Day 2 of Rolling Loud was full of mosh pits, cocktails and continued great Hip-Hop music!
Day 1 of Rolling Loud NY (Sept. 23rd) was a great start to the three-day weekend!
@moorekismet
It was a returned to something wonderful for Moore Kismet. They returned to Randall’s Island for this year’s legendary and iconic Electronic Zoo Music Festival 3.0. After playing a dynamic set, we caught up with Moore Kismet to get the 411 on this year’s EZoo and what is next for the artist.
First off, we had to ask this young and talented artist, who has played Lollapalooza and Coachella, what was it like playing NYC’s Electronic Zoo Music Festival. They responded by saying, “New York is kind of a second home for me because I have family out in the surrounding areas and they make me and my mom feel so safe and happy.” They expressed that New York is a dream for them. “Getting to perform in NYC is something I really wanted to do more because they have so many iconic venues I haven’t even touched yet,” they said.
As for the set, Moore Kismet admitted, “I normally just put together a collection of some of my favorite songs of myself, my favorite artists, and my friends. From there, I play a completely improvised set where I try my hardest to play a set that the crowd can get into because we do this for them.” Getting that right vibe is not easy. They acknowledge, “I’ve been trying to do more recently is figure out how to cultivate good sonic energy around my music, not just finding open places to stick my unreleased songs in a set.” One of the highlights of their show for Moore Kismet “was this edit I made of “Outside” by Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding and “earthsea.” by kosu that went the entire fuck off so that was fun.”
But for Moore Kismet, which means “more than fate,” music is just one part of the puzzle. Standing out, pushing boundaries and being a voice for the LGBTQ+ community is another important part of their identity. “For as long as I resonate with my identity, I will continue to do my best to be a voice for our community,” Moore Kismet admitted. They explained, “there are so many going on right now in this world that we need to focus on giving a platform to. One of those most pressing things is the continued threats of the full removal and outlawing of LGBTQ+ rights. It affects me, it affects a good chunk of my fans, and it will affect millions of people in the country who share this community with us.”
As for the music, Moore Kismet has unique production style and stage presence, which they explain as a “wild animal on stage. “They acknowledge it’s “because it gives me this unwavering sense of joy and energy that feels very emotionally freeing.” Furthermore, Moore Kismet adds “Over the years, I’ve drawn inspiration from so many different artists in so many different genres that it’s almost impossible to pinpoint a genre in or concoct some other form of label for my music.” Moore Kismet states, “I create music based on what I feel and what I’m inspired by in the moment. This correlates to how I choose sounds to work with, how I write melodies, how I mix songs, everything. Everything is influenced by inspiration. And I think I’ve gotten to a point in my career recently where I’m finding so many sources of hope for innovation and feeling in music that it just encourages me to keep pushing forward with my creations and to keep sharing my stories in the way I feel comfortable doing so.”
As for what is next, Moore Kismet notes, “I’m currently working on a fairly decent sized EP full of songs that lean predominantly on a reimagined concept of my heavy electronic sound that people originally discovered me from. It will more than likely drop early next year and serve as a buffer between UNIVERSE and my next album, which is also in the beginning stages of writing at the moment. This EP will have some songs that sound nothing like that heavier style people liked, but a lot of them were very nostalgic and freeing to write because I got to challenge myself to write something like what I’d used to when I was a little kid barely making it by in the industry, but now with more style and identity behind it.” Moore Kismet adds, “I can’t wait to share more details about it soon!!”
Moore Kismet new EP should be out soon, but for more information on them check out their website: www.moorekismet.com
The programming includes the return of their trademark closing event Cityfox: Transcend, a day/night double-header with John Summit, Turnstile, SG Lewis, 3 nights of Black Coffee, and many more.
Ship Wrek Instagram
It’s that time of the year when many young New Yorkers turn out in festive attire to celebrate. No, it’s not the holidays in New York City, but it is the legendary and iconic Electronic Zoo Music Festival 3.0, which descends on Randall’s Island every year. This year gracing the mega Antheon stage is the Electronic Hip-Hop Dance Duo, Ship Wrek.
We caught up with this fast rising DJ and Music Producer duo of Tripp Churchill and Collin Maguire, do find out what it was like performing at this year’s Electronic Zoo Music Festival. Now, Ship Wrek has played a lot of music festivals, but we had to ask, what does it mean to bring your music to EZoo? They responded by saying, “This year’s EZoo was special because we played the main stage.” As for playing in NYC, they added, “New York has always been such an amazing city to play….Our fans really showed out and the set couldn’t have been more perfect.”
