Image via Complex Original
Just over the Triborough Bridge from Harlem in New York City in Randall's Island Park, the 2014 edition of Electric Zoo takes place this Friday through Sunday (August 29-31, 2014). Over the past five years, the festival has arguably become an iconic American EDM event, a landmark space that has bore witness to the evolution of dance culture in America from just being something enjoyed by trance lovers and frequenters of Miami's Ultra Music Festival. In the past half-decade, EDM has become pop music's digital and social era evolution, making sick ass drops as American as baseball and apple pie. If attending or paying attention to Electric Zoo 2014, there's five key storylines to follow that are actually well in-tune with dance's progression at-present. This year's Festival is ultimately one of 2014's most important musical moments–not just in America, but globally. Here's why.
Jack U close the festival on Main Stage East, Kaskade on Main Stage West
Electric Zoo is best told as a story of Diplo and Skrillex, thus it's likely best that they (as Jack U) close out the festival's sixth year. The former was the first indie-to-mainstream hipster-generation name of note to play at the festival (as both "Diplo" on the festival's final day and with Major Lazer on the main stage on Saturday afternoon), his sets initially being the only sets at the festival where rap music, club music, trap, and global underground dance styles were significantly featured. From introducing moombahton as "here's some weird new shit," to bringing Skerrit Bwoy's vaginal Superfly Splash to Electric Zoo, Diplo's definitely broken up the energy of traditional big room progressive house and trance that have oftentimes dominated the event.
Skrillex played to a festival tent packed far beyond capacity in his 2011 debut, and was the festival closer in 2012 with a diverse set that involved a preview of what was to come with 2014 album Recess (including the first time that a Fatman Scoop rap party break made famous in New York City's streets was dropped in a very different location than ever before) as well as his progressive take on dubstep and heavy bass music. Jack U's gangbusters set at March's Ultra Music Festival is likely the reason why they're closing here, and to see the festival (and by extrapolation American EDM) evolve from David Guetta headlining everything in 2009 to a Jacksonville, Florida native who got his start playing dirty South rap bootlegs in a Philadelphia mausoleum and the lead singer of a pop-punk screamo band sharing the stage is quite impressive, indeed.
Insofar as Kaskade, he's an American trance and progressive house legend, and for as much as the past five years have been about the rise of new jacks like the aforementioned duo, as well as fellow North Americans like American electro pioneer Steve Aoki and Canadian turntable master A-Trak. Kaskade is a throwback to another era who is still relevant and has a fanatical following. If someone who was down with dance before the era of fire, lazers, trap and brostep, Kaskade's set should certainly amaze.
There are 60 acts debuting at Electric Zoo this year
EDM's exploded in America, and proof positive of this is that there are SIXTY acts that are being booked for the first time at the festival this year. The spread of dance–specially in the hard electro and trap lanes–in the United States is impressive, and with the number of new-to-dance American producers making noteworthy tracks likely rivaling only the disco era, Electric Zoo's ability to capitalize on this is noteworthy. If electronic music culture is to grow in the United States, then up-and-coming acts having access to these stages and opportunities is key. As well, for global producers, the ability to get a foothold in the heretofore unavailable American market is key. If thinking that this is a short-term situation in the US, then it's an incredibly lucrative one that deserves to be capitalized upon.
Can Electric Zoo not have a drug-related casualty?
Unfortunately, the deluge bad press surrounding electronic music and overdosing on MDMA circles back to last year's cancelled third day of Electric Zoo 2013 due to two drug related deaths. To that end, Electric Zoo organizers will require this year's attendees to view a video outlining the dangers of drug use within the festival before recieving wristbands to enter the event. While yes, this is controversial, electronic music culture has reached a point where such a drastic move is absolutely necessary. From deaths reported at the Ultra Festival, HARD Summer, and Maryland's Mad Decent Block Party event to yes, even the macabre joke of "turning up to death," the topic has been hot on everyone's lips in the music industry in the past twelve months. Three safe days at Electric Zoo will go a long way to EDM gaining some level of respect and positive momentum in mainstream press and popular culture. If dance is here to stay, then this absolutely must be as safe of a festival as humanly possible.
It's 9PM on Saturday night: are you rocking with Zedd or Laidback Luke?
Once Electric Zoo's set times were announced, the idea that Billboard-dominating pop producer of the moment Zedd was scheduled at the same time as legendary fan-favorite DJ/producer Laidback Luke was intriguing and smile inducing. It's a first-world problem of the highest order for a festival-goer. Do you get "satisfied" with "electroman" Benny Benassi and then cross your fingers for an Ariana Grande appearance during Zedd's set (they did, after all, collaborate on the chart-topping "Break Free"). But, you could possibly stay for half of Benassi then trudge over the hill to Electric Zoo's Main Stage East, catch the last of "cover-girl" sisters Nervo and prepare to dance the night away to what will likely be Laidback Luke's incredibly crowd-friendly presentation. Of course, afterwards the idea of staying to hear Knife Party drop forthcoming album jams after Luke is intriguing. Or you can just head back to the Main Stage West for yeah, none other than trance legend (and now pop charter) Armin van Buuren. Again, this is an amazing first world problem.
Josh Wink is spinning vinyl for two-and-a-half hours on Sunday afternoon
Festivals are all about new experiences in ideal surroundings. Yes, this ideally should be a space to talk about the deep house and techno that gets spun yearly in the Sunday School tent, which, for vibe-loving heads is a place that they are oftentimes given few reasons to leave during Electric Zoo. With the likes of Danny Tenaglia and Nicole Moudaber headlining in that tent, the grooves should be thick, intense and heavier than likely anything else happening at the festival. However, for the first time this year, all-vinyl sets are coming to the event, and of the many spinners doing so, the most notable for relatively new-to-dance partiers is Philadelphia native Josh Wink (he of 1995 dance pop hit "Higher State of Consciousness" fame). Given that this is an all-vinyl set, it's entirely possible that his selections will venture far outside the acid house and techno for which he is globally renowned. If looking for something more than "dudes pressing play," these sets will likely make you a believer that dance music in the festival realm is about something far more than a negative disc jockey stereotype.