LISTEN TO HIS GUEST MIX HERE St.Ephen draws crowds into the heart of Dallas nightlife. Born in the city and now based in Arlington, the DJ has carved out a place in the DFW electronic circuit with sets that shake both underground venues and festival stages. Over the past year, he has held a residency at The Blade Rave  and appeared on lineups for Drifted Fest , Sunset Sessions , and DnB Sessions  - each performance expanding his footprint across the metroplex. Now, in 2025, he stands at a new threshold: producing original tracks and remixes stamped in his city’s imprint while reaching for bigger stages. Rooted in family, rhythm, and a love for live music in all its forms, he treats networking and community-building as inseparable from the art itself. Photo Credit: Zach Burns Crowds first recognized St.Ephen’s name under the strobes of The Blade Rave, where his residency let him return weekend after weekend to refine the pulse of his sound. At Drifted Fest, low-end rattled the floorboards, while Sunset Sessions   had him weaving shimmering house through the glow of a Dallas skyline at dusk. These nights introduced him to pockets of the underground eager for exactly his blend of energy and melody.  “The experiences help me find the signature sound I want to be known for,” St.Ephen says. “Getting into the DFW EDM scene, I had to start with house music. The plan was always to move into techno and trance, as well, so that I could play with my preferred sounds. Getting the chance to play these shows and festivals helped me connect with the audience I want.”  Photo Credit: Jess Baroness Every set St.Ephen builds runs like a story without words - beats rising like dialogue, drops hitting like revelations, melodies lingering like the final scene - his compass points to melodic house and techno, the place where everything he loves intersects. “I fell in love with techno in the ‘90s and trance in the 2000s. I grew up around house music all my life,” he says. “Melodic house and techno blends those three elements into a progressive, driving sound that gives me chills every time. When I craft a set, I want people to dance, but also to feel the music. If the crowd connects to that emotion, I’ve done my job as a DJ.”  That instinct to stir emotions started long before the club. St.Ephen’s Mother sang on the Tejano circuit, and he remembers watching her transform a room with a glance or a raised hand. “Growing up with a Mom who had stage presence helped me overcome stage fright,” he says. “I grew up with rhythm because I was always listening to music. Connecting with an audience was harder - I had to learn from DJ peers that we’re performers now, not just hidden behind a booth. When you engage the crowd, you can make memories.” A self-described festival junkie, St.Ephen devours live music in every form. He lingers at side stages where unknown DJs push risky mixes, and studies how strangers react when a drop blindsides them. “Coming back from a festival always helps me reset my mindset as a DJ,” he says. “Seeing new songs and artists play to a live crowd and watching reactions gives me ideas for how I can do the same, but in my own style. Lately, I’ve returned from festivals with new ways to blend my music and fresh ideas for engaging the crowd.”  For newcomers eyeing Dallas’ crowded DJ calendar, St.Ephen urges everyone to show up. That means stepping into the clubs, shaking hands with promoters, and staying to observe how other DJs move a room. In an age where SoundCloud links and Instagram reels flood inboxes, he insists nothing replaces the weight of in-person connection. Online promotion might get your name seen, but bookings happen when people remember your face.  “Open decks and meeting promoters are the best ways to get your sound heard by the people who book,” he says. “It adds a personal touch when a promoter actually meets you. They can see how you work with the crowd and how you perform behind the decks. For me, going to open decks and meeting promoters eventually led to bookings that happened organically.”  St.Ephen talks about the future with the same urgency he brings to the booth. He wants a sound marked with his fingerprints: the trance swells of the 2000s, the percussive punch of the house music that raised him, and the dark edge of the ‘90s techno that first hooked him. While he dreams of stages far outside Texas, he wants tracks that the Dallas underground can claim as its own. “Only time will tell how I’m able to fuse my sound with what DFW has taught me,” he says. “All I know is the sound I want to make and the vibes I want to give. It’ll have DFW all over it.” Photo Credit: Crystal Kirby He looks ahead now with the same drive that powers his sets as he plots tracks that carry Dallas in their DNA. As the horizon stretches further, the underground will always give him a stage and shape his sound. For St.Ephen, the party will follow him into the studio, the next gig, and into the pulse of whatever waits beyond the booth.

