DON’T MISS THE BEAT

By Riesa Pascal Photo Credit: Ashley Osborne

Gryffin

At The Vanguard

The Vanguard is Downtown Orlando's new entertainment destination and the largest independently owned concert venue in Central Florida. Thanks to a newly completed multimillion-dollar renovation, the facility is now fully equipped with state-of-the-art sound and lights that were put to the test during an electrifying DJ set by L.A.-based artist/producer Gryffin.

Born Dan Griffith, Gryffin got his start in music as a classically trained pianist and guitarist and also played in several bands. After receiving an electrical engineering degree from the University of Southern California, he pursued a path in music production, drawing equally from his carefully honed musicality and edgy ingenuity. Gryffin made his breakthrough in 2016 with two singles showcasing his melodic take on dance music: “Heading Home” ft. Josef Salvat (which shot to #1 on Spotify’s US and Global Viral charts) and the Bipolar Sunshine collaboration “Whole Heart.” In addition, his 2017 smash single “Feel Good” — with Illenium and featuring Daya — peaked at #18 on the Dance/Mix Show Airplay charts. Gryffin’s major triumphs also include “Tie Me Down” ft. Elley Duhé (which hit #2 on the Spotify US Viral Chart and #9 on the Global Viral Chart), “Remember” ft. Zohara (which garnered 6.5 million streams in its first few weeks), and “All You Need to Know” with SLANDER ft. Calle Lehmann (a gold-certified smash that’s now surpassed 100 million streams). Arriving in October 2019, Gryffin’s debut album Gravity quickly climbed to #1 on Billboard’s Dance/Electronic Albums chart.

Though currently in the middle of his Las Vegas residency at The Wynn’s Encore Beach Club and XS Nightclub, Gryffin is also performing at major markets across the U.S. and I was fortunate enough to catch one of these powerful shows myself when he passed through Orlando. Having just recently unveiled a new single entitled “Best Is Yet To Come” with buzzing California singer Kyle Reynolds, my companions and I were eager to enjoy this ultimate summer anthem alongside a slew of other uplifting tracks and Gryffin did not disappoint. From remixes of classic party hits like Whitney Houston’s “Dance With Somebody” and modern favorites like Justin Bieber’s “Peaches” to plenty of original Gryffin tracks such as my personal favorite “All You Need To Know”—it was an unforgettable night of music, joy, entertainment, and most surprisingly for me, love. The explosive energy of the crowd was only matched by the spectacular intensity and raw passion that radiated from Gryffin’s stage presence and it quickly became evident that Gryffin’s fanbase is a reflection of the joyful and optimistic music that he himself has become known for. On every side, my companions and I were surrounded by the utmost spirited, care-free individuals who wanted to do nothing but jump, dance and sing along with the hundreds of strangers-turned-friends all around us. It was an experience like no other and one that left me eagerly on the lookout for new music and tour dates to be coming from Gryffin soon.

For more information on Gryffin: www.gryffinofficial.com