Blog - EDM

Breakaway just announced the lineup for its Philadelphia debut, and let's just say the festival is more stacked than a proper Wawa hoagie.

Scheduled for September 12-13 at the Festival Grounds at Subaru Park, the fest marks another milestone for Breakaway, the nation's fastest-growing traveling music festival. Philly now joins the brand's growing roster of locations, proving that when it comes to good electronic music, the city doesn't mess around—much like Eagles fans climbing greased streetlight poles during Super Bowl celebrations.

Presented by CELSIUS, this two-day extravaganza will feature headlining performances by Excision, Zedd, Two Friends, Cloonee and EDM.com Class of 2024 star Of The Trees. Two Friends, the creators of the beloved "Big Bootie Mix" series, are stepping outside of their typical performance style to throw down an exclusive Breakaway set focused on heavy-hitting bass music.

The undercard is also impressive, featuring ACRAZE, Disco Lines, Dombresky, Eptic, ROSSY, Trivecta, EVAN GIIA and Night Tales, among others.

Tickets are on sale now, including 2-Day GA, VIP, Ultimate VIP and Space Deck Terrace tickets and Space Deck tables. You can check out the full lineup below.

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A new study published in the Harm Reduction Journal examining drug-checking practices at music festivals has revealed a complex web of barriers preventing attendees from testing substances for safety.

The research surveyed 227 attendees of Sonic Bloom, a four-day EDM festival in Colorado, about their use of drug-checking tools, including reagent test kits and fentanyl test strips. Approved by Colorado State University's Institutional Review Board, the findings suggest that while drug-checking tools represent a promising harm reduction strategy, multiple systemic challenges limit their effectiveness in real-world settings like music festivals.

The study highlights a lack of education about testing procedures, which has led to "a critical need to reduce barriers" for the "at-risk population" of festival-goers despite an increase in public health campaigns about substance contamination.

Financial barriers emerged as a primary concern, with nearly 8% of participants citing the cost of reagent test kits as prohibitive, while about 7% found fentanyl test strips too expensive. More significantly, roughly one in four participants struggled to obtain testing materials at all.

"No access to free test strips in my entire county," said one 28-year-old woman surveyed in the study.

Even when attendees possessed testing materials, the festival environments themselves created obstacles. Weather conditions, particularly wind, made outdoor testing especially difficult for powdered substances. More than 11% of participants cited festival restrictions as barriers, noting that many events prohibit drug-checking services or ban testing supplies entirely.

"Some festivals do not allow testing kit sales or the entrance of them—this should be allowed to curate a better experience," said one respondent.

The lack of secure, sterile testing locations at festivals further complicated efforts to check substances safely. Several participants expressed frustration with having to conduct testing in exposed, unsanitary conditions.

Legal concerns also deterred some festival-goers from using testing tools. Participants reported confusion about the legality of possessing reagent kits and fentanyl strips, with some believing the materials could be classified as drug paraphernalia.

"In some states it's a felony to carry test kits," noted a 31-year-old participant, though the legal status of testing materials varies significantly by jurisdiction.

You can find the full study in the Harm Reduction Journal.

ATLiens have released a massive official remix of Creed's 2002 alt-rock hit, "One Last Breath," a track once synonymous with emotional overload in the post-grunge era. 

Known for their otherworldly bass drops and mysterious persona, the masked duo's rework reimagines "One Last Breath" for festival stages, twisting the knife into its internal despair with pulsating bass.

Bridging the gap between the angst of late-'90s post-grunge and 2020s maximalism, the remix preserves the soul of Scott Stapp's anguished vocals, which hang heavy before ATLiens unleash a bass drop that feels like gravity finally giving out. Their aggressive edit amplifies the original's existential dread while simultaneously offering what feels like a solution: a cathartic injection of heavy bass that lends itself perfectly to the conclusion of a live set.

What started as a viral TikTok teaser gained further traction during performances at Ultra Music Festival and Red Rocks, where the remix became a highlight of ATLiens' sets. For longtime Creed fans and bass-heads alike, it serves as a cultural handshake, forged in nostalgia but delivered with modern production teeth.

You can listen to ATLiens' remix of Creed's "One Last Breath" below.

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Ace Agency has announced the addition of DVBBS to its artist roster, representing the Canadian electronic music duo worldwide.

