April 2019
The Real
Yellow Claw and Their New Album New Rave Style Tomorrowland and What You’re Missing Festival Planning Guide Page 26
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FOR TICKETS AND MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT BURNINGMAN.ORG.
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Best Festivals in the U.S. This Season and Which Ones To Go To
10 Rave Style The Best of 2019 And Deals
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StreamQueen Her Experience At Festivals
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Rave Confessions The Best and Funniest Stories From Real Ravers
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Tomorrowland An Experience You Have To Try
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Festival Planning Guide From Travel to Money
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Yellow Claw Duo to Trio and Doing Better Than Ever
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
KELSEY HAUSE EXECUTIVE EDITOR RYAN LEWIS DEPUTY EDITOR SAMANTHA KNIGHT EXECUTIVE MANAGING EDITOR STELLA LANE CHIEF FASHION DIRECTOR BRADLEY WEISS CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JOHN COSSEY ENTERTAINMENT DIRECTOR JILL SIMS FEATURE DIRECTOR LINDA FLANAGAN EDM-CULTURE DIRECTOR SANDRA LOPEZ DESIGN DIRECTOR DAVID FISHBURN
INTEGRATED ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JONATHAN JONES ACCOUNT DIRECTOR CALVIN COOMBS ACCOUNT MANAGER DOROTHY HERNANDEZ DIRECT RESPONSE ACCOUNT MANAGER CAMERON GRANADOS ADVERTISING SERVICES DIRECTOR KASEY COOPER MIDWEST MANAGER CAMILLE VAUGHT WEST COAST DIRECTOR MARY WALKER EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHING DIRECTOR
FASHION EXECUTIVE FASHION MARKET DIRECTOR AMOS ATKINS BOOKINGS DIRECTOR MARGARET SHARP
JENNIFER COOPER AD COORDINATORS BARBARA BOWER ASSISTANTS DAVID JAMES; GALE PEREZ
SENIOR MARKET EDITOR LAWRENCE STERN ASSOCIATE EDITORS ALFRED GRIGGS ASSISTANTS TIMOTHY STANFILL; DENNIS BANKS
INTEGRATED MARKETING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - MARKETING ROBERT VEGA DIRECTOR DAVID CRAVEN
ART ALL ART MADE BY AND RESERVED BY KELSEY HAUSE DIGITAL CREATIVE DIRECTOR MYRTLE MCMAHAN
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR GEORGE YOUNG SENIOR MANAGER NEAL LABAT MANAGER NICOLE FLORES SENIOR MARKETING COORDINATOR LAMONT SELVAGE
ART DIRECTOR CAROL BENNETT ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR JAMES BLANTON SENIOR DESIGNER STERLING LEWIS ART ASSISTANT ELIZABETH GRAVITT DIGITAL-IMAGING SPECIALIST
PRODUCTION PRODUCTION/OPERATIONS DIRECTOR EDITH BOSTIC OPERATIONS ACCOUNT MANAGER NANCY JONES
ROBIN CUSTODIO CIRCULATION PHOTOGRAPHERS RUTGER GEERLING
VP STRATEGY AND BUSINESS THOMAS PATTERSON MANAGEMENT MANUEL STRADLEY
PHILIPPE WUYTS EDC MEDIA TEAM GEORGE MARTINEZ MIAMI NEW TIMES CARISSA BROOKLYN COPY & RESEARCH COPY DIRECTOR KELSEY HAUSE RESEARCH DIRECTOR KELSEY HAUSE DEPUTY COPY CHIEF SAMANTHA KNIGHT
PUBLISHED BY WMU PRINTING CENTER PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER CHAIRMAN LEE LAM EXECUTIVE VICE CHAIRMAN MICHELLE BRIDGES WMU PRITNING CENTER MEDIA PRESIDENT SUSAN TOPETE PRESIDENT, MARKETING & PUBLISHING DIRECTOR SAMANTHA DAVIS CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER FRANK COHEN
ART CREATIVE DIRECTOR EDWIN GILLIAM
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF FINANCIAL SECRETARY ALBERT MCDONNELL
ART DIRECTOR IMELDA BELL PUBLISHING CONSULTANTS DEBRORAH BOYER PRODUCTION PRODUCTION/OPERATIONS DIRECTOR EDITH BOSTIC OPERATIONS ACCOUNT MANAGER NANCY JONES
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EDITORIAL DIRECTOR AMANDA KATO
What’s new and worth taking a look at this Spring 2019. New Artist releases that have caught the eye of our editors. We hope you enjoy these as much as we do.