By late October, the banks of the Colorado River will shift into a dreamscape where oak trees whisper folklore, masked figures roam the shadows, and three festival realms collide into one. Welcome to Wicked Oaks  - the newest creation from Disco Presents - debuting October 25-26 at Carson Creek Ranch . Wicked Oaks merges three heavyweight experiences into one: Freaky Deaky ’s costumed chaos, Summoning of the Eclipse’s ritual intensity, and ILLFest’s mural-splashed, bass-heavy playground. For the first time, they will converge beneath Carson Creek’s pecan canopy, weaving their identities into one story. Disco Presents, the crew behind Lights All Night and Ubbi Dubbi , is known to push immersive production beyond expectations. And with Wicked Oaks, they’re staging a party and  summoning a myth. For EDM fans, the stakes go beyond this stacked lineup: it promises to be a transformation where Texas’s land, music, and art fuse into something unforgettable.   Three worlds stretch across the woods, each with its own rhythm, color, and mood. Freaky Deaky sprawls first, a woodland playground where Halloween’s theatrics drift through foggy trails and shadowed glades. Eric Prydz  will wrap the first in his hypnotic melodies, Kaskade will warm the horizon with his signature sunset set, Bob Moses  will thread their indie charm into deep club beats, and Martin Garrix  will send cheers shooting off the trees like fireworks.  A few steps deeper, the path descends into Summoning , a bass-drenched cathedral ruled by SVDDEN DEATH . His VOYD  will rise like a ritual conjurer, so you can expect drops pounding with the force of stone. NGHTMRE  and Kompany  will ignite their B2B set while Flux Pavilion  rattles the ground. Kai Wachi  will add a cinematic sweep, crescendos hitting like a body blow. The Summoning will drag festivalgoers into its subterranean current. Across the clearing, ILLFest  will burst in vivid contrast. Murals bloom across massive walls, paint glowing under strobes. Tony Romera ’s house grooves will slice through the air while Luuk Van Dijk ’s bassline pulses will ripple across the crowd. Three realms, distinct yet intertwined, form a single narrative: each step a chapter, each stage a plot twist. By Sunday night, the story will belong to the landscape itself - a living book written in music, myth, and imagination. Wicked Oaks will extend past the stages into something audiences can touch, taste, and stumble into unprepared. Sculptural art will glow from the soil. Fire spinners will carve arcs of heat into the night sky, and aerialists will twist overhead. Down winding forest paths, masked performers will appear without warning, as if the woods themselves decided to put on a show.  Even the food will keep pace with the senses, as there will be a variety of food vendors offering the best of Texas cuisine. Beyond the rush, workshops and chill zones will invite slower rhythms, allowing creativity to linger as vividly as the music.  Camping will deepen the immersion. Options range from glamping tents and RV villages to clusters of pop-ups along the trails. Before gates open to the public, campers can ignite a tradition of their own: the pre-party. On October 24 , early arrivers can pledge their allegiance to a realm - Freaky Deaky’s theatrics, surrendering to Summoning’s shadows, or glowing under ILLFest’s art-fueled blaze. Carson Creek Ranch breathes with its festivals. The 58-acre spread, once part of an 1851 Spanish land grant, bends with the Colorado River, oak and pecan trees shading the trails. Paths once pressed by cattle now guide festivalgoers through clearings where the amphitheater slopes naturally toward the water. Only a few miles from Austin’s city lights, the ranch feels tucked inside a pocket of wilderness. By late October, the Texas air cools just enough for costumes and long nights outdoors. Wicked Oaks will take that atmosphere and bind it into music. Austin already claims a lineage of festivals, from SXSW to Austin City Limits. Yet, none fuse folklore with electronic music the way Wicked Oaks dares. This collision feels like the birth of a ritual. For two nights, Carson Creek will belong to a forest of imagination, where three worlds become one. And like smoke after a bonfire, the trace of it will cling long after October.  Tickets & camping options are on sale here .

