Las Vegas, NV – The 30th anniversary of Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) Las Vegas recently concluded, leaving a trail of memorable performances and forward-looking discussions among artists. Bryzant was on the ground speaking to some of the biggest names in electronic music.
Whethan, the Chicago-based producer and DJ, returned to EDC Las Vegas after a hiatus since 2021, delivering a set at bass POD. Reflecting on the festival, Whethan expressed awe at the scale of the event. „This is incredible, and seeing it from up here is absolutely mindblowing,“ he said, also suggesting that the festival should consider expanding to four days or two weekends to accommodate the sheer volume of experiences.
Whethan also spoke about his approach to live sets. „I love being able to switch up some things on the fly. I kind of leave it up to setting the vibe and then also being open to seeing what the vibe really is.“
Looking ahead, Whethan teased new music, stating, „I have been just making so much music. I’m already working on the next album, original stuff from me, Warehouse.Wavs3 is almost already a thing.“ He also emphasized his passion for creating remixes for both his own sets and for other DJs to use.
Laidback Luke, a veteran of the dance music scene, opened EDC Las Vegas at kinetic FIELD alongside Chuckie. He noted that it had been a while since either of them had performed at the festival, making their return for the 30th anniversary particularly special. Despite their early set time, a large crowd gathered, creating an energetic atmosphere.
Laidback Luke and Chuckie engaged with fans prior to their performance, soliciting track requests via Instagram. „We got 1,200 requests in, but they were all niche titles. Like ‘if you know you know’ type of ravers,“ Laidback Luke explained. The duo incorporated many of these selections into their set, eliciting a strong response from the crowd.
Their set included tracks from influential artists such as Showtek, Benny Benassi, AFROJACK, Steve Aoki, Nadia Ali, Swedish House Mafia, and Bingo Players, alongside their own classics like „Let The Bass Kick,“ „Turbulence,“ „Show Me Love,“ and „Make Some Noise.“
Laidback Luke is currently on his Continuum tour, which he describes as a journey through „then, now, next,“ signifying his dedication to continuing his legacy. He also mentioned his recent collaboration with Megisto, „Don’t Look Back,“ released on Martin Garrix’s STMPD label, which aligns with the themes of his Continuum era.
Levity, the dubstep trio consisting of John Hauldren, PJ Carberry, and Josh Tarum, made their return to EDC Las Vegas, performing at circuit GROUNDS. The group reflected on their journey, including Josh’s recent graduation from medical school, which they incorporated into their intro for the EDC set.
Looking forward, Levity has several projects in the works. „More music, more shows. We’ve got Escapism Vol. 2 coming out very soon, and we’ll hopefully have another Airplane Mode coming out soon as well. We’re going on tour with Tape B this summer,“ PJ shared.
The trio also reminisced about their debut performance at bass POD the previous year, with PJ recalling the experience of playing so high up and John joking about getting up on the decks. John also explained that the group had originally planned to attend EDC Las Vegas as fans in 2020, but after its cancellation, they decided to wait until they could perform at the festival.
Whethan offered advice to aspiring DJs and producers, encouraging them to trust their instincts and pursue their musical passions. He reflected on the importance of staying true to the initial inspiration that drove him to create music. Levity echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the power to change one’s path and pursue happiness.
Sources: EDM Identity, EDM Identity, EDM Identity
