Pretty Lights closes out the first day of Electric Zoo 2012
My musical journey began with hip hop and no matter where it's takes me I will always feel a deep connection to the genre that first made me truly feel music -- instead of just hear it. So, it makes sense that out of all the DJs on the Electric Zoo bill I was most excited for Pretty Lights, whose set would inevitably include his own hip hop infused productions. By straying outside the boundaries of the genre Derek Vincent Smith, the man behind the moniker, has made himself a mistfit within the electronic dance music world. However, he's not the "uncool," outcast kind of misfit but the kind who is shrouded in unpredictable, idiosyncratic mystery. When he stepped on stage to take his place behind the glowing, rainbow throne that awaited his arrival he proved that being an outcast is not so bad after all.
David Guetta at Electric Zoo 2012: Mr. EDM finally delivers an unusually risky set to mixed reactions
David Guetta delivered a very different kind of set at this year's Electric Zoo, straying from his usual selection of bona fide pop hits and changing things up for darker, harder-hitting tracks. The crowd started off uneasy about some of his lesser-known selections, but things changed by the end.
Axwell at Electric Zoo 2012: an exciting preview of what’s to come from the SHM crew
Axwell came to Electric Zoo with a set that was far different from the normal Swedish House Mafia fare. While he of course relied on a smattering of established favorites to keep the crowd engaged, he also brought out lots of new bootlegs and ID tracks to open our ears to new music. Read all about it on Dancing Astronaut.
Electric Zoo 2012 Day 2: Memorable moments from Randall’s Island
Our second day on Randall's island was hotter and more hectic than the first. With a massive influx of concertgoers and a slew of big name progressive headliners, Saturday at Electric Zoo finally embodied the "zoo" aesthetic. All tents were packed to the brim with energetic fans, braving the heat and humidity to see their favorite acts. With names like Axwell, Dada Life, Wolfgang Gartner, Rusko, Above & Beyond, Steve Aoki, and Sasha on the lineup, there was a sound to satisfy anyone's tastes -- and plenty of security guards with hoses to keep them the crowds cool.
Electric Zoo 2012 Day 1 liveset downloads: David Guetta, Hardwell, Nicky Romero, Pretty Lights, and more
Electric Zoo day one is officially over, but thanks to SiriusXM and SoundCloud, you can re-live some of the best sets of the day as many times as you'd like. Unofficial downloads have been made available online — check out sets from Hardwell, Nicky Romero, David Guetta, Pretty Lights, and more on Dancing Astronaut.