Last weekend, Houston proved once again why its bass scene is one of the strongest in the South. GRIMEFEST  Houston 2025 brought together a community of headbangers for a night stacked with heavy hitters, unexpected back-to-back sets, and a thunderous headlining performance from PhaseOne .  From the moment doors opened, fans threw into an immersive world designed for bass lovers - vivid stage lighting, razor-sharp visuals, and a sound system that shook the room with every drop. One of the night’s most exciting features was the sheer number of tag-team performances, including HEXXA B2B SYTHYST , DESTROYAH B2B M-RATED , SHASHOU B2B AKRUX, FELMAX B2B FUTURE EXIT , and a wild B3B from PHYSIXX , PATHS , and SOUNDWRECK .  These collaborations sparked unpredictable track selections and high-energy crowd reactions. DESTROYAH and M-RATED, for example, seamlessly blended trap, dubstep, and riddim into a tight, unified set, while the B3B kept the energy dynamic as each DJ layered and looped sounds into something entirely new. Photo Credit: Aeisha Izaguirre The crowd came ready to throw down, yet the vibe remained friendly and welcoming. PHASEONE took the stage, anticipation at its peak. His signature blend of cinematic intros, explosive drops, and metal-infused bass sent shockwaves through  9PM Music Venue . Every transition felt monumental, which is why his name was the most anticipated on the lineup. When the lights finally came up, the sense of satisfaction was noticeable. PhaseOne climbed down the booth to take photos and connect directly with fans - a gesture that left many humbled and energized. Photo Credit: Aeisha Izaguirre But the surprise highlight of the night was Rated R . From the second he stepped behind the decks, the room’s energy shifted into overdrive. His set was relentless - each drop hit like a punch to the chest, and the crowd responded in perfect sync, headbanging and moving as one. What made Rated R’s performance stand out wasn’t just heaviness for heaviness’ sake. His sharp transitions, fierce track choices, and unbroken momentum kept the audience locked in. Even for fans who usually don’t lean toward riddim, it was impossible not to be pulled into the chaos he orchestrated on stage.  GRIMEFEST Houston was a night of heavy drops and a celebration of community, collaboration, and the pure joy of getting lost in bass together. With a lineup and production this bold and dialed in, the countdown to the next GRIMEFEST has already begun!

LISTEN TO HIS GUEST MIX ON OUR SOUNDCLOUD Under the electric pulse of Sounders , a familiar figure steps behind the decks - one hand slicing the air, the other twisting a knob with practiced precision. Bass house grooves steer the floor into pure, organized chaos. Meet Reckless Ryan: Dallas DJ, Beatport-charting producer, and proud Husband and Dad, who’s been shaking up the city’s sound system for over a decade.  Born and bred in the DFW scene, Reckless Ryan has turned late-night sets and local residencies into something that feels more like legacy. With two Beatport chart placements and shows alongside names like Crizzly and YOOKiE , he’s a familiar face in Texas clubs. Now, after a deliberate pause to focus on family, he’s stepping back in with a plan: land that first festival slot, chart again, headline new cities, and keep giving back to the city that raised him.  Reckless Ryan builds his sets like a rollercoaster engineered for release - tight turns, plunging drops, and unexpected climbs. His sound rumbles with edge, fusing thumping basslines with pop-sparked remixes that light up the crowd before the drop even lands, whether it’s at the Neon Paint Party or Techno & Tequila . “I go into each of my sets with one key objective in mind,” Ryan says, “Make sure the crowd is having fun.”  That instinct came into sharper focus during his three-year break from performing. In dive bars, backyard parties, and sweaty concert pits, he watched - not as a DJ, but as a fan. He tracked what moved people. What made them throw their hands up? What made them stay? “It’s no different at a rave,” he says. “We’re all there to have a good time. I try my hardest to make sure my hour in front of everyone is the best hour of their night.” DFW didn’t hand anything to Reckless Ryan. He earned it - hauling gear into clubs in 2012, setting up in corners of bars for ten-person crowds, sometimes 200. From the start, he felt the city’s current: raw and unfiltered. “The DFW music scene has given me that extra attitude, inside and outside of the scene,” he says. “If you don’t have some grit, some attitude, you ain’t making it far.”  A decade later, the venues got bigger, but that grit still anchors every beat. At Sounders, he headlined nights and has also shared lineups with artists whose names top festival bills. But what defines Dallas to him isn’t the venue - it’s the energy. “It’s wild,” Ryan adds, “on any weekend night there’s easily 10 events going on - something for everyone.” He calls it a creative melting pot, and it shows. Dallas gave him the roots and room to grow.  