Pretty Pink Overrated A single released by Found Frequencies, a label founded by the amazing Lost Frequencies. This track is highly recommended by him and us.
Yellow Claw Danger Days An eight-song EP released this year following their last album, New Blood. This is their seventh released album, and if you love their previous music as much as we do, you won’t be disappointed.
Kayzo After the Store A one-song collaboration with blessthefall, this was a highly anticipated single that didn’t leave us dissatisfied.
Make sure to stream this month’s free (that’s right, free) playlist on Spotify and Apple Music, inspired by the artists in this issue. Use code: “oracle419” to get access and make sure to have your Oracle subscription number ready.
Ghastly Heretic A one-song collaboration with G-REX, that is a typical Ghastly track. And if you’re a fan, that isn’t a bad thing.
Alan Walker On My Way A one-song single, in collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter and Farruko.
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STREAM QUEEN Q aka Carissa Brooklyn
What is the first festival you went to and what about it made you love EDM? The first festival I went to was Das Energi in Salt Lake City in 2015. I was introduced to EDM music a few months before and fell in love with it, so I had a lot of excitement going to my first festival. I loved everything about it- the music, the stage, the lights, the people. I was instantly hooked and knew it was something I had to continue doing because it just made me so happy.
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What’s the BEST festival you’ve been to and why? This is a tricky question because I have two answers. In terms of just the overall festivalTomorrowland, hands down. Tomorrowland is unlike any festival in the states. You walk in and instantly feel like you are in some fairy tale, Alice in wonderland, surreal world. It doesn’t even feel like real life. The decorations are extravagant and over the top and beautiful. The mainstage is so detailed and is truly an art piece itself. Even the smaller stages put mainstages of other festivals to shame. The detail is incredible. Everywhere you look, there’s something beautiful to look at or interact with. Tomorrowland is pretty much every ravers dream festival, and with good reason. It’s magical. In terms of what festival I like the most and have the most fun at- Ultra Miami. Ultra was the first festival I fell in love with immediately. I love being in Miami, I love the beach, I love the city. Personally I prefer LED-only stages rather than the decoration stages because I think it allows for a better variety of visuals since artists can customize the stage to their set and it looks completely different for every person that plays. Ultra is also the first festival that kicks off ‘festival season’, and artists never hold back. I’ve seen artists play at Ultra and then another festival a few weeks or months later and they
Streamqueen_xo (aka Carissa Brooklyn) at Tomorrowland, Belgium, 2018.
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are never as good as they are at Ultra. I feel like artists really love Ultra so they put their all into their sets and take it really seriously.
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Who are your top 5 favorite artists? For chill music like when I’m driving or hanging out at home- Jai Wolf, San Holo, Odesza, Kygo, Gryffin. My top 5 I like for upbeat/party music- Afrojack, Quintino, Cesqeaux, Sikdope, Party Favor. My top 5 sets I’ve ever seen- Alesso at Ultra ‘17, Tiesto at Ultra ‘16, ‘17, ‘18, Afrojack every time I’ve seen him (he’s my favorite), Swedish House Mafia at Ultra ‘18, KSHMR at Ultra ‘18
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Do you prefer to go to a festival with a small group of close friends or a big group friends? I’ve never really gone to a festival with a big group of people. Usually I go with a small group and we meet people at the event that we hang out with.
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What advice would you give to a first time raver? Be respectful to others (aka PLUR). If you are trying to get through the crowd, say things like ‘excuse me’ instead of just shoving your way through. Be friendly and introduce yourself to people, you’ll make a lot of friends that you can meet up with at future events. If you see someone that looks scared or sad or not doing well, talk to them and see if you can help (maybe they lost their friends, maybe they don’t feel well, etc). Look out for others and they will do the same for you. Know your limits- don’t be ‘that’ person by drinking or taking too much of something. And wear earplugs to every event! You can get ones made for music events that don’t muffle the sound, and no event or set is worth losing your hearing over in a few years.
