Tomorrowland Today 2022 | Incredible Saturday

INCREDIBLE SATURDAY

MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL...

2022 BELGIUM

TODAY, WE LET LOVE REVERBERATE!

TOMORROWLAND REALLY HAS IT ALL Who is the fairest of them all? Well, looking into this Reflection of Love, you can marvel at a line-up flocked with fairness. What to think of Laidback Luke’s trip down memory lane as Wayback Luke, or Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike’s musical blast into the future? And what do you say about hard trance legends Jones & Stephenson, or Tomorrowland celebrities Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano? We haven’t even touched upon the electro-infused awesomeness of The Magician, or the psytrance power of Infected Mushroom. Did we mention the melodic depth of Patrice Bäumel, or the rugged, hard beats of W&W? Did we even get into Nicky Romero’s big room jams, or the pioneering pulse of Belgium’s very own Bonzai All Stars? Beauty all around, on every stage, in every sound. Mirror, mirror on the wall... How can you ever see them all?

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

ALIX PEREZ 22H00 | CAGE

PEOPLE OF TOMORROW,

TICK, TOCK, TICK, TOCK...

Only 48 more hours to dance like nobody’s watching, meet & mingle with new friends, enjoy dishes from all over the world and enjoy these festival grounds.

Make sure not a moment goes to waste!

CAPTURE UNITY IN YOUR HEART The first rituals are done, friends. Your emotions captured; your unity proven; the City of Forever primed to amplify the love you brought here in your heart. And what magnificent events these rituals were. At once a spectacular show and a warm embrace in the open arms of the Mainstage, they went accompanied by a chorus of excited cheers – exclamations of energy, love and magic. But of course, this was not all that happened yesterday. You performed your own little rituals, as well. From your favourite dance moves, done in private in a dark corner of the Atmosphere stage, to sharing hugs with people you’d never met before, these count. From running excitedly down that hill for a first good look at the Mainstage to that toast with your friends, which has to be done in exactly your own specific way, your rituals count. For it is through such rituals that we make connections between the love within our own heart and the love the people around us hold. Keep on doing what you do best, then, friends; explore, connect, and capture that unity within you. For it is exactly in this way that love reverberates, spreads, and grows – all to make its Reflection a grand success.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

NICKY ROMERO 23H00 | THE LIBRARY

PEOPLE OF TOMORROW,

REMEMBER TO HYDRATE! We are smack in the middle of hot summer weather, sweat evaporating off our bodies as fast as ice cubes melt. Drinking enough water is key to enjoying your time here as much as possible!

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READ ON!

WEATHER FORECAST

YOUR TODAY

Creating the Tomorrowland Today is our yearly highlight. Thank you for sleeping on, sheltering under, passing around, collecting at home and, of course, thoroughly reading every letter of this daily newspaper.

The sun is up, the sky will stay blue. Today’s weather is beyond beautiful and so are you. This is your first morning waking up on DreamVille, there’s loads of exciting stuff to see and do!

Your daily, your story! Share your highlights, tales of friendship, unexpected discoveries and invaluable festival knowledge via today@tomorrowland.com.

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HIGHLIGHTS TOMORROWLAND TODAY

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DREAMVILLE • Waking up in paradise • Play padel and support charity

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THE CITY OF FOREVER First impressions of the Mainstage

Dear Readers,

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Besides magic, madness and unity, Tomorrowland stands for love. And although romantic letters might feel like a prehistoric practice in an age where we classify a 3 a.m. “you up?” text as ‘amour’, The Reflection of Love should be all about that eloquent prose professing a burning affection. And we are delighted to share the romance!

REINIER ZONNEVELD An interview with a live techno specialist

To my one & only, I am composing a letter to you in this sleepless hour of night, A feeling that I no longer want to fight I just miss you in a quite simple desperate human way, As certain lovers from the past used to say

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TASTES OF TOMORROW Find out more about the variety of food stands around the festival.

There is something going on deep within my heart.

Without you – my life would be falling apart How can I love so deep?

I’ll tell you the secret, but it’s yours to keep.

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DAILY WISDOM

I first felt the energy on the DreamVille site Dear love, it took me to new heights.

We have not seen each other for a very long while But you are back, and all I have is a smile.

Read the latest about what’s going on around Tomorrowland.

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An immense smile because of my darling, you You made my biggest, deepest wish come true This letter is so uncomplicated to write Because I know – I’ll never again let you out of my sight

FOCUS ON THE MUSIC • • • •

Today, we are here to blend our energy together And share it with the People of Tomorrow, for the better Let us reconcile during the Reflection of Love Make our recombined strength fly much like a dove Let us promise nevermore to go our separate ways And pray that our bond will forever be the same Together, we shall dive in deep But we both know it is going to be a climb so steep

“I didn’t know that I was broken

Let us celebrate our bond so divine When it comes to be, until the end of time I will forever keep a part of you with me, To teach myself – everywhere I am, there you too will be Whom does this letter concern?

Will I tell others or just let it burn?

As wise lovers past used to say; I just missed you, in a quite simple desperate human way.

BE PART OF THE STORY tiktok.com/@tomorrowland instagram.com/tomorrowland Facebook.com/tomorrowland THE REFLECTION OF LOVE

twitter.com/tomorrowland YouTube.com/tomorrowland

Hosting partner highlights Interviews with Soul Shakers & Geck-O Timetable Artist bios & an introduction to house music

Until I found my missing piece It seemed like every door was closing on me And you were so far out of reach” Alesso

LOCKERS

FIRST AID

No one wants to carry a lot of stuff around on the dance floor and - of course - there is no need to. You will find lockers at several locations across both Tomorrowland and DreamVille.

Medical emergency? Look for the yellow flag with the black cross to find First Aid points. There is always a doctor with every team. To bring medication onto the grounds you will need a doctor’s certificate.

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THE FIRST MORNING IN PARADISE

After a rather cold night, the sun’s first rays caress the fields again, slowly teasing campers out of their tents... And whether it was a good night of rest or a very brief one, it’s smiles all around, because this is everyone’s first morning in the best home one could dream of: DreamVille! A morning walk to the Marketplace, a freshly-brewed coffee and a freshly-squeezed fruit juice, a rinse at one of those wonderful outdoor showers, and you’ve deserved a little sit-down in front of your tent to prepare for a long day of dancing. Here’s how some of those shiny happy campers got into the groove for the magical Friday!

Telma (35), Portugal “It is so magical to be here! I don’t wear any make-up, so I was really happy to run into her. I am ready for this magical Friday!”

Hendrik (26), Germany “For now, I am the chef of the group! We made teams to arrange the meals, next up is our lunch team for wraps.”

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Pierre (32), Florida, US “The paper was delivered by adorable boys on bikes! I’m checking out the pictures of The Gathering; I totally missed it, because I was so drunk…”

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Zita (27), Germany “We booked this breakfast in advance. Bacon & eggs are my favourite, but it’s so easy to pick whatever you want.”

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Melanie (25) & Franceska (34), Chile & Switzerland “We brought our bathing suits, because we had no idea you could find the indoor showers here as well. But this works perfect! It’s so refreshing.”

Stephan (24), Belgium “Fresh fruit was my choice for breakfast, so afterwards I needed to brush my teeth. Luckily, I could use some toothpaste from my friend Milan.”

Group of friends from Limburg, Belgium “This is the best way to cool off ! We watched a tutorial beforehand, that’s how we knew to bring swimwear to Tomorrowland.”

