2016 was THE yr for EDM. Calvin Harris headlined Coachella, Avicii performed at Extremely for the final time ❤️, Skrillex dropped his unforgettable Boiler Room set, Rufus Du Sol launched into the stratosphere after thir Coachella Do Lab set. It was actually the golden period of EDM.
In honor of 2016, we’ve been going by means of all of our favourite units from that yr and thought we’d share them with you.
Avicii – Extremely Music Competition Miami
I’m not going to lie. This one nonetheless hits completely different realizing it was Tim’s last Extremely efficiency. And what a strategy to exit. He opened with “With out You” that includes Sandro Cavazza and instantly had the whole crowd locked in. When he dropped “I May Be The One” with Nicky Romero, you can actually really feel 50,000 folks turn out to be one. However the true second? When these iconic melodies of “Ranges” hit on the 21-minute mark. I’ve by no means seen pyro sync so completely with a drop in my life. He previewed unreleased gems like “Eternally Yours,” “Metropolis Lights,” and even teased “Heaven” with Chris Martin vocals. The person gave us a 52-minute masterclass in progressive home, throwing down “Wake Me Up,” “Hey Brother,” and “Ready For Love” again to again. Each single particular person in that crowd knew they have been witnessing one thing particular. We simply didn’t understand how particular it could find yourself being. Relaxation straightforward, legend. ◢ ◤
Skrillex – Boiler Room Shanghai
Okay, let me inform you concerning the set that broke the web. This wasn’t simply Skrillex’s Boiler Room debut—this was Sonny Moore reminding the whole world why he’s the GOAT. From the bounce with JOYRYDE’s “Sizzling Drum” mashed with “Renegade Grasp,” you knew this wasn’t going to be your typical pageant set. The person went completely FERAL, dropping “El Chapo” into the Sikdope remix, throwing in Getter & Ghastly’s “666!” whereas the Shanghai crowd misplaced their minds in that tiny room. When he transitioned the Jack Ü monitor “Thoughts” (Malaa Remix) into that filthy bass home part? CRIMINAL. This set proved that Skrillex doesn’t want a mainstage with one million LED screens. Give him a crowd of 200 folks in a sweaty room in China and he’ll create pure chaos. Attempt to depend the tracks he rips by means of in simply over an hour. The vitality in that room was so insane you can really feel it by means of the display. That is the set I ship to anybody who says “Skrillex solely does dubstep.” No. Skrillex does no matter Skrillex desires.
Calvin Harris – Coachella
Calvin got here to the desert and completely DOMINATED. Headlining the Coachell mainstage is already a flex, however Calvin made it look easy. Opening with that “Candy Nothing” intro into Rihanna’s “BBHMM” R3hab remix instantly set the tone; he was cueing up a biggest hits celebration. “Considering About You,” “I Want Your Love,” “Below Management” with Alesso; hit after hit after hit. When he dropped his remix of “Eat Sleep Rave Repeat” and transitioned into “Lean On,” the whole polo discipline erupted. The “Outdoors” into “We Discovered Love” mashup? CHEF’S KISS. And when “How Deep Is Your Love” and “Blame” got here by means of these audio system in the course of the sundown? I genuinely suppose folks ascended. It was the second Calvin Harris cemented himself not simply as a producer however as a real headline-worthy performer. First EDM artist to headline Coachella? He earned each second of it.
Disclosure – Coachella
The Lawrence brothers introduced that UK home warmth to the California desert and completely DELIVERED. Their reside set was a journey by means of each “Settle” and “Caracal” and it was pure magic. Opening with “White Noise” that includes AlunaGeorge instantly transported everybody to a London warehouse. When “F For You” with Mary J Blige dropped, the groove was so infectious I swear I noticed folks discovering home music in actual time. “Magnets” with Lorde? Ethereal. “When A Fireplace Begins To Burn?” The complete tent was a correct rave. “Holding On” with Gregory Porter’s vocals hovering over that sundown was genuinely one of the crucial stunning moments I’ve ever witnessed at a pageant. They closed with “Latch” that includes Sam Smith and the gang sang each single phrase. Man and Howard proved that UK storage and home music belongs on the most important phases on the planet.
Martin Garrix – Extremely Music Competition Miami
At simply 19 years outdated, Martin Garrix took the Extremely mainstage and reminded everybody why he’s been dominating since “Animals” dropped. However this set was completely different—this was Martin evolving. He opened with “Lions In The Wild” and instantly had the gang bouncing. The “Poison” into “Wizard” mashup with Jay Hardway was absolute CHAOS. When he introduced out “Flip Up The Audio system” into “Virus (How About Now),” the vitality was unmatched. However the true spotlight? He premiered “In The Title Of Love” with Bebe Rexha and the whole crowd knew this was about to be the music of the summer time. The “Tremor” into “Ready For Love” (Avicii) mashup was an exquisite tribute. “Don’t Look Down” with Usher, “Gold Skies,” “Now That I’ve Discovered You” because the nearer—Martin proved he wasn’t simply the Animals child anymore. He was a authentic famous person.