N _XO
loved every– “ Ithing about my first festival — the music, the stage, the lights, the people. I was instantly hooked.
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What insights can you give about your festival outfit/make-up planning? I start planning my outfits months in advance for the big festivals. It honestly takes me that long to get ideas and decide what I like best and how to accessorize and all of that. I like looking on Instagram for ideas, but honestly all my favorite outfits are the ones that I come up with on my own. Sometimes I find one piece that I like, such as a belt or a body chain and build my entire outfit around that. I usually go for things that are glittery, sequins, rhinestones, because I love to sparkle at festivals. That makes matching my makeup easy because I just find a color coordinating glitter or gems and it ties the whole look together. Follow Carissa Brooklyn on Instragram at streamqueen_xo.
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Sassy Corsets Make boss moves in the J. Valentine Triangle Bikini Top and Hypnotic Hologram Corset followed by the Sassy Serpent Metallic Booty Shorts from iheartraves.com. This bad ass ensemble has a front and back tie detail with a side zipper closure that’ll have you feelin’ like the baddest babe at your next fest. J. Valentine Triangle Bikini Top $36.95, iheartraves.com. J. Valentine Hypnotic Hologram Corset $42.95, iheartraves. com. Sassy Serpent Metallic Booty Shorts $29.95.
Because Kylie Wore It It all started when one of the most famous fashion icons wore it to Coachella. Now they have taken inspiration everywhere. But not everyone does it like Rave Wonderland. The turquoise Eyes set features high cut sequin bottoms and bikini top. Turquoise Eyes Sequin Bikini High Cut Set $37.95 for the set, ravewonderland.com.
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Rave Style
Water, please Vibedration’s stylish hydration packs are designed to keep you hydrated and looking rad at music festivals and raves. With an insulated reservoir the Geo Donuts hydration pack will keep you cool when the summer heat beats at your favorite festival. Geo Donuts Hydration Pack $59.99, vibedration.com.
Zip Zip Zip You’ll be a sight to see in this Vivacious Venom Zip Up Crop Top followed by the Vivacious Venom High Waist Booty Shorts from iheartraves.com. This gorgeous green and purple snake skin cropped tank and bottom is ultra form-fitting with a silver center zipper closure. Vivacious Venom Zip Up Crop Top $36.95 , iheartraves.com. Vivacious Venom High Waist Booty Shorts $34.95, iheartraves.com.
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“I was at my second Ultra and was up at the rail of mainstage. It is super humid in Miami, so the security guards were spraying the crowd with water hoses, so everyone got soaked. After an hour or so of not being sprayed with water, I realized that my bottoms were wet, but everything else on me was dry. I started to get really confused of why my bottoms were wet, and I came to the conclusion that I had peed myself without realizing it. Up at the front, the bass is so loud and vibrates you to your core, so I figured it vibrated so much that I peed and didn’t feel it because the bass was so intense. I started freaking out but there wasn’t anything I could do because if I left, I would lose my spot, and I didn’t have anything to change into. I stayed there and danced uncomfortably and selfconsciously for another hour or so. Then the security guards hooked up the hoses and sprayed them into the crowd. It suddenly dawned on me that my bottoms were wet because they were swimsuit material and more absorbent than my top I was wearing, so that’s why they were wet and nothing else. My friends still like to tease me about being convinced I unknowingly peed myself in the middle of a festival.” –Carissa, 24.
years ago, my friend Courtney, “Acouple her mother and I decided to go to
Electric Forest. We decided to walk around before settling on a stage to sit at. Courtney texted our other friend Lizzie, who was also there, to see where she was at. Lizzie and a few of her other friends were at the EDM stage. So we take stroll over to them. Meanwhile, Courtney’s mother decided to stop for something to drink and told us to go on ahead of her, and that she’d catch up. We finally got to the EDM stage to find Lizzie. We were talking casually, when we mentioned that Courtney’s mother was there as well. Lizzie’s hands fly to her forehead and shouts “I’m too high to talk to parents!” She grabbed her purse and ran. Her other friends ran after her. Of course Courtney and I were left laughing in the dust.” –Alex, 26.