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Group from Amsterdam, Ghent and everywhere in between “We have our own fridge to keep our drinks and ice cream cool! Some of us are veterans who are going for two weekends – others are even doing three.”

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Marie (27), France “I had to wait in line for a bit before I could use the shower. I still have to get used to everything, it’s my first time at the festival.”

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Devin (24), Aaron (22), Chua (25), Jie (23), Hna (24), Syiza (20), Brunei “We are from Brunei! We arrived here at 6 a.m. We applied all the glitter although we have no idea how it works… alcohol made us do it.”

Something for your mind, your body and your soul Are you up for the challenge to get the most out of your Tomorrowland adventure? DreamVille offers you everything you need to be the most magnificent version of yourself. Shop ‘till you drop, get your sparkles at the hairdresser’s and stay fit and healthy in the gym! Recover and recharge after a massive festival day with Yoga or get your body pumped for a new day at the Mainstage with a Less Mills class. There are two gym areas at DreamVille, the Balance Area and the Recovery Area. Both gyms offer a wide variety in gym classes. Pick your favorite work-out and let’s go!

SATURDAY: RECOVERY AREA 09h30

SH’Bam

10h00

Bodypump

10h30

Bodycombat

11h00

Les Mills Barre

11h30

SH’Bam

12h00

Bodypump

12h30

Bodycombat

13h00

Bodyattack

13h30

SH’Bam

SATURDAY: BALANCE AREA

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09h00

Yoga Nidra

09h45

Yin Yoga

10h30

Vinyassa Yoga

11h15

Hatha Yoga

12h00

Kundalini Yoga

12h45

Bodybalance

13h30

Power Yoga

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REFLECT THE LOVE, RETURN THE SH T There’s no better way to wake up than a friendly sports match against your friends – and this year, there’s the

entirely new option to play padel at DreamVille’s Chillout area. For 24 Pearls per hour, you can play a 2v2 match with your friends on one of the seven regular courts – or on the newly built Tomorrowland-themed court. During and after Tomorrowland, the Tomorrowland Foundation will donate 1 euro per player per hour to Pegode, a local organisation that runs assisted living homes. A splendid way to have some healthy fun and help out fellow humans in need, in short.

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FIRST REFLECTIONS A secret for years, now finally unveiled: the place where the Reflection of Love unfolds, where the energy of thousands upon thousands of People of Tomorrow is harnessed to create an eternal beacon of love in the heavens – the City of Forever. The extravagant splendour of the Mainstage is a sight to behold each year, but this year it is more enveloping and overwhelming than ever, all gleaming white-and-gold luster.

So how did people feel when they first stepped across the crest of the Mainstage amphitheatre, looking down over the Stairway to Unity upon the City’s exquisitely shaped curves? We collected some first reactions to gauge the mood on the first festival day in three years.

KARINA (38), GERMANY

KELLY (35), CHARLOTTE (33), ANAÏS (30), BELGIUM

AMAURY (26), GANY (22), KEVIN (29), BELGIUM

“I was so excited to see the Mainstage! Now I’m even more happy with my outfit, because it’s a perfect match with the colour. Every year Tomorrowland surprises us with a bigger and better stage. I was looking down to the ground as I walked up to the stage to get the best first look.”

“For Kelly our trip to Tomorrowland was a big surprise, until recently. To see the Mainstage is the icing on the cake of it. It is absolutely glorious! We did our hair in style, so we could take the best pictures and videos.”

“We feel so lucky to be here! This is our fourth time at Tomorrowland, but seeing the Mainstage for the first time never gets old. As soon as we got here we went to check it out. It’s so futuristic with the colours and the light.”

ANNE (23) & TOM (24), GERMANY

ALINA (29) & SAMMY (43), FRANCE

OSCAR (31) & LEANDER (32), THE NETHERLANDS

“This is the best day ever! I have never seen a stage like this in my life. We are so happy, this is our Reflection of Love! Tom used to be my best friend, until one day he kissed me. That was one year ago.

Look at us now!”

“It is crazy to see the Mainstage for the first time ever! This will be unforgettable for the rest of my life. The shape of the stage reminds me of some sort of explosion. At the same time, the part behind the DJ looks like a church. It’s special.”

“The Mainstage looks like the roller coaster Space Mountain landed in Mordor! The dark screens in the stage add to the feeling. This year, every stage here at Tomorrowland looks bigger than ever. The Gathering was already huge and this one tops it by a mile!”

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REVEL & REJOICE A CRASH COURSE FOR A FINE FESTIVAL So you haven’t been to a festival for years. How come?

Are you getting old? None of that! It’s something we’re all experiencing right now. We’ve not been able to go to any events for, depending on where you’re from, a year or two. So it’s no wonder if you feel kind of lost as to what to do on your first day and how to prepare yourself. Fear not though: simply follow these 8 essential tips, handed down from real-life history, to make your stay at Tomorrowland as easy as one, two, three.

Enjoy your drinks but drink in moderation Summer is the perfect time of the year to enjoy a refreshing alcoholic beverage. It’s hard to think of a time when a cold beer tastes better than at the end of the afternoon when the sun is at its hottest. But do take it easy and have some water, too – or it’s game over too soon!

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Dress up (if you like) but also make sure you’re comfortable Your step counter may easily hit 20,000 per day making the rounds of the Holy Grounds, and your feet will probably prefer to jump around on sneakers rather than high heels.

Loose-fitting cotton is comfier in hot weather than tight spandex – but is it a good enough look?

Eat enough and eat well Eating plentiful healthy food will reduce the chance that you’ll need a sit-down at some point during the day. You’ll find the best food from all around the world at Tomorrowland so you won’t have to eat the same dish twice, ever. Or will you revisit those delectable Belgian fries?

Download and use the Tomorrowland app The Tomorrowland app features the line-up, a festival map, lots of practical information and also realtime updates. The app, in other words, is an essential tool for a smooth festival experience. Don’t sleep on it!

Make sure your phone is charged The festival premises are massive and it’s easy to lose sight of your friends.

Make sure your phone is always charged so you can get back in touch with your chosen festival family.

If you ever find yourself without a charge, power banks are available to get you back online in no time.

Discover new artists Don’t just stick to the DJs and artists you already know, but also go and see some artists from genres you’re yet not familiar with. Tomorrowland is the perfect place to expand your horizons. Check out some sets online to get a rough idea and then go explore the various stages!

Apply sunscreen Always carry sunscreen and apply it copiously and often – once a day is not enough! Keep an eye on your friends and reminds each other of it.

Of course you should get lost in the music and forget about everything around you – but only after this one essential piece of preparation.

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REINIER ZONNEVELD KARREN MAAR!

Seemingly coming from out of nowhere, Reinier Zonneveld aka the Dutch king of heavy-duty techno suddenly turned into one of the most in-demand DJ/producers of the genre. Originally a bedroom producer like any other electronic music geek, Reinier has now released music in collaboration with producers from all kinds of genres including Carl Cox, Angerfist, Speedy J and even Armin van Buuren. His exquisite music taste, extraordinary performance skills and likeable personality have taken his career to an unprecedented level. Techno heads and general music fans alike have incorporated his slogans such as “karren maar!” into their day-to-day lives. Now let’s find out what’s up with this filthy party animal!

