A bass head’s dream is coming to Long Beach, California! Insomniac’s latest festival debut, Apocalypse: Zombieland, brings some of the biggest names in bass music to the haunted Queen Mary this weekend November 24 – 25. Be sure to get there early to see these four up-and-coming bass artists to kick off Insomniac’s newest festival.
This duo comes from New Jersey and has played at festivals like WAKAAN, Home Bass, and Ubbi Dubbi. Shanghai Doom got their start in 2017 and finds their inspiration in the more sinister things in life. Their experimental, dark, and heavy music has drawn support from Excision and Liquid Stranger. They’ve released music on both WAKAAN and Cyclops Recordings. Check out some of their songs here and make sure you don’t miss them at 3 pm on the Zombieland stage: “Lightspeed,” “Coconuts,” and “Ripper.”
This Belgium dubstep OG brings his hardcore bass music to the shores of Long Beach. He has been DJing and producing since 2010. His song “Riding” with Jessica Audiffred has over 600,000 streams on Spotify. With songs on Subsidia, Never Say Die, and Disciple Round Table, you know he is going to bring the bass to start your day. Don’t miss Point.Blank at 4 pm on The Lab stage and check out these tunes to get you hyped: “Wonky” and “Drop That.”
Kick off Day 2 with this UK drum and bass artist. Phibes have been one of the top-selling D&B artists on Beatport in the past 12 months with the #1 song “Home Grown.” Their Third Dimension EP hit #1 on Beatport in October 2020 and Phibes played at festivals like Glastonbury and Boomtown. You won’t want to miss the madness this duo brings to the stage at 4 pm at the Containment Zone.
The final artist we’re highlighting on Day 2 comes from South Carolina. SuperAve draws influence from 90s hip hop and futuristic heavy bass. His passion to push the limits of bass music while paying homage to his hip-hop roots has built his reputation in the bass community. He burst onto the scene in 2019 with heaters like “STEP UP,” “RUM,” and “DAYTONS.” You’re not going to want to miss his early set at 2 pm on the Apocalypse stage.
Remember to prepare ahead of time to make it easier to get to the festival for these awesome early artists. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water, eat some tasty food, and most of all, have fun! Experience the brand new bass music festival in an amazing Insomniac location. As always remember to be nice to your fellow ravers and connect with Apocalypse: Zombieland using the links below.
Your trance destination is right around the corner! Dreamstate, the world’s premier all-trance music festival, is a special event filled with music, love, and lights. We’ve compiled some of the best tips to maximize your experience.
Bundle Up
Dreamstate has been chilly in previous years, and this one will be no different. Temperatures are expected to be in the 50s Friday and Saturday night, with possible rain in the forecast. The festival’s move from its previous home at the NOS Event Center to the Queen Mary Waterfront also adds a cool ocean breeze to the equation. Definitely a good festival to bust out some fabulous coats!
Lockers
If you are going to layer up but don’t want to carry a heavy coat around all day, consider utilizing the lockers. Dreamstate has lockers available for rent all weekend, offering a great place to store layers or outfit changes earlier in the day while it’s a bit warmer. Some also provide charging ports for all your devices.
Dreamstate features four stages: The Dream, The Sequence, The Vision, and The Void. Aptly named, The Dream is the main stage, featuring the biggest names in trance all night long. For a taste of tech trance, hard trance, and some uplifting trance, head on over to The Vision. Psytrance fans will find their home at The Sequence, and a showcase across the genre is typically presented at The Void. Previous years at the NOS had The Dream built as a megastructure, The Vision housed indoors, The Sequence pitched as a tent, and The Void was an open-air stage. It will be interesting to see the stage format at the new venue.
Parking
Dreamstate just released a map of parking and shuttle locations to help attendees find their way around. Be aware that there is no parking on-site, but it is offered just across the bridge in Long Beach. There are a few lots available, with shuttles to and from the parking lots as well as Uber pick-up and drop-off areas. Check out the parking map below to come up with a game plan if you’re driving. Skip-the-line shuttle passes are also being offered at $20.
The Vibes
Dreamstate is one of the best festivals Insomniac puts on, as it brings the trance community together for one massive party. The crowd is typically a little more mature, and everyone is there to have a great time. Trance has a way of putting everyone in a feel-good mood, so don’t be afraid to lose yourself in the music, get in your feels, and maybe even make some new friends. The trance community is one of the most welcoming of any music genre, so relax, say excuse me, and be kind to ensure you have an incredible time.