Most DJs never hit the Beatport charts. Reckless Ryan has done it twice with his tracks, " Smith's Point " and " Somber ". “It was amazing to chart on Beatport ,” he says. “I’ve always considered myself a better DJ than a producer. Charting validated me in my mind that I belong in this realm and my stuff is good enough to play out.” But the universe didn’t hand over these wins. They come from stacking shows year after year, tightening his sound, and building trust with crowds who kept showing up. Sounders became a home base - to test, refine, and evolve. And while the gigs grew, the center stayed steady. “Staying grounded is easy when you have a wife and two kids,” he said. “I’m not Reckless Ryan at home. I’m Husband, Dad and best friend.”  From 2021 to 2024, he stepped back from performing entirely to focus on fatherhood and his career outside of music. The break sharpened him. “I matured during this time away,” he adds, “It’s helped contribute to this recent run of success. My family will always come first. There will always be other gigs and time to release new music, but you don’t get back those moments with your family, especially with my kids. I always make time to make sure they are taken care of for whatever they need!” Now, with clarity and momentum, Ryan has his eyes locked on the next wave. More direct support slots. A festival debut. Regular chart placements. Whether through mentorship, collabs, or simply showing up, Ryan understands that longevity means staying not only relevant, but real. “Longevity to me looks like what I’m doing - without tooting my own horn,” he says. “It looks like Johnny Funk , DJ Titan , TNA . It appears that being in the scene for 15+ years and still receiving direct support slots, headlining local shows, releasing music, and hustling is a viable approach. I want to make space for the next generation.”  Whether he’s tearing up the Sounders ecosystem or passing wisdom to newcomers behind the booth, his presence resonates through Dallas’s dance floors. While other DJs chase the next viral drop, Reckless Ryan plays the long game. And if the past decade was the warm-up, the next one might be his main stage moment.  SPOTIFY SOUNDCLOUD INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK

This past Friday, Warehouse Live pulsed with raw energy as Valentino Khan delivered a powerhouse performance that electrified every inch of the venue. From the moment we arrived, the heavy sounds of dubstep were already shaking the walls - an unexpected choice for a house and techno event, yet it worked. The crowd was already moving, riding the basslines with full-bodied enthusiasm.  At 11:30 PM, Houston local Vance Lawrence  took the stage and quickly seized the crowd’s attention. With hypnotic, driving beats, he built a groove that was infectious and immersive. Each track was a carefully layered ascent, and without realizing it, an entire hour had passed in a blissed-out trance. Vance warmed up the room and transformed it into a living, breathing dancefloor, perfectly primed for what was to come.  Photo Credit: Aeisha Izaguirre Then came the moment everyone was waiting for. Valentino Khan stepped behind the decks, and the energy instantly snapped into overdrive. From his first drop, it was clear we were in for a wild ride. Khan’s set was a masterclass in momentum - an exhilarating mix of tension and release that carried the crowd on a euphoric roller coaster. His command over the room was undeniable, each transition smooth and impactful.  The visual production elevated the night to another level. Strobes, LED panels, and laser sequences were flawlessly timed to the music, turning each drop into a full-body experience. The synergy between sound and visuals enveloped the crowd in a sensory-rich environment - every flash of light, color shift, and strobe pulse amplified the music’s emotional impact, all part of the immersive journey. Photo Credit: Aeisha Izaguirre One of the most impressive aspects of Khan’s performance was his masterful mixing. Whether you came for tech house rhythms, bass house bangers, or unexpected flips with Latin flair, he had you covered. His ability to blend styles without losing momentum proved his technical skill and deep intuition for reading the room. Crowd interaction was natural, playful, and purposeful - he knew precisely when to pull us in and when to push us further. As the night deepened, the energy never faded. Smiles stretched wide, feet never stopped moving, and a sense of community filled Warehouse Live. It was one of those rare nights where the music, crowd, and space all aligned perfectly. Whether you were a longtime fan or just discovering Valentino Khan for the first time, it was a night etched in sound, connection, and summer magic.