Your music is pretty heavy-duty, yet you’ve just played Tomorrowland’s Mainstage. Did you see it coming, and how did you get to where you are today?

“I’ve always been very driven when it comes to my music, and I figure I simply have the right style at the right moment, but still: it’s surrealistic. What I really like about playing Tomorrowland’s Mainstage is performing that super-raw energetic kind of techno at peak time. I prefer it to the more melodic stuff I played earlier in my career. It really works with a large crowd – you create the type of energy that comes with a sense of togetherness.”

You’re one of the few artists to bring an extended live set-up to the stage including synths and drum machines. Can you tell us about your love for this vintage gear? And in what way does it differ from playing with a stripped-down set-up?

“I started playing at raves with very big set-ups when I was much younger. I used even more machines than I do now. It’s not so convenient to carry it all around, but when you’re playing it’s amazing: the more buttons you have, the faster you can work, which means your sets are more dynamic.”

“After a while your subconscious takes over, and then at some point you don’t even realise you’re making music anymore.”

You are known to sometimes produce your music in marathon sessions. Can you elaborate a little on the merits of working such long hours?

“You start working on your music, and after a while your subconscious takes over. You get in the flow and then at some point you don’t even realise you’re making music anymore. In such a state of mind, you come up with way better ideas than if you just work on it for short periods of time. I love it!”

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You’re hardly ever spotted without your bright Versace shirts. Is there a key point in your life when you fell in love with them or has it been a gradual process?

“They just slowly entered my life. After a while I got a little bored with my label’s logo and I was looking for something new with a real party vibe to it. I saw some footage of rappers in Hollywood wearing Versace and then I figured I’d buy one. One thing led to another after that. They come in so many different colours, THE REFLECTION OF LOVE

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Roland TB-303 Bass Line

Allen & Heath Xone:96

Ableton Live

Native Instruments Maschine

The Roland TB-303 Bass Line was originally designed to synthetically create basslines for bands. It was a commercial failure but an artistic success story, as the machine’s squelching, ‘acidic’ sound facilitated the birth of the acid house genre.

Allen & Heath’s Xone:96 is a world-class DJ mixer, known mostly for its exceptional audio quality and four-band EQ section.

Depending on the scene they’re in, many DJs won’t even step onto the stage without it, and it is key for Reinier too.

Ableton Live is a digital audio workstation and a popular instrument for electronic live performances, owing to its unique interface that makes it very easy to trigger loops and instruments. It is also used as a tool for recording and composing music.

Native Instruments Maschine is an integrated hardware/software system that mostly performs the functions of a sampler and drum machine a perfect tool for Reinier to perform his punishing beats. The controller makes it easy to trigger samples on the fly.

“What I really like about playing Tomorrowland’s Mainstage is creating the type of energy that comes with a sense of togetherness.” it’s insane. I love the fact that they look silly. You walk into the supermarket and people are like ‘what the fuck’. What’s also good is that the sleeves absorb sweat: that’s just so much better than having it drip on your gear!”

You’ve collaborated with a lot of artists over the past few years but you’re also someone who likes to do things solo. How do you balance between the two?

“It’s a real challenge. Making music for fun is one thing, but releasing it is a different thing altogether. I love the collabs and the solo things and you want to release it all, but you just can’t put out an endless amount of tracks in one year. Sometimes I can’t even decide what to release and what not!”

Lastly, the one question everyone who reads this wants to know the answer to. There are two words everyone who follows you knows by heart: “karren maar!” What’s the story behind them?

“I once rented a villa with friends in the middle of nowhere. We had speakers, a DJ booth and whatnot. At some point you get very tired and you start saying weird things. ‘Karren maar’ is just a really annoying Dutch way of saying ‘let’s go’. At some point I had uttered the phrase so many times that my friends threatened to kick me out of the house. That’s not even a joke. Then in the end it turned out to be the birth of this running gag…”

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“I know my audience, because I’m one of them.”

ADAM K

ONE WORLD RADIO STUDIO THE PLACE TO BUMP INTO YOUR FAVORITE ARTISTS

One World Radio (OWR) started as a one-off project to celebrate the 15-year anniversary of Tomorrowland. The idea proved to be such a success, however, that they just kept on going, and thankfully so. During those long lockdown months, One World Radio was the glue that held the worldwide Tomorrowland community together. As presenter Adam K puts it: “We were a beacon of hope.” This year, they have their own hangout at the festival, from which they’re broadcasting continuously – and it’s open to the public as well. We decided to hang out there for a while and plunge into the world that is One World Radio.

“Paris Hilton was here in the studio, and we ended up being included in her documentary.”

JUSTIN WILKES

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On top of the hill, between the Harbour House and the Cage, up diagonally from the Rave Cave, is the One World Radio studio – the type of place where you can bump into your favorite artists and hang out for a few. When we get there, radio host Justin Wilkes is interviewing LOVRA, the German artist who has made her mark collaborating with icons like David Guetta and Nick Martin.

After her interview, we have a quick chat with her. She’s still very emotional about her performance, which just took place at the Libary. What is the importance of online radio, we ask her? “The pandemic was such a dark period,” she says, “but platforms like One World Radio have kept us together.” How did she herself survive the lockdowns? “With a strong mindset, I guess. But being back on stage here today was so beautiful; to see everybody dancing, freaking out to my music again, it’s simply amazing. Look, I’m getting goosebumps just talking about it. It’s so important to feel that we’re back. We survived!”

Justin nods. How does it feel for him to be back, we’d like to know. “It’s so great to be here again. After all this time, the energy of the people seems to have doubled,” he observes. Well then, what was Justin’s favorite moment up until now? “Well, I’ve only done a few interviews, so that moment is probably still to come.” He really has no idea what the highlights for OWR will be. “Last year we had Paris Hilton in the show, and ended up being included in her Netflix documentary. If I’ve learned anything about Tomorrowland, it’s that anything can – and will – happen.”

Next up on the mic is Russian artist Matisse, who has just played the Mainstage with Sadko. “I’m so happy to be back and to be at a festival where everybody loves electronic music,” he says. Adam nods: “We love your tracks, especially the ones you’ve done for Tomorrowland Music.

Tell me, can we expect any new ones soon?” Matisse: “Yeah, right now we have five tracks ready, and we’re about to choose which one should come out in the coming period. So, to answer your question, you can definitely expect more news about our new Tomorrowland Music release very soon.”

“Everybody freaking out to my music... look, I’m getting goosebumps just talking about it.”

LOVRA

And look who has just walked in now... It’s Enrico Sangiuliano. The Italian techno producer has always had a special connection with Belgium. His friendship and studio endeavors with Belgian’s very own techno icon Charlotte de Witte play an important part. The first thing radio host Adam K asks when they’re on air is how he’s feeling. Enrico: “My heart is accelerating with excitement. Right now, I’m in good shape. I feel in control, with a good alignment between my mind and my feelings.” Adam: “Charlotte tells me you’re a good tutor. Can you tell me how to order a black coffee in Italian?” Enrico: “Un Americano per favore.” Adam K gives it his best shot, but Enrico starts to laugh. “What kind of tutor are you, mate?! Laughing at your students!” They both laugh. Adam: “Okay, last question. If there’s one track that should represent Tomorrow, what would it be?”

Enrico: “Well, I’m actually thinking of one of my own tracks, ‘Astral Projection’. For me, that truly represents Tomorrow.”