Photo: Insomniac
Passes are nearly sold out, so grab yours here before it’s too late. Your trance destination awaits!
There are music festivals, there are arts festivals, there are even Halloween festivals, but there is nothing like the one and only Suwannee Hulaween. This beloved North Florida festival was born in 2013 and has grown exponentially as one of the last independent, large-scale music festivals in the country. Known for its eclectic mix of jam bands and electronic DJs, the musical acts absolutely lived up to the hype featuring incredible performances from the likes of Pretty Lights, The String Cheese Incident, John Summit, Trey Anastasio Band, ISOxo, and many more. Recounting the filthy basslines rumbling from the magnificent tree-covered Amphitheater stage and the guitar riffs reverberating from the immense Meadow stage would give you a glimpse into the Hulaween experience, but to adequately portray the event’s transformative nature we must dive into the heart of the event, Spirit Lake.
In celebration of its 10th anniversary, Hulaween went all-in on its Spirit Lake art experience, recruiting new Creative Director Justin Bolognino to take it to the next level. Justin “JB” Bolognino is the founder and CEO of live experiential design company META, which has created groundbreaking multi-sensory experiences with world-renowned musicians including Skrillex, Phish, Questlove, Porter Robinson, and Tiësto as well as global brands like Spotify, Twitter, HP, and Google. The “Synchronicity Architect” was gracious enough to take us on a stroll through Spirit Lake, giving us the inside scoop on the project and “The Art of Being There.”
An altruistic champion of creators, JB has always placed artists at the head of his projects. His strategy is driven not by economics, but rather by cultural impact, a principle that is deeply intertwined with his company. “Originally META was a talent rep for specifically immersive experiential artists because they are so under-credited, under-paid, and under-protected… Imagine if a production owned the music that was being made. The standard work-for-hire agreement for most productions takes artists’ IP (Intellectual Property).” Still today, he strives to create a platform for artists to flourish, “That’s my art. That’s what I’ve been doing for almost 20 years now. With Spirit Lake too, it was a huge opportunity to do that in literally just naming the artists that are here, crediting them, celebrating them, and making sure that they have the resources to do what they do, to the best of our ability.” While Spirit Lake historically kept its art programming a secret, this year it held its first open RFP (Request For Proposal) and credited artists across the festival app, website, onsite signage, and more. Justin also emphasized that a huge success at Hulaween this year was mandated wellness to avoid contributors getting burnt out by opening day.
Bolognino was recruited to the team by Hulaween co-founder Michael Harrison Berg, who saw this as a great opportunity to work together after wanting to for many years. “This is a family if I’ve learned anything and it’s very difficult to come into a family nine years on, especially in a leadership position, and I’ve been hired to evolve it, so there’s a very delicate dance,” Justin said when describing his approach to incorporating new works with the classics. Some of the returning hits were unchanged, while others were creatively modified. You could hear the excitement in his voice as JB showed us a top-secret example of this method. Alien Autopsy, which was neither announced nor placed on the map, took last year’s Alien Crash Landing and expanded on the story with a lifesize extraterrestrial Operation-style game, complete with wishbone, lights, and buzzing. “My ROI (Return On Investment) is the look on people’s faces and that thing is a joy machine!” he laughed.
Justin’s quest to evolve Spirit Lake began in March, with the goal of injecting more thematics and intentionality while still allowing for individual interpretation. “You can’t tell a story that’s just a straight line, hero’s journey. You have to create a story that dances, that is asynchronous and that also allows for the audience to project their own story onto it… So much of the beauty of this is finding your own meaning amongst the skeleton of a story that we’ve created,” he points out. It all boils down to the Swamp Spirits logo, which is based on the duality of life and death, and acts as a visual reference representing the lake itself. The map is conveniently set up in a clock system, an allusion that also makes it easy to communicate your location. The journey through Spirit Lake is a circular narrative that begins with a walk through the shadows of Death and moves you through multiple story cycles before you come around to the giving of Life on the other side.
