![Factory 93 exceeds expectations at Escape Halloween [Review]313355377 852359442616237 6204215199234193298 N](https://dancingastronaut.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/313355377_852359442616237_6204215199234193298_n.jpg)
Factory 93 exceeds expectations at Escape Halloween [Review]
Bringing in more than 75,000 ravers to the NOS center over the Halloween weekend, Insomniac brought in one of their biggest crowds in Escape history. With a resounding DJ lineup featuring Alesso, Martin Garrix, Tiësto, and more, it was easy to see why the mainstage was peppered with eager attendees far beyond the outskirts of the mega-structure. With a wide variety in music genres throughout the weekend, Insomniac was able to please everyone with house, techno, dubstep, hardstyle, and, of course, some Latin-inspired stylings from Valentino Khan and Deorro. However, the obvious champion of the festival was the packed-away Sewer District hosted by Factory 93.
Reminiscent of both Circuit Grounds and Neon Garden at EDC Las Vegas, Sewer District had one of the most compelling and original stage designs. The only fully outdoor stage of the festival, Sewer District hoisted LED Screens on pillars surrounding both the left and right of the stage. Pyro scorched into the night sky from all angles, atop some of the heaviest deep house and techno basslines. While the Sewer District always seemed to be packed to the perimeter, house and techno lovers proved why this stage had the best energy of the festival. Non-stop dancing to four-on-the-floor beats kept this stage grooving from the time doors opened til the incipient ring of curfew at 2 A.M.
The highlight of night one came from MEDUZA. Touting an early time-slot for the Italian trio, due to a later set at Insomniac’s nearby Exchange LA, MEDUZA intertwined underground sounds with some of their more well-known singles. Opening with a now released Odizzea remix of “Bad Memories”, the crowd was delightfully flummoxed by the thundering progressive display. For what may have been the first time ever, Simone Giani was the lone member of the trio to play under the MEDUZA name at a festival. While usually their sets involve a solo DJ set from Mattia Vitale or a live performance from all three members, Giani was able to curate a performance that included more deep-house IDs than released singles.
One of the most memorable moments of the set came when MEDUZA dropped their recent remix of Supermode’s old hit “Tell Me Why.” The crowd roared as the bassline dropped and the strobe lights flashed to the beat. For those unfamiliar with MEDUZA’s newer style for their live performances, it can be categorized as a hybrid between future rave and deep progressive. Welcome surprises to the set included Eric Prydz‘s “Rebel XX” and Anyma‘s “Running,” both of which proved to have some of the most frenetic crowd reactions.
After MEDUZA’s set, ANNA took the decks mixing her quick-hitting techno cuts with kaleidoscopic melodies. A flawless switch-up and following set to MEDUZA, ANNA induced thousands into a trance-like state with an hour and a half of pure techno. Following ANNA, was the Ibiza legend himself, Marco Carola. His presence was immediately felt, as he graced the stage with an hour and a half of mostly unreleased house tunes. A true master on the decks, Carola uses a hybrid setup between his laptop and CDJs, in order to add samples and creativity to the set. Giving the crowd groovy house beats was the perfect way to cap off night one at Sewer District.
While Dancing Astronaut was present for night 2 of Escape, most of the time was spent venturing the mainstage. However, some of the most well-received performances from the weekend came from Sewer District’s Saturday lineup. Night 2 featured a star-studded cast of girl power, including that of Anfisa Letyago, Deborah De Luca, and Nina Kraviz. De Luca sent crowds spinnin’ mixing dance pop acapellas on top of business-techno basslines. A rising star on the Factory 93 label circuit, Letyago set the tone for the night with her upbeat anthems. Nina Kraviz (a name that warrants no introduction) shut down the night with face-melting acid techno. After Escape 2022, it’s clear that Factory 93 set the tone within the Insomniac ecosystem as a premium ear-feasting, hip-shaking destination.
Featured image: Factory 93 / Instagram
Categories: Features