Tomorrowland Today 2023 | Incredible Saturday

Finally, friends; finally, we are at home again. And home, this year, is a city amidst skies and clouds, a metropolis that chose to stay hidden for centuries, but has now opened its gates to you: Arcadiana. Yesterday, as you crowded the Holy Grounds along with many thousands of feathered, friendly souls, the clouds broke, and the community of guilds revealed itself under Amare’s watchful eye. Truly, you had arrived. Oh, how it feels to have the magic of this place caressing your skin! To see with your own two eyes the avian grace of the Windriders, gliding down from the skies on the Ateliers’ winged

contraptions! And then, after all that spectacle, you faced a very difficult choice: where to roam next in this city’s vast domain? Across the expanse to the engineering marvel that is the Freedom stage? To the Library, the Crystal Garden, or one of the other open-air arenas? Fortunately, you will have all the time in the world, today, to explore every nook and cranny you haven’t seen yet. Be sure to go out there, friends, and make Arcadiana your own. Roam around, ride the currents of the wind, and remember the wonders you encounter – forever.

Another morning in Arcadiana means another array of musical marvels – which stage will be your favourite today? Tale of Us’ magical Afterlife imprint is well-represented with Adriatique’s meditative beats, hypnotising grooves by Kevin de Vries, as well as a closing set by the label bosses themselves, all at the Freedom stage. Fans of psytranceinfused techno should head to Atmosphere for Indira Paganotto and stay after her set for Reinier Zonneveld’s pounding, acid-tinged liveperformance. The Bonzai Allstars and relative newcomer Amber Broos represent Belgium’s oldschool rave and trance underground with a fresh twist; a huge tip for anyone looking to find out more about this country’s vast musical culture. Today’s Mainstage highlights, to round off with, include triple-A stars Alesso and Afrojack.

Are you both fitness freak and lover of loud music? Then make sure to join Q-dance’s infamous Warrior Workout at the Mainstage, 14:45 today, and get down and sweaty!

The DreamVille Marketplace is the place where all needs are met: from food to clothing, from tattoos to jewellery, from hairdressing to phone charging and repair… Head on over if you need anything!

A WORD OF GRATITUDE

We absolutely love putting together every single issue of Tomorrowland Today, and it wouldn’t be possible without all of the fun-loving, welltravelled ravers that we meet every day. You are a unique, ever-smiling bunch of people who tell us the very best newsworthy stories. Thank you!

WEATHER REPORT

With gentle clouds and pleasant temperatures up to 22 degrees, the second day of Tomorrowland is looking to be a pleasant one. No rainfall is expected, so wear your best outfit and shine on all the dancefloors!

YOUR TIPS FOR TOMORROW

Did you witness, experience or do something newsworthy, then contact us! Think unforgettable highlights, tales of friendship or invaluable festival knowledge. Simply send an email to your daily gazette at today@tomorrowland.com!

THE TALES OF THE GUILDS

Thanks to the magic of Amare, the Golden Aurics and all the other birds, Arcadiana is held aloft in the sky, light as a feather forever. But the thing that makes this soaring city tick is its guilds: five associations of expert craftspeople working together to provide each other with food, housing, art, and all the other ingredients of a meaningful life. Now that you are welcomed into this harmonious domain, it’s decision time… How will you contribute? Which guild will you call home? Today, the Ateliers’ and Weavers’ Guilds make their case for you to join them.

Arcadianan society, and even the world at large, is like a great machine, and without the proper tools and parts, none of it would run. This is what we of the Ateliers’ Guild tend to: the appliances and automatons upon which our fellow citizens depend. The great balloons, the instruments of craft, the infrastructure of the city: it all originates from our workshops.

We Ateliers are inventors and engineers. We recognise the beauty of the practical: to us, a well-oiled machine is as beautiful as the highest work of art, and we find the sublime in new solutions to age-old problems. In our work, we are guided by the corvids, birds of great intelligence and cunning, who provide the blueprint for our mechanical métier.

If you have the wits to wield the hammer, the wherewithal to create new wonders in our warren of workshops, then you might soon earn your very own atelier. Come and create the very future of Arcadiana with us.

May your inventions ever be in service to our city,

The Ateliers’ Guild

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To all colourful, extravagant birds out there,

Like the strands of a tapestry, all the world is connected, woven together in a symphony of colour and sound. Therefore, to create art is the most natural activity imaginable, and to appreciate beauty is as essential as breathing air. That is the belief that we of the Weavers’ Guild embody.

We need not look far for examples: beauty abounds in the avian world, especially amongst the weaver birds and songbirds that we so admire. Their nests and hymns inspire us to create ever-greater marvels of artistry, livening up the city with kaleidoscopic hues and resonant tones. Through our work, Arcadiana communicates its legends and its creeds, recording them for all of history.

Are you proficient with the needle, and confident enough to use it for creations of the highest splendour? Then you are the one we are looking for. Muster all your artistic spirit, and join us in the everlasting celebration of beauty.

May we meet you threading the fabric of this world,

The Weavers’ Guild

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LOCKERS

Öwnboss & Bolt ft. Debbiah - Fly Away

HIGHLIGHTS

TOMORROWLAND TODAY

4-6

DREAMVILLE

Preparing for take-off...

7, 21

DAILY WISDOM

Get the latest news from Arcadiana’s most dependable outlet!

10

ANFISA LETYAGO

The fairytale of a meteoric rise through the ranks of techno.

12

TASTES OF THE WORLD

Life tastes better at Tomorrowland!

18

LOVEBIRDS’ STORIES

Falling in love at the Holy Grounds

27

FOCUS

• Matisse & Sadko

• Timetables

• Artist Bios

FIRST AID

No one wants to carry a lot of stuff around on the dance floor and, of course, there is no need to. You can find the locations of the lockers on the floorplan in the app.

ON THE MUSIC

Medical emergency? Look for the ‘First Aid’ signs or find First Aid locations on your floorplan. There is always a doctor with every team. To bring medication onto the grounds you will need a doctor’s certificate.

To all resourceful, problemsolving birds out there,

“We will find the brighter days You don’t even know me It’s all that I can say I’m gonna fly away”

PREPARING FOR TAKE-OFF

At DreamVille, the morning greets campers with a gentle warmth as the sun rises, spilling its molten gold across the horizon and the tranquil scene beneath. Tranquil, you ask? Well, only for a short while, of course, as amidst this peaceful ambiance, campers begin their morning routine, preparing for the day ahead. Before long, the smells of sizzling bacon and freshly prepared food waft through the air and the first sounds of great music wake even the soundest sleepers. Amidst this amiable atmosphere, palpable excitement zips through the air, akin to a flock of birds getting ready for a long journey. DreamVille – we love your wake-up looks!

CAMPSITE JUMPROPE

Lucy from New Zealand and Lachie from Australia are having a sporty little moment at their camping spot this morning. In between beers, they’ve whipped out a rope for a little exercise to start the day. The two met through Lachie’s sister, who travels often. Lachie is even more enthusiastic about it than Lucy. “I have to do this to make up for the beers. See that guy?” he says, pointing at a Hercules-like man walking by. “I’m trying to be like him.” Well, you seem to be on your way, Lachie!

