Under the Radar
Under the Radar
Underground house artists you’re going to be hearing a lot more of. One pick at a time, chosen for the records, never for money.
01
The pick
DJ Sauce
Jorge “DJ Sauce” Esparza was born in El Paso, Texas, raised in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, and now lives in Denver, Colorado. He founded Lubdub Records, played his first gig in 2016, and has shared booths with Lee Burridge, Nick Warren, Dana Ruh, Riva Starr and Latmun.
His sound runs from eclectic house melodies to raw acid cuts. The records are on small labels: PhonicHouse1, Sonido Wey, FRSCKO World, Street Habitat, his own Lubdub. No hype machine. That’s the point.
02
How we pick
What gets an artist Under the Radar
- The records are real. Released music on labels you can check, not just a mix series.
- The room knows. They’ve earned booths next to established names, not bought them.
- The charts don’t, yet. Small labels, small rooms, no major push.
- Never paid. Picks are editorial. If that ever changes for a feature, it will be labelled as paid.
03
Dig further
Where underground house lives
Want to find the next one yourself? Read how to find new house music before everyone else, or start with the sounds DJ Sauce comes from: acid house and Denver’s scene.
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FAQ
Questions people ask
What does Under the Radar mean?
It’s our pick of an underground house artist with real releases and real booth time who hasn’t broken through to the charts yet.
Can artists pay to be featured?
No. Under the Radar picks are editorial and are never sold.
Who is the current Under the Radar artist?
DJ Sauce, the Denver-based founder of Lubdub Records.