Blog - EDM

The question of whether or not electronic music can sustain cultural identity finds its answer in "Matador," a sultry new single from Wakyin and Vibarco.

Out now via Insomniac Records, the track glides with purpose, marrying house music's metronomic heartbeat with the passionate inflections of Latin musical tradition. What really distinguishes it, however, is its refusal to dilute either influence.

Wakyin, the EDM.com Class of 2025 star, brings his golden touch through radiant production inspired by his Dominican and Puerto Rican roots. Colombian musician Vibarco, a three-time ASCAP award-winning songwriter who has worked with Maluma, Anitta and Shakira, infuses the arrangement with subtle flourishes.

Wakyin's production maintains a hypnotic minimalism while its melodic elements dance with the sensuality of a moonlit Cartagena evening. The song operates like a skilled matador—precise and calculated, but imbued with dramatic crescendos that build with the tension of a bullfighter's final moments before the kill.

"I found this vocal and just knew I had to flip it," Wakyin said. "It was a bit different before with a slower tempo, but I spiced it up a little, and I love the final product. Or as the streets say, "En la Calle le dicen el matador."

Listen to "Matador" below and find the new single on streaming platforms here.

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Few tracks hit like a flashback and a future classic in one breath, but Alesso and Becky Hill's "Surrender" does both. Clocking in at 140 BPM, the track draws on the pulse of early-2000s trance while charging forward with the cinematic intensity of modern progressive house.

Out now via Capitol Records, "Surrender" arrives fresh off its live debut at Ultra Music Festival in Miami, where Alesso previewed the track to a roaring mainstage crowd. It's a full-circle moment for the duo, who previously linked on Alesso's hit "Words," co-written by Hill. This time, her voice is front and center, commanding and crystalline.

Alesso builds the arrangement around a foundation of ascending synths and a galloping rhythm section. It’s a production designed for scale, but it never loses its emotional core. 

"I’m so excited for ‘Surrender’ to be out in the world," Hill said in a press release shared with EDM.com. “It’s great to work with Alesso on the record which blends emotional lyrics with those nostalgic trance influences. It’s a sound that takes me back, but also still feels so fresh and exciting."

Alesso is now readying the return of his Body Hi alias alongside Gorgon City at Coachella's Quasar stage during the festival's second weekend.

Listen to "Surrender below and find the new single on streaming platforms here.

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HI-LO and Sarah de Warren have joined forces for a new collaboration, "Born To Love," out today via the former's HILOMATIK imprint.

The track made its first appearance during the label’s Miami Music Week showcase at Wynwood Marketplace, where the pair performed it live. Pairing HI-LO's signature, hard-hitting techno production with an emotive topline from de Warren, it delivers a dynamic mix of intensity and atmosphere.

HI-LO's production builds gradually beneath the latter's captivating vocal performance, creating a tension that erupts at the drop without losing its melodic edge. Keeping us entranced from start to finish, its pulsing rhythm and fluid energy practically demand movement.

One of dance music's most in-demand collaborators, de Warren said she'd been itching to collaborate with HI-LO, the techno alias of Dutch EDM superstar Oliver Heldens before they had "an absolute banger on our hands."

"I was driving home after a show one night and thinking about how dance music has always felt so natural to me, like part of my DNA," said de Warren. "I was making electronic music in my bedroom way before I was old enough to go to a rave or a club. It’s like I was born to make this music and play it for people who feel the same way, that's why the dance community always feels like family. So, as I was driving, these lyrics just flowed off my tongue, and I voice-noted them and recorded them as soon as I got home."

The release lands ahead of HI-LO’s international tour run, starting with RESISTANCE events in Buenos Aires and Lima this month. He’ll then return to Europe for festival performances at Airbeat One, A State of Trance London and Tomorrowland, among others.

You can find "Born To Love" on streaming platforms here.

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Serving as a sort of hedonistic nightcap for attendees of Coachella's first weekend, leading LA promoter Framework has announced its return to the desert for its annual afterparty series.

