With EDC Orlando right around the corner, I can’t help but keep excitedly rereading the line-up. The time between the official line-up dropping and the schedule being released can feel like a lifetime. To quiet my anxiousness for a fest, I love to go through the list and rank the artists from can’t miss, could miss, and indifferent. Admittedly, down to my core, I am a fan of bass music, so that’s usually what I gravitate to. With that being said, here are the top five bass sets you cannot miss at EDC Orlando this year.
1. 13
13 came up seemingly overnight when Rezz released her “Mass Manipulation” album and he was featured as a collaborator on the track “DRUGS!”. He was discovered by Rezz through a friend who sent her his music. I have a tremendous amount of love and respect for Rezz as an artist so for her to hear his stuff and, in the same day, head over to work on music with him makes him stand out to me. 13 is an enigma to me, but every following release left me needing more. His sound design is unique and even though it is bass music I can feel the influence from so many other corners of electronic music. If you’re looking for cutting edge sounds that you’ve never heard before but feel like home, this is a set you absolutely cannot miss at EDC Orlando.
2. Blunts & Blondes
I’m going to be upfront about this one, the reason you need to see Blunts & Blondes is because his sets are an interactive experience but not in the way you would expect. As a DJ he is very aware of the reaction that certain songs elicit from a crowd. In the same tune, he has his finger on the pulse of bass music and an ear for remixes that are just as good, if not better, than the original. He has the ability to push and pull a crowds energy in whichever way he wants. He knows exactly when to bring the energy up, keep it leveled, slow it down, and amp it back up again flawlessly. All of these qualities equate to sets specifically curated for listening pleasure. The set you will hear will be specifically pieced together for you to hear it, and you need to.
3. Excision
An icon. A master of his craft. The prince of Dubstep. If you’ve been paying just the tiniest amount of attention to bass music you know who Excision is. You would also know the two festivals he has created Lost Lands and Bass Canyon. You don’t have to attend these gatherings to see the amount of care and love that he has poured into creating the best possible experiences, it shows in the outpouring of love and praise they get. If you have gone to one of these you’ve felt the magic first hand. Both festivals have taken on a life of their own and have quickly become homes for a lot of bass heads. That same passion and love runs through the core of his music and brings an energy that I promise you is unmatched. One of my most memorable festival experiences is riding the rail for his set in the middle of the afternoon in muggy, hot Atlanta. I’m trying to find the words to describe that hour of my life but all I’m left with at the moment is chills. The crazy thing is that the energy I felt at the heart of the madness I’ve also felt standing at the back of the crowd during his set at Lost Lands. If you want to know what it physically feels like to belong somewhere you won’t miss his set this year at EDC Orlando.
4. Rezz
If you’ve made it this far, you already know I love me some Rezz. The rumors are true, she can and will abduct your soul. The fact that she has quickly propelled to headlining festivals without a single hit and just on the sheer love and support that people have for her and her music speaks for itself. Her hypnotic, body rattling bass puts you in a wub induced trance. Her set will give you a natural body high that will have you leaving already planning the next time you’ll see her. Rezz is also the kind of artist that truly gets better every time you catch her set. Seriously. On her Mass Manipulation tour, she played a double show in Atlanta where she had two shows back to back because the first one sold out quickly. I went to both, of course, and somehow within the two hours between the sets, she managed to level up. A true force to be reckoned with, so don’t… and catch her set, then get ready to plan your next.
5. ZEKE BEATS
ZEKE BEATS may be a rising star but his resume is that of a seasoned rookie. From landing airtime on radio stations like triple j, Rinse FM, and BBC Radio to an almost regular track appearance in Bassnectar’s set. His latest EP reached #1 on the iTunes charts for electronic music and earned spots on coveted Spotify playlists. People can’t help but want to put his music everywhere and we can’t stop listening to it. It doesn’t stop there, he is also an esteemed turntablist and was ranked #4 in the world in the prestigious IDA World Championships. The man oozes talent and has perfected his crafts all across the board, it would be a major disservice as an electronic music fan to pass up on his set.
So who are you most excited to see at EDC Orlando? Grab your tickets below, and we will see you in November!