Your odyssey begins in the Valley of Death, where the Witch, Ogres, Gnome Village, Alien Autopsy, and sixteen headstones all hide secrets for you to unravel. Following the instructions of a headstone, you realize that the Ferryman points the way through the Light House and straight at the House of Lost, indicating that the only way to become found is to get Lost. In your mission to get Lost you must take a gamble at Frick Frack Blackjack, just don’t bet your Soul with Fleeble Flobble attempts at the so-called American Dream. Instead, take a detour through Irregularly Scheduled Programming of the Soul and have a nice rest at the Birdhouse village to let your Soul take flight! You are now a Lost Cause, ever finding within the House of Lost. Catch a sermon while worshiping the altar of roots and get your vibratory state in order in the Sound Cave. At this point, you glow through the Prism Portal to go beyond what the eye can see, Beyond Light, in the UV-based zone. Hitch a ride on an Alebrijes spirit animal to take you through the fires of Incendia in order to be fully cleansed.
On the other side, you are transmutated through the Cosmic Portal and reborn in the light of the Oasis where you may find your breath, your body, and maybe even Self. Here you enter the Giving of Life and proceed on your journey of growth at the Deliberate Creation Station. The opposite of Death, Life is manifest through Deliberate Creation in its pure form, Art. This effortlessly guides you through the Mural Maze that is life. Finally, you return to the Ground of Being, under the protection of the Spider. The Shadow Work process of gaining self-awareness is found here and never really ends. It is all connected through networks of the Bioshrooms within the Elementary Sanctuary of Duality, where all begins and ends.
Set out to create a container for artists to thrive, Bolognino also harnessed his own creative passions in his contributions to the Lake Screen Lightshow that set the tone for the entire space. He crafted a mesmerizing 2-hour audio-visual mix that includes 18 minutes of his own custom music, tailor-made for the environment. The entire production was an ethereal masterpiece.
In speaking about the future of festivals and society in general, JB shared his views, “We expect things to be easy and fast, and the more that happens the more we need to slow down and zoom out.” With the growth and accessibility of technology, the rate of consumption keeps climbing, but he believes there is an end to the cycle where it becomes exhausted. He expressed, “My purpose in doing this is to provide a container where people can evolve, where you can have really deep experiences with nature, art, science, and most importantly other people.” He attests that festivals are seeing immense success right now because people need these experiences in this era. Beyond Hulaween, Justin has two top-secret projects in the works. One he could not disclose at all, however, he shared that the other is taking place in New York this December and uses science to support these theories about the transformative power of immersive experiences to reset the mind and body.
As we closed the interview, JB suggested we try the Chatterpillars, “What is the meaning of life?” I asked through the beautifully vibrant sculpture. His voice echoed from the other side, “To create more meaning.”
Escape Halloween has been Insomniac’s Halloween festival since 2011 and is the United States’ most anticipated spooky festival. This year Insomniac once again showed why Escape rules Halloween! With a stacked lineup featuring names like Above & Beyond, Zomboy, Malaa, and Zedd, there was something for everyone’s music taste. With two days of music, the debut of five main stages, and Crazy Town, it was another wildly successful festival for ravers. Based on my personal experience, I’ve shared my scores for the production, music, and venue, plus an overall grade for the event.
The Production: 9 / 10
With every Insomniac event, the production is going to be next level. Each stage — The Grimm, Feeding Grounds, Sanitarium, Sewer District, and the brand new Wicked Woods stage — all had great visuals, lasers, ambiance, sound, and pyrotechnics.
The main stage, The Grimm, was closed out by some massive names: Kaskade on Day 1 and Armin Van Buuren on Day 2. The production at this stage was amazing as always. Featuring its signature Grim Reaper behind the DJ booth, accompanied by even more lasers than last year, amazing dancers and pyrotechnics, this stage got people hyped. Once the night got underway and the Grim Reaper started moving its arms around the artists, the crowd cheered every time. The hanging visuals that seemed like portals into another dimension had festivalgoers mesmerized. While hosting some of the biggest names of the weekend, like Slander, Zedd, and DJ Snake, the stage never got too crowded. There was room to walk around and dance without sacrificing your view or personal space. Simply put, the main stage was amazing!
Feeding Grounds was home to the bass lovers of the festival and was hosted by Bassrush on Day 1. With performances by Svdden Death, Zomboy, ATliens, Rezz, and Three Six Mafia, this stage had people headbanging, dancing, and singing all night long. It featured production that felt like we were in a hellscape surrounded by a giant spider web with two giant hanging spiders above us — and of course more lasers and pyrotechnics. If you like bass in your face, this was the place to be!