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to Lollapalooza a couple years back. “ I-went -Flume was playing that night and nothing in
the world was going to stop me from seeing him play. So we get to the venue, and we’re feeling ourselves, having a good time watching some acts before flume came on. Suddenly, it starts to downpour. My friends look at me and tell me they’re heading back to the hotel to stay dry. I knew in my current state of mind there was no way I could sit in a hotel room so I decided to stay behind alone... for the first 20 minutes of being alone I realize this was a tremendous mistake. I somehow manage to find my way to the stage flume is playing at. Right before he comes on, I hear someone calling my name. I turn around and see a group of friends I haven’t seen in years! They invite me to join them right before flume comes on. With tears in my eyes I watched flume play (remember this is 2014 so this is easily his best year ever..) the rain doesn’t stop for a second but it made the whole experience better. He was at a smaller side stage so the atmosphere was electric! Everyone was grooving to his music in the downpour and it’s like no one even noticed the rain. Eventually his set came to an end, but my long lost friends let me join them for the rest of the day so we ended up hoping around dancing the night away. Let’s just say my friends still regret their decision to head back to the hotel.” –Carrie, 22.
sitting in the trunk of my friend’s “ I-was -car while he was driving up and down
the isles at GridLife Midwest. He stopped driving for a second and people started yelling “SEND IT.” So he started revving the engine, and I didn’t expect him to actually do it. To my surprise the car lurched forward and I flew out of the trunk of the car. Everything seemed to be going in slow motion at the time, ESPECIALLY since my glass water bottle was flying over my head. All I could think to myself was “ I honestly don’t care if I get a little road rash from this. But please, PLEASE don’t let my glass water bottle break on the pavement. I don’t want to skid and or roll over glass shards and have to get stitches.” To my surprise, the bottle bounced off the pavement in one piece. After laying on the ground for a second, I got up, brushed myself off and grabbed my water bottle. That’s when I looked around to see everybody looking at me, so on the spur of the moment, I raised my hands and yelled “GRIDLIFE!!!!” That’s when everybody started yelling and cheering for me. And to everybody’s surprise, I got back in the trunk of the car, and my friend drove us back to our campsite.” –Liz, 21.
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THE BEST
9 George, WA 8 The Gorge, WA
FESTIVAL FESTIVALS
AROUND
THE U.S. Rave season is coming up quick with summer just on the horizon. Do you know which festivals you’re going to? Here’s a map to help you decide. Listed are some of the best festivals hosted around the U.S. with listed prices so you don’t break the bank. Rave on.
5 Lake Tahoe, CA
3 San Fransisco, CA
4 Bradley, CA
6 Las Vegas, NV 1 Indio, CA
2 San Diego, CA
1 Coachella Indio, CA April 12-21, $429
7 Burning Man Black Rock Desert, NV Aug. 25 - Sept. 2, $425
2 Tramps Like Us San Diego, CA Sept. 20-21, $110
8 Bass Canyon The Gorge, WA Aug. 23-25, $165
3 Outside Lands San Fransisco, CA Aug. 9-11, $400
9 Paradiso George, WA June 14-15, $218
4 Lightning In A Bottle Bradley, CA May 8-13, $400 5 Wanderlust Squaw Valley, Lake Tahoe, CA July 18-21, $401 6 EDC Las Vegas, NV May 17-19, $450 14
7 Black Rock, NV
Festivals Around the U.S.
10 Austin City Limits Music Festival Austin, TX Oct. 4-13, $255 11 Bonnaroo Manchester, TN June 13-16, $339
21 20 Detroit, MI Rothbury, MI 23 Chicago, IL
22 Chicago, IL
19 Legend Valley, OH
18 Watkins Glen, NY
17 New York City, NY
11 Manchester, TN 12 Atlanta, GA
13 Atlanta, GA
10 Austin, TX 16 Orlando, FL 15 Tampa, FL 14 Miami, FL
12 Shaky Beats Atlanta, GA May 10-11, $129
18 Woodstock Watkins Glen, NY August 16-18, TBA
13 Imagine Music Festival Atlanta, GA Sept. 20-22, $200
19 Lost Lands Legend Valley, Ohio September 27-29, $250
14 Ultra Miami, FL March 29-31, $400
20 Electric Forest Rothbury, MI June 27-30, $500
15 Sunset Music Festival Tampa, FL May 25-26, $160
21 Movement Festival Detroit, MI May 25-27, $194
16 EDC Orlando, FL November 8-9, $180
22 Spring Awakening Chicago, IL June 7-9, $200
17 Electric Zoo New York City, NY August 30 - September 1, TBA
23 Lollpalooza Chicago, IL August 1-4, $398
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Tomorrowland, Main Stage, 2018.