Funny thing about Ship Wrek’s perfect set is that planning is not required. The duo admits, “We don’t really plan our sets. We know our song catalogue and really just freestyle our sets. We think it’s important to play a set as if you’re in the crowd experiencing it. As for their favorite part of their E Zoo set, they say, “Our favorite part was definitely playing our new record “Over & Over.”
Speaking of the new single, “Over & Over,” the guys said, its “one of our favorites so far. We worked with the amazing Clementine Douglas from the UK to recreate a 90s era sound.” They added, “We’ve been working on this song for so long so it’s amazing to see it finally out!”
The duo is also excited about their full EP called Metaphysical, which will be out soon. They admit they are excited not only for the album but the tour, “we’re excited to continue to tour and conquer the world!”
Check out Ship Wrek’s new single, “Over & Over.”
EZoo’s Twitter
“This is how we do it. It’s Friday night and I feel all right. The party is here on the West side,” and that is exactly what legendary DJ Diplo brought to this year’s Electronic Zoo Music Festival. Sampling the 90s hit song by Montell Jordan, Diplo got the party started on Friday night on the east side— of Manhattan a.k.a. Randall’s Island just as the sun was setting. As dusk settled in he took to his DJ set up as the smoke began to fill the Antheon stage.
Starting his set bathed in green lights with forest imagery, he shouted out New York City saying, “New York how you feeling” as he began playing KHIA’s “My Neck, My Back.” Clad in a simple white tee and shades, he mixed “My Neck, My Back” with his song ‘Biturbo” with Raumakustik as the vibe moved from green to red with a digital lava video and solar flares behind him. As darkness started to fill the approaching night sky Diplo’s stage morphed into a purple and blue set and light show as the crowd grew filling up with kids rocking everything from light-up sneakers to shades for the song, “Enjoy” by Misael Deejay.
Diplo then went on to spin “Party Starter” by Matt Guy, “Bussin” from Mikey Barreneche and “Right 2 Left” by Diplo & Mele as well as Nader Razdar’s “Alegria.” His set/ stage changed vibes from deep space to space lava to deep sea and then to a forest covered in flames all to match the song he was spinning. With his horse voice, he admitted to losing a few days earlier, Diplo would occasionally interject a shout-out to the crowd to get them pumped and keep the energy high.
Leaning into a trance state, Diplo played, “Back Once More” by Pajane. He then played “Benz” by Euro Trash, “Brooklyn Bounce” by Mele, and Fisher’s “Wanna Go Dancin’.” He continued on with his own songs with LSD and Sia for “Thunderclouds” and “Be Right There.” He finished this part of his set with “Deep Inside” by Hardrive and a dance mash-up of The White Stripe’s “Seven Nation Army.”
Then the Antheon stage went blue again for Diplo’s and Miguel’s song, “Don’t Forget My Love.” The blue stage faded into beautiful purple flames for Macklemore’s “Can’t Hold Us” and Diplo’s “On My Mind.” Diplo when on to spin “I’m Addicted To The Beat” by David Kim and Kanye West’s “Power” before closing out his set with his own songs “Revolution” and “Let You Go.”
A gorgeous view of the east river, Canadians in black muscle tees, and early 2000s punk: it’s a match made in heaven. On August 25th, Sum 41 and Simple Plan delivered an energetic performance at Pier 17. The second leg of the Blame Canada Tour acted like a joint birthday party: Sum 41’s debut album All Killer No Filler turned 21 and Simple Plan’s debut No Pads, No Helmet…Just Balls turned 20.
Simple Plan was also celebrating their recently released album Harder Than It Looks, which came out May of this year. Before performing “Iconic,” lead singer Pierre Bouvier dedicated the song to all the “weirdos” out there. Not only that but lead singer of Sum 41 Deryck Whibley announced the group was working on a double album entitled Heaven and Hell.
In honor of the birthdays, Sum 41 preformed iconic hits from their debut album like “In too Deep” and “Fat Lip.” Simple Plan played “I’m Just a Kid,” arguably the most popular song off their debut album. So when lead guitarist Jeff Stinco strummed the first few cords, the crowd was frenzied. In the final bridge of the song, drummer Chuck Comeau stepped up to the mic to announce he wanted to mosh with the crowd. He explained that due to Covid-19, his team urged him to wear protection. Comeau suited up in a yellow hazmat suit and pink respirator mask before plunging into the crowd. As the final chorus was sung, the crowd exploded with moshing, crowd surfing, and head banging.