Situated a few miles east of the storied Empire Polo Club, the three-day series, Framework In The Desert, will once again take place inside the Atlantic Aviation airport hangar in Thermal, California. The unique locale offers a one-of-a-kind experience for partygoers with indoor and outdoor dance spaces, runway-adjacent social spaces and table service.

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The 2025 iteration of the event will bring together a roster of talented electronic artists representing genres like techno, house and progressive. 

Kicking off the weekend on Friday, April 11th is the influential electronic superstar deadmau5 along with house music mastermind Chris Lake. On Saturday, the hangar will welcome Mau P, Max Styler and Interplanetary Criminal before the weekend closes out on Sunday with Francis Mercier, Layton Giordiani and a special set from Alesso's BODY HI project.

All of the performances at this year's Framework In The Desert will take place atop the Long Feng Art Car. As a new addition to Burning Man in 2024, the vehicle was designed by a collective of contortionists, dancers and performing artists and embodies the spirit of a circus performer. The structure should elevate the weekend's DJ performances as it utilizes a myriad of rigs, LEDs and state-of-the-art sound systems.

Framework In The Desert takes place April 11-13 at the Atlantic Aviation airport hangar in Thermal, California. Get your tickets here.

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After hosting a successful inaugural event, Goldenvoice Surf Club has announced its return to the desert with a stacked two-weekend lineup.

The multi-day dance party will once again be hosted at the Palm Springs Surf Club during both Coachella weekends, April 12-13 and April 19-20. The venue offers amenities like day beds, water slides, a meandering lazy river, a swimming pool, and a massive surfing wave pool, which help elevate the dance music experience.

Speaking of which, the roster for this year's festivities is brimming with exceptional talent from acts across the electronic spectrum. 

As part of its first weekend, Goldenvoice Surf Club has tapped UK garage sensation Sammy Virji and house hitmaker Chris Lorenzo to headline on Saturday, April 12th. The following day, expect performances by EDM.com Class of 2024 superstar Sara Landry and chart-topping rapper Rico Nasty.

Weekend Two’s Saturday highlights include a DJ set by Parisian duo Polo & Pan and German electronic music virtuoso Ben Böhmer. Closing out the four-day spectacle will be surging techno producer Eli Brown alongside Massano and EDM.com Class of 2025 star Max Styler.

Tickets and amenity packages for the 21+ event can be found here.

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If sisterhood had a BPM, it might just pulse to the rhythm of Kinder and Coco & Breezy's new single, "Blessed Generation."

Equal parts liberation chant and club-ready elixir, this Afro-house anthem arrives as both a meeting of minds and a rare case of sisterhood squared. You can hear the fingerprints of both duos as Kinder's signature Afro-electronic fusion melts into the fluid house sensibilities of Coco & Breezy, who were recently named by EDM.com among 2024's best music producers.

“Working with Coco & Breezy was a vibe, as sister duos, we instantly connected—it made the whole process feel natural and exciting,” Kinder said.

With festival season looming and both acts poised for major stages, "Blessed Generation" lands as a bold, sun-drenched mission statement: dance first, ask questions later. From the outset, it locks into a kinetic groove through percussion that feels almost ancestral with its hypnotic thrum. As the bassline slinks through and demands movement, warm synths rise and fall like waves catching the light at sunset.

Meanwhile, the track's affirming vocals could read as rebellion or simple, unshakable joy. That duality, a balance of euphoria and reflection, is what makes it shine. Coco & Breezy likened the record to "an anthem for all generations," designed for the purpose of bringing people together.

"It's amazing and an honor, as sisters, to have worked on this track with other sisters, creating something truly special," the duo said. "With our groovy bassline, signature percussion hits, and amazing moments, the song moves both the soul and the body. The lyrics, 'We are the blessed generation, we are free to do what we want / Don’t give a damn 'bout expectation, we dance with our love on top," capture our spirit as nonconformists, walking through this world purely as ourselves. We brought that same energy into the production, making sure the music reflects the freedom, movement and authenticity we live by."

Listen to "Blessed Generation" below and find the new single on streaming platforms here.