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We hang out a bit with Adam K, who is his usual vibrant self. The energy of the festival has obviously hyped him up: “Mate, this weekend has been amazing. The first day at the Gathering was mindblowing. To be back is such a blessing. It just fills me with joy to see all the smiling faces and the flags from all over the world.” Tomorrowland Today would like to know what the secret is to good online radio?

“Good radio is made by giving the audience what they want,” Adam, clearly a good tutor himself, explains. “In order to do that, you need to know your audience. I know my audience, because I’m one of them.

I’ve been at the festival every year, dancing in the crowd. I still go there and dance my ass off, because there really is nothing like it. It’s actually a bit sad for other festivals, because all of them pale in comparison to Tomorrowland. I mean, just look around you, isn’t it amazing? This is why people keep coming back, and it’s why I keep coming back, too, year after year after year.”

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GLOBAL FLAVOURS, UNITE 5

Nothing brings people together like good food

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Tomorrowland is known for a diverse selection of music, but its culinary offerings range at least as wide. Food from many areas of the world is represented in settings from simple stands to top-class restaurants with an appetizing view. To help you along with your choice, here are some of the offerings – but beware, the map below is by no means exhaustive, as the selection would be big enough to fill an entire newspaper with.

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3 TOMORROWLAND KITCHEN In the Tomorrowland Kitchen you can enjoy and savour delicious street food with typical flavors from all corners of the world. Chef Xavier Van Hecke serves crushi: your favorite sushi rolls, but deep-fried. Of course, you can order a classic California roll with surimi crab. Or try the crushi salmon supreme!

1 LOBSTERS At Lobsters you can watch your meal being prepared for you. The shellfish are freshly grilled in Big Green Eggs on wooden skewers. It may be hard to choose from the available options, though, which include Asian lobster with noodles and lobster à l’armoricaine with butter. You can definitely taste that lobsters and champagne are part of Chef Glen’s DNA.

2 MESA BITES Next to the infamous MESA restaurant, you’ll find the perfect spot for a quick bite – which is not to say fast food, because the quality of the food here is on par with plates served next door.

Chef Thomas chose three different types of finger food for the People of Tomorrow. The pork cheek, cooked for 10 hours, seems to be the winner!

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4 SOLO VIDA At Tomorrowland, everything is simply better, including the wine. At the MESA Garden, you can enjoy the fresh and fruity taste of Solo Vida Reserva at the Fountainbar. You can tell this wine is extraordinary just by looking at the detailed design on the bottle. Need one more reason to go? The sparkling wine is poured in actual wine glasses!

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5 RESTAURANT

Want to immerse yourself in fine magical flavours during a top-class meal with a magnificent view of the Mainstage? Look no further, then, as you can find all of this at the Tomorrowland Restaurant!

The chef ’s table consists of a selection of different appetizers, followed by a main course (meat/fish/ veggie) and a top-notch dessert.

6 WILDN & PLANTN Tel Aviv’s Roasted Cauliflower is helping to catapult Israeli cuisine from small street food stands in Tel Aviv to international renown. You can find the popular vegetable in many shapes and forms at Wildn & Plantn; for example, as a whole to share and in a pita. A must-try, especially if you’ve always thought this versatile vegetable boring!

7 BRASA Massive flames and a mouth-watering smell attract visitors and passersby to the restaurant at Brasa, a large, spacious and bohemian affair where the setting is as attractive as the food itself.

Chef Frank keeps the flames under control while serving 150 people every hour. Try the juicy Tomahawk steak, grilled eggplant, the perfectly baked salmon or the VIP menu.

8 TOMORROWLAND BURGER This burger was a big hit at Tomorrowland Winter, and it just had to make its reappearance at Boom. Chef Wim has worked for Tomorrowland for 8 years now, and is proud that he has turned his burger 100% vegan! It’s a surprise for many, as you can hardly tell the difference with meat. It’s served on a bun with lettuce, roasted bell pepper, red onion and truffle mayonnaise.

9 FROZEN YOGHURT At different locations throughout the Holy Grounds, you will find booths serving fabulous frozen yoghurt. You can choose between various refreshing options, such as ‘Summer Sense’ (with strawberries, watermelon & grapes), ‘Exotique’ (pineapple, kiwi, banana & cereals), ‘Go Nuts’ (nuts, raisins, banana & chocolate) – or remix your yoghurt like your favourite DJ with the various pick & mix options.

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THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS NOELIA

FELIX

Spanish raver Noelia is following her dreams at Tomorrowland and when she looks in the mirror she sees “a party-loving woman who likes strong outfits and bright colours.”

Felix from Sweden is a person who likes trying out new stuff in life without ever regretting anything. “This applies to everything I do, but to my biggest hobby, skiing, in particular.”

SPAIN

SWEDEN

NADIRA

CABO VERDE Nadira came all the way from Cabo Verde and sees a quiet and calm person when she looks in the mirror. “I literally just got here and I love the energy… I can’t wait to see the Mainstage!”

ALICIA

LAURANT

Alicia, “a very beautiful and positive person,” is a Spanish dentist with shiny white teeth working in the Belgian city of Leuven.

Laurent from Tomorrowland’s home country of Belgium is a beautiful, kind and friendly guy. “I love the world around me to the moon and back!”

SPAIN

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BELGIUM

THE REFLECTION OF LOVE

TOMORROWLAND TODAY

BELGIUM 2022

MIRROR, MIRROR IN MY HAND, WHO IS THIS BEAUTIFUL PERSON WHO CAME TO TOMORROWLAND? ENGELBERTH

HAMILTON

Engelberth is a Venezuelan dancer living in Brussels. “I literally see the Reflection of Love when I look into this mirror, wow!”

Hamilton is a Brazilian who lives in the UK. “I’m an open-minded and easy-going guy who loves meeting new people and travelling.”

VENEZUELA

BRAZIL

ANGELINA

SWITSERLAND You can tell Swiss angel Angelina is “a sweet and innocent person who loves colourful flowers.”

SKYLER

PHILIP

Skyler travelled here all the way from Toronto in Canada. “When I look into the mirror I see someone who really loves unity and inclusion. This is what Tomorrowland is all about and it’s why I love it so much!”

Philip, an electrical engineer from Germany who came to Tomorrowland to see Mark with a K and MC Chucky, sees “someone who’s in a really good mood” when he looks into the magic mirror.

CANADA

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GERMANY

21

I

DO SOMETHING GOOD TODAY THAT TOMORROW WILL THANK YOU FOR

?

TOMORROWLAND TODAY

BELGIUM 2022

D A I LY

WISDOM DREAMS ARE OUR REALITIES IN WAITING In front of the Freedom Stage by Bud, we meet a beautiful couple from Colombia named Alejandra and Daniel. “This is our first time on Tomorrowland,” Alexandra explains. “I’m seeing all sorts of new, amazing stuff – and my eyes immediately fell on this gigantic dreamcatcher.” Behind her, we find an enormous waterfall with a dreamcatcher in front of it. Her boyfriend Daniel adds: “It got even better now that they’re telling us we can submit our wish and have the chance to make it come true.” No one knows exactly what magic is going on behind the scenes, but the way the Dreamcatcher by Bud

works is surprisingly simple: you just scan your bracelet, fill out your dream in a form, take a picture at the photo stand, receive your picture via email... and then you wait and see whether the Dreamcatcher will make your biggest wish come true. Alejandra and Daniel couldn’t wait to see, and were surprisingly candid about their dream. “You’re lucky we don’t believe in bad luck for telling you,” Alexandra explains.

