Out with the Lights and in with the Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival!

Brooklyn was the go-to spot last weekend, as there were many great line-ups for the Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival.  It was a pleasure being present twice at this amazing festival at Output!  Each of the different DJs had their own voice and style to share with the crowds, making it an experience I will never forget.  The nights were full of creative sets spun by John Digweed, Mario Basanov, Mathias Kaden, and many more.  I’ve never been able to experience the sound system and building layout at Output, so it was fate when both nights happened to be there.  At Output, the DJ sets are held in two rooms at the same time with the rooftop area open for any resting festivalgoers.  The choices of  music and atmospheres from these nights kept my weekend captivating and exciting!

The first night started on Friday November 8th where Naveen G opened his set in Output’s main dance room.  His set was infused with exotic tunes and lengthy pauses of the beat.  This kept the crowd suspended for a timing as much as 2-3 minutes which created better drops for the crowd. The end of his set was a mix of house beats and middle-eastern melodies that swirled and entranced me by its beauty.  The transition into John Digweeds anticipated 6 hour set was smooth and well mixed.  The air had a smoky aura and laser lights became a smudge of colors compared to the usual electric streaks.   As the crowd increased in size, dancing room was limited and I could only sway as one with the audience.  John Digweed took over the scene around 12am and had a warm welcome, as his audience was excited to see him.  The house was full by now as people gathered around the bars, balcony, lounges, and dance floor.  His set flourished with an underlying techno beat topped with constant entrances of new sound frequencies and colors.  He did a flawless job experimenting with the synthesizers in his productions, making it sound out of the ordinary and awe-inspiring.  For me, his music was very artistic in the way he created a visual image.  His clear structure, layout, sound choice, and compelling dance pulses created phenomenal electronic soundscapes.

Moving away from the main dance room I entered the Panther Room, an intimate sized room with a ravishing chandelier of disco balls touring above.  The room had a warm feel with its deep red color schemes, lounge sofas, and a fireplace that burned behind the corner of the room.  The room’s impression well matched Nicolas Matars set as he gave the crowd some dark groovy sounds.  I listened to Matar for about an hour until Mario Basanov took over at 3am.  Mario Basanov, or Marijus Adomaitis, is a Lithuanian producer, musician, and world renowned DJ.  He is known for weaving together the specified genres of broken beat, house, new jazz, and disco.  He also has the amazing ability to place a pop-infused vocal in a techno/house style.  Since 2009, Mario Basanov focused his sets with the disco groove, creating top hits such as “Do you Remember?” and “Caribbean Girl”.  London’s Needwant label released his album “Journey” which became a big hit.  I highly recommend checking out his album for some of his great productions.  I was so happy to finally see him perform live after following his music online.  Mario Basanov’s set at Output had the crowd dancing hard at 3am.  The beats he produced were earthy and easy to dance to.  His set lasted well into 6am on Saturday, wrapping up my first night on a very good demeanor.

Lenny Posso opened with his set on the second night, Saturday November 9th.  He was born and raised in NYC and has been in the electronic music scene for about 20 years.  Lenny Posso started the night off with a warm and welcoming atmosphere as the festivalgoers gathered in Output’s main room.  At the same time, another well-known DJ from New York, Justin Miller was spinning in the Panther Room.  I could hear how he brought together the old and new styles of techno within a deep house manner.  His knowledge of music came from his long time employment at DFA Records.  He now owns his own label, HAKT recordings, and remains growing and performing with his career.  I loved hearing his set and watching him connect with the crowd.  At about 1am, I came back to the main room to find the crowd going hard with Mathias Kaden’s techno dance party.  The combination of funk and techno were brought together making it a lively and energetic set to dance to.  In the meantime, DJ/producer from Denmark, Kasper Bjorke, kept the party going in the Panther Room from 1-4am until Justin Miller came back to close the early morning.  After Kadens set, the folks in Output’s main room got a taste of fervent techno by Netherlands own, Steve Rachmad.  There is a sense of power and maturity in his set, which was not surprising since he is a major part of the Europe’s developing electro underground scene.  Steve Rachmad is most identified with Detroit’s techno scene along with stimulating layers and a soft base.  Overall it was a dynamic ending at 6am, leaving the audience elated and appeased.

As a constant listener and follower of electronic music, the Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival opened many levels of inspiration and knowledge for me.  I look forward to the arrival of many artists to come in the techno scene and hope this review will inspire you to go into the world of underground deep house.  For now, open your ears to new sounds and rhythms with a mix from one of the artists of this weekend’s Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival, Mathias Kaden.