“I

Sharon from Switzerland

“Sub Zero Project rocked my world at the Gathering. I am still shaking. That makes the make-up process kind of difficult, to be honest.” Sharon laughs it off with ease, though. “Maybe

I

just need to get a bit more rest…”

Ludo from Belgium

love to dive into the theme, it just makes me feel in sync with everything that is going on here. It’s really captivating,” Ludo from Belgium says. When asked about the guild he’d like to be a member of, he doesn’t hesitate for a second: “Birdsingers!”

Ed from Australia

“You don’t wake up in DreamVille every day, so I have to get as much out of it as possible. I have so much energy, I need to put it to good use and play some volleyball,” says Ed from Australia. So if you see Ed, challenge him to a game. Loser buys the first round…

Molly & Christa from Ohio, United States

“We had some strong drinks last night, so we need that hair of the dog. That’s what we call the morning-after drink in the US,” Molly tells us. Christa adds: “Our memories are a bit fuzzy – good thing we have Tomorrowland Today to freshen them up again.”

A GAME OF TWISTER

Why should people play a game of Twister with Jaimy from the Netherlands and Victoria from Sweden? “To make new connections, to make new stories, and of course to have fun!” Victoria exclaims. Her prehistoric partner and her met at the Mainstage in 2017, and became a couple. They instantly had a vibe going and they’re now here with a group of Dutch and American friends. The two love to socialise, which the presence of this game makes abundantly clear. “Last year we brought the game as well, and it was so nice to see how it connected people,” Jaimy adds.

Kevin from Colorado, United States

“Okay, this will sound cliché, but I literally woke up like this. I was still wearing my sunglasses from yesterday too.” Kevin ends up noticing one small flaw in his look though. “Damn, still need to comb my beard…” We think it looks magnificent, Kevin!

Tanya from Australia

Tanya’s get-up is starting to come together as we spot her at the make-up artist’s. “I didn’t know what I wanted, but the ladies here read my vibe. Now I just feel like myself.” And you wouldn’t want to feel like anyone else!

“We slept in and now we’re late for our morning shower,” this Brasilian couple says. As they rush away, Danilo yells: “Sorry, we need to hurry if we want to be at the front row for the Daybreak Session!” We understand completely, of course!

Yannick is in the zone when we catch him boxing at the Recovery Area. “It gives me so much confidence. I’m in the Windriders’ Guild, 100%!” Dear fellow Windriders, take Yannick under your wings when you see him on the Holy Grounds!

BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS

“We prefer to eat light in the morning, so we’d rather eat our noodles than some BBQ right now,” Cheng explains when prompted why he’s brought his own stove and pan. “We’ve been exploring some of the food at the DreamVille Marketplace, but we brought our own as well.” Cheng and Zhu, both Chinese, are set to explore the festival grounds after a thorough check of the weather forecasts. They’re keeping an eye on their weather apps to wait for the perfect moment to make a move. What a well-organised pair!

“We cooked some eggs at our tents, but in my opinion every breakfast needs a dessert as well. So I went out for this smoothie!” After this, Dion tells us he’ll be dancing like there’s no tomorrow today. Good thing he charged up with some fresh vitamins…

Shaloom has her friend Alice helping her with her last-minute visual preparations. “We didn’t sleep well, but I still feel blessed. I didn’t know if I’d be allowed to fly here, because I lost my ID. It worked out though. Every day feels like a gift now!”

Dion from the Netherlands

Shaloom & Alice from Italy

Kaoane & Danilo from Brasil

Yannick from France

FIRST, LET’S TAKE A SELFIE

Sure, taking a selfie at the Mainstage or the LED walls of the Freedom stage are essential to your Tomorrowland experience – have you even been to Tomorrowland if you haven’t struck those off your list? But this year, make sure not to stop snapping yet, as a couple of even more pleasing places to take a picture have been added to the festival grounds. Take out your phone, dial in #Tomorrowland, conjure a smile upon your face and take a picture in front of the big golden Tomorrowland letters in between the Rise stage and the CAGE, give your lover a kiss underneath the banners of the Tunnel of Hope located on the One World Bridge, or take a ride through the skies on the Ferris wheel behind the Freedom stage. The real daredevils amongst you might even take a picture kissing the Rose Garden’s dragon – at your own risk, of course! Lights, camera, smile!

THE LEGEND THAT IS MC STRETCH

Never change a winning team, they say, and yet… Tomorrowland’s Mainstage, your beloved festival’s best-known landmark, always looks different. Adscendo’s headquarters don’t resemble the pristine and futuristic white structure which stood at the centre of Tomorrowland in 2022, do they? There’s only been one stable factor throughout the years, someone who never seems to leave the Mainstage, and that’s the ever-friendly, highly energetic and immensely good-hearted young man, MC Stretch. Who is the guy behind this beautiful face? The answer: many things. Whenever he’s not chatting through the mic, you might catch him DJ’ing at small parties across Amsterdam, or he may be hiding in his studio, working on funky tunes of all kinds, which he mostly tops off with his own hyper-energetic vocals. If you’re reading this up there on that enormous stage, Stretch, you know you’re doing the right thing in life – being an MC for Tomorrowland. And reader, should you bump into him, then please always remember to send him our love.

NATHAN GOES NUTS!

One man with the ability to move any crowd. Who would come to mind for such an illustrious description? Tiësto? Armin van Buuren? Martin Garrix, perhaps? Well, we’d like to throw another name into the mix: Nathan of Nathan’s Crazy Dance Moves. This social media sensation, known for his extravagant and outlandish steps, turns and twists, took the hills around the Mainstage by storm yesterday during Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano’s set. While he did start out dancing alone, it didn’t stay that way for all too long. Just a few minutes into the sundown performance, hundreds of people were following Nathan’s every quirky yet intuitive move, creating a flash mob for the ages. Nathan, thank you for showing Tomorrowland that the opportunity to create a party, to create the atmosphere to let loose, always lies in the palm of our hands – we just need to take it.

JOHN NEWMAN’S ESSENTIALS

We all know chart-topping producer John Newman well from his hits ‘Love Me Again’ and ‘Blame’ from years ago, but he has reinvented himself as a DJ who provides his own vocals on stage. He also has a new essential single out on Tomorrowland Music with the one and only Steve Angello: ‘Call Your Name’. Time to find out what is essential to him at Tomorrowland!

What’s essential at Tomorrowland, and what’s the best moment to use it?

“Honestly, I don’t know. Whatever it is, bring it down to the Mainstage on the second weekend on Saturday and watch me perform the biggest performance of my life. I’m very excited for it!”

What song is essential in your set, and why?

“It’s my brand new single with Alesso, ‘Call Your Name’. I can’t wait to see the reaction when I play it at the Tomorrowland Mainstage. Another song

that is totally essential is ‘Hold On To My Love’. I’ve made an amazing endof-show progressive remix of it.”

What’s essential within the group of friends who are joining you at Tomorrowland, and why?

“My group of friends that are joining me at Tomorrowland are all being paid to be there (laughs). It would be amazing to be a full-blown Tomorrowland artist, so then I could see all my friends from my management team, and other friends, at the festival. We’ve been working on this for 3 years and I’m really excited to bring my new era to such a large stage.”

Listen to John Newman’s essential track

‘Call Your Name’ by scanning the code!