Photo Credit: Jamal Eid for Insomniac Events
Sanitarium had a different vibe each day. Day 1 was hosted by Basscon for hardstyle fans, and Day 2 was hosted by Night Trip for the house heads. The first day featured sets from Darren Styles and Lady Faith. the second day featured artists MK and Matroda B2B San Pacho. The crowd was dancing and shuffling like crazy both nights. Spookier than the other stages, this stage was darker and had lights and lasers to enhance the vibes.
Sewer District was hosted both nights by Factory93 and the techno was bumping. Blessing the stage were artists Jamie Jones B2B Loco Dice, Hot Since 82, Lily Palmer, and Green Velvet. This stage was unique and had my favorite layout of all the stages. It was open air while the others were under a tent and was surrounded by shipping containers with LED panels on them with fire blasting from the top. It was packed from open to close with techno fans vibing all night.
The newest stage at Escape was Wicked Woods. Day 1 was hosted by Lost in Dreams and had acts like ARMNHMR playing a house set and Kaivon playing a nostalgic 2010s throwback set. Day 2 was hosted Bassrush with acts like Macky Gee and Culture Shock. Hosted inside a warehouse, the bass at this stage was bumping, one could feel it in their bones. The only downside to this stage is that it got hot from the packed crown, but it still sounded great.
Each stage stood out in its own way with amazing Halloween vibes. There was no sound bleed between stages and everything was incredible. The production earned a 9 out of 10 this year.
Music: 9.5 / 10
This year’s Escape lineup was absolutely stacked. There was something for the bass heads, house heads, techno fans, and hardstyle kids. Both days had a slew of must-see acts, and from 4 pm to 2 am it was hard to find time to sit down and eat without missing an amazing artist. There were even after parties this year that featured Slander: Before Dawn and Malaa. It is hard to earn a perfect score, but Escape’s amazing music this year combined with the after parties deserves a 9.5 out of 10 score for the loads of talent across multiple different genres.
Photo Credit: Kristal Diaz for Insomniac Events
Venue: 9 / 10
NOS Event Center is the go-to venue for many California-based Insomniac events, and many ravers are quite familiar with it already. But what Insomniac does with the space is truly magical and masterful. As always, they went all out for Halloween, starting with Crazy Town and Psycho Circus, a little pocket of the festival that has fortune tellers, a lion tamer, acrobats, magicians, and singers — it really evoked the Psycho Circus theme. Not to leave out the Silent Disco which featured some notable up-and-coming artists.
On the walk into the festival, there was a cathedral with dancers and shows where one could sit and watch. There were also two secret stages that felt like walking into a haunted maze. The first was called the Poison Ivy Club. People handed out 3D glasses as you entered this club and there was a giant poison ivy plant in the middle with 3D paint everywhere. Music was bumping and drinks were flowing.
The second was called The Butcher, which had a much darker vibe. When you walked in there were dead bodies in bags hanging from the ceiling and body parts hanging all around with a butcher cutting more bodies. Listening to techno in a black-and-red-themed room was surely a Halloween vibe.
Insomniac went all out with its Psycho Circus theme this year. It was so impressive, I can’t even touch on all of it — an easy 9 out of 10!
Overall Grade: 9.5 / 10
Halloween and Escape go hand in hand for SoCal ravers and Insomniac fans around the world, and this year was no different. From incredible stages, top-of-the-line music acts, and a spooky ambiance throughout the venue, there was something to see, do, and listen to anywhere one went. The overall grade for this year’s Escape is a huge 9.5 out of 10 because it is hard to find a detail out of place. I’m already counting down the days until next year’s event! Hopefully, you’ll be there in 2024 too.
The new year is right around the corner, so the question is, will you attend the largest New Year’s party in the Arizona Valley? The team at Relentless Beats has already released its Decadence AZ Phase 1 lineup with all-star headliners like Illenium, John Summit, Slander, and Subtronics, but that was just the beginning.
Rounding out the lineup for this year’s Decadence AZ celebration with the fresh Phase 2 announcement are artists Bonnie X Clyde, Claptone, Shiba San B2B CID, and Wax Motif, plus local legends Dark Mark, Medicine Mike, Turbo, and the lovely Peachy Keen!