“We wished for free tickets to Tomorrowland each year for the rest of our lives. How fantastic would that be?”

CHEERS TO OUR WINNERS!

MIXING THINGS UP There is no better feeling than that sense of belonging you get on a dancefloor. A place where everyone, regardless of identity, can assemble to express themselves without inhibitions. Tomorrowland and Absolut have come together to create a commitment toward a more diverse and inclusive Tomorrow with the initiative called United We Dance, aiming to create real impact. Part of this is putting six artists from underrepresented backgrounds in the spotlight: self-made female Brazilian producer Carola, nonbinary transsexual multitalent Mandidextrous, Black pansexual non-binary artist Moore Kismet, female Taiwanese breakout star RayRay, Odssey, who uses his autism to fuel his creative process, and Jana Vitiligo, who has claimed her autoimmune condition as positive part of her identity. By offering these six trailblazers a platform, United We Dance aims to increase representation of their respective backgrounds and stimulate a more diverse Tomorrow. Find out more about them and read their interviews at unitedwedance.tomorrowland.com!

Our readers Brecht and Jonas won the perfect prize for a sparkly day: the lucky winners got a bottle of Solo Vida to enjoy in MESA Garden. Jonas: “I like how fresh and fruity the wine is. Perfect for sipping in the sun.” His friend Brecht decides it is the perfect wine for a celebration such as next weekend: “we will be here with a group of eight then!”

NEVER A DULL DRINK Who doesn’t love a good gin & tonic? Double Dutch Drinks makes sure you’ll never drink anything dull this weekend, as they are serving innovative and premium mixers to shake up your favourite classic. Located at Brasa, all of their drinks are born from a flavour-led approach that allows no artificial flavours, colours or preservatives. At one of the high wooden tables, we find Farah from the Netherlands sipping on her favourite G&T combo. “A couple of cute boys I met actually advised me to order this. I’m glad I listened, it’s really good.” Sound advice for everyone, it seems!

TOMORROWLAND MUSIC TRACK OF THE DAY

Every single day, we select a new tune from the mighty Tomorrowland Music catalogue for you to enjoy: the Track of the Day. Brace yourself for the third one, for it’s a wild ride – and don’t forget to check the next one out tomorrow.

Timmy Trumpet & Marianna Bo - Vivaldi The mighty Timmy Trumpet teamed up with Marianna Bo to create the most epic, banging, techno-tinged piece of classical music ever. Hearing is believing! Timmy will take his trumpet to the Mainstage tonight from 21h45-22h45, and Marianna Bo is playing an earlier set at the Library from 17h00-18h00.

THE REFLECTION OF LOVE

Scan the QR code to listen to the track and make your own creations with it!

23

TOMORROWLAND TODAY

BELGIUM 2022

“Tomorrowland has always been a dream of mine – and I am beyond thrilled to be here.

To me, the festival stands for love, unity and finding connection with others. They’re all core values that I identify with.”

Audrey, 29, France

PEOPLE OF

“Tomorrowland allows you to embrace different dimensions. Other dimensions of music, of other people – and most important, of yourself. This will forever be a magical memory.”

Mark, 27, The Netherlands

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THE REFLECTION OF LOVE

TOMORROWLAND TODAY

BELGIUM 2022

“This place is just pure magic, there are no other words one could use. And can you please add the starry-eyed emoticon to this quote?”

Terrie, 38, The Netherlands

TOMORROW

“I’ll just say this: Yesterday is History, Today is a Gift, Tomorrow is a Mystery – I even have it tattooed on my body.”

Julie, 26, France

THE REFLECTION OF LOVE

25

TOMORROWLAND TODAY

BELGIUM 2022

House music is a feeling, and the same goes for any of the other genres of electronic music that are to be enjoyed at Tomorrowland. Music is what unites us, the People of Tomorrow, more than anything else. So get ready for it: in this section of today’s newspaper, you’ll read everything you didn’t realise you always wanted to know about the world’s most incredible DJs and producers. Reading artist bios and interviews, and studying Tomorrowland’s official timetable, is the best way to prepare yourself for the sonic splendour that awaits at the Holy Grounds. Enjoy!

WE PLAY HOUSE THE RAVE CAVE

Bart van Neste aka Red D has become a mainstay in the more underground spheres of Tomorrowland over the years. The name of his record label We Play House gives it all away: Bart is a sucker for house music. As he plays his deep and heavy house cuts, he moves and grooves like he is the star of the dancefloor, rather than the booth. For his annual party at Tomorrowland, he is bringing some very special musical friends including Italo-German DJ/producer Julie Marghilano, Studio Brussel’s Jeroen Delodder, and the utterly mysterious Geheimzinnig Soundsystem from Antwerp. House music is a feeling, and Red D and his friends are here to celebrate just that.

26

AFTERLIFE ATMOSPHERE

With super-strong releases year on year on year, Berlin’s excellent Afterlife Records has grown to become one of the most-respected imprints when it comes to introspective yet danceable techno. Music, that is, that truly brings you to another level, makes your feet jump up and your head go woozy – and won’t leave a fibre of your being unshaken. To Tomorrowland, they’re naturally bringing some of the strongest artists from their roster, including the young and talented Kevin de Vries, Adriatique from the Swiss city of Zürich, Germany’s DIY wonderchild Stephan Bodzin, and of course Italy’s uncrowned kings of layered techno and Afterlife label bosses, Tale of Us. Tomorrowland is a world apart, and with Afterlife, Atmosphere will become another world within another world.

THE REFLECTION OF LOVE

TOMORROWLAND TODAY

BELGIUM 2022

SAT U R DAY

HARBOUR HOUSE

SOUL SHAKERS RADIO ULTRA MODERN | 21H00 Musically, Soul Shakers are the odd ones out at Tomorrowland. DJ Rien Samson and MC Tommy Milfgod’s mission is to represent Jamaican music and culture, by showcasing the vibes and sounds of Jamaican sound systems all around the world – and that’s exactly what they intend to do at Radio Ultra Modern’s Harbour House later tonight. Tomorrowland Today had a chat with Rien Samson to find out more about his inspirations, interests and aspirations. The conversation journeys through several styles and areas – from metal and ‘80s pop to dub, dancehall and reggaeton, and from Jamaica to Northern Europe, only to land right back in Jamaica.

Soul Shakers has its roots in Jamaica, but is also renowned for its eclectic sounds. What’s your musical DNA? “Tommy is a bit older. He grew up with sounds from the ‘80s. I grew up on metal bands like Metallica and Sepultura. It wasn’t until I was 18 that I came into contact with dub and reggae music.

I decided to visit Jamaica, and it was a life-altering experience.

I fell in love with the culture of Jamaican sound systems, and decided to recreate that feeling in Belgium. I found a kindred spirit in Tommy, who also visited Jamaica when he was younger.”

In what way does your show resemble the traditional Jamaican sound system?

“There are various sound systems in Northern Europe. Guys like King Shiloh in the Netherlands have a traditional roots reggae approach. We are based more around contemporary music styles like dancehall and moombahton. But our approach is similar to that of traditional sound systems, in the sense that the MC plays an essential part in the delivery of the music. Tommy knows all the tracks we’re playing, and with his words, he creates the storyline of our set.”