GLORIOUS GOTHIC MARVELS

This year’s Mainstage is the embodiment of Arcadiana, the flying city where skilled guildspeople have woven magic into every fiber of its being. With its sky-scraping towers, pointed arches and tumbling waterfalls, it truly makes you feel as if you’re amongst the clouds, with gusts of wind blowing through your feathers. Designed in a mostly late gothic style with hints of renaissance architecture shining through, it combines a design philosophy moved by a sense of discovery and craftsmanship with the eternal might of nature itself. Can you feel the moment of Ascendo nearing?

CRAFTING CLOUD NINE: THE CREATION OF THE MAINSTAGE

As you surely know by now, Arcadiana moves and vibrates around a mighty center, a city with the dancefloor of all dancefloors lying at its feet: the magnificent 2023 Mainstage. With your favourite artists giving it their all under the spread-out wings of the most mystical of all the birds, it might seem like a challenge to focus on all of its intricate detail. But believe us when we say it’s just as easy to get lost in the Mainstage’s magisterial shapes as in the madness just below it. While we have no doubt that it has already captivated you from the moment your eyes were first graced by its glory, a deeper understanding of what it takes to create it will likely only intensify that feeling. So without further ado, let’s dive deep into the creative process behind the place that is home to the biggest bass drops, the brightest fireworks, and the most touching displays of love and unity out there.

THE GREAT LIBRARY

STUDIOS

Has the story of the Mainstage’s creation captured you thus far? Then come on down to the Great Library Studios, located along the big food court behind the Mainstage itself, and discover sketches from the long and meticulous, yet fulfilling and fruitful design process. All the sketches displayed there are available for purchase in very limited numbers. Want to get a print of the final sketch of the Mainstage? Well then, you’d better come down sooner rather than later, because only 20 are available in total. But no matter if you want a piece of Arcadiana history to take home with you or not, a visit to the Great Library Studio is really a must. There is no place where you can dive deeper into the story and all the elements and artifacts of our flying city.

SPLENDOUR IN STATISTICS

Height: 43 meters

Width: 160 meters

740 square meters of LED tiles

1050 lamps

230 speakers & subs

30 lasers, 48 fountains

50 days to build

FROM SKETCH TO SENSATION

Never has the process of designing the Mainstage been more time-consuming. Two years have gone by since the first sketch of the 2023 Mainstage saw the light of day. Since then, a team of in-house artists and modelers has been busy crafting and sculpting every single visible element, inspired by hundreds of concept sketches and artworks by Tomorrowland’s own talented designers. Throughout the creative process, it slowly but surely grew into what it is now: more natural elements were added to the design, the importance of the connection between humans and birds was incorporated, and the flying nature of the stage was distilled into the addition of 12 balloons that make it rise and strive towards the sky beyond –figuratively, of course.

NFISA ETYAGO

Talented, charming and charismatic, Anfisa Letyago rapidly became one of the new stars in the techno firmament. Her musical journey began almost fifteen years ago in her home town of Naples, where she started experimenting with DJ’ing and producing, driven by pure passion and a love for electronic music in the broadest sense. Proving her prowess behind the decks from the get-go, Anfisa has performed around the world alongside some of the biggest names in the game, and today she’s set to write her own name in the story of Tomorrowland, right next to those of her heroes. We had the chance to have a chat with her right after her set at the Mainstage yesterday, where she blasted away the rain and opened up a clear blue sky. “I’m still shaking a bit,” she entrusted us. And so were we.

“If I’m not having any fun, then there’s no point in doing it, is there?”

With a vivid club scene thriving on techno in Naples, electronic music has always been very close to Anfisa, and she touched base with the genre’s many faces early on. “When I was younger I had the opportunity to witness many electronic artists, bringing in sounds from Detroit, New York and the UK – so I had a full treatment of all kinds of music. However the first one I recall that utterly and completely blew me away was Jeff Mills. I remember when he played ‘The Bells’, I was nailed to the ground by that groovy sound, so straight yet so strong and trippy at the same time. I fell in love immediately.” Citing the classic Chicago house and Detroit techno greats as here first and foremost influences, the bare basics of dance music are what got her going in today’s direction, as soon after the Mills encounter, she took her first steps in DJ’ing and producing.

The start of Anfisa’s tale reads like a sort of modern fairytale. “That story actually made me believe that you can never say never,” she explains. “Years ago Carl Cox was playing a show in Sicily. Being a huge fan, I bought tickets to the show, went there and took a USB drive with my own music with me. You never know, right? I waited outside his hotel for five hours under the scorching sun when he finally came out. I stepped up to him, introduced myself and gave him the drive with my music. Luckily he was in a relaxed mood, looked me up and down and just said: wow, you’re so young! Later that night, during his set, I noticed that I knew the music he was playing. He was actually using all those tracks of mine that I just gave him! I mean, it’s such a cool gesture to not only listen to those tracks but also play them. It takes real craftsmanship to incorporate some new music into a set just a couple of hours after you’ve heard it for the first time.” Over the following years, Carl Cox became not only her most fierce supporter, but also a great mentor to Anfisa. “There’s a connection between us that is unique. If I would ever do a back-to-back set, Carl would be my very first choice. You have to be like-minded for that, you have to communicate on a metaphysical level. A set like that is so intimate and requires a certain amount of synergy – Carl and I definitely have that going on.”

Since meeting Carl, life has been a rollercoaster for Anfisa, playing shows all over the world, in

the sweatiest clubs as well as at the biggest festivals. Last year saw her become one of techno’s leading artists, but this year she’s made a resolution to find a better balance: “Last year I played most days for almost three months, which was fun but exhausting. This year I intend to find harmony between hitting the road and having the space to clear my head. Every week I have at least a couple of days to rest and dedicate myself to the studio.” While touring and traveling the globe for shows, she can luckily always rely on her second love: food. “I just love to eat. Eating is my absolute favourite moment to relax. When I travel I look out for some great restaurants or places where you can eat local food. It helps me relax and inspires me at the same time.”

Talking about what inspires her, Anfisa is a true wolverine. Inspiration is everywhere. “As a teenager I used to listen to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Linkin Park, The Prodigy and UK breakbeats. They all have that big fat feeling on stage, you know? They all have that same energy in their music that grabs you by the throat.” Anfisa’s followers may have noticed that she’s been incorporating some trancey sounds in her sets lately. That comes from yet another influence that helped her become the artist she is today: “I just love trance music, as I imagine most people who were born in the eighties or nineties do. It’s so dreamy, yet sometimes a bit creepy, which is what fascinates me. I play techno, and techno can go ‘boom boom’, but when I mix it with some trancey drops it seems as if the music starts to breathe and live. There has to be a dynamic like that or I’ll easily get bored. And music can never be boring.” Anfisa also cites Italian ballet dancer Roberto Bolle as a big influence, drawing a connecting between dance and dance music. “I grew up as a classic dancer, so I can see Roberto is a true maestro, but more than anything he’s fully inside his art. He incorporates different styles and approaches into his work and that’s what makes him one of the greats. That’s actually the very thing that all the great artists have in common: they keep an open mind, they’re not afraid to experiment, they keep evolving and lifting their art to the next level.”