Your daily guide to The Sky Realm has arrived 🌌 Will you be partying with us on 12/30, 12/31 or both, perhaps?
Decadence is always a record-setting event in Arizona, and this year is already on track to be even bigger than before. Taking place Saturday, December 30, and Sunday, December 31 at the Phoenix Raceway, this is a New Year’s party you won’t want to miss. GA tickets are on sale now, as well as table deals, travel packages, and more, so head to the website and score your tickets before prices go up. The time is right to get you and your friends locked in to ring in the new year by dancing the Sky Realm.
A lot has happened in the EDM community over the last 24 hours. Read about a trio of headline stories that caught our eye.
Ultra Music Festival Miami 2024 Reveals Its Phase 1 Lineup
The team behind the 24th edition of Ultra Music Festival Miami, scheduled for March 22 – 24, 2024, revealed the Phase 1 lineup on October 26. It is packed with top talent across a wide range of genres, including big room superstars like Calvin Harris, David Guetta, Tiesto, Martin Garrix, Hardwell, and Afrojack. For the bass heads, Ultra is bringing Excision, Zeds Dead, Slander, Svdden Death, and Black Tiger Sex Machine. Ultra is also famous for its iconic B2Bs and 2024 is no exception with Fisher B2B Chris Lake presenting Under Construction, Dubfire B2B Ilario Alicante, Joris Voorn B2B Kolsch, and Sasha and Digweed. Check out the Phase 1 flyer below for the full announcement and get your tickets while they are back on sale.
The #ULTRA2024 Phase 1 has landed and the countdown to March is officially on!
Svdden Death Calls Off His 2023 Harbinger Fall Tour
Citing a lack of mental and physical stamina, Svdden Death has made the tough decision to cancel and fully refund all tickets to his 2023 Harbinger Tour. He shares that 2023 has been a busy year for him and his team, including the planning and execution of his successful Summoning Festival at The Caverns in Tennessee this October. Svdden Death also spoke about the debut of three new projects and his desire to focus on bringing those to completion. It is commendable to see an artist safeguard his mental health and that of his team, so that they can “make 2024 the biggest and best year ever for Svdden Death/Voyd.” Check out the full statement below.
Infected Mushroom Teams With Omer Adam For Touching Tribute
EDM veterans Infected Mushroom and Omer Adam collaborated on a new song, “Dance Forever,” dedicated to the fallen festivalgoers of the Supernova Festival Universo Paralello. It is a touching tribute to the 260 innocent victims attending the Israeli music festival who perished from the actions of Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023. In addition to the newly released song, Infected Mushroom also remixed “I Wish,” which appears on the Bring Them Back compilation album along with music from other notable Israeli producers. All proceeds from the album release will be donated to aid survivors of the tragic event and help mend the wounds of the international EDM community. Find more information about the compilation album on the newly founded EMC website,
A new song from Omer Adam and us that was created in these tough times. We dedicate it to all the fallen and their families and loved ones at the Nova Festival Universo Paralello in Israel. THEY WILL DANCE FOREVER.https://t.co/flyqj5HtHdpic.twitter.com/36rWUcgPva
M3F, an Arizona staple music festival, is back again with another iteration of their classic charity event. March 1 – 2, 2024, is shaping up to be a can’t-miss weekend in Phoenix! Through the past 20 years, the organizers have raised over $5,000,000 for various charities, becoming a pinnacle in the Phoenix community. 100% of festival proceeds are donated, making attendees feel good about having fun at M3F!
Boasting a massive lineup this year, M3F is staying true to its history of hosting genuinely exciting experiences. While bringing some of the best names in dance music, the event’s variety is also on par with the pedigree of artists. House legends Gorgon City and Lane 8 lead the charge for electronic music, though they certainly aren’t the end. With sets from Duke Dumont, Elderbrook, and SG Lewis, you can be sure to always have something to dance to! Dominic Fike also brings his chill vibe to the desert, alongside the alt sounds of Hippo Campus and the hypnotic vibrations of WhoMadeWho. With a ton of other artists in the chute, you won’t want to miss this event!
Photo by: Neil Schwartz
With such an astounding lineup, we’re sure this weekend festival will be one to remember. Come out and enjoy the experience, listen to some incredible music, and help the Phoenix community while you’re at it! Availability won’t last long, so get your tickets before they sell out!
