update this series approaching our epic weekend festival of pure house hedonism. Read on for the three DJs kickstarting our debut artist series…
KERRI CHANDLER
A true icon of house music and a firm friend of Defected, Kerri Chandler will bring decades of deep, soulful, groove-rich energy to the Tisno dancefloor this summer; fans may be surprised that he has never actually played at Defected Croatia before!
Raised on a foundation of jazz, soul and disco, Kerri has been a defining force in the scene since the early 90s. His tracks continue to shape the deep house sound, while his legendary DJ sets - often featuring a reel-to-reel tape machine - highlight his elite skillset and dedication to the craft.
In recent years, Kerri has continued to push boundaries while staying true to his roots, with standout sets at venues like DC10 in Ibiza, Roundhouse in London and Knockdown Center in New York reminding audiences why he’s one of the most respected names in the game.
His 2022 album Spaces and Places was a love letter to the clubs that shaped him, with each track recorded in a different iconic nightclub around the world. The three-hour epic received acclaim from Resident Advisor, Mixmag and The Guardian, then nominated for Best Album at DJ Mag’s Best of North America Awards 2023.
With a new generation of fans discovering his sound, and long-time followers still showing up in force, we’re so proud to welcome such a pioneering artist to the Croatia line-up; Kerri Chandler is a true house music champion.
UNCLE WAFFLES
Also landing at Defected Croatia in 2025 is Uncle Waffles, a Swazi-born DJ and producer who is a certified titan of the South African amapiano scene. The fresh genre - stemming from kwaito and house - combines elements of deep house, jazz and lounge music characterized by highly melodic and percussive compositions with hypnotic piano lines.
Uncle Waffles burst onto the scene in 2021 after a video of her performing went viral across social media. With almost three million Instagram followers, Uncle Waffles remains a torchbearer for amapiano on the world stage, earning her the title of ‘Princess of Amapiano’.
2022 saw Uncle Waffles released her critically acclaimed debut EP, Red Dragon, with single ‘Tanzania’ topping the charts in SA and now certified 7x Platinum. Along the way, her impressive list of accolades includes Women Of The Year at the GQ Awards in SA, Best African DJ at the African Muzik Magazine Awards, and a nomination for Best International Act at the BET Awards.
Alongside collaborating with Pharrell Williams, presenting awards with Prince William, and receiving support from Drake, this amapiano pioneer continues to perform internationally and popularise the genre beyond the continent; we can’t wait to see what Uncle Waffles brings to the ninth edition of Defected Croatia this summer.
GIRLS DON'T SYNC
For the very first time, all-female DJ collective Girls Don’t Sync are heading to Defected Croatia in 2025. Formed in Liverpool, the crew is made up of Matty Chiabi, G33, Sophia Violet, and Hannah Lynch – each a powerhouse united by a mission to bring more inclusivity and sisterhood to dancefloors everywhere.
Since forming in summer 2021, Girls Don’t Sync have risen rapidly from local favourites to festival mainstays, becoming synonymous with feel-good, high-energy sets that blends UK garage with funky house and dancehall. Whether it's a Boiler Room set, Mixmag Lab, or festival appearance at Glastonbury or Parklife, Girls Don’t Sync are a guaranteed good time.
In 2024, the collective forayed into production, launching their own imprint Fourmation Records and releasing their debut single ‘Come Thru’ - a vibrant, percussion-driven anthem that cemented their eclectic sound and showcased their evolution from party starters to fully fledged artists.
Outside of the booth, Girls Don’t Sync are also making a lasting impact through their mentoring and tutoring programs, creating spaces and opportunities for the next generation of FLINTA* (Female, Lesbian, Intersex, Non-binary, Trans and Agender people) artists in electronic music.
With their sound, presence, and purpose growing louder by the day, Girls Don’t Sync are all set to bring the heat to our Croatia festival.
Stay tuned for the next part of our Defected Croatia 2025 debut artist series, coming soon… In the meantime, checkout the festival line-up here.
The ninth edition of Defected Croatia will take place Wednesday 30 July until the early hours of Monday 04 August 2025.
Tickets, including Klarna and Group Payment options, are available to purchase via the tabs above.