On the production side of things, Anfisa is taking

big steps with her N:S:DA label, releasing work by other artists besides her own traks. She’s always been very productive, but the outcome often depends on the mood or the moment she is in.

“I don’t necessarily come up with tracks with a live environment in mind. During the lockdowns I was at home composing ‘softer’ music, with soothing vocals, because I was so far away from the dancefloor. You work a bit towards what you are feeling at that time or moment. When I go into the studio to finish my tracks, however, I do imagine myself on stage. I’m always having a lot of fun playing, I cannot resist dancing while I’m on stage.

I’ve been criticised for that, though. In the opinion of some older DJs, you cannot mix and dance at the same time… but why not? We have all this technology on our hands that helps us a lot, and I just cannot play without moving. If I’m not having any fun, then there’s no point in doing it, is there?

Dancing helps me get into the vibe, feel the people, hear the people – it keeps me in the rhythm. Even on a rainy day or when I’m feeling a bit off. When I listen to music, my life changes instantly. Music can turn rain into shine.”

“When I listen to music, my life changes instantly. Music can turn rain into shine.”

The marriage between Tomorrowland and great food and drink is one of the longest-standing traditions in the festival’s history. You can score an awesome bite or a surprising drink at every corner – and all the better, since research shows that partying on an empty stomach, or with a dry throat, is about ten times harder compared to dancing when your hunger and thirst are satisfied. This year, the focus is even more on drenching all the food around the grounds in that special Tomorrowland magic, to absorb the People of Tomorrow in the atmosphere as they eat, drink and have a great time altogether.

From the MESA Restaurant in front of the Mainstage, to the MESA Garden, back to Brasa with its lakeside view, you can get yourself gastronomic treats all over the festival. Tomorrowland and food, name a more iconic duo. We’ll wait… But in the meantime, join us on a tour of some of the finest tastes and drinks of the world. The only thing we like better than talking about food is eating it, so here goes.

GOOD FOOD IS PURE BEATY

TASTES OF THE WORLD

COCKTAIL CAROUSEL AT PAPILLON

We’re starting off with an aperitif at Papillon, where we are served the absolute finest cocktails and mocktails by mixologist Paul Morel. However, even the term mixologist doesn’t quite cut it for Morel as he is so much more: he’s a true artist when it comes to tailoring drinks, tastes, scents and sentiments. This is top-shelf craftsmanship, served with a complete experience in the greenhouse-like Papillon pavilion, where you look out on the MESA Garden from one of the tables behind the DJ. We were treated to the Fizzy Margherita – a refreshing mix of frozen tequila, dry Curaçao, lime and citrus soda – followed up with the Horse’s Neck, one of Morel’s personal favourites. It’s a Japanese-inspired drink, a classic whisky and ginger ale highball with a touch of Japanese yuzu citrus and aromatic shiso leaves. This is the perfect start (and probably also finish) to our day.

MORE IS MORE AT MESA

On to MESA, Tomorrowland’s very own restaurant, which is hosted this year by chefs Eric Ivanidis and Marcelo Ballardin from Door73 in Ghent. Located in front of the Mainstage, here you have the most stunning panoramic view over the beating heart of the festival. And if it’s true that half the taste comes from eating with your eyes, then both the outlook over the Mainstage crowd and the stunning dishes are sure to get your saliva flowing. After a welcoming cocktail with a twist of white peach Bellini, Lillet and Umeshu, we’re offered some sharing platters of appetisers. There’s marvelously-looking beetroot tzatziki with pane carasau and the infamous Oyster No Oyster Shot – this one gives the sensation of an oyster without actually having any oyster in it. A stunning main dish with a BBQ shortrib accompanied by some spicy cashewnuts, patatas bravas and aubergine parmigiana follows, but by now we’re already flying away over the Mainstage out of pure joy.

WINE UP AT ARTEVINO

Time for another drink, and as the saying goes: life is too short to drink bad wine. Following Ernest Hemingway, who famously said that his only regret in life was that he didn’t drink more wine – and if you’re just a bit familiar with Hemingway, you understand the severity of that statement – we head back to the MESA Garden for an inbetween at the Artevino booth. Artevino is a collective with a passion for people, wine, and uniting the two. No overpriced hype-winery where marketing dictates everything, but wines that speak for themselves, sourced from familyowned boutique wineries with a sparkling story. The Artevino sommeliers have a huge stock of wines behind them from just about every country in the world – you name it, they serve it. We had a nice Italian Musa Lugana by Buglioni, a white from 2021. It gives a fine florality and juicy citrus combined with an undertone that’s both delicate and deliciously mineral. That glass was followed by a sauvignon blanc from a New Zealand winery called Misty Cove, which was nothing to sneeze at either.

FEEL THE BURN AT BRASA

To end this enchanted food tour with an absolute bang, we head over to Brasa, located in between the Terra Solis and Rise stages. This is a true meat lover’s paradise, powered by legendary Belgian butcher Luc De Laet, who specialises in fine artisan meats and dry-aged beef. The story of De Laet is one of pure metier, terroir, hard work and massive ambition. You can feel the workmanship quite literally, sitting close to the sizzling hot Ofyr barbecues as the flames soar high. This is a story of fire, wood, steel and the best quality meat. The pulled chicken taco with barbecue sauce appetizer was promising, but the real piece de resistance is the main course, a celebration of lacquered brisket of beef and a Belgian blue and white entrecote, with a side of pointed cabbage bathing in smoked beure blanc and jacket potato with stracciatella burrata. Overlooking the lake next to Brasa with a full stomach and taste buds still twinkling with joy, walhalla has never felt closer.

TRANSFORMATION THROUGH SOUND

THE BLESSINGS OF A WRITER’S BLOCK

Sometimes artists seemingly appear out of nowhere. Take Mau P, a tech house producer from Amsterdam. Last year, he was virtually non-existent, and look at him now: he played the grandiose Freedom stage yesterday. It turns out, however, that many of you may have actually listened to Mau’s music before, under his old Maurice West moniker. The difference between the two projects? Maurice West material is the big-room type of EDM, whereas Mau P releases are a little deeper. Want to know how that switch was made? Read on!

You seem to have come out of nowhere, but nothing is what it seems at Tomorrowland. Please tell us your story!

“I’ve been making music for ten years under a different name. My style of producing was vastly different, and the way I approach DJ’ing has also changed a lot. Up until a year ago, I entertained my audience in a very different way – it was a gimmick, really. Now, on the other hand, I may take up to two minutes to meticulously mix one song into the other. That’s a very new thing for me.”

So how did this radical shift in your approach to music come about?

“I’ve always loved techno. The first festival I ever went to was Awakenings. Up until last summer I’d still go to clubs and festivals all the time just to party. As a producer, I was inspired by people like Swedish House Mafia and Skrillex. Things changed last year when I suddenly lost inspiration. Fortunately, that writer’s block turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as it triggered me to start creating the type of music I have now started releasing as Mau P.”

David Guetta and Tiësto have both congratulated you on ‘Drugs from Amsterdam’, the first single as Mau P. Do you feel their support has enhanced your career?

“Totally. They’re really involved in helping the scene forward. They also sent me DMs saying things like: ‘I love that you found your groove!’”

Tomorrowland’s Mainstage MC, Stretch, is featured on the track. How did the collab come about?