Spooky season is here ladies and gentlemen, and that means it is finally time for this year’s biggest Halloween event — Escape Halloween 2023 — happening at NOS Event Center October 27 and 28! Here are four artists early in the day to start your Escape off right.
Credit: Insomniac Events // @Kristina Bakrevski
The first artist recommendation to check out on Day 1 is a drum and bass (D&B) artist out of the UK, Wilkinson. He has sold 4M singles, has been streamed over half a billion times and has a double platinum banger “Afterglow.” On top of winning four awards, including “Best Single” and “Best Producer” at the National D&B Awards, his debut album Lazers Not Included went #1 on the official dance chart. He’s played in venues and festivals around the world, in places like Glastonbury, London, Las Vegas, and Ibiza. He blesses the Feeding Grounds stage Friday, so make sure you are there to get your day started with some amazing D&B. Get familiar with some of his hits before you get there, like “Illuminate,” “Used to This,” and “Here For You.”
Another awesome Day 1 artist to hear is a SoCal native, and is quickly becoming one of the biggest up-and-coming artists of the year, Taylor Kade. In 2020, he released his first EP on Circus Records, Back to Life, and ever since, he has been on a roll, including having his own radio show on Insomniac Radio — “Happy Hour with Taylor Kade.” He bring his energetic and unique future bass vibes to the Wicked Woods stage on Friday. Check some of his hits below to get you ready to sing along. “Lonely,” “Love You Like That,” and “Want You Back.”
The first artist on Day 2 I want to highlight is a melodic bass DJ that you need to start to familiarize yourself with, YETEP. Releasing his first debut single in 2022 on Monstercat, “First Place,” he has been on a nonstop climb ever since, while receiving endorsements from giants like Excision, Adventure Club, and Illenium. Amassing a huge following in the few short years he’s been performing, you’re not going to want to miss your chance to catch him and join his already huge fan base Saturday on the Grimm stage. Here are some of his tracks to get you ready to rage: “Petals From A Rose“, “Gravity,” and “Mistakes.”
The second artist on Day 2 is bringing the vibes from Cleveland, DJ TopGun. Releasing his first EP in 2021, Cheap Thrills, and his 2nd EP earlier in the year, City of Freaks. Prior to starting his solo project, he was on tour opening for Lil Xan. Looking to bring his housey vibe to the Sanitarium stage on Saturday, get there early. Check out some his songs and make sure you get there early to check him out. “Took Some,” “Low,” and “The Hangover.”
Remember to prepare ahead of time to make it easier to get to the festival for these awesome early artists. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water, eat some tasty food, and most of all, have fun! Experience all that Escape Halloween has to offer and explore the full festival grounds. Check out some new amazing artists that you may not have heard of yet and enjoy the best Halloween party of 2023!
Can you believe it has been over two weeks since Imagine Music Festival 2023? It feels like just yesterday as time has been flying by, and one set from Imagine has been stuck in my head since that wonderful weekend in Kingston Downs, Georgia — Leah Culver rocking out Saturday on the mainstage!
After starting the set behind the decks and treating the crowd to heavy bass mixes, Culver took to the mic and brought out a live band to back her up — including Sum 41’s Frank Zummo on the drums to close out the set. There is something special about getting to see a live band set at an EDM festival, so I spoke to this Atlanta native and Imagine veteran about the 2023 festival.
Sam Wolloch: Nice work at Imagine last weekend! So being from Atlanta, tell me more about your home festival, Imagine.
Leah Culver: Thank you so much! I love Imagine Festival! I’ve played every year since the very beginning and it’s always my favorite thing to come home from LA and see it grow bigger and bigger every year! So proud of [owners] Maddy and Glenn, who have been family to me since I started! It’s so cool to see it all become what it is!
SW: Seeing you perform with a live band made your set stand out! Talk about your band members who played with you.
LC: I love the members of my band. James Tiernan played violin and electric guitar, Lance Mapp played electric guitar, Zach Deloach played drums on half the set, and Frank Zummo on the other half. I also had mmmCherry out to sing as well.
I implore anybody reading this to take the time to check out their projects. James Tiernan goes by Jet and is an incredible instrumentalist and producer. Lance Mapp goes by Tavis and makes really great pop and country music! I always love the way Zach Deloach plays drums and he’s always been such a fun and incredible energy to have around. Zach is also an incredible photographer.
