For a pair that specialize in giddy, girly EDM and brainrot electroclash-think Crystal Castles and 100 gecs by way of Nicki Minaj's "Starships" and Bangerz-era Miley Cyrus-meeting on Minecraft is perhaps the only logical origin story. And the best tracks on Beautiful Disaster, the duo's new mixtape, evoke the same feeling as the online realm where they first found each other: neuron-frying yet ecstatic and all-consuming.
At 13, I was like, if I could ever hang out with Skrillex, my life would be complete, he says, sipping a pilsner on an icy day in Washington DC. Then by 15, I'm doing it. Enticed by the sugar rush of America's booming EDM scene, and armed with little more than a Soundcloud account, a knack for knocking out zeitgeisty bootlegs and a little teenage bravado, this kid from Bethesda a comfy suburb north-west of the US capital was suddenly opening for Diplo.
With the absence of Electric Zoo, and now Brooklyn Mirage, we saw a major hole in the market for this kind of show, said Medium Rare Co-founder, Adam Richman. It's no easy feat to produce a 50,000-person festival on an island but we're fortunate to have done it before and have gained the trust of city officials. It's a full circle moment for us and it's truly incredible to see the Experts Only Fest come to life.
48 Hills is teaming up with some of SF's best music venues-Regency Ballroom (plus amazing new VIP lounge Marble Room), Great American Music Hall, Brick & Mortar, Monarch, the Midway, and more-to get you to some shows throughout the season. Say tuned for more! Portola Music Fest hits this weekend, but some of the major action is in the satellite shows and parties outside the fest, like deep EDM groovers Prospa at the Midway on Fri/19.
Insomniac, Non Plus Ultra Productions and The Midway present the inaugural Discovery Meadow festival for all those bass heads, ravers, house fanatics and plain ol' EDM lovers. The two-day fest will be held in Discovery Meadow (next to the Children's Discovery Museum), marking a possible new yearly tradition right in our own backyard. The first day, revelers will get to dance to the sounds of Cat Liu, Dream Takers, DJ Susan, Habstrakt, Troyboi and DJ Snake.
The resurgence of past genres like electrofunk and disco is evident in modern EDM, as demonstrated by acts like Satin Jackets, led by Tim Bernhardt.
Cosmic Gate, formed in 1999 by Claus Terhoeven and Stefan Bossems, has evolved from hard trance to a melodic, progressive sound, captivating EDM audiences.