Photo: Nocturnal Wonderland
SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA — Nocturnal Wonderland, the 21-year running music festival outside of Los Angeles, covers pretty much every genre of EDM. Progressive house, trance, deep house, dubstep, future bass, trap, hardstyle, and every subgenre in-between. In the end, the Nocturnal Wonderland 2016 lineup is expansive featuring 3LAU, Audien, Above & Beyond, Big Gigantic, Alison Wonderland, and more!
What about the artists that cannot be classified? This is what excites many people, and this is what you can find at Nocturnal Wonderland. Here’s 10 artists that defy the laws of EDM, who are always pushing boundaries and creating unique styles through their innovation. Get ready y’all, #TheEnergyAwaits.
1. Mat Zo
Grammy-nominated British producer, Mat Zo, is an extremely versatile artist who can produce any type of electronic music. Since the beginning of his musical career, he has literally covered dozens of genres like Drum n’ Bass, Electro, Dubstep, Progressive House, and so many more. His newest album, Self Assemble, takes you from the most uplifting melodic tunes to the dirtiest of drops. The concept of the album comes from Mat Zo’s frustration with being boxed within the EDM genre. It makes sense that some of Mat Zo’s newest songs may just be unclassifiable.
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2. Giraffage
Giraffage is a great artist to see live. His music is fun, experimental, and exploratory. Some of the genres listed on Giraffage’s SoundCloud include #IDK, #</3, and #hehe. His glitchy music really can’t be categorized beyond electronic. You just have to hear it to understand.
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3. Bassnectar
Does this man really even need an introduction? Bassnectar is one of the biggest “EDM” names out there. His sound just cannot be replicated and this is perhaps why he has become one of the most highly demanded producers in the festival circuit. Experimentation has always been key to his music, and his amorphous music has never really fit into just one genre, or any for that matter.
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4. Black Tiger Sex Machine
BTSM describes themselves as Electro and Dubstep, but their music goes so far beyond either. Their intense musical journeys are a true delight to see live, because the sound is so raw that you can’t help from bursting with emotion. Even if they technically fall under pre-defined genres, they are certainly pushing the boundaries within electro and dubstep.
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5. Odesza
Odesza was just recently added to the Nocturnal Wonderland lineup when DJ Snake could no longer perform at the festival. Although Odesza can be considered mainstream at this point, they have always been experimental from the beginning. They were pioneers of their sound, and they still continue to expand their genre horizons while staying true to their original chill wave sound.
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6. starRo
Like Giraffage, starRo is another glitchy artist who makes whimsical beats you can dance to. I find the music weird, in the best of ways. His music is something that will make you laugh, but sound amazing at the same time. starRo categorizes his song above, Milk, as Mario-Hop. Definitely something new and worth hearing live.
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7. Âme
The DJ/production duo Âme, comprised of Kristian Beyer and Frank Wiedemann, have always been versatile in their music and always innovated towards something new. Every time they compose a new song, they aim to create something that doesn’t replicate what’s already been done. Âme’s diverse musical creations are so conceptually magnificent that they push beyond the imagination of most EDM enthusiasts.
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8. Coyote Kisses
Forward thinking electronic group Coyote Kisses is always pushing their production into uncharted territories. Their complex layered melodic style has pushed them to go viral over the past couple of years. Their truly unique sound will be a treat to hear at Nocturnal Wonderland, and personally it’s who I’m most excited to see.
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9. Gryffin
Multi-instrumentalist and producer Gryffin has developed his own melody-rich style by blending elements of indie, dance, and house into a tasteful fusion. Floating between #CloudHouse and #IndieDance on his SoundCloud, Gryffin has a spacey, nostalgic sound that hits the harp strings of the heart. Capturing the essence of Gryffin’s work involves his instrumental and electronic live performances, which you will be able to enjoy at Nocturnal Wonderland.
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10. Bonnie X Clyde
BxC brings together the best of multiple worlds. With future bass drops, trance vocals, and trap high hats and samples, Bonnie X Clyde has truly created their own style. Now dubbed “Vocal Bass,” their music has reached far and wide to inspire many producers around.
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There’s a lot more artists to explore at Nocturnal Wonderland, especially ones that don’t quite follow the rules of any one sub-genre of electronic music. If you don’t want to miss out on the genre-bending action, you can still get your 3-day GA tickets for $284 + Fees. Single-day GA, camping, and VIP options are also available.
General Admission + VIP on sale now. Visit the official Nocturnal Wonderland website (link) for more information.
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Written by: Colin Eldridge