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Renowned dance music label Armada Music has nabbed Peloton's first-ever global DJ residency, bringing the energy of the imprint, founded by iconic DJ and producer Armin van Buuren, to the brand's studios in New York and London.

Merging electronic music with the community-driven workouts for which Peloton is known, the residency kicks off in April with ARTY headlining Peloton Studios New York on April 3rd. The influential producer will soundtrack Peloton's inaugural "LIVE Dance Cardio" and "LIVE DJ Ride" classes with Peloton instructors Emma Lovewell and Olivia Amato, respectively.

“Being an instructor, music plays a pivotal role in planning my classes and setting the tone for the workout," Amato said in a press release. "Armada’s sound serves as the perfect mental escape and motivator during the tougher parts of class. Riding to a live DJ set is that same concept amplified—combining movement, music and community makes these moments so powerful."

The collaboration follows the success of last year's residency with Defected Records in the UK and will include six live, DJ-led classes throughout the year. Peloton members will be able to experience a mix of high-energy rides and mat-based workouts with live performances from prominent Armada artists, including van Buuren.

"Partnering with Peloton for this residency is an exciting way to merge fitness with the music we love," added Armada CEO Maykel Piron. "It creates a space where people can push their limits while being immersed in the sound."

More details on upcoming artists and classes will be released throughout the year. In the meantime, check out our recent interview with Peloton star Jess King here.

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Beloved DJ and dubstep producer Mersiv is returning to Colorado's legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre for his third headline show on April 4th. But this time around, innovation is also taking center stage.

Dubbed "Attack on Mars," the show's lineup promises a night of blistering bass through supporting performances from Seth David, Zen Selekta, Lumasi, Mr. Carmack and EDM.com Class of 2025 star ALLEYCVT. Factor in eight speakers placed strategically around the crowd for an immersive listening experience, and the result is an inevitably unforgettable night.

Already carried out successfully at Mersiv's performance at The Caverns in Tennessee last year, the "Audiosphere" experience refers to those speakers' placement around the crowd as well as their ability to manipulate different elements of the music as it plays. The production is the "first of its kind," according to Mersiv and AKA Event Productions' Andrew Kirschman.

And with anticipation already simmering for the "Audiosphere," it was effectively brought it to a boil when Denver residents started spotting mysterious posters on the city's streets containing Mersive's unmistakable swirl logo, the number 444 and a message: "New album live at Red Rocks 4.4.25."

We caught up with Mersiv and Kirschman to discuss the ambitious "Audiosphere" experience and what fans can expect at the show.

EDM.com: When did you realize that the Audiosphere experience could happen for your Attack on Mars Red Rocks show, and what changed in your set preparation (musically, visually, or otherwise) after putting the plan into action? How is it similar and/or different to the Audiosphere experience at The Caverns?

Mersiv: Once we pulled it off at the Caverns, we knew it would be achievable on a larger scale—we just didn’t know where yet. And when the idea came about to do it at Red Rocks, we got so excited and started chipping away at what was possible and what wasn’t, until we ended up with the version of it that we will be deploying on April 4th. It’s different from the Caverns in many ways due to the nature and layout of Red Rocks itself, but the concept and experience will be very similar in essence.

EDM.com: Your fans on social medias know how much you appreciate a 360 set—how does the idea of a sort of spherical experience contribute to your project and creative process?

Mersiv: It’s just so much different than anything we’ve done before, and so much different from anything than any artists have done in the live space before. It’s more engaging for the fans, and a new way to listen to live music.

EDM.com: How do you anticipate the innovative "Audiosphere" to elevate and deliver your sound? How do you want it to impact the Mersiv Sound Project as a whole?

Mersiv: What we are aiming to do has not only never been done at Red Rocks, but will also be the first Mersiv set of its kind. I don’t want to give too much away, but we’re really excited to share something we have put countless hours and days into developing for the next chapter of the Mersiv Sound Project.

EDM.com: In your opinion, how does the Audiosphere experience differ from and rise above the traditional sound dispersion at Red Rocks?

