PRETTY LIGHTS
Ten miles of darkness and 2000 cars separated us from the festival we had only dreamt about. As we stared forward, excited and anxious, there was a faint flicker towards the sky and then the familiar explosion of fireworks in the distance. A roar ripped through the desert from the cars around us. Indian chiefs and their topless girlfriends yelled and cheered out their windows, as packs of neon spattered fur boots ran by on foot. This was the scene I had heard so much about. The one that would save dance music events
Insomniac’s Electric Daisy Carnival has consistently been remarked as the premier Electronic Music festival in the country. With steady competition from Ultra Music Festival , and the multitude of other events that have developed in the past few years, claiming that title is quite a feat. Insomniac’s founder, Pasquale Rotella, has rose through the ranks of California promoters to a point of utmost success. He has absolutely earned his stripes, with the immense scale of his events and consequences this sometimes brings. The risk involved with such massive gatherings as these has made it necessary for Pasquale to impose a new standard for safety at these events, both at the gates and in the festival. In both appearance and functionality, EDC proved to be nothing less than the world-class event that was beckoned for.
If there was a competition for a festival with the best word play, we'd imagine that the Summer Set festival, in Somerset, Wisconsin, would take the cake. Unfortunately, that's not how things like this are judged, so we must differ to the standard measure: the lineup.
Luckily for us, Summer Set delivers on both fronts, boasting a pretty impressive lineup over its three days of music, camping and more. Headliners Pretty Lights, Umphrey's McGee and Big Gigantic are supported by rap legends NaS and Black Starr (Talib Kweli + Mos Def) and tons of others.
Summertime is all about the amazing slew of music festivals scattered around the country. And what better way to close out a season of musical magic than the North Coast Music Festival - a Chicago fest boasting a lineup filled with electronic, hip-hop and indie-funk acts.
Imagine if Lollapalooza had an baby with Electric Daisy Carnival, with a smidge of Bonnaroo festi-feelings thrown in and you would have North Coast Music Festival. The three-day outdoor rave, starting August 31, has booked a spectacular balance of acts including Pretty Lights, Axwell, Atmosphere, Steve Aoki, Big Boi and more.
It's always exciting when a new festival comes around. Here in the US, this is happening more often these days, helped by the huge increase in the popularity of EDM. Enter Counterpoint which stems from a collaboration between MCP Presents (Camp Bisco, Light All Night) and C3 (Lallopalooza, Austin City Limits), two of the biggest festival promoters in the US. With their knowledge and sway, they've attracted what may end up being one of the finest lineups of the year. Including Bassnectar, Skrillex, Pretty Lights, AVICII, Steve Angello and over 50 others, this multi-day, camper friendly festival is sure to cause quite a splash. Heading to Atlanta on September 27-29, the city will never be the same again.
Electric Zoo's Phase 1 Festival lineup has just been announced! Taking place Aug 31 - Sept 2 on Randall's Island here in NYC, this year's festival has THE biggest names in EDM. Check out the killer lineup that includes Pretty Lights, Above & Beyond, Laidback Luke, Hardwell, Martin Solveig, Tiesto, Steve Aoki, David Guetta, A-trak, and more. Get your tickets while you still can!
After nine years of dominating the music industry, Alex Botwin is better than ever under the alias of his new electronic music project Paper Diamond. The 28-year-old producer snagged a prominent Ultra Music Festival set-time and used that hour to amaze the crowd with his high-energy dance tracks and intricately-layered, bass-filled beats.
The uber-success of his latest album release “Levitate” has put Paper Diamond on the map when it comes to electronic talent. As one of the most prominent DJs on the Pretty Lights Music label, Alex is making waves with his uniquely catchy tunes you just can’t help but sing along with.
The Grammys and the Hyundai Veloster teamed up to present and release a one-of-a-kind documentary film entitled "The Re:Generation Music Project." The film played at select theaters nationwide for only two dates, February 16th and 23rd.
After attending an exclusive screening on the 23rd, viewers were entertained as well as educated on what goes into the creative process of making music. For the 90-minute running time, viewers got to experience the creative and collaborative process of five producers, as they set out to work with some of the greatest artists in their assigned genres. The likes of The Dap Kings, Trombone Shorty, Erykah Badu, Mos Def, Ralph Stanley, and Martha Reeves graced the screen to collaborate with today's top DJs to bridge the musical gap between different genres and generations!
After discovering house music in 2010, I dabbled in the different sects of electronica and found myself in love. In March of 2011, I made my official crossover from rap-enthusiast to househead when I attended Ultra Music Festival. Nearly a year later, I cannot wait to return to my stomping grounds and once again bask in the harmonious music and beating sunshine.
Last year’s festival was an incredible experience, but as a newbie, I had a lot to learn. The low-point of my weekend was when my ticket was ripped off of the lanyard strewn around my neck by a drunken fool. The maniac grabbed the ticket that was hanging above my chest, and ran. Luckily, my mother had always instilled within me the importance of self-defense, so I lunged at the crazy kid who attempted to steal the $275 ticket and returned the item to its rightful owner... me.
When you think Skrillex, you probably think long, flowing hair, dizzying dubstep beats, and a sweaty, packed club filled with house-heads entranced by the sounds in the air. You likely don't associate the rising star with The Doors, a band your parents probably saw in that very same club before dubstep, and you, existed. For whatever it's worth, the artist also known as Sonny Moore collaborated with several members of the legendary classic rock unit, and the results? You'll just have to hear for yourself.
Chelsea Market opened its doors to some of New York's most notorious music talents last night, as film and music buffs gathered to catch a sneak preview of Amir Bar-Lev's new toe-tapping documentary, "Re:Generation."
DJ Premier, listed by The Source as one of "the top 5 producers in hip hop history," appeared alongside the award-winning filmmaker Bar-Lev ("My Kid Could Paint That," "The Pat Tillman Story") in a Q&A before hitting the turntables himself. The invite-only crowd, featuring an eclectic mix of sleek scenesters, hip hop impresarios, and grungy music journalists, was treated to live performances by Premier, rocker and vice presidential nephew Jamie Biden, and DJ pair AndrewAndrew. Hyundai, who sponsored the film, supplied booze, Pop Burger sliders, and tricked-out cars complete with do-it-yourself turntables and video game systems.
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