Deadmau5 – Extremely Music Competition Miami
Joel determined to take Extremely’s Reside Stage and ship one of the crucial technically spectacular units of the whole weekend. Opening with “Avaritia”—that gradual, constructing, nearly menacing intro—you knew this wasn’t going to be a generic pageant set. “Imaginary Buddies” had the gang completely hypnotized. When he dropped “Beneath With Me” that includes Kaskade and Skylar Gray, that shock collab obtained folks emotional. The “My Pet Coelacanth” part proved that progressive home could be simply as heavy as any bass drop when finished proper. However when “Ghosts N Stuff” lastly got here in? PANDEMONIUM. The mau5 delivered a tech-house journey that reminded everybody why he’s one of the crucial essential figures in digital music. No gimmicks, no loopy pyro exhibits—simply pure, unfiltered Joel Zimmerman doing what he does greatest.
Carl Cox – 9 Hour Area Ibiza Closing Set
OH YES. OH YES. OH YES.
THIS. SET. LEGENDARY DOESN’T EVEN BEGIN TO DESCRIBE IT. After 15 years of residency at Area Ibiza, Carl Cox closed out the venue ceaselessly with a 9-HOUR MARATHON that went from 8 PM till 8 AM. 126 tracks of pure techno and home historical past. He opened with Heller ‘N’ Farley’s “Extremely Flava” and took everybody on a journey by means of a long time of dance music. Jeff Mills’ “The Bells” shaking the muse, Âme’s “Rej” creating these euphoric moments, Layo & Bushwacka! bringing that basic vitality. When he dropped his personal “Time For Home Music” three completely different instances all through the night time (together with the Davide Squillace remix), the gang went CRAZY. “Constructive Schooling,” “Work” by MAW, Josh Wink’s “Superfreak”—each single monitor was an ideal choice. At 8 AM, Carl placed on a pink wig, tears streaming down his face, as the gang gave him a correct Ibiza send-off. “Oh sure, oh sure” echoed by means of these partitions one last time. This was the closing of a chapter in dance music historical past. A legendary second from the legend, Carl Cox.
Rufus Du Sol – Coachella (Do Lab)
Earlier than RÜFÜS DU SOL was promoting out stadiums, they have been the Do Lab’s secret visitor at Coachella 2016, and everybody who caught that set knew one thing particular was taking place. Recent off releasing “Bloom” in January, Rufus took the decks for a shock DJ set that lasted over an hour and completely TRANSFORMED that stage. The solar was setting, the Do Lab’s signature vibes have been immaculate, and these three Aussies have been enjoying with their family and friends dancing across the stage. It was intimate, it was magical, and it was the second RÜFÜS actually arrived in America. They actually mentioned the Do Lab stage was “a hidden gem at Coachella” and this set proved it. Pulsing home beats, these dreamy RÜFÜS atmospherics, and a crowd that was discovering their new favourite group in actual time. This was the turning level for his or her stratospheric rise.
Galantis – EDC Las Vegas
When Galantis took the kineticFIELD stage at EDC Las Vegas 2016, they introduced that arena-anthem vitality that solely they will ship. Opening with Shapov’s “Future Rave” into their very own “Buddy (Exhausting Instances)” set the tone instantly—this was going to be a PARTY. “Firebird” had folks’s arms up throughout the whole speedway. When “Gold Mud” dropped and people melodies soared below the Vegas night time sky? Magical. The “In My Head” into “Runaway” part was PEAK pageant euphoria—everybody was singing, everybody was leaping, everybody was dwelling their greatest life. They blended Dada Life’s “One Final Evening On Earth” in there too due to course they did.
Mall Seize – Boiler Room Paris
If you wish to perceive the lo-fi home explosion of 2016, that is the set that you must watch. Mall Seize, a then-23-year-old from Newcastle, Australia, made his Boiler Room debut in Paris and completely BODIED it. Sound Pellegrino boss Teki Latex introduced him in and mentioned it greatest: “He positively carries the torch for sample-based grainy lo-fi home for the time being.” In 59 minutes, Jordon Alexander confirmed precisely why he was Mixmag’s breakout artist of the yr. That heat, fuzzy, nostalgic sound that makes you’re feeling such as you’re listening to one thing from a cassette tape? That’s Mall Seize’s signature. Recent off dropping “Can’t” which might go on to recover from 1.5 million YouTube performs, and his legendary “Solar Ra” EP that was promoting out in every single place, this set was the coronation of the lo-fi home king. The gang in that small Paris room was completely hypnotized by these sample-heavy home cuts.
Classes: Music