With a string of Platinum-certified hits including “Not Going Home,” “IDWK” and “Tinted Eyes,” DVBBS have firmly established themselves among Canada's most successful dance music exports. The signing marks a new chapter for the globally recognized brothers, Chris and Alex van den Hoef, as they continue to evolve both creatively and professionally.

Hailing from Toronto, DVBBS skyrocketed to international acclaim with their 2013 smash hit "Tsunami," a track that became one of the defining anthems of the big room house era. While their fame initially blossomed via big room productions, they have experimented with different sounds over the years, touching upon genres like trap, future bass and house, among others.

Their accolades include four Juno Award nominations alongside high-profile collaborations with artists ranging from Martin Garrix and Galantis to Wiz Khalifa and 2 Chainz. Known for their high-energy performances, DVBBS have played over 1,000 shows in more than 75 countries, including headlining slots at world-renowned festivals like Tomorrowland, EDC and Ultra. 

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Kieran Hebden, more commonly known as Four Tet, has teamed up with guitarist William Tyler to reveal a new album, 41 Longfield Street Late '80s, due out in September.

The album's announcement came via social media, where Hebden shared that the pair began recording over three years ago during sessions in Los Angeles. Alongside a collection of studio photos, he announced that the first single, a cover of Lyle Lovett’s "If I Had a Boat," is out now.

The project brings together two distinct musical voices, pairing Hebden’s textured production with Tyler’s expressive guitar work to explore new territory. Tyler, who previously played in Lambchop and Silver Jews, has since built a solo career defined by his contemplative blend of ambient folk and instrumental Americana. He finds an unlikely yet fluid match in Hebden’s ever-evolving palette.

Hebden said the albums primary influence was he and Tyler "discovered a shared deep connection to ‘80s American country and folk music—artists like Lyle Lovett, Nanci Griffith, and Joe Ely."

"I think we both in our own specific ways want to recontextualize a lot of music that we grew up with, regardless of the genre, and I think that’s what this album reflects," Tyler added. "It’s a lot of nostalgia but it’s also very forward focused. I don’t even know what genre I’m supposed to be in at this point, but I trust Kieran and I love what we’ve done together. He’s become a dear friend and I can’t wait to see what’s ahead for us."

The lead single offers the first look into that world. Their take on "If I Had a Boat" trades Lovett’s country tone for something more atmospheric and spacious. Tyler’s guitar takes the lead while Hebden surrounds it with ambient textures that slowly stretch and reframe the song’s emotion.

You can listen to "If I had a Boat" below and pre-order 41 Longfield Street Late '80s here.

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A former Westminster, California police officer is facing 16 felony charges after she was seen partying at a music festival despite claiming a debilitating head injury left her unable to work, according to press release issued by the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

From 2022 to 2023, Nicole Brown allegedly attempted to bilk the California’s workers’ compensation system out of $600,000, citing a diagnosis of "severe concussion syndrome" sustained in the line of duty. She complained of various ailments like headaches, dizziness and an inability to work on the computer.

But her dance moves told a different story. Fellow attendees of Goldenvoice's Stagecoach Festival, a number of whom knew Brown was off work on Total Temporary Disability (TTD), saw her drinking and dancing her way through the event in April 2023 before reporting their findings to the Westminster Police Department.

A subsequent investigation revealed Brown's romp through the Empire Polo Club—where Goldenvoice's Coachella festival also takes place—wasn't her only activity during her time off. She also allegedly visited Disneyland, ran in a pair of 5k races and went skiing.

According to the Orange County District Attorney's Office, Brown has been charged with nine felony counts of making a fraudulent statement to obtain compensation, six felony counts of making a fraudulent insurance benefit claim, and one felony enhancement of committing an aggravated while collar crime over $100,000. She faces a maximum sentence of 22 years in state prison.

The electronic music community is constantly evolving with new sounds inspired by the scene of yesteryear. EDM.com's weekly Fresh Picks series discovers new music and unearths influential tracks that help define the underground dance scene.

You can find the below tracks on EDM.com's Fresh Picks Playlist. Follow to stay up-to-date and submit tracks for consideration here.

There's something beautiful about the internet's ability to turn a random Wednesday into someone's biggest career moment.