“I first recorded the track using my own voice, but that sounded really bad. Someone then suggested I use a British voice and sent me Stretch’s number. He wasn’t interested at first, but that all changed when he heard the track. We only needed one take and the tune was done!”

You’ve very recently released an incredibly epic track with Kevin de Vries on Afterlife. The moment of creation must have been quite magical?

“For that one, I used an old trance melody and turned it into a modern production. There was a certain moment when I felt it was all coming into place and that was indeed magical. Kevin is an experienced producer of melodic techno, so he kept rearranging it until he was sure that DJs within the genre would play it.”

It’s your very first time playing here at Tomorrowland. How do you feel about it?

“I actually did play here before, but on a smaller stage, and under my old name Maurice West. I’m very thrilled to be back with my new music. Everyone keeps tabs on what happens at Tomorrowland, so it’s a huge honour to be invited to play here.”

Adscendo is a story partly about birds. What kind of bird would you like to be?

“A tropical one. I often see green and yellow birds near my house, rose-ringed parakeets which at some point escaped from captivity and then settled in Dutch cities. I love those stunning creatures!”

Kyle Jan

England

Kyle (29) and Emma (28) from London both work for the same department store. “I’m work at the marketing department and she works as a designer,” says Kyle. “And then she popped up on Tinder… ‘I saw you at the office’, was my first message. Well, here we are, this is our honeymoon!”

Miranda

Leon

Hong Kong / China

The Netherlands

Jan (23) and Henriette (24) are lazily watching the opening ceremony unfold. With fireworks, heavy tunes and a waterfall as their backdrop, the two are still trying to understand the reality of Tomorrowland. “Once the party is over here, we’ll party some more with our mates at the Friendship Garden part of the campsite,” says

“You won’t believe this,” says Miranda (30), “but we actually met at Tomorrowland Winter earlier this year. I live in Hong Kong and Leon lives in Shanghai. These two cities are miles away, but we still manage to see each other all the time. It’s only 24 hours ago that we decided to come here. We landed just a couple of hours ago. Why I wasn’t sure whether to do this or not? Well, I just started a new job and to take a few days off right away is quite something. But it’s Tomorrowland after all, right?”

BIRDS OF A FEATHER,

Erno Steve

Emma Henriette Cher Bram

The Netherlands Belgium

Erno (46) and Cher (30) from Amsterdam got to know each other online. Erno: “We decided to go for a drink together and magic happened right away between us.” Cher, however, is eager to whisk him away: “We don’t normally go out together much, so we’ve got to go now and make the most of it on the dancefloor!”

Flemish couple Bram (32) and Steve (46) have been in an exclusive relationship for eight years. Bram: “I arrived at a club in Brussels at about 4 a.m. when he was about to go home. We swapped numbers, and look at us now: we are still dancing to the harder sounds of techno together.”

Cloquette (34) contacted Riham (26) via Instagram after she’d spotted him in a friend’s story, filmed at Tomorrowland. “He happened to get in touch with me after,” says Riham. “I told him right away that if he’d take me to Tomorrowland, we might get married one day. That hasn’t happened yet, but I’m hoping he might

USA

Pree (24) and Sara (24) were in the same fraternity at Berkely University. “Unfortunately, we’ve been friends ever since,” says Pree. “We’ve gone through so much together. I once helped Sara, well, empty her stomach at a friend’s party. I now live in New York and she’s still in California. Despite all of the unfortunate things that happened we still try to see each other every month.”

Mario

The Netherlands

Such bronzed lover birds you never did see, and Naomi (24) and Mario (26) find common ground in being a really cheeky bunch. “What would you do if I just ran off with this bird?” says Naomi. “What would happen if it just really feels the urge to fly away from Adscendo? How would you ever get it back?”

Priscilla Marcus

Belgium Belgium Germany

Riham Sara Nicolas Sara

ALWAYS TOGETHER!

After all of those years together, happily married Belgian couple Priscilla (33) and Nicolas (37) still get a heartfelt smile on their faces when they tell the story of when they first met. “Priscilla is a midwife and I’m a children’s doctor at the same hospital,” says Nicolas. “How did we get together romantically? We went to a bar in Mons, where we live. I asked her on a date, but she was the one who kissed me first.”

Sara (24) and Marcus (27) met at a university party in Munich at the start of the semester. “I was talking to a friend,” says Sara. “Marcus just ‘happened’ to stand next to me. ‘You look familiar’, he said, and one thing led to another.” Marcus is happy to explore Tomorrowland together: “We’ve only been to a local festival in Munich, so this is our first time at a big one!”

“Everybody wants to see everyone happy. I’ve never been in a place where everyone looks out for each other like this.”

PEOPLE OF TOMORROW

“I’m no creative myself, but I want to be a walking canvas for artists to show their art.”

Michal (24), Israël

Dom (28), UK

LIVE FROM THE HOLY GROUNDS

All eyes are on the Holy Grounds this weekend – thanks to the comprehensive Tomorrowland Livestream, brought to you by One World TV! Capturing the magic on both the Mainstage and the Freedom stage, the broadcast will no doubt reach millions of people worldwide again this weekend, and make this celebration a global phenomenon. Make sure your friends and family are watching the livestream so they can spot you and your fellow People of Tomorrow explore Arcadiana together. Want to check out a set you weren’t able to attend as the magic unfolded? Not to worry! Many of the sets that were broadcast live will be shown again early next week as One World TV counts down to the next weekend of Tomorrowland. You’ll also be able to enjoy additional sets from the Crystal Garden, Atmosphere, CORE and The Library. More Tomorrowland fun for everybody!

APP-TASTIC

At Tomorrowland, there’s so much to discover, so many places to spread your wings and build your nest. Don’t fret, though – accessing all information regarding this wonderful festival is easy peasy, lemon-squeezy, with the official festival app!

Use the Line Up function, for instance, to come up with your perfect Tomorrowland must-see list, and make sure you not to miss any of the artists you have been dying to see for so long. Want to see what’s going on at any given moment? Just check out the Schedule feature and decide what’s next for you. Thanks to the incredibly detailed map, you can discover Arcadiana from its lowest valleys to its highest peaks without missing any of the countless food options, experiences and stages this city has in store for you. And last but not least, the app will help you find all the lastest minute-by-minute information so you’re in the know about everything that’s going on around here. What are you waiting for?

WISDOM

RECYCLE HERE AND EVERYWHERE

You surely can’t have missed them: the proud wearers of the Recycle Backpacks, who make it ever so easy to recycle your used cans and bottles. Of course they look amazing, but what exactly is going on here? The Recycle Backpack Initiative was started by Love Tomorrow, Tomorrowland’s sustainability initiative, and it was conceived to turn recycling into a seamless and fun experience. More than 70 volunteers dance through the crowds not only to collect waste, but also to remind everyone to be mindful about the waste they produce. By doing this, not only is the amount of litter on the ground greatly reduced; it’s also a way to start a conversation about recycling and how we can all play our part. So next time you don’t know what to do with your empty drink, put it in the nearest Recycle Backpack! There might be one dancing just next to you…

HEAR IT, WEAR IT

Martin Garrix’s music label STMPD RCRDS is back with another collaborative EP with Tomorrowland Music, and the new release comes with an exclusive collection of clothing. The STMPD x TML Music EP is out now on all platforms, and contains tracks by Martin Garrix, Matisse & Sadko, Julian Jordan, Sentinel, Fancy Inc and Goodboys. The accompanying Limited Edition Capsule Collection contains 2 shirts and 1 hoodie, and is available for purchase now at the Official Tomorrowland Stores. The merchandise will be available online, but for those eager to rock the freshest gear right away, be sure to hit the shops during the weekend! Don’t sleep – get it now and flaunt your style.