T O M O R R OW
WHAT YOU’RE MISSING By Lisa McLoughlin
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n its thirteenth year, Tomorrowland has established itself as Europe’s premier electronic dance music festival and with the biggest names in the genre performing; from Fatboy Slim to David Guetta to Armind Van Helden - it’s no wonder it has become the ultimate musical playground for EDM lovers. Fantastically lavish and an utter feast for the senses, the music event, which livestreams to several other cities around the world, has grown beyond it’s original capacity and has now spread over two weekends in the aptly named Belgian town of Boom. The festival sees 90,000 attendees making the annual
pilgrimage from all corners the world to experience their incredibly creative staging and of course, world class DJs while clad in an array of carnival sequins, costume characters and barely-there bikinis. A long way from their inaugural event, 2018’s Tomorrowland tickets sold out in a mere 30 seconds for the double-header weekender, proving a pass for the festival is as difficult to acquire as a golden ticket to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. The event boasts the most outlandish production any seasoned festival goer has ever witnessed and with this year’s elaborate theme, The Story of Planaxis, coming to life across
16 stages, the concept was thrusted onto attendees with the help of imposing smokebillowing dragons, giant LED mushrooms, and its Lost City of Atlantis-inspired main stage. It would be completely understandably if you thought you’d been dropped into the kingdom of Atlantica as floating mermaid dancers, a bubbling DJ-both as well as huge water jets and mistcannons cool down revelers during the stage’s daily opening ceremony. And while there’s no appearances by Flounder or Sebastian the Crab, party goers are transported into a completely different world as they rave to the likes of Axwell, Ingrosso, Hardwell and Angemi, who all
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paid tribute to Avicii following his April passing, while waving their country’s native flags excitedly in the air. Much like their elaborate daily openings, they close the festival with a spectacular firework display on every outdoor stage each night, indulging revelers senses one last time before they trek to their respective lodgings for the weekend.
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Honing their incredible showmanship throughout the years has definitely worked in Tomorrowland’s favor and while every corner of the festival site is perfectly Instagram-able from the looming ferris wheel (which is free of charge) to welcoming carousel and flower-filled manmade lakes - it’s their array of tantalizing food on offer that has recently garnered the most attention. From
Tomorrowland: What You’re Missing
global-inspired food stalls to a Michelin star restaurant overlooking the festival in its entirety, there truly is something for everyone’s taste buds, which can be paid for by Tomorrowland’s own currency, Pearls, on your festival band for the cashless event. However, a standout for revelers was most definitely the B-EAT sessions, hosted by Las Vegas’ tourism board, which jetted in Sin City’s most
Tomorrowland Camping, Dreamville, 2018.
renowned chefs and paired them with big name DJs while diners ate for hour-long sittings that left many feeling in the heart of the party strip. Among those heading up the club-inspired venue were culinary superstars Masaharu Morimoto (Chef and Owner at Morimoto Las Vegas), Christophe De Lellis (Executive Chef at Joël Robuchon, at the MGM Grand), Bruno Riou (Executive Chef at Rivea, at Delano Las Vegas), Sean Griffin (Executive Chef at Jean Georges Steakhouse, at ARIA Resort & Casino Las Vegas), Nicholas Sharpe (Executive Chef at Michael Mina, at Bellagio Las Vegas) and Lee Bennett (Property Assistant Executive Chef at The Mirage). Nabbing one of these passes allows you to unlock a new world of raving and attendees can expect exclusive viewing platforms beside the festival’s biggest stages which are
loaded with glitzy perks that are worth pushing the boat out for. Most notably, the main stage’s VIP area boasts jacuzzis, complimentary bikinis and swim trunks, and free food. The biggest comfort area of them all, it also features massage chairs, large screens to watch all the action from the comfort of your seat and elaborate dance performances in the middle of the lounge. However, it’s not all about the main stage as the Organ of Harmony stage featured a giant swimming pool and bar that kept festival goers cool in the 38 degree while a saxophonist and bongo player entertained the VIPs in between DJ sets. Not missing a trick, Tomorrowland has thought of everything to accommodate their attendees needs and have equipped every bathroom on site with deodorant to help revelers combat the summer heat. And while the exclusive enclosures
trounce the UK’s offerings, the festival also boasts an incredible energy with superfriendly fellow revelers, who all arrive to the venue simply wanting the time of their lives and sometimes a hand to high-five as the music flows. The people are what truly make it. Ticking off every box it’s utterly evident that Tomorrowland has it’s finger on the pulse of what a modern festival should be and what exactly revelers are looking for. Coachella and Glastonbury should be quaking in their wellies because this is one experience you’d never forget. To learn more about Las Vegas’ culinary offering and it’s B-EATs stage at Tomorrowland, please visit www.lasvegas.com/uk.
