Editor's Note: EDM.com is proud to publish four installments of annual year-end coverage: industry leaders, DJ performances and sets, music producers and songs.
To honor his creativity and deeply influential work to challenge the boundaries of performance, the EDM.com The staff recognized 10 of the best sets of the year from around the world of electronic music.
In no particular order, discover the best DJ sets and performances of 2023 below.
Skrilex
red rocks
If there was ever a “you had to be there” moment in Skrillex's storied career, it was his unprecedented five-hour DJ set at Red Rocks in April.
Skrillex laid the foundation for an EDM revolution in the United States in 2010, when he released his first two EPs, My name is Skrillex and Scary monsters and nice goblins. Their seminal debut album, Breakthen opened the floodgates in 2014.
But the music that followed lived in a Potemkin village, an external façade that hid a deepening fissure in Skrillex's personal life. Following the tragic death of his mother, he turned to alcohol as his sense of self eroded and he eventually fell into the doldrums of depression.
Skrillex's historic set at Red Rocks was the end of his elusive search for identity. He found himself on that stage and, thanks to his palpable connection with those in attendance, the show was also a reminder that his inner demons were worth fighting in the name of preservation. The night had no special guests: only Skrillex and his fans.
The concert was a complete catharsis for the dubstep icon, who said it was “one of the best nights in [his] 35 full years on planet Earth.” Somehow, five hours wasn't enough.
Words by Jason Heffler.
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Persecution and status
Boiler room: London
Drum & bass made an explosive return to the global stage in 2023. And it's tremendous that these 20-year veterans were able to not only play their part, but also dominate.
Pioneering drum & bass duo Chase & Status had a monumental year, but their epic performance on “Boiler Room: London” was the piece de resistance. Accompanied by Takura and Flowdan, Chase & Status' Saul Milton broke the Internet in September with a high-octane set that included fan-favorite hits and unreleased songs from a new album.
Everything on the set is perfect. Dressed in a simple white T-shirt and looking like a dad running a pizzeria, Milton effortlessly had a room full of sweaty young men moving at breakneck speed. Having fun is eternal and no performance better represented that truth this year.
How many sets have you seen that play the same song four times in a row, with an even bigger crowd reaction each time? Repeated rinses of Chase & Status' global hit “Baddadan” brought the set to a fever pitch, capping a veritable masterclass that celebrated an exceptional year for the timeless duo.
Words by Carlie Belbin, Shakiel Mahjouri and Nick Yopko.
Keinemusik
Festival OUTPUT
Whether you know them for their sun-soaked marathon DJ sets that dominate social media, loved even by the stars. like drake—or their original music that effortlessly combines electronic, amapiano and house, Keinemusik are masters of rhythm.
The Berlin collective's gorgeous song selection and silky smooth transitions were on display during their dawn performance at this summer's EXIT, a festival in an 18th-century fortress in Serbia. Keinemusik anthems like “Les Gout” and “The Rapture Pt.III” resonated among unsung gems like Jean Claude Ades' remix of “Mektoub.”
Furthermore, Keinemusik's performance astutely incorporated the innovative TEIL2 Reveal from Rampa's own hardware company, TEILE. Completely eschewing the hollow trappings of fireworks, lighting and visuals, they masterfully stitched tracks together to deliver three hours of no-holds-barred dance music in a single performance.
Words by Saad Masood.
Alesso and Martin Garrix
The world of tomorrow
Spurred by a fan's imaginative suggestion, the story of Martin Garrix and Alesso's back-to-back set evolved into a monumental affair at Tomorrowland 2023.
A blend of chart-topping dynamism and melodic prowess, their performance transformed the festival's Library Stage into a realm of palpable nostalgia that resonates with mainstage classics from the golden era.
This unexpected set, which was not broadcast live but immortalized through videos and in the hearts and minds of fans, is a testament not only to the evolution of Garrix and Alesso's art, but also to the magic that can arise spontaneously. in the extraordinary world of electronic dance. music.
Words by Cameron Sunkel.