PLANT TREES WHILE YOU PAY

Bonzai may be a world-famous Tomorrowland-associated record label, but this weekend, you’ll also be encountering Bonsai, a brandnew payment application. The app has fast become a widely accepted method of payment. It is, for example, very easy to use it to exchange euros for Pearls, Tomorrowland’s official currency. Of course, Bonsai wouldn’t live up to their name if they didn’t care for trees. For every ten payments made by one person, a tree is automatically planted and added to an official Tomorrowland forest. That means you can live your life, do your thing, feel good, dance, rave… all while helping Bonsai reach their goal of planting as many as 100.000 trees. Caring for the environment and reducing global CO2 was never this easy. Ready to pay, plant and party? Visit tomorrowland.paybonsai.com to find out more.

WHERE CAN I FIND THIS NEWSPAPER?

SHADES DOWN, SMILES UP!

ADSCENDO, ARISE!

The story of Adscendo is also the story of Ro, Ameris, Tomas, and their mythical winged friends – the main characters in ‘The Rise of Adscendo’, the first ever full-length Tomorrowland novel, which records the events leading up to Arcadiana’s present society. This weekend, every day, we reveal a few pages of the book’s first chapter. If you want to experience the whole epic story – all 374 pages of it – the second printing of the book can be ordered through the online or onsite Tomorrowland Store, while copies last. And rumour has it this is only the first of many Tomorrowland Tales…

Part 3/4

CHAPTER ONE

The debris had torn through the material of the envelope, destroying the air valve so the whole thing had just dropped out of the sky. Then it had pulverised the gondola underneath. The balloon had come down in a tangle of material and wood, spewing its cargo and passengers across the plain beneath.

The medics triaged survivors and arranged airlift to the nearest infirmary, where the Birdsingers specialised in healing would help with the more serious injuries. Then there wasn’t much left to do.

With every crash, every earthquake, every flood event, every catastrophe on the islands, the Windriders were called to the scene to pick up the pieces as best they could.

It was a thankless task.

They catalogued the dead, removed the bodies in much the same way as the living, although with less urgency.

The members of Ro’s crew were soon the only ones who remained. They searched through the wreckage, matching items found to inventory so that it wasn’t just spirited away by any Guildless who might happen upon the scene. They were notorious for picking through crash sites, often despatching survivors to cover their tracks. Another reason why it was so critical to reach them in time. And why the Windguards went in first.

Sometimes, the rumours went, the Guildless would cause accidents in the first place, just for looting opportunities.

But now all that was left was inventory.

Ro kept her head down and helped haul the remains of cargo and belongings from the broken balloon, prepping it for transport and ignoring the fact that the others barely included her in conversation

beyond the necessary. If she wasn’t used to it by now, when would she be?

One broken box spilled out a selection of tapestries, the colours so bright and beautiful that she couldn’t help but pause to look at them. They were master works of the Weavers’ art. She reached out to stroke the soft threads and unrolled one on the ground to get a better look.

The bird portrayed there was like nothing she had ever seen in real life. It was the blue of a cloudless sky, its wings splayed wide as it came in to land on top of a waterwheel. Its long tail split in two, a huge V with trailing feathers on either side, just like the symbol of the Birdsingers’ Guild. It glimmered with golden threads and the eyes glittered in the sunlight. They were little pieces of amber, she realised, stitched into the embroidery. It looked as if, at any moment, it would rouse itself from its world of thread and stitches, and take off, soaring high above them all.

A Golden Auric, one of the most beautiful depictions of one she had ever seen. The myth of the great birds who lived on the furthest of the soaring isles, the High Eyrie, was one every Windrider grew up hearing. So did everyone in her world, she supposed.

Ro had dreamed of them all her life, but never seen them. No one had except fools and liars. The stories said they were the children of Amare, birds of legend, creatures formed of magic and joy.

Even when she was little, before her brothers left, before her parents died, especially back then, when she still had hopes and a future, when she still believed in stories, she had dreamed of them, dreamed of flying alongside such beautiful creatures. Silly fantasies perhaps, but they had shaped everything. All her life, those dreams had been so real.

To be continued...

FOCUS ON THE MUSIC

HEAR THE SINGING OF THE BIRDS

STAGE HOSTINGS

SATURDAY 22 JULY RISE

GLITTERBOX

Specializing in the golden age of disco, contemporary house, and big club anthems, Glitterbox has been a nightlife phenomenon since its conception in 2014. Founded by Simon Dunmore of Defected Records, they have generated an inclusive, uplifting party atmosphere designed to unite all ages, persuasions and walks of life on the dancefloor. Bringing the Ibiza classics to Tomorrowland this year are allround legends Groove Armada, house music allstar Todd Terry and funkmeister Mousse T. Prepare for a party where everyone is smiling, hugging and moving to classic house and disco, for Glitterbox boldly declared, “Let there be house!” and house music was born (again).

SATURDAY 22 JULY ELIXIR

LONELY AT THE TAP BY FEESTDJRUUD

In the Netherlands, there is only one DJ who is synonymous with ‘party’: FeestDJRuud. ‘Feest’ means ‘party’, after all! This legendary DJ and producer rose to fame with his 2012 single ‘Gas op die Lollie’, and solidified himself as the party animal of party animals, releasing dance hit after dance hit and building a reputation for making any floor explode. Every track he has ever put out has partying as its central theme, so we know exactly what to expect from his ‘Lonely at the Tap’ hosting at the Elixir stage. Expect FeestDJRuud and his DJ friends all day, playing party anthems in all styles and flavours, confetti, inflatable animals, and more. May the party be with you!

SATURDAY 22 JULY CORE

PRESENTS ZAMNA

Zamna stands for an immersive electronic experience rooted in the mythical Tulum jungle, and it has brought together musicians and dancers to create synergies through the force of sound. Driven by Mayan deity Itzamna’s pulse, the Zamna community keeps growing as a meeting point, a worldwide compass for thousands of fans of primordial rhythms and atmospheric soundscapes. Their approach is one of combining a unique blend of rave with a paradisiacal environment surrounded by vegetation, palm trees and a cenote. And this, of course, is perfectly compatible with the beautiful forest corner that CORE calls home at Tomorrowland.

The birds of Arcadiana sing loudly from many different nooks and crannies. Every day, we explore three of them here, telling you about what sort of song to expect at which stage.

RAVE CAVE

DAYBREAK SESSIONS

LAIDBACK LUKE PRESENTS WAYBACK LUKE

MAINSTAGE | 12:00

A huge soundsystem, plenty of space to ease peacefully into the day or jump around as you like, and one of the most knowledgeable and skilful DJs on the planet to provide you with the soundtrack... that’s today’s Daybreak Session with Laidback Luke for you. Laidback Luke’s love for electronic music goes a long way back, and he’s kind enough to teach us a little rave lesson today at Tomorrowland’s magical Mainstage.