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JUNE 7-9, 2019
POPLAR CREEK, HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL Spring Awakening is an 18+ festival. You MUST be 18 on the date of the event for entry. Everyone will be required to show a government issued PHOTO ID upon entry. VIP Section is 21+ only. Drivers licenses, Passports, and legal government-issued IDs will be accepted. IDs must contain both a photo and your date of birth. Temporary paper government-issued IDs that match these guidelines will be accepted. There will be NO RE-ENTRY into Spring Awakening Music Festival. Your wristband will only scan for entry once per day. There will be ATMs on the festival grounds, credit cards will also be accepted at all bar locations and many food vending locations. There will be a $10 wristband replacement fee for lost, stolen or damaged wristbands: If you are the original purchaser, you must bring your wristband (if the issue is it’s too tight or damaged), confirmation email, and ID to the festival box office where you will be able to purchase a replacement wristband for $10. Tickets are sold through SeeTickets.us. We are not responsible for secondary ticket sellers, so we advise purchasing only through See Tickets. We are not responsible for lost or stolen tickets. For more information on General Admission tickets and VIP tickets, as well as purchasing your tickets, please head to the Buy Tickets Page. Wristbands will be mailed out at a later date. Your wristbands will be delivered via USPS First-Call mail. You will receive an email with your tracking number when your order has been shipped. Lineup Subject to Change. All Sales are final. Rain or Shine, but if a storm approaches with dangerous conditions such as high winds, thunder, lightning, tornado, etc., your safety is our priority and we will take necessary precautions with no refunds. For more information, please visit www.springawakeningfestival.com.
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by Elias Leight The Amsterdam trio, now duo, is doing well. How well? People lining up to write remixes and top chart songs. Pretty well.
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Yellow Claw
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n 2015, the Dutch electronic producers in the group Yellow Claw released their debut full-length, Blood For Mercy, on Diplo’s Mad Decent label. The record landed at No. 1 on the Billboard Dance Albums chart, so it’s surprising to hear that the men behind it wanted to take a drastically different approach to their new LP, Los Amsterdam. “We did everything wrong that we could’ve have done wrong [making Blood For Mercy],” says Nils Rondhuis. “We were really compromising between: what do I like to listen to, what do I want to play in the club, and even what can people listen to at home,” adds Jim Aasgier. Or, perhaps, not compromising, but trying too hard to satisfy all three constituencies. “We put 17 songs on the album!” Aasgier
says, feigning shock. “Who does that?! I think originally we tried to put 20 songs on there -- it was basically just every song we finished that year we tried to put it on the album. But that doesn’t work; it was just like a big EP.” Aasgier and Rondhuis are sitting at a table in the cafe of their hotel in midtown Manhattan, and both are clad appropriately in Yellow Claw gear. Aasgier, bearded, is wearing a navy blue jacket with a red Blood For Mercy insignia. Rondhuis, clean-shaven and pale, with one rogue lock of hair reaching down onto his forehead, sports a black hoodie with Los Amsterdam emblazoned on the front. It’s one of the coldest days that New York has seen recently -“I went out last night,” Aasgier
quips, “and I just wore all the clothes I had with me” -- and the duo are busy rearranging flights, because a blizzard is due to touch down in the small hours of the next morning. Rondhuis is headed home to Amsterdam, while Aasgier is looping back to L.A., where much of the formative work on Los Amsterdam’s 13 tracks took place, leading Yellow Claw to pay tribute to the city in the record’s title. The duo decamped west roughly a year ago in search of inspiration. “We took a backpack of really stripped-down demos and wrote songs every day,” Rondhuis says. “In the first four weeks, we were basically open to everybody,” Aasgier remembers. “Anybody who wanted to come in and work on a song, we did it. A lot of stuff sucked, but in the last
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few weeks, we started asking back the people we had a connection with, and 70% or 80% of the basics were done there.” The sunny climate and revolving studio door weren’t the only differences during the recording process -Yellow Claw started as a trio, but their third member, MC Bizzey, left the group in 2016. “We’ve always taken care of the music side of it,” Aasgier says. “For the previous
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Yellow Claw
album, already he was going through some personal stuff, wanted to spend more time at home, so he wasn’t really in the studio for that one.” Despite MC Bizzey’s departure, Aasgier emphasizes that their relationship is “all good.” “We don’t want to make it sound like hard feelings,” he says. Yellow Claw are known for a sharp-toothed, obliterating sound -- “loud, frenzied, blasting beats,” as Aasgier puts it -- but they don’t open Los Amsterdam with a wallop.