Even in the most chaotic moments, there was still a strong sense of community. In between calling the crowd “motherfuckers,” Whibley emphasized the band’s love of their fans and how they were all a “family.” During Simple Plan’s set, Bouvier asked the crowd how the band stayed together for two decades. He answered: “it’s because of people like you!” Who knew punks could be so sentimental.
Music lovers of all ages in Vermont will be able to appreciate the return of the Backside 405 outdoor concert series, a collaboration between Higher Ground and Burlington City Arts.
Courtesy of @indiashawn
With the wind effortlessly blowing, the beautiful songbird, India Shawn, took to the BMI’s Lollapalooza stage to pour out her soul with her R&B songs that are a collection of honesty, trials, and triumphs. Clad in pink with feathers, the LA base songwriter and songstress, belted out the ethereal, “Floating away.” She followed it with her honest and retro vibe song, “Don’t Play With My Heart,” before diving into her laid-back song, “Cali Love.” Then Shawn took a second to chat with fans. She expressed her frustration about living in LA and the lack of finding honest love despite trying.
After taking a beat, she dove into her song “Too Sweet.” With sensual moves, she reminded the audience that she cannot only tempt but also reward those who love her. Accompanied on stage by her guitarist and drummer, India Shawn ruled the stage captivating those in the audience who love to sing along with her, especially for “Too Sweet.”
Shawn changes things up for her next song, “Not Too Deep.” Slowing the tempo down, she made every word in the lyrics not only heard but felt with deep emotion and honesty. With sensuality on full display, Shawn then got brutally honest for her next song, “Exchange.” Hitting high notes, she made the audience feel the moment, in which she put pen to paper to craft the song.
Shawn then reminded her fans that not only is she sensual, but she is also strong. Belting out the song, “Superfine,” she championed her happiness over heartbreak all while noting to everyone that she is one fine-ass individual. She then gave the crowd her rendition of Brandy’s “Almost Doesn’t Count,” before singing “Movin on.” She rounded out her performance with her final song “Caught In The Middle,” which she released only days before Lollapalooza.
Check out India Shawn’s new music video for “Caught In The Middle.”
In what is undoubtedly the largest Hip-Hop festival in the world, the ground shivers for miles, roads are blocked and barricaded, and the nearby air brushes you to the stroke of seemingly familiar beats. Rolling Loud returned this year to Miami with none other than the loudest industry-leading names that require no introduction.
Day 1 (Highlights)
Day 1 hosted artists such as Kid Cudi, Playboi Carti, Don Toliver, and Lil Durk with surprise guest Kanye West. While Kanye was set to headline the Ciroc stage on Day 1, he announced he would not make an appearance and Kid Cudi would take his place on the Ciroc stage. This unquestionably ensued a very unhealthy dose of hydration during Cudi’s performance, as some attendees were not pleased with Kanye being replaced, and resorted to throwing numerous water bottles to express their unamusement. While Cudi decided to cut his performance short, Kanye made a very unexpectedly expected Kanye-like appearance with Lil Durk on the GoPuff stage. Many speculated he would certainly show while others feared their most anticipated artist would not walk the stage. While the controversy of spectacular performances and notably undeserved crowd’s judgment left many wondering what is to come of Day 2 and 3, Rolling Loud brought the heat without hesitation.
Day 2
In the midst of misused vodka-filled hydration packs and insta-worthy outfits ready to lose their glow in a spontaneous mosh pit, Day 2 applied pressure with the heaviest line-up of the weekend.
Admirably so, with all the adored chaos that was showcased, Rolling Loud actionably expressed hydration as a priority for their guests with strategically located water stations, concession stands, and water packs thrown (lightly) from the stages to the crowd. Seemingly quite the opposite that occurred the previous night with our ill-fated headliner.
Future, Lil Uzi Vert, Dababy, Polo G, Kevin Gates, and many others appeared on the festival stages on this day with undoubtedly the most attendees of the weekend. Becoming an absolute rager as Future brought out both Travis Scott and Lil Durk as surprise guests. Durk who had previously headlined on the GoPuff stage the day before, entertained no sleep. The festival was a cinematically electric wildfire with fireworks piercing as far as the stratosphere. If all this wasn’t enough, the infamous Rolling Loud Ferris wheel also made its return if the view from the front row didn’t suffice. Travis, who many believed would not continue to perform after previous concert fatalities, stole the show with Future and delivered a truly elevated experience to remember.