Chicago-born DJ and producer Proppa probably didn't wake up on August 14th, 2024 thinking his unofficial house remix of Waka Flocka Flame's "Grove St. Party" would become the kind of dancefloor destroyer that makes festival crowds lose their collective minds. Yet here we are, over nine months later, watching Warner Records clear the sample and transform what started as a humble SoundCloud upload into an official collaboration with a rap icon.

The trajectory feels apropos for the prolific Proppa, who has been cutting his teeth in the birthplace of house for a decade. Countless major DJs have rinsed his tracks in that time, but none more than his blistering rework of "Grove St. Party," which has received support from house music superstars John Summit, Dom Dolla and Mau P, among others.

The official release encapsulates the magic of SoundCloud, which has long served as a barometer for global dancefloor trends. Clearing samples with major labels, however, has always been a hurdle, but in 2025 it seems the democratization of remix culture is finally catching up to the legal apparatus that usually strangles it.

In other Proppa news, his hit remix of A$AP Ferg's "Work" alongside Rich DietZ and Smith & Sorren continues to surge as one of house music's biggest sleeper hits in 2025. The track has received support from Swedish House Mafia, Tiësto, Alesso, Kaskade and many more.

You can listen to the new version of "Grove St. Party" below.

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Berlin-based dance music breakout Marlon Hoffstadt has signed to Capitol Records.

The Club Heart Broken label founder, fans of whom affectionately refer to as DJ Daddy Trance, characterized the record deal as the biggest achievement of his career thus far.

"It took me years to find my own sound and to find confidence, and it took me even longer to find the perfect label deal for myself," Hoffstadt said in a press release. "Partnering up with the amazing team of Capitol, Goodlife Management, MC3 and my beloved management Invisible Hand, we found a setup that makes me feel extremely excited, confident and thankful to be a part of. This definitely is the biggest achievement of my career and I‘m so damn ready for it."

The move follows a streak of global buzz and sold-out shows, signaling Hoffstadt's rapid rise from underground hero to festival staple. Fresh off his U.S. live debut closing the mainstage at North America's largest EDM festival, EDC Las Vegas, he is now poised for a sold-out, 20,000-person show in Belgium this August alongside techno phenom KI/KI.

Hoffstadt's Capitol deal was inked in collaboration with Goodlife Management and MC3. The DJ will continue to be managed by his longtime agency, Invisible Hand.

"Marlon and his team have been building something incredibly special; he has risen to become one of the most exciting artists in dance music," added Tom March, Chairman and CEO at Capitol Music Group. "We’re thrilled to become part of the team and help amplify his global presence."

Celebrating the signing, Hoffstadt has dropped a new double-single, "Supersonic / Hands Up In The Sky." The former is a breakneck rave anthem featuring Swedish vocalist Emma Skøien while the latter leans into pure euphoria with its soaring production.

You can listen to Hoffstadt's new double-single below and find the release on streaming platforms here.

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Avant Gardner, the parent company of Brooklyn Mirage, has parted ways with CEO Josh Wyatt amid ongoing delays in the venue's long-awaited reopening, Billboard reports. Gary Richards, the company’s non-executive chairman, will oversee daily operations effective immediately.

Wyatt, the former head of collaborative workspace giant NeueHouse, joined Avant Gardner as CEO in October 2024. Richards, the founder of the beloved HARD Events brand who also tours as the renowned DJ and producer Destructo, brings decades of industry experience to the interim role.

The leadership change comes after a turbulent period for Wyatt and the beleaguered East Williamsburg venue, a cornerstone of New York’s EDM scene. Following an ambitious renovation project, it was slated to reopen May 1st with a performance by techno superstar Sara Landry.

The venue, however, reportedly failed to secure necessary permits and final compliance from building inspectors before ultimately shelving all subsequent shows and postponing the relaunch indefinitely. Wyatt had vowed to address head-on the Mirage's oft-maligned pain points, like overcrowding and safety concerns, among others.

"Trust, transparency and accountability are the three key words in my moral compass," Wyatt told EDM.com in a February interview. "I have pushed those three words down into the fiber of the company to ensure that employees understand that these are key expectations I have as CEO."

Avant Gardner has not publicly commented on the leadership transition or the venue’s reopening timeline at press time.