Rezz
Brooklyn Mirage
Rezz's hypnotic visuals and the Brooklyn Mirage's colossal outdoor screen were a match made in heaven during his June performance, which served as one of the electronic music superstar's biggest headline shows in 2023.
In a gigantic set comprising almost all of the original music, Rezz showcased her prowess as an innovator and trendsetter within the world of bass music in an unmatched way. Her visual and production teams demonstrated her abilities to meet the moment, offering lucky attendees a transformative audiovisual spectacle full of grandeur.
Words by Konstantinos Karakolis.
Juan Summit
the caverns
When John Summit announced that his first curated camping event would take place in a Nowheresville cave in Tennessee, nothing could have made more sense.
The house music superstar, who recently landed a spot on Forbes'30 under 30' listfinally sold out the doubleheader just a couple of days after its announcement as eager fans waited to be swallowed by the depths of The Caverns' psychedelic abyss.
Descending upon a natural amphitheater that was built over millions of years, Summit headlined an otherworldly “cave rave” at the underground concert hall, their first foray into house music. Each night reverberated with rumbling techno and deep house fervor, making for a mystically unorthodox party for all ages.
Words by Mikala Lugen.
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Made in
Good Faith Forever: The Final Show
Madeon's spectacular “Good Faith Forever” was one of the most popular live shows of 2023. From its kaleidoscopic visuals to Madeon's stunning performance, her second album was transformed into an unforgettable live musical experience that consistently left fans in awe. his fans.
This year, Madeon opted to retire the show after three of its biggest headlines to date: Red Rocks, Brooklyn Mirage and, finally, Los Angeles' famous Shrine Expo Hall. This final performance served as a moving farewell to a world that fans have long refused to disengage from, but it also marked the beginning of an exciting new era for the French dance music virtuoso.
Words by Niko Sani.
ISOxo and Knock2
Sanctuary exhibition hall
ISOxo and Knock2 first crossed paths in 2015 at the San Diego County Fair. No one knew they would emerge as the electronic music scene's most promising young talents eight years later, when they took center stage during a remarkable four-night tour at the Shrine Expo Hall in Los Angeles.
Despite their youth at the ages of 23 and 24 respectively, ISOxo and Knock2 dominated the stage effortlessly. With unbridled energy and spectacular production, the enthusiastic fervor surrounding their performances only grew each day.
The pair set a great precedent for 2024, when ISOxo will take their impressive debut album on tour and Knock2 will release their own debut album. Unlimited. His momentum seems unstoppable.
Words by Andrea Nguyen.
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Skrillex, Fred again… and Four Tet
Coachella
After a historic rave at Madison Square Garden, Skrillex, Fred again… and Four Tet did the unthinkable during the second weekend of Coachella in 2023. In a surprise twist, the trio replaced Frank Ocean in the wake of his controversial weekend 1 performance and delivered an electrifying show that marked a totemic cultural moment for electronic dance music.
The performance seamlessly fused the styles of three electronic titans from different generations: persevering Generation Coachella tradition for years to come.
Playing without inhibitions on a 360° stage, they effortlessly wove together house, breakbeat, drum & bass, dubstep and everything in between, giving lucky attendees one of the most talked-about DJ sets of the decade – and plenty of memes.
Words by Brooke Bierman and Lennon Cihak.
pretty lights
Suwannee Hulaween
Pretty Lights returned with a bang in 2023 after a long hiatus. It had been almost five years since their last performance and expectations were high for their new “Soundship Spacesystem” tour, which landed at Suwannee Hulaween for a mind-blowing two-night run on Halloweekend.
Pretty Lights engineered a goosebump-inducing journey that transcended genres into a classic performance, peppering in new tracks alongside many crowd favorites like “Hot Like Sauce” and “Rainbows & Waterfalls.” The crowd fed off his energy as he and his band effortlessly played drums, keyboard and synth as if no time had passed, exuding a palpable energy that turned back time for longtime fans of the iconic producer. .
Each of Pretty Lights' sets at the Hulaween 10th Anniversary Festival were euphoric in nature, and had everyone at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park on cloud nine. After making a comeback that many thought would never happen, he made a bold statement for the future.
Words by Rachel Freeman.
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