SW: So how did you line up Frank Zummo to play with you at Imagine?
LC: Chelsea Shear is a great and wonderful supporter of mine at Monstercat. She connected Frank and me because she knew our sounds are so similar with our influences coming from a lot of alternative and pop punk music, as well as electronic. We immediately knew that we were going to have such a great time making music together!
SW: He brought some great energy to close out the set! Now I’m curious how you balance your desire for a live performance with being behind the decks for a DJ set.
LC: When I’m planning a big set with a lot of moving parts like this one, I like to divide up my original songs that all have my vocals on them and other fun songs I like to DJ. I have so much love for producing music, playing drums and guitar, singing, songwriting, and performing! I’m always working on new music and that’s where I’m happiest! Getting to perform it is a whole other love and passion and I couldn’t be more grateful to get to do what I love every day!
SW: That passion definitely shows in your sets. Your visual production was stunning too. Can you share your inspiration for the visuals and the white outfit you wore on stage?
LC: My inspiration for my white outfit was angels and light. I love making new visuals each year and this past year I decided that I wanted to make my visuals about getting through darkness while holding on to our light.
On stage at Imagine 2023 // Credit: Zach Deloach
My visuals had a lot to do with angels and fighting through our demons. I was crawling through the grass, moving through a white veil, and wore both white and black angel wings to represent some of my life experiences and pushing through the darker times to spread and push my own light. We all have light and I wanted to push the idea that we can always get through anything and keep shining our light that we all have in each of us.
Michael Shapiro does an incredible job teaming up with me to make my visions come to life for my visuals. He is an incredible videographer and did such a great job making the vision happen this year!
SW: Some of us Imaginers were lucky to catch you play a second set at an afterparty on Sunday. Was that planned?
LC: The renegade was so fun! This was a spontaneous decision brought to me by Hunter and Abel who run the renegade! It reminded me of earlier shows in Atlanta when I was first coming up and throwing down! I love how intimate a surprise popup set can feel! I had a blast!
SW: It was a nice way to end the weekend! Looking to the rest of 2023, what new music do you have in store?
LC: I had a release with Funtcase that came out September 22 on Circus Records! I have a Lights remix with Synymata coming out on Insomniac in December and I’m also looking at some of my favorite unreleased songs with Insomniac, Create Music Group, and Monstercat.
SW: How different is it producing your own songs compared to collaborating on songs with other artists as a vocalist/singer?
LC: They’re both so different and fun! My flow states for singing and writing are different from my flow states while producing and mixing. I get a high from each part of the process in different ways.
Singing and songwriting, because it’s the human element of the song people connect with the most can be both an opportunity to heal and feel cathartic. You can also very actively be writing to help others have words they can belt in their car or with friends that they may need in their lives.
Production is fun because it feels more quiet and inward to me. I can be alone and get in a flow state without exerting any physical part of me like singing does. It works a different part of my brain that feels really safe and personal to me. It’s always fun for me also to learn new tricks on YouTube and I get a lot of serotonin from that.
SW: Which artists would you like to collaborate with and why? And who are some artists that you look to for inspiration?
LC: I’d love to collaborate with Finneas. I love his production style. Hayley Williams of Paramore is a huge inspiration for me and I would be so happy to have her on a track! I’d love to collaborate with Rezz because I’ve always loved mid-tempo and I love her sound! Her use of downsampling inspired a lot for me.
I’m inspired by Pink Slip, Finneas, Hayley Williams, Harry Styles’ past two albums, and all of my talented friends like AARBORNE, Chandler Leighton, MmmCherry, Brennan Loney, Randy Urbanski, my band James Tiernan, Lance Mapp, Zach Deloach, and my friends in the band Orgy, Jay and Ilia!
SW: What about some festivals you are looking to play at in 2024?
LC: I can’t wait to play Coachella, EDC, Lost Lands, and Lightning in a Bottle!
SW: That is a solid list of fests! Anything else you would like to share with us and your fans?
LC: If somebody else can do it, so can you, and I hope that you find all that makes you happy in this life! Go get it!
Thanks again to Leah Culver for taking the time to speak with us at Moon Lvnding and sharing her unique perspective of Imagine Music Festival. To keep up with all the latest about her newest releases and announcements, use Leah’s links below.