“Another thing we do is make use of dubplates. This is another Jamaican tradition where you hire famous singers and MCs to sing or speak about your sound system or your act and press the

THE REFLECTION OF LOVE

music onto one-off records. We have personalized dubplates by the likes of Popcaan, who has made a track with Jamie xx, and Jamaican legend Shabba Ranks. It’s really cool, because we’re the only ones who can play these tracks. It doesn’t even make sense for others to play them, ‘cause they’re singing about Soul Shakers.”

Your biography states that you’re a ‘hybrid sound system’.

What does that mean?

“It means we play a broad range of different styles. The core is dancehall reggae, but we’ve been known to make excursions to all kinds of different fields. From UK garage to jungle to straight-up ‘80s pop – here’s Tommy’s influence again. We don’t like to restrain ourselves. I believe that a good DJ set should have a surprise once in a while; a track that you would never expect, but that somehow makes perfect sense. It’s our job to be able to drop everything in the most logical way, and make the crowd go mental.”

How do you like playing at Tomorrowand? You guys are, after all, the odd ones out.

“We’ve played at Tomorrowland before, at the Desperados stage.

It’s great that they found a spot for us this year at the Harbour House, where we can do what we do – 100%, no concessions.

INCREDIBLE

I don’t think there are many DJs who get to represent our style at Tomorrowland, so it feels really special. Except for Major Lazor, of course, who are closing out the festival, and remain a great musical example for Tommy and me.”

How does your sound fit into the bigger picture of the dance music range?

“Well, for one thing, I think the Jamaican sound systems have brought the MC into the limelight as a key player in DJ culture. Just look at acts like Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, and all the others who’ve fully embraced the MC into their shows.

And if you listen to today’s pop music, there’s plenty of hits which are deeply influenced by dancehall reggae. Just think of ‘Work’ by Rihanna, or Ed Sheeran’s ‘Shape of You’. It’s great that Tomorrowland is offering us a stage to introduce more of this great music to a worldwide audience.”

What’s your message to the People of Tomorrow?

“We’re completely mesmerized by the sounds of Jamaica. But in the end, we’re just two Belgian white guys representing their culture on this side of the ocean. We highly recommend all of you to visit Jamaica once in your lifetime. Like I said, it has changed our lives. I’m sure it will change yours, too.”

27

TOMORROWLAND TODAY

BELGIUM 2022

PROGRAMME SATURDAY 16.07.2022

FOCUS ON INCREDIBLE

SATURDAY DAYBREAK SESSIONS

MAINSTAGE

THE RAVE CAVE

CRYSTAL GARDEN

REFLECTION OF LOVE

We Play House

NETSKY & FRIENDS

Closing

00h50 - 01h00

Sheridan

23h00 - 01h00

Kayzo

23h30 - 00h30

Alesso

23h50 - 00h50

Julie Marghilano

21h00 - 23h00

Netsky

22h30 - 23h30

Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike

22h50 - 23h50

Psytox

19h00 - 21h00

SUB FOCUS DJ SET & ID

21h30 - 22h30

Timmy Trumpet

21h45 - 22h45

Red D

17h00 - 19h00

Bou

20h30 - 21h30 19h30 - 20h30

Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano 20h40 - 21h40

Geheimzinnig Soundsystem

15h00 - 17h00

Koven

Maceo Plex

19h40 - 20h40

Lenny

13h00 - 15h00

What So Not

18h30 - 19h30

Alok

18h40 - 19h40

17h30 - 18h30

Yves V

17h35 - 18h35

LEAF by JBL

MONTELL2099 Moore Kismet

16h30 - 17h30

Opening Ceremony

17h30 -

SHOMI

Flava D

15h30 - 16h30

Quintino

16h30 - 17h30

Delafino

22h00 - 00h00

SIREN

14h30 - 15h30

Dombresky b2b Noizu

15h30 - 16h30

The Magician

20h30 - 22h00

Captain Bass

13h00 - 14h30

Cat Dealers

14h30 - 15h30

Sam Divine

19h00 - 20h30

DJ Licious

17h30 - 19h00

THE LIBRARY

12h00 - 14h30

Danny Howard

16h00 - 17h30

R3HAB

00h00 - 01h00

Elenore

15h00 - 16h00

Nicky Romero

23h00 - 00h00

Mr. Grammy

13h30 - 15h00

W&W

22h00 - 23h00

Matthew Clarck

12h30 - 13h30

Mike Williams

21h00 - 22h00

Regi

20h00 - 21h00

Ofenbach

19h00 - 20h00

Sick Individuals

18h00 - 19h00

17h35

Daybreak Session Laidback Luke presENTS Wayback Luke

FREEDOM Q-DANCE

MCs Sakso, Iljac, Robbie Rise

Sefa

00h00 - 01h00

Warface

23h00 - 00h00

KARA SAVI

Gunz For Hire

22h15 - 23h00

GLITTERBOX

Frequencerz & Rejecta

21h15 -

22h15

Harry Romero

Sub Zero Project

20h30 -

21h15

Renessaince of Rave

Da Tweekaz

Laidback Luke

presENTS Wayback Luke

MAINSTAGE | 12H00

19h30 - 20h30

Probably the most admired EDM DJ among underground music heads, there’s a reason for the peculiar position between mainstream and indie scenes that Laidback Luke holds. He first started getting into dance music during the early nineties when various genres of electronic music including techno, trance and house were championed at the very same raves. The sounds soon started to become associated with different scenes and fan bases with widely diverging lifestyles and views on music. Never one for pigeonholing practices, Luke simply kept that versatile approach to loving and playing music, so when EDM came along, he also embraced the grandness of the sound. Due to his extensive musical knowledge, Laidback Luke’s sets are stuffed with goodies from all genres and eras, with various intensities and tempos. Luke and electronic music of all kinds go way back and that’s why this performance is set to be a one-of-a-kind Daybreak Session that is not to be missed.

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17h00 - 18h00

Brian Van Andel

16h00 - 17h00

Simon Dunmore

21h00 - 22h30

Malkin

15h00 - 16h00

Purple Disco Machine

19h30 - 21h00

Marsal Ventura

13h30 - 15h00

18h00 - 19h30

Lou8

12h00 - 13h30

Hard Driver

18h30 - 19h30

Mark With a K & MC Chucky (live)

18h00 - 18h30

Coone

17h00 - 18h00

Sound Rush

16h00 - 17h00

Devin Wild

15h00 - 16h00

ATMOSPHERE

KELTEK

14h00 - 15h00

AFTERLIFE

MANDY

13h00 - 14h00

Tale Of Us

23h00 - 01h00

Sephyx

12h00 - 13h00

Stephan Bodzin

22h00 - 23h00

Vibe Tribe

18h30 - 19h30

Adriatique

20h00 - 22h00

Coming Soon

17h15 - 18h30

Mathame

18h00 - 20h00

HI Profile

16h00 -

Kevin de Vries

16h00 - 18h00

Fabio Fusco

14h45 - 16h00

Axel Haube

13h00 - 16h00

John 00 Fleming

13h30 - 14h45

Domi Re

12h30 - 13h30

MC Villain

Daybreak Sessions have slowly become an institution at Tomorrowland over the years.

The concept: experienced DJs who are normally scheduled to play at peak time are invited to warm up like they used to in the early days of their careers. But with all the experience and musical knowledge they’ve gathered over the years, these warm-up sessions aren’t the support sets they used to play back in the day. Expect something like an overview of the music they like or a more chilled-out set. Second one up this year is Laidback Luke.