At just 13, he was the youngest DJ in South Texas spinning live on the radio. Now, ZIBAS - born in Mexico City and based in Corpus Christi - is fusing tech house with Latin flair, aiming to turn his coastal hometown into the “Ibiza of Texas”. With support from major artists and a passion sparked from peeking through the door of his uncle’s DJ setup, ZIBAS is chasing the main stage dream - and bringing a whole city with him. ZIBAS, aka. Sebastian S Camacho represents a new wave of Texas EDM artists reshaping their local scenes from the ground up. Born in Mexico City and raised in Corpus Christi, his mission is deeply personal: to build a thriving dance music culture where one doesn’t fully exist. Already backed by names like James Hype  and featured on international radio, ZIBAS is amplifying both his sound and city - and he’s just getting started.  Before he could even open his eyes, ZIBAS was moving to music. “When my mom was pregnant,” he recalls, “my grandma would play music near her belly - and every time, I’d start dancing in the womb.” Rhythm came before language, before light. As a child, he bypassed action figures and asked for a drum kit, a keyboard, a guitar - anything that could fill his bedroom with sound. His grandparents’ house echoed with Queen , Guns N’ Roses , and Nirvana, and the diversion of music due to his family’s enthusiasm for music through the years. But it was the flicker of Tomorrowland  live streams and the masked mystique of Marshmello  that lit a fire in him.  One memory stays sharp: the door cracked open to his uncle’s work studio, the glow of the DJ software, the slow layering of tracks. “That moment opened up my world,” ZIBAS says. At six, he was experimenting with mixes. By nine, he was deep-diving into EDM culture online, absorbing Marshmello’s melodic builds and Alan Walker’s atmospheric drops. “It was a gift from God,” he says. “I had to do something real with it.”  While most kids his age focused on school, ZIBAS was already spinning on FM radio. At 13, he landed a weekly residency with Wild 105.5 , becoming the youngest DJ in South Texas to command the airwaves. Each Wednesday night, his blends of tech-house bounce, Latin groove, and heavy low-end techno filled cars and kitchens across the region.  “It takes time, patience, and the right mindset for me to put myself out there and share my passion for music,” he says. “It hasn’t always been easy, but being brave, trusting my vision, and seeing where I could be in the future kept me moving forward.” By 14, he’d gone global, debuting on Ibiza Stardust Radio , a channel synonymous with sun-soaked Balearic beats. From Corpus to the Spanish coasts, his mission stayed the same: to create a full-bodied experience. “When people come to my sets, I want them to feel something real,” he explains. “High energy, positive vibes, and moments that stick in people’s minds. More than anything, I want them to think of me as a good memory.” Back home, he put that vision into motion. HouZe of Hype , his first self-produced event in downtown Corpus, turned a modest venue into an epic night. He’s since played The Kickback and Antwon & Friends on the rooftop of Retro Corpus’s rooftop. “Every moment has prepared me for something bigger,” he says. “It opened my eyes to the importance of who you surround yourself with. Some people will help you grow, and others can hold you back. You must go through stages of survival, growth, and transformation before you can fly. And you can’t grow in every environment. So I’ve learned to read my surroundings, adapt, and work hard - while always believing in myself.”  At first glance, Corpus Christi might not scream EDM capital, but ZIBAS sees it differently. He considers a sleeping giant - and he’s determined to wake it up.  “The dream of making Corpus Christi the Ibiza of Texas  drives me,” he says. “At first, the city felt quiet, but once I stepped into the local scene, everything changed. There’s so much untapped potential here. Shoutout to the Corpus scene that has given me the opportunity to help me come out of my shell!”  For ZIBAS, that potential is both personal and cultural. He speaks the name Selena like a North Star - proof that global icons can rise from these very streets. “She showed the world what Corpus Christi can do. I believe we can build something big again.” Picture massive festivals thumping against the Gulf tide, techno bleeding out of coastal clubs, dancefloors lit under the Texas moon. “Imagine music festivals and insane nightclubs right on the coast,” he says. “Beautiful views, great energy, and a connected Texas music scene. I’m blessed to have met people in this city who love music as much as I do. It hasn’t always been easy, but I’ve learned to trust my instincts, think ahead, and continually set new goals. Corpus Christi has the soul - it just needs the spotlight.”  ZIBAS’s momentum isn’t fueled by ego - stories shape it. “What keeps me grounded,” he says, “is learning from other DJs like James Hype , Martin Garrix , Tiësto , David Guetta , and John Summit . They all started from humble beginnings, networking and pushing through tough times until they finally made it.”  