Andrew Kirschman: The Audiosphere, specifically for this event, is all about additional coverage. While there will certainly be key moments where sound will travel freely up and down, left and right, for a special listening experience, the main goal is to increase coverage in the audience area to create a more even listening experience for the patrons, regardless of where they are located in the amphitheatre.

EDM.com: What challenges do you face in creating this dynamic sound experience in an open-air venue as opposed to a contained venue like The Caverns? Is any fullness of sound lost to the wind, or do you anticipate that the rocks will amplify the effect?

Andrew Kirschman: Compared to the debut of this project at The Caverns, the biggest change is just the sheer size of the audience area. Without the use of cutting edge processing for object based mixing (in this case D&B Audiotechnik’s “Soundscape”) the listening experience would be substantially impacted with different arrival times of multiple sources for the listener.

Additionally, care has been put into ensuring that every listening position maintains some baseline of all sounds, regardless of their automation. Say a specific sound comes out of the arrays at the top of the amphitheatre, the person on the front row wouldn’t be able to hear it. To mitigate this, time has been spent to ensure that even if something may pan hard in one direction, it still has a baseline level emitting from all sources, so that content isn’t lost based on your location.

EDM.com: How do you hope this project will leave its mark on Red Rocks and the broader respective scenes of music and sound design moving forward?

Andrew Kirschman: This particular project, and our mission at AKA Event Productions in general, has been to add a new tool for creativity for the artist to express themselves. Doing this not only breathes new life into songs that may already be fan-favorites, but it also elevates the listening experience for everyone in the crowd.

This win-win scenario hopefully stimulates new ideas, inspiration and allows artists new avenues to express their creativity by adding a new layer in which they can consider their art to be represented. 

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Against a backdrop of towering red monoliths and star-filled Colorado skies, Martin Garrix is set to mark another milestone in his illustrious career by debuting at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

The upcoming performances, which the Dutch EDM superstar called "an absolute dream," are scheduled for October 23-24.

Red Rocks, carved from ancient sandstone and rising dramatically against the Colorado sky, has hosted legendary performances from artists across genres, from The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix to more recent electronic music pioneers like Skrillex. The venue's natural acoustics and breathtaking views have made it a bucket-list destination for both performers and music enthusiasts.

Thats rings especially true for Garrix, who is prevalently considered the world's top DJ. His long-awaited Red Rocks debut is expected to feature his signature high-energy production alongside visual elements designed specifically for the unique amphitheatre setting. Tickets are anticipated to sell out quickly.

Garrix is launching a pre-sale tomorrow at 10am MT and fans can access it using the code FINALLYRR. The general on-sale will then take place Friday, April 4th at the same time.

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The beloved Suwannee Hulaween festival is returning and bringing with it an explosive array of multi-genre heavy-hitters in 2025.

From Thursday, October 30th to Sunday, November 2nd at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Florida, festival-goers will be treated to a one-of-a-kind experience featuring headliners across the electronic, jam and indie music scenes.

Leading the charge are returning fan-favorites ILLENIUM, Goose (performing two sets), Zeds Dead, LSZEE (LSDREAM and CloZee) and The String Cheese Incident. Other notable headliners include The Disco Biscuits, Sammy Virji, Anderson .Paak's DJ Pee .Wee and a special b2b set between Mersiv and EDM.com Class of 2025 star Tape B.

Elsewhere on this year's lineup are Gorgon City, Tinlicker and Jade Cicada, as well as sets from rising stars like Odd Mob, SIPPY, it’s murph, Mary Droppinz and YDG, among many others. Festival veterans like BLOND:ISH and PEEKABOO will also return to Live Oak to keep the party going.

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And for those seeking something a bit different, Hulaween's organizers have announced the return of their 360° stage experience, OFF LIMITS, following a wildly successful debut in 2024. Located at Spirit Lake, the immersive stage will again feature underground dance music programming curated by DEF alongside with fire effects by Incendia and a Funktion-One sound system.

Tickets are on sale now. You can watch the official Hulaween 2024 aftermovie below.

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