4 minute read
imitri Vegas & ike Mike
DJ’ing is a trade of entertainment, and Dimi and Mike understand this principle like no other. They avoid sticking to any particular genre of EDM in order to always keep their sound interesting. Besides incorporating touches of house, electro and big room in their music, they are also influenced by hip-hop and reggaeton, to name but a few genres out of the ordinary. Looking at their consistent delivery of dance floor anthems throughout the years, it makes total sense that Tomorrowland is unthinkable without prime-time performances by the Thivalos brothers. We talked to them about musical progression, their club night in Ibiza and - importantly - where to get Greek food on Tomorrowland.
How does it feel to still be doing this: the Tomorrowland mainstage in 2023, after so many times?
Dimitri: “What can I say, it’s always amazing. Every year we’re both blown away because Tomorrowland never fails to impress and if anything, it just gets better with age.”
Mike: “It’s always the wildest show of the summer for us. There’s this tangible energy about Tomorrowland that starts to build in anticipation months before the festival happens, and then once it finally arrives, it’s just insane.”
Looking back on the past ten or twenty years, how do you feel the sound of music has evolved genre-wise, energy-wise? In other words: what worked back then and what works well right now?
Mike: “Our shows have always been a diverse mix of sounds. Go back ten years and we were right in the thick of the big room era, and even before that we used elements of progressive, electro and house music. But a lot of these styles still appear throughout our sets today.”
Dimitri: “Yeah, we’ve never stayed in just one lane when it comes to genres. You only have to look back and compare tracks like ‘Liquid Skies’ and ‘Momentum’, then later ‘Mammoth’ and ‘Find
Tomorrow (Ocarina)’ to see that. In more recent years our sound has broadened further still with influences of hip hop, pop and reggaeton creeping in. All of it has worked well for us – and now we have travelled back again to the early days of our careers with a lot more up-tempo, rave-era sounds and beats.”
How do you see the sound develop in the near to midterm future?
Dimitri: “We’ll definitely be diving deeper into the 1990’s-inspired rave sound we’ve been messing around with. I think people might be quite surprised when they hear our set this year. We’re also working on an album that will be very ‘90s inspired – we’re having a lot of fun with it!”
Techno is becoming more and more popular.
DJs like Hardwell, Nicky Romero and Afrojack are all keen on the genre. What are your thoughts on techno?
Mike: “There’s a pretty wide spectrum of what people consider techno. For some, it’s a super uptempo interpretation of the older harder styles, for others it’s leaning more towards trance and progressive sounds and even towards psytrance. I think in the past the world placed everything from big room to electronic dance, house, progressive and electro under the umbrella of EDM. Currently most of the slightly less mainstream genres are being called techno or melodic techno.”
What’s your favourite food at Tomorrowland?
Dimitri: “We have our own Greek Gyros stand called ‘Lemoni’ on the festival grounds… I would 100% recommend it!”
Can you explain to people who have never seen you perform before why they should definitely come see your set?
Dimitri: “Nothing compares to Tomorrowland. The energy and spectacle of the Mainstage is an intense feeling of emotion, joy and craziness. Prepare to be blown away, because every year, we always try to make it a bigger and better show than ever before, and this year is going to be the biggest one yet.”
Like always, you guys are curating a weekly club night at Ushuaïa Ibiza together with Tomorrowland. What’s the concept for the night, what can people expect?
Dimitri: “The concept for our Ushuaïa parties is to bring the Tomorrowland vibe to Ibiza. As everyone knows, Tomorrowland stands for next-level production and we stand for a next-level party… so you know what to expect when we bring all that to the craziest outdoor club in the world! We push the boundaries at this insane outdoor stage and our Wednesdays have become one of the busiest nights on the island. Ushuaïa truly is an amazing venue and the perfect playground for us – we have a blast every week!”
Daybreak Sessions
Franky Rizardo
MAINSTAGE | 12:00
Taking the best from both worlds, Dutch club scene mainstay Franky Rizardo comfortably inhabits the no-man’s land between house and techno. With two full days of raving as well as the Gathering already behind you, Franky’s forceful beats and excellent selections will give your sleepy head the energy it needs to get ready for a final day of dance moves and memories. Surely, this Daybreak Session is set to once again rise to incredible heights.
One of the hardest-working dance floor entertainers and producers of the Low Countries, Franky has put hours and hours into his career, carving out his own niche in the scene and earning his place up there on the mythical Mainstage. Having played the world’s biggest clubs including Fabric, Amnesia, Elrow, Shelter and Thuishaven, Franky is blessed with an incredibly busy schedule this summer that includes performances in Ibiza, Morocco, Bolivia, Colombia, Barcelona, and of course Amsterdam. His nearly three hour-long set today will feel like a breath of fresh air to the selector, as Tomorrowland has invited him to go to unexpected places and off the beaten track – and such a long slot allows for plenty of exploration. With releases on some of the world’s most acclaimed labels to his name, including Rejected, Saved, 8Bit and even original New York house imprint Strictly Rhythm, Franky is a master of funky eclecticism. And guess what? That’s exactly what it takes to be an excellent Daybreak Session DJ. Grab your juice, coffee or smoothie, so you’re all set to wiggle along to the smooth and funky grooves of Franky Rizardo!
Mainstage
PROGRAMME SUNDAY 23.07.2023
Rave Cave
Freedom
Terra Solis
The Rose Garden
FREEDOM | 15:00
