18 days until 150,000 people descend on the Nevada desert, and EDC’s 30th anniversary lineup is actually trying. Kaskade’s back on a proper label, FISHER’s got a collab that shouldn’t work but does, and Subtronics and Excision are apparently competing to see who can make the ugliest sound. Here’s what’s on the pre-game playlist.
1. Kaskade ft. EZI - Freedom
Deep house for the drive out. Kaskade went back to OM Records — the label that basically built this sound — and “Freedom” lands right in that late-night, open-road pocket. EZI’s voice is the whole thing.
2. FISHER & Tones And I - Favour
Two Australians walk into a studio. “Favour” has no business being this good — Dance Monkey singer over a FISHER house cut should be a nightmare but it’s a banger. His kineticFIELD set is going to be chaos.
3. John Summit & Rohaan - SATA
Summit’s album Ctrl Escape came out two weeks ago and “SATA” is the one that keeps coming back. Tight, minimal, builds like nothing’s happening — and then it does.
4. Charlotte de Witte - Hymn
She’s playing EDC and “Hymn” is why she gets the slot. Pure KNTXT techno — driving kick, a riff that won’t leave your head, no fluff. From her debut LP that dropped in November and still sounds like the hardest thing anyone released this cycle.
5. Excision & Subtronics - A.F.B.1.
The title is literally an acronym for “Another F***ing Big One.” Their b2b set is going to rearrange people’s teeth. Come prepared.
See you in the desert.