Probably the most admired EDM DJ among underground music heads, there’s a reason for the peculiar position between the mainstream and indie scenes that Laidback Luke holds. He first started getting into dance music during the early nineties when various genres of electronic music including techno, trance and house were championed at the very same raves. The sounds soon started to become associated with different scenes and fan bases with widely diverging lifestyles and views on life. Not a fan of these pigeonholing practices, Luke never lost the old, versatile approach to loving and playing music, so when EDM came along, he also embraced the grandness of that sound. Due to his extensive musical knowledge, Laidback Luke’s sets are stuffed with goodies from all genres and eras, with various intensities and tempos. Too experienced to be bothered about going with the latest trends for the sake of it, Luke plays whatever he sees fit. Luke’s love for electronic music is stronger than ever, and that’s why this performance is set to be a one-of-a-kind Daybreak Session that is not to be missed.

THE ROSE GARDEN

RISE BY

Q-DANCE

WARRIOR WORKOUT

MAINSTAGE | 14:45

CRYSTAL GARDEN

Do you believe dancing to hardstyle is the perfect way to keep your body in shape? Then we’ve got some great news for you: Q-dance is bringing its infamous Warrior Workout to Tomorrowland. Head to the Mainstage at 14:45 on Saturday and prepare to sweat your pants off to the sweet and distorted sound of the hottest new hardstyle tunes. And gym rats beware – all of this is going down under the professional guidance of a music freak who also happens to be a personal trainer.

THE LIBRARY

STMPD RCRDS X TOMORROWLAND MUSIC

TERRA

MOOSE BAR

MARTIN GARRIX AND FRIENDS

THE

atisse & adko

There is something very precious about brotherly love, and what better way to celebrate it than to make music together? This is what the brothers Aleksandr and Yury Parkhomenko, aka Matisse & Sadko, get to do every single day. Way back when, while little Alexandr dreamt of being a rockstar, Yury wanted to be a rapper. Is it fair to say that together they met somewhat in the middle? At any rate, stars they did become, particularly in the eyes of progressive house fans around the world. Let’s hear what they’ve got to say about evolution in electronic music, their collaborations with Martin Garrix, and the greatest festival of all: Tomorrowland.

Can you tell us a little about how the love for music developed between the two of you, being brothers?

“Aleksandr taught himself to play the guitar, and was a fan of Nirvana-type grunge music. Yury wanted to be a rap artist and actively wrote beats and lyrics and sang. Everything turned upside down the moment we got acquainted with rave culture and electronic music. We saw some videos from Thunderdome, Love Parade and MAYDAY and that changed our lives forever. We managed to work as DJs in various clubs, hosted dance radio shows, and toured many cities as two separate artists. It was only several years later that we decided to unite into a common project and Matisse & Sadko was born. One of our first joint performances was our warmup set before Tiësto’s show in 2010. It was for this event that we wrote our first track, ‘Hi Scandinavia’. Off the back of that track followed an invitation to perform at Sensation White, and from that moment we started to live the life of real musicians.”

motivate people, to give them life energy. After our first tours together we wrote a lot of good music with him. Over the past nine years, we have always been in touch, we celebrate holidays together, we consult each other about new music, and so on.”

How important are vocalists for the music you make?

“Before, we didn’t pay much attention to the vocal side and made a lot of instrumental music, using solo melodies instead of lyrics. But now we understand that a fruitful cooperation with vocalists takes music to another level. Firstly, it helps you to broaden your audience, as the song may get played on the radio. Secondly, there is nothing more pleasant than people knowing the words to your song and singing along during your set.”

The music as we hear it at large electronic festivals keeps changing. We now hear more techno influences than ten years ago, for example. Where do you see the sound going in the next few years?

interesting and there’s a chance for something new to come out. We think, for example, that darker music should be replaced by lighter music.”

You guys joined Tomorrowland’s Remember the Name platform as musical talents. What was it like for you to take part in it?

You’ve collaborated quite a bit with Martin Garrix over the years. Can you tell us about that?

How did it start and how did it develop?

“We were featured on the same line-up back in 2014 and he arrived in advance to hear our performance. We then had a long talk, and two days later, we were exchanging ideas for our first collab. Martijn has a very special energy, he knows how to inspire and

“It’s true, every few years the music changes. Sometimes it’s due to the appearance of a monster hit with a new interesting sound, and sometimes the appearance of a new synth can affect a change in the mainstream sound. The fact of the matter is, it’s essentially a cyclical process, and now we’re back to the sound of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Techno is leading the way, it’s trendy and cool. Many producers are trying to use analog underground sounds in their productions and some are changing their name and style altogether. We think that when there’s too much of one genre in the market and everybody’s playing the same thing, it becomes less

“We were very grateful for the invitation to the project, and it has been a valuable and unique experience for us. Everything is happening in a positive, friendly and creative atmosphere. And it’s all thanks to the well-coordinated and professional work of the Tomorrowland team, as well as our new super-talented friends Claudio, Nagehan and Shabnam. What inspired us the most was working on the new track, where we used voice clips from people from all over the world. It felt like hundreds of people were involved in the creation of one song at the same time. In this track we tried to convey all our inspiration and love to our listeners, as well as using music as a universal language, a language with the power to unite people and give them unforgettable emotions.”

What’s been your favourite Tomorrowland moment throughout the years?

“There was a number of such moments! First of all, when Tomorrowland used our remix of M-3ox ft. Heidrun - ‘Beating of My Heart’ as the title track on the Tomorrowland 2012 aftermovie. It was amazing. We still remember those emotions. And secondly, our first Mainstage performance. To be as nervous as we were, but so happy at the same time… It was such a vivid and memorable moment.”

“Music has the power to unite people and give them unforgettable emotions.”

FOCUS ON SATURDAY INCREDIBLE

REINIER ZONNEVELD

ATMOSPHERE | 23:30 - 01:00

Reinier Zonneveld, aka the Dutch king of heavy-duty acid techno, has fast become one of the most in-demand artists within the genre. Originally a bedroom producer like any other electronic music geek, Reinier spent years studying piano before he acquainted himself with the rave scene. Too wild for traditional concert halls, Reinier realised he felt more at ease at illegal raves. Following this life-changing discovery, he spent most of his student allowance on synthesizers. And the rest is history… Reinier has now collaborated with household names of all sorts, including Carl Cox, Angerfist, Speedy J and Armin van Buuren. His exquisite music taste, extraordinary performance skills and likeable personality have taken his career to an unprecedented level. Techno heads and general music fans alike have incorporated his slogans – most famously, ‘karren maar’ – into their day-to-day lives. Reinier’s label Filth on Acid, meanwhile, has blossomed into a noteworthy source of great music by himself as well as lots of peers. Highlights on the imprint include ‘Amnesiac’ by Slovenian techno legend Umek, CJ Bolland’s ‘The Return’, ‘This is Our Time’ – a collaborative project with Carl Cox and Christopher Coe – and an official Reinier Zonneveld mix of Jones & Stephenson’s classic, ‘First Rebirth’. Just halfway into 2023, we’ve already seen two incredible collabs on the label: ‘Samsara’ (Reinier Zonneveld X HI-LO) and ‘Keine Liebe, Kein Rave’ (Renier Zonneveld X Kiki Solvej). Give them both a spin in the morning, so you can hum along to them once they come on! With an energetic and colourful stage presence unlike anyone else on the scene, Reinier’s set today will be heaven for the dancefloor animals among you, as well as a great introduction for anyone looking to be introduced to the acid techno genre.