BYOR 22h30 - 00h55

THE ROSE GARDEN BONZAI Bonzai All Stars

23h00 - 01h00

The Shapeshifters Katie Goodman

16h00 - 18h00

Jeroen Delodder

14h00 - 16h00

Youphoria

Juul Pence

12h30 - 14h00

PSYGATHERING

Santini ft. Quatretemps (live) 22h00 - 23h00

CORE

Yves Deruyter

Âme

21h00 - 22h00

Franky Kloeck

20h00 - 21h00

Patrice Bäumel

21h00 - 23h00

19h00 - 20h00

Brina Knauss

19h00 - 21h00

DJ Ghost

18h00 - 19h00

Dino Lenny

17h00 - 19h00

Jan Vervloet

17h00 - 18h00

Aldebaran

15h00 - 17h00

Capoon

13h00 - 15h00

Airwave

16h00 - 17h00 14h30 - 16h00

Greg S

13h00 - 14h30

HARBOUR HOUSE RADIO ULTRA MODERN

21h00 -

22h15

Firaga vs. Somnia vs. Synsun 19h30 - 21h00

17h15

Mark With a K & MC Chucky

Cheb Runner

20h30 - 22h00

Rebel Up

19h30 -

Merdan Taplak

17h00 - 19h30

FREEDOM | 18H00

LIVE

0h30

DJ Flash

23h00 - 01h00

Kurt Overbergh

15h30 - 17h00

Soul Shakers

21h00 - 23h00

Omar Dahl

14h00 - 15h30

Kobe Louis Charles

12h30 - 14h00

B-KAY

19h00 - 21h00

Rakesh aka Blackjack9000

17h00 - 19h00

Daddy K

16h00 - 17h00

MOOSE BAR

Nicki Sanchez

15h00 - 16h00

MOOSE

DJ NC

13h00 - 15h00

Tom Cosyns

20h00 - 00h00

Kurt Verheyen

17h00 - 20h00

Jan V

12h00 - 17h00

CAGE

22h15 - 23h45

Skazi

CASA CORONA MERDAN TAPLAK PRESENTS HAYDIi

MC Reign + MC Pyro

23h45 - 00h50

Infected Mushroom

23h00 - 01h00

Jones & Stephenson

DJ Jan

Bliss

STAR WARZ Skylark 23h00 Alix Perez 22h00 Kyrist 21h00 Artificial Intelligence 20h00 Phase 19h00 Bredren 18h00 Scepticz b2b SvB 17h00 One87 16h00 Lavance 15h00 BenOneShot & Sisley 14h00 MCs Mush, Swift, Visionobi, Lowqui

00h00 23h00 22h00 21h00 20h00 19h00 18h00 17h00 16h00 15h00

MESA GARDENS Maxi Meraki

20h00 - 23h00

Primal Instinct

17h00 - 20h00

Akira

15h00 - 17h00

Neyha

12h00 - 15h00

Santini ft.

Quatretemps THE ROSE GARDEN | 22H00

LIVE THE REFLECTION OF LOVE

TOMORROWLAND TODAY

BELGIUM 2022

SAT U R DAY

FREEDOM

GECK-O Q-DANCE | 13H30 Geck-O is a creative mastermind, a jack of all trades, a Funky Cat in other words – which is exactly why he started a DJ collective and club night under that name. Geck-O initially fell in love with electronic music when he first got acquainted with the ultra-distorted beats of hardstyle. From there, he started to gradually explore other genres. The common denominator across all of these styles: heavy impact on the dancefloor. Time to find out more about this floor-busting DJ’s unique trajectory.

Who’s your biggest musical inspiration?

“That’s Kate Bush, no doubt. I’ve been a fan of hers since the start of my own musical career. A few years ago, a lot of people might have given me a weird look when mentioning Kate Bush – I mean, she was popular back in the ‘80s, isn’t she old news by now? Recently though, her work has appeared back in the spotlight thanks to the use of ‘Running Up That Hill’ in the Stranger Things series. What really gets to me is the sheer diversity of her repertoire, all the different styles of music and personas involved, and the use of cutting-edge production technology, too.

Most importantly though, she has always stayed true to herself, and did everything just the way she wanted to.

And well, that’s exactly what I’m doing now!”

You have mentioned elsewhere that at some point in your life, you realised music was taking over your whole existence. Can you tell us something more about that moment?

“When I started to gain some traction with my project, I started being asked to play DJ sets at events. But guess what, I hadn’t even been to a real event yet, one that was all about the music.

Indeed, school parties don’t count here! So first, I wanted to try that out, and I happened to get an invite from DJ Thera, who was my label boss at the time, to visit a party where he was playing. Being on that dancefloor was one of those life-changing moments. All of a sudden, music was not something I would

THE REFLECTION OF LOVE

just listen to, it became something that would take over my whole existence. I experienced the power of the DJ, the power of music-transcending soundwaves through every fibre of my body. The connection with all these people. All of a sudden, I understood. It’s all about the bass, man!”

“You can hear me go from bass house to psytrance, and from techno to drum and bass! I’ll play you a hardcore set if you like, too”

You have a special thing with connecting to the audience.

Can you tell us something more about that?

“I came to value the connection to the audience even more through lockdown times. I realised sharing the music with real people in real life is so important to me… this is what I do it for! All the virtual things just don’t really fulfil me.

This year though, I feel alive more than ever. Playing the music and seeing actual people on the dancefloor, with all their emotions and energies. Walking around the festivals and hugging actual people, with all their life stories and passions...”

INCREDIBLE

You’re a self declared cross-genre dance music DJ. How many genres do you generally stick into one set?

“My taste is broad, and I love to play it all in my DJ sets. I always try to feel what fits the moment, how much the crowd can handle, and when it’s time to challenge them a bit. You can hear me go from bass house to psytrance, and from techno to drum and bass! I’ll play you a hardcore set if you like, or I’ll put a donk on it… fancy some dubstep, or trance classics?

I’m your man. Sometimes, it’s best to just stick to one genre and go in deep on that. However, when you hear me play a pure hardstyle set, it will still be tracks from all over the spectrum within that genre. I just can’t help it!”

Why should people come to your show tonight?

“People should come to visit my show at Tomorrowland if they’re in for something different! I’ll bring my unique take on the harder styles of dance music, with loads of energy, funny tricks, beautiful melodies and what not… I want you to get comfortable in that sound bath and I want to see your curious faces when I play some brand new tracks. You will get challenged and rewarded, big time!”

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TOMORROWLAND TODAY

BELGIUM 2022

FOCUS ON INCREDIBLE

SATURDAY

TIMMY TRUMPET MAINSTAGE | 21H45

NETSKY CRYSTAL GARDEN | NETSKY & FRIENDS | 22H30

Sydney-born and raised Timmy Trumpet is one of the few conventional musicians to have ever entered the EDM scene. After a formal education at the Conservatory of Music, Timmy managed to become the leading solo trumpeter in what was called the Australian All-Star Stage Band.

Playing alongside DJ duo The Stafford Brothers turned out to be a turning point in Timmy’s career, as that’s where he realised the power of combining the conventional with the unconventional. Unlike many of his DJ colleagues, Timmy Trumpet is a natural-born performer who knows how to hype up his crowds like hardly anyone else can. And that’s exactly why we think that anyone who loves a bit of adventure should try to catch a glimpse of this unusual artist, today at Tomorrowland’s glorious Mainstage.

