Electric Zoo Festival 2022
Electric Zoo, NYC’s longest-running and premiere electronic music festival just wrapped up its 13th edition with a futuristic 3.0 theme that premiered all-new stages and AI-assisted innovative production. Over 100,000 attendees from 50 states and 51 countries flocked to Randall’s Island Park from Friday, September 2nd to Sunday, September 4th. Both Saturday and Sunday drew sold-out crowds.
Standout sets were delivered from over 100 globally-renowned artists including legends like Afrojack who “brought a very special set just for Electric Zoo” to breakout stars like Pauline Herr who played her first EZoo on the main stage.
“One of my favorite places in the world to play. It’s a pleasure to see so many fans here at Electric Zoo…” – Armin Van Buuren
Electric Zoo 3.0 invited all who attended to “plug into the matrix” by transforming the grounds into an AI tech-driven, electronic dance music paradise.
“We’ve set a goal of bringing an improved experience for EZoo fans during this transitional year by introducing all-new stages, innovative production, and creating a more immersive feel to the festival. I believe we’ve done the best we could in the short time that we had – now, with a full year of preparations, we are going to take the next step and welcome New Yorkers and guests from all over the world into a new era of festival experiences!”– Billy Bildstein, the new owner of Electric Zoo
Not only is EZoo known for bringing the most diverse and best names in electronic music to New York for ”the last dance of summer”, this year the festivals upped the ante in high-end production, innovative venue design, AI technology integration and multimedia entertainment concepts. Digital Journal pointed out how the festival is “extravagant and outlandish and created with intelligent artistry”.
One distinguishing feature of this year’s edition is the focus on crafting a distinct and immersive experience at each of the festival’s four re-imagined stages. An updated festival layout and all-new designs of the Antheon, The Landing, Morphosis, and Levitron stages created visual drama with their pyro, fireworks and massive LED walls.
“Having spent 13 years with EZoo since its inception, I have to say that this was one of the most special editions we’ve ever had. Working together with the new ownership we’ve brought about the start of an inspiring collaboration. We’re thrilled by support and such positive feedback from our fans, artists, and the industry – and can’t wait to show everyone what we have in store next year.” – Michael Julian, Electric Zoo, Chief Of Marketing
ANTHEON
The Antheon stage hosted many artists with cross-over pop appeal – among them were Afrojack, Diplo, and Porter Robinson. DJ Snake who took on the Saturday sunset slot, played some of his notorious hits such as ‘Turn Down for What’ and exclaimed to the crowd, “Let’s take it back to the original DJ Snake!”
The crowd went wild for Subtronics’ thick dubstep set, and Martin Garrix, who pulled out all the stops with a fireworks display amidst lasers, bellowing smoke as he played the closing set of the festival, perpetually reminding us what it means to be human through the emotional power of electronic sound.
MORPHOSIS
This year it was the Morphosis stage where house music evolved. But first, making their 4th EZoo appearance, West Coast party brand Brownies & Lemonade curated the opening night lineup. On Saturday and Sunday, festival favorites Camplephat, Sidepiece, AC Slater, Bontan provided dazzling sets. For CID, “This is my hometown show… it feels great to play here at EZoo!” For Eden Prince, “I’ve wanted to play EZoo for years and years. It’s a big bucket list festival for me. It’s one of those festivals as an artist you see on social media and you think – that’s the festival I want to play at one day. To be here is the best feeling ever!”
THE LANDING
Never before has EZoo tapped into such a powerful, interactive staging where festival dwellers were surrounded by and fully engulfed in an interstellar visual-audio experience. Among the lasers and pummeling electronic music, fans flocked to experience artists like Loco Dice and Carl Cox at The Landing whose sets were both visceral and monumental. As predicted by The New York Times, Sunday at The Landing was one of the festival’s main attractions with “hip-hop-informed house courtesy of Loco Dice, funk-infused techno from Detroit’s D.J. Holographic” and European house music starts Ilario Alicante, Andrea Oliva, and Chelina Manuhutu.
The stage was home to take-overs the whole weekend. For Friday stage curator Tchami, it was truly enthralling, “It was incredible to fill it with artists off my Confession label.” On Saturday, Jauz presented Bite This. A very grateful Moore Kismet said “I feel so lucky to have played Electric Zoo! That was incredibly fun.” Towering over fans and stunning them too was Shaq (DJ Diesel) and SVDDEN DEATH.
LEVITRON
The Levitron experience can be compared to the weightlessness of deep space. Both performer and dancer defy gravity. Jason Ross reflected “It feels so good to go back. The stages are huge. EZoo has really outdone themselves this year!” Sunday saw a takeover by ethereal world bass artist CloZee and her Odyzey label, and included some of the festival’s must-see acts like Redrum, Tripp St, Wreckno, and Mersiv – whose set transmitted therapeutic and healing energy and took fans on a sonic voyage. “It was amazing, fantastic, just all big bass, big sound everywhere, it was everything I love,” raved Canvas.
While the headliners may draw people to the festival, the fans are the unwavering heart of Electric Zoo…
“This year was insane! The most fun I ever had 🔥🔥🔥” – @marcuswilliamm