INDIRA PAGANOTTO

ATMOSPHERE | 21:30 - 23:30

Born in 1992, Indira Paganotto has a father who is, like herself, a raver. He gave his daughter a great eclectic musical upbringing, with lots of disco, jazz, acid house and psytrance to listen to. Eclecticism is still a big part of what Indira does sonically, as she effortlessly switches between techno and the thumping beats of psytrance. Charlotte de Witte is one of Indira’s most famous supporters and that has paid off: she’s accompanied Charlotte around the world to play at the acclaimed KNTXT events. The genres of techno and pystrance are both hotter than ever, and there is hardly an ambassador who blends the two with more love and passion than Indira Paganotto.

AFROJACK

MAINSTAGE | 21:30 - 22:30

Consistently ranked as a global top DJ since 2010, Afrojack was nicknamed the King of Dutch house by his peers early on in his career. From 2018, Afrojack moved away from this particular strand of electro house to become an allround producer specialising in EDM hits, but also in techno and catchy house. Afrojack has collaborated with crossover artists such as Pitbull, David Guetta and Ne-Yo, and had major successes with songs like ‘Take Over Control’, ‘Ten Feet Tall’ an ‘Hey’. On stage, Afrojack is a skilled entertainer, keen to hype up the crowd with his versatile approach to dance music.

AMBER BROOS

MAINSTAGE | 19:25 - 20:25

20-year-old Belgian DJ and One World Radio resident Amber Broos has quickly become one of the hottest sensations in the electronic music scene. Having picked up her skills from her DJ school-owning dad, she is now ready to make her debut on Tomorrowland’s legendary Mainstage. Her unique style holds the middle ground between techno, house, club and the kind of ‘90s-inspired retro-rave that only the Belgians know how to do. Amber Broos recently unveiled her debut single ‘Amok’ on Tomorrowland Music, a clap-heavy techno anthem that is well suited to the largest of all dancefloors. Drawing inspiration from the Bonzai Records catalogue in her productions, we know Amber is going to a big name. Fans of Charlotte de Witte and Amelie Lens, make sure not to miss out on this set!

What on Earth are those beautiful sounds emanating from unexplored corners of Arcadiana, you ask? As it happens, a key skill in our flying city’s world of sound is the ability to recognise any bird by ear. To help you identify and sing along to all those wonderful kinds of song, we help you get started with one style of music everyday – and there’s no tomorrow without yesterday, so today we dive into rave music history with Bonzai.

SING LIKE A BIRD BONZAI

A record label that becomes a music style of itself: it’s rarer than it sounds. Cast your mind back to 1992, when in a small corner of the Blitz Record Store in Antwerp, Christiaan ‘Fly’ Pieters was on the verge of creating a record label that would take the world by storm. He wanted to create a place for DJs and crate diggers to not only find new records, but to release and record their own music, which would ultimately be distributed all over the world and put Belgium on the map as leaders in the rave scene. Bonzai Records was born.

Literally hundreds of releases followed, success came fast, and various sublabels were formed to cater for the different genres on offer from the multitude of artists queueing up to be signed, to be part of the Bonzai momentum. Bonzai stands for a blend of what is now known as trance and hardcore, with some psychedelic soundscapes sprinkled on top; and what we now have difficulty describing in contemporary terms made perfect sense in its day, when electronic music wasn’t so ‘genrefied’ yet.

Even today, some of the biggest names in electronic music explicitly cite how much of their present success they owe to Bonzai Records. Some of the big names coming out of the immensely creative pool of talent were Yves Deruyter, DJ Ghost, Franky Jones and Jan Vervloet, who soon dominated the rave scene, bringing with them this fresh new sound which they pioneered.

Throughout the nineties and into the early 2000s, the Bonzai brand was responsible for defining an era and bringing to life new genres of music. They were at the forefront of the trance explosion and lifted the acid techno scene right into the new millennium. So there you have it: a small company of like-minded souls that defied all marketing logic and stood the test of time, going back to the future at Tomorrowland with a retro sound that nevertheless feels fresher than ever.

ÖWNBOSS PAUL KALKBRENNER

CRYSTAL GARDEN | 22:00 - 23:00

Listed by One World Radio as one of the twenty most promising artists of 2022, Brazilian producer Eduardo Zaniolo aka Öwnboss loves his rhythm and bass and nowhere is this more audible than in his own productions. The aptly named ‘Move Your Body’ rocked global dancefloors in that same year and we can’t imagine Eduardo not playing the banging tune for you during today’s romp in the Crystal Garden. He is also an avid remixer, with reworks of Tiësto’s ‘The Motto’ and David Guetta ‘Crazy What Love Can Do’ being some highlights of his recent output. Being his own boss, it is his own remixes that Eduardo loves playing out to crowds the most. You’d better be ready for them!

THE LIBRARY | 21:30 - 23:30

Paul Kalkbrenner was playing live techno sets when that was still an unusual thing to do, and it still defines his approach to performing today. By not taking any DJ bookings, Paul feels he’s able to fully concentrate on what is most important for him as an artist: his own production work. “One of the biggest advantages of not DJ’ing is that I don’t have to keep up to date with the latest music,” is what he told Tomorrowland Today about this before. With all of the music coming straight from Paul’s heart, you can feel the soul and emotion in every single beat and melody – live sets by Paul Kalkbrenner are one of a kind.

TALE OF US TODD TERRY

FREEDOM | 22:30 - 00:30

Berlin-based duo Tale of Us have slowly but surely crafted an incredible career around their deeply emotional strand of pulsating, hypnotising techno. Citing artists as diverse as krautrock legend Holger Czukay, neo-jazz group Cinematic Orchestra and Italian singer Paolo Conte as their influences, Carmine Conte and Matteo Milleri approach their own music from lots of different angles. Having initially released on world-famous techno labels such as M_nus and R&S, they are now most widely known for ruling their very own sonic imperium. Their imprint Afterlife, hosting the Freedom stage today, has become the go-to place for anyone looking for new cutting-edge music for the spaced-out dance floor.

RISE | 19:30 - 21:00

One of the very first artists to do so, New York producer Todd Terry took house out of its niche bubble and blended the high-energy sound with hiphop breaks, leading to his having some commercial successes outside of the underground as early as the late 1980s. Todd has always kept in touch with both the leftfield sound of house music as well as the pop music scene, having remixed Michael Jackson’s ‘Stranger in Moscow’, as well as ‘Missing’ by Everything But the Girl. On stage, Todd puts his diverse musical background to use by delivering energetic, eclectic club sets with enough catchiness in them for everyone to have a great time.

“THE LANGUAGE OF THE FEATHERED ONES: MUSIC FOR THE HEART, BALM FOR THE SOUL.”

LET’S FLY FURTHER INTO UNITY!