Instead, the record begins with fluffy, sustained synth chords and a crystalline female vocal. Hammering percussion doesn’t show up for nearly 90 seconds. Fans needn’t worry that the group has moved over-far from their aggressive roots, though. It doesn’t take long before Los Amsterdam is squirming and thundering with the vigor that suits main stages at electronic music festivals. Yellow Claw also recruited authoritative rappers, notably
Swedish singer Elliphant and a sturdy spine of synthesizers. The French producer DJ Snake chops up Elliphant’s voice and weaves the pitch-altered pieces into chirpy tapestries that hang between the verses. “Good Day” was not the first thing that Yellow Claw and Elliphant came up with in the studio. Initially they created what Rondhuis describes as “Vampire Weekend mixed with EDM.” Juicy J and Quavo of Migos, to contribute to two of the album’s tracks, “City On Lockdown” and “Stacks.” Rondhuis and Aasgier are effusive about both of these MCs, reminiscing happily about the energizing pre-show impacts of Juicy J’s Still Trippy album and referring to Quavo is “a legend.” “We were really lucky,” Aasgier says. “We got his part of ‘Stacks’ maybe 4 or 5 months ago? And then [Migos’ ‘Bad and Boujee’] blew up.” The duo rely on a special metric to determine if a tune like “Stacks” is a success. “If you drop a club song like that, it’s not about views or plays,” Aasgier explains. “If the DJs
are hitting you up for it, in your DMs, texting you, that’s how you know it’s a good one.” “A lot of people have, right?” asks Rondhuis. “A lot,” Aasgier responds. Yellow Claw prioritized a balanced sound on Los Amsterdam, so they made an effort to reach beyond turbocharged trap music -- Aasgier mentions Daft Punk’s Tron soundtrack and Kavinsky’s “Nightcall” as important reference points during the recording process. In that vein, Los Amsterdam’s current single, “Good Day,” aims to hook listeners with melody: vocoder vocals from
Back in the Blood For Mercy days, that track would probably have ended up on the album, but not this time. They went back to the drawing board and ended up with “Good Day,” which recently cracked Billboard’s Hot Dance/ Electronic Songs chart. “We were like, ‘fuck it, let’s do the complete opposite [of what we just did],’” Aasgier says, reflecting Yellow Claw’s recent commitment to precise, careful album-making. “Let’s do something beautiful.” For more information on Yellow Claw, visit them at yellowclaw.com.
Photo 1: Yellow Claw Live at the Ritz, Amsterdam, 2018. Photo 2: Yellow Claw Live at Soundgarden Hall, Philadelphia, 2018.
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Festival Planning Guide Festivals can be expensive. But you can save accordingly by filling out the quiz below and planning financially. Before filling out this quiz, turn back over to page 14 to decide which festival you’re going to. Then come back, fill in your specific prices.
Hotel: $
Airfare: $
Food: $
Gas/Ubers: $
Outfits: $
Wristband: $
Total: $
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Festival Planning Guide
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26 ihear traves.com
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A Customer–Focused EDM Magazine. Printed in Kalamazoo, MI.
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