Main impartial digital music label mau5trap is kicking off 2026 with a renewed give attention to rising expertise by way of the discharge of We Are Friends Vol. 12: Disk 1. The 15-track compilation marks the primary of two disks within the label’s long-running We Are Mates (WAF) collection, which has turn into a cornerstone of mau5trap’s artist discovery mission.
Following a powerful 2025 that included releases from deadmau5, BlackGummy, Becking, Screamarts, Skellytn, and Lamorn, mau5trap enters the brand new 12 months spotlighting recent and forward-thinking initiatives, led by the discharge focus observe ‘1 Of My Form’ from The XTTC. The compilation additionally options beforehand launched singles together with ‘Supersonic Digital (On Acid)’ from Ciauru and a particular remix of deadmau5’s basic ‘Strobe’ by &mates and Moeaike.
We Are Mates Vol. 12: Disk 1 – Tracklist
- Ciauru – Supersonic Digital (On Acid)
- Avis Vox – Disguise!
- The XTTC – 1 Of My Form
- Meyer, imallryt – Management
- Hreez – Flip The Place Down
- Micha Mendel – Ya Aeny
- Quantaloop – Fractured Mirror
- ELAC – Sub Terra
- Me & You – Acid Love
- Liudicrious – Stressed
- robinrabauke – BLP
- Penultimate – Hear
- Sysdemes – KNAVE
- infinikid – Refracture
- deadmau5, &mates, Moeaike – Strobe (&mates, Moeaike Retake)
Highlight on The XTTC
Serving because the compilation’s focus act, The XTTC is an nameless collaboration between an digital music producer/DJ and a visible artist with roots in comics and large-scale live performance visuals. The venture is constructed across the fantasy narrative of three masked vigilantes — X, Ruby Knives, and Lil C — who exist to disrupt energy buildings and inject chaos into methods of management, all soundtracked by driving electro, seductive vocals, and dark-room vitality.
Quite than functioning as a digital band, The XTTC makes use of alter-egos as a type of artistic resistance, selecting anonymity as an announcement towards identity-driven algorithms and visibility tradition. The venture permits its creators to step exterior authorship and ego, creating house for insurrection, contradiction, and freedom — an ethos encapsulated of their rallying cry: ‘Dance and Destroy.’
Remixing a Traditional and Championing New Voices
Italian producer Ciauru leads the compilation’s cost with the club-oriented ‘Supersonic Electronic (On Acid),’ a high-energy reduce pushed by tribal rhythms and sharp electro textures. The one remix on Disk 1 sees rising artists &mates and Moeaike ship a recent retake of deadmau5’s iconic ‘Strobe.’
&mates continues to construct world momentum following breakout singles like ‘Temptation’ with Bipolar Sunshine and ‘Jackie B,‘ whereas Italian duo Moeaike gained widespread consideration in 2024 with their hit ‘Mala Fama.’ Their inclusion locations them alongside a prestigious listing of official ‘Strobe’ remixers, together with Layton Giordani, Dimension, and Lane 8.
Past the headline tracks, WAF12 introduces listeners to a various roster of rising expertise, together with Avis Vox, Hreez, ELAC, Me & You, Penultimate, and extra — reinforcing mau5trap’s long-standing dedication to cultivating the following technology of digital music artists.
We Are Friends Vol. 12: Disk 1 Now streaming on all platforms.