A producer who sits within the premier league of the liquid drum & bass genre, Boris Daenen aka Netsky is one of the few DJs at Tomorrowland playing breakbeats. The Antwerp-born and raised, Los Angeles-based artist entered the liquid scene with a bang over a decade ago with now classic anthems such as ‘Pirate Bay’, ‘Iron Heart’ and ‘Let’s Leave Tomorrow’. It comes as no surprise to find Netsky on the line-up once again – this time with his very own Netsky and Friends hosting at Crystal Garden – as this man continues to be one of the most versatile producers on the scene.

With remixes for and collaborations with an incredibly wide and diverse range of peers including Ed Sheeran, Rusko, Jessie J, Plan B, Dua Lipa, and Swedish House Mafia, Netsky has managed to reach a broad audience throughout his career with his catchy beats, vocals and melodies. Yet, at the same time, Daenen has never forgotten his roots in underground club music, as he’s continued to deliver Essential Mixes to BBC’s legendary Radio 1.

Today’s Netsky and Friends outing at Crystal Garden is set to be one for the drum ‘n bass heads with an excellent line-up including a number of selectors from Britain, the genre’s homeland. Notto-be-missed acts include Bournemouth’s Flava D, who always blends some UK garage, grime and bassline into her breaks, as well as the incredible Bou, who sits on the minimalist funk end of the genre. Netsky has an incredible career to look back upon and many more highlights to look forward to. Not bad for a guy who named himself after a computer virus…

30

YVES DERUYTER

MACEO PLEX

THE ROSE GARDEN | BONZAI | 21H00

MAINSTAGE | 19H40

A former resident DJ at legendary Belgian clubs such as Cherrymoon and La Rocca, Yves Deruyter started his career back in 1985, many years or even decades before most of us would first step onto the dancefloor. The Antwerp-born allround music head is potentially the most well-known among all veteran DJs from this country. Not only will his name be forever connected to the clubs he resided at; he’s also very much part of the Bonzai Records family, a chief outlet for some of the world’s biggest rave anthems throughout the nineties.

Rave, trance and a little touch of early hardcore is what you’ll hear Deruyter play in his sets; it’s about time you close your eyes and start fist-pumping.

With current and past residencies at Ibiza’s most famous clubs, Maceo Plex is an experienced force to be reckoned with. Not only does he know how to get the hedonistic Balearic crowds jumping, he’s also got a large amount of fans amongst the more serious-looking lovers of underground electronic music. Besides being a DJ and a musician, Eric Estornel is also a businessman, so he knows very well how to cater to his very diverse set of admirer – a quality that comes in very handy when playing Tomorrowland’s Mainstage. He may very well switch a little between the big room sound he’d play during a typical Ibiza set and some more minimal-sounding treats. Get ready for a varied and entertaining dancefloor experience!

THE REFLECTION OF LOVE

TOMORROWLAND TODAY

BELGIUM 2022

REFLECT THE MUSIC HOUSE The Reflection of Love is all about unity – a unity of loving souls, but also a gathering of widely disparate music styles. For those that like to brush up on their musical knowledge, or explore a set of sounds they’ve not danced to before, we take a deep dive into the history of one genre found at Tomorrowland. Today we delve into the mother of all electronic music genres – house music.

JOHN ‘00’ FLEMING

COONE

YOUPHORIA | PSYGATHERING | 13H30

FREEDOM | Q-DANCE | 17H00

Hailing from the UK, John ‘00’ Fleming went through various stages during his long career as a DJ. Whilst his roots lie in goa trance, he later embraced various other styles of trance, although there has usually been a psychedelic element in the music John plays out to his crowds. John ‘00’ Fleming may not be a household name to many, but those who call themselves fans count him among the world’s best DJs. What to expect of him today then, soundwise? Well, John tends to find a perfect balance between smooth and relaxed sounds that still contain a high level of energy. But our words probably won’t do justice to John’s selections – head to Youphoria today and let the music speak for itself !

This DJ wrote history back in 2018 as the very first hardstyle DJ to ever play the big and glorious Mainstage of Tomorrowland Belgium. It was obviously a huge milestone for Coone, who had been one of the leading acts in the hardstyle scene for years by then; the first time he appeared in the DJ Mag top 100 was already back in 2011. Besides being a producer, Coone is also head honcho at his very own Dirty Workz label, which is where he released his 5th studio album ‘Loyalty is Everything’ in 2020.

Get ready for some hardstyle action and join Coone at the Q-dance hosted Freedom stage, where he’ll play among many other artists specialised in jackhammer-tempo beats.

LISTEN TO T H E LOV E LY S OU N D S As the famous lyrics go: “Not everyone understands house music, it’s a spiritual thing, a body thing, a soul thing.” Dance music’s first incarnation was pioneered in the inner cities of the US, with Detroit representing the mind (spirit), Chicago the body, and New York the soul. During the ‘80s, house music was a logical continuation of ‘70s disco. In clubs like Paradise Garage (NY), the Warehouse and Muzik Box (both Chicago), DJs like Larry Levan, Frankie Knuckles and Ron Hardy laid the foundations for the electronic music of today, in all its shapes and colours.

Come 2022, house music has birthed countless other genres and subgenres, some completely different, others staying true to the music’s original characteristics: four-to-the-floor beats and soulful, sexy, and ecstatic sounds. Some of house music’s children have taken very different paths in life, however. There’s the power of big room house, the subtleness of funky house and microhouse, the melodic sounds of deep house, the steady, minimal pulse of tech house and the grooviness of soulful house.

Today, you’ll find house in many different forms across many of Tomorrowland’s stages. From the tribal sounds of Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano to the carefully selected tracks of Brussels’ very own Red D, and from the German deep house by Âme to the subtly building crescendos unleashed by Maceo Plex – this music will make you shake your hips, shuffle your feet and raise your hands in sheer bliss.

THE REFLECTION OF LOVE

ÂME

SEFA

CORE | 23H00

FREEDOM | Q-DANCE | 00H00

Together with Dixon, German house-producing duo Âme run the Innervisions label, an outlet for forward-thinking house music within a scene often obsessed with its own glorious past. Âme’s productions are always emotionally charged with some of their now-classic tracks leaning more towards deep house (‘Rrose Selavy’), while other tracks evoke the same feel on a more techno type of level (‘Fiori’). Listen to their 2018 debut album ‘Dream House’ to get an idea of the full spectrum of their musical universe. Ranking in Resident Advisor’s Top 20 year after year, Frank Wiedemann and Kristian Beyer are also skilful DJs, so don’t miss these legends if you like your house and techno deep!

Arguably the fastest-rising star of the current hardcore scene, Sefa continues to mesmerise fans all over the world with his fresh, Mozart-style melodies combined with some of the most heavily distorted beats on the planet. Part of Sefa’s success is undoubtedly his unique approach where he incorporates philosophical insights into his music, connecting literature with club music.

What Sefa does is give hard dance music a face and character, presenting it as an example to look up to. In doing so, he provides his fans with melodies and lyrics perfect for singing along – and all that against an incredibly energetic backdrop of kickdrums that sometimes exceed the unlikely 200 BPM barrier. Ravers of Tomorrowland, do yourself a favour, and make yourself acquainted with the incredible phenomenon that is Sefa.

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