He’s studied the blueprint - hours behind the decks, setbacks behind the scenes - and understands that the journey isn’t a sprint. It’s a slow build, one rooted in community. “That inspires me to keep building something real,” he says. “Something based on community, support, and loyalty.”  That vision stretches far beyond Corpus. With each show, ZIBAS is laying the groundwork for expansion across Texas - Austin, Dallas, Houston - and eventually, stages worldwide. And that childhood dream? It still burns.  “I’m not just focused on Corpus Christi,” he says. “I’m working to grow across Texas, and eventually reach nationwide and global audiences. Performing on a main stage like EDC or Tomorrowland has been my dream since I was a kid watching those livestreams. And with passion, hard work, and faith, I know it’s possible.”  Years ago, a six-year-old stood outside a studio door in his grandfather’s house. He didn’t know what the glowing buttons did or what BPM meant - but he knew the room held magic. Today, ZIBAS is no longer peeking in - he’s behind the booth, leading the charge, and building his stage. He’s throwing open the doors, creating community, and turning Corpus Christi into something louder, bigger, and impossible to ignore.  It’s no longer a question of whether   ZIBAS will hit the main stage.  It’s a matter of when .  Until then, he’s chasing the dream - track by track, show by show - remixing the future of Texas EDM, one drop at a time. INSTAGRAM YOUTUBE SOUNDCLOUD SPOTIFY

Photo Credit: Third Eye Photography/Michael Holtberg The bass drops, and just as the crowd locks into a groove, DJ Edge makes a daring move, flipping from smooth house beats to a burst of drum and bass. For a second, there’s a collective gasp - a pause - then a wave of energy floods the room, and the crowd surges back to life cheering. This moment captures the magic of Dario Fuentes, known to the DFW scene as DJ Edge, a local legend who thrives on unpredictability. He seamlessly adapts to the crowd’s pulse and can overcome challenges to keep the energy alive.  We talked with DJ Edge, diving into the turning points and community connections fueling his journey. From his early days mixing Latin and hip-hop to his rise on the DFW EDM scene, DJ Edge opens up in our interview about the evolution of his style and passion for crafting unforgettable experiences that keep fans on their toes.  EDM Texas: You started mixing Latin and hip-hop tracks in 2009. Can you tell us what originally drew you into DJing? DJ Edge: My brother was a turntablist in the early 2000s. I vividly remember asking him “Hey, can you try and teach me how this works? The sounds from the speakers sound really cool.” I was around 8-9 years old when I learned the basics of beat matching correctly and mixed my first two songs. It mentally clicked as soon as I did it alone, and I said, “Is there more music I can do this with?” EDM Texas: What about electronic dance music pulled you in and inspired you to shift from Latin clubs to larger EDM venues and how did this change influence your approach and style as a DJ?  DJ Edge: The melodic sound and structure of the song “Blue” by Eiffel 65 . The way the song pulls you in, the beat of the music, the laser sounds, etc. I remember listening to it for the first time, and just out of nowhere, I started dancing. I immediately captured that moment mentally and wondered, “If this song can make me feel this way, what else is out there?” I started looking for songs that had that similar effect; tracks that can make you feel good.   Photo Credit: Third Eye Photography/Michael Holtberg EDM Texas: Your sets are renowned for seamlessly blending multiple genres into immersive experiences! Can you walk us through your approach to crafting these sets and how you balance such a wide range of styles while keeping the flow?  DJ Edge: I approach it headfirst by trial and error. During my first legitimate gigs years ago, I accepted every song request. I took literal notes on pen and paper and wrote down what worked for me and the crowd. It was a lot of on-the-spot research. I created my formula of being a few steps ahead on what type of show books me, and the crowd there and finding the right tracks to play at the time slot that I will perform. EDM Texas: You’ve mentioned that the motto “improvise, adapt, and overcome,” inspired by Bear Grylls , speaks to your approach as a DJ. How does this philosophy play out in your live performances, especially when reading the crowd or switching genres?  DJ Edge: The endless variables that can and will happen at shows. You can plan what tracks you want to play mentally, and if they don’t work, then what? I’ve performed at house music, dubstep, trance, and techno shows and the crowd told me, “Hey man, can you play a different genre?” I’ve played house music at dubstep shows and drum and bass at house music shows. That’s how I created my signature as a DJ - being able to improvise on the spot to make the CROWD happy. Once you can make the crowd happy, they will remember you. EDM Texas: Due to this impressive skill, you've built a diverse repertoire that performs everywhere from intimate spots like the Green Elephant to significant venues like Southside Ballroom and the Granada Theater! Can you share how you adapt your sets to different crowd sizes and vibes? Photo Credit: Third Eye Photography DJ Edge: Everyone has a different music taste; every show has a different crowd. Depending on the type of show, you have a blueprint of what you’re getting yourself into. My most memorable memory was playing at the video bar at the Lizard Lounge. I opened at 9 pm with house music and ended the night playing reggaeton music. How did that happen? It was going with the flow. And it worked! EDM Texas: You’ve collaborated with some significant promo companies in DFW, like DFW Rave Fam, Pulsation Nation, HAM Promos, and Studio 254. How have these partnerships helped you expand your audience and bring new energy to the Texas EDM community?  DJ Edge: Everything starts with planting seeds, creating, building, and maintaining genuine relationships and friendships. They have all helped me by allowing and trusting me with being able to show them my passion for being a DJ. I’m able to give them my absolute best every time I perform. They’ve helped me by allowing me to get better at every single show and creating unforgettable memories. Every show I play enables me to have a new set of ears and feel and hear something new. I have the chance to make someone’s day better. EDM Texas: Beyond performing, what does being part of the local scene mean to you and how do you see your role in building and supporting the DFW EDM community? DJ Edge: Being part of the local scene is fantastic. It lets me spectate the new up-and-coming talent that's also hungry for the same passion that I have. And if I’m lucky, I can create new relationships with the latest DJs and guide them to the right spots! Everyone deserves to eat. EDM Texas: Where can fans catch you performing next? DJ Edge: Follow me on Instagram ! I’ll be posting new show announcements soon. Please come to one of my shows and I’ll give you some stickers! See you soon! ❤️🙏🏼 DJ Edge’s dynamic versatility has left an unmistakable impact on the DFW EDM scene. Whether opening with smooth beats or shaking the room with heavy bass, his unique blend of Latin, hip-hop, and EDM reflects a “jack of all trades” approach while creating unforgettable memories on the dance floor. Take the chance to experience DJ Edge live - stay tuned for his following performance announcements on Instagram  and come be a part of the magic!

June presses its weight into the Texas air, thick with heat and anticipation. The sun sinks behind Fort Worth, bleeding gold into the sky. A warehouse just off the river begins to flicker, with lasers slicing through haze. Somewhere inside, a bubble machine exhales orbs into the crowd. You walk closer, your heartbeat syncing with the muffled bass that thumps like a distant war drum. Then, you step through the entrance. And just like that, the world changes.  Photo Credit: Daniel Joel Mueller Gone are the rules of gravity and day. In their place: a dreamscape powered by rhythm and lasers. Vines dangle like alien flora, green and glowing - house and techno thump through the speakers, echoing against rigid walls. Dancers move in flow, gleaming under the lasers. It’s no hallucination. It’s the DRIFTED Fest - the first in Dallas-Fort Worth.  Held at The Shack at Panther Island Pavilion , DRIFTED Fest debuted as the region’s premier house and techno festival - an ambitious, artfully executed celebration of movement, sound, and space. It filled a long-empty niche in DFW’s electronic scene, merging international talent, hometown heroes, and immersive staging into a single-night transformation. Between its perfectly-sized venue, inventive silent disco, and feel-it-in-your-bones energy, DRIFTED created a prototype for what a Texas summer rave can be - and why it should return. Photo Credit: Daniel Joel Mueller Basslines rumbled through The Shack like distant thunder. High above, synths arched and spiraled like smoke signals to the sky. Rafael Cerato  lured the crowd into a trance with looping, hypnotic melodies, his sound pulsing like a heartbeat. ONYVAA followed with surgical sharpness, delivering sleek techno with a blade’s edge. Konstantin Sibold  built his set slowly, tension winding like a spring - until the release allowed everyone to let loose. His Kendrick Lamar samples were also legendary. And Danny Avila , the headliner, closed with an intense set that felt engineered for combustion. His sound hit like a static wave - heavy, electric, and undeniable. Photo Credit: Daniel Joel Mueller But while the main stage shined bright, the silent disco glowed quietly - and powerfully. Tucked in the back of the warehouse, a 360-degree circular setup invited attendees to drift between local DJ sets using LED-lit headphones hosted by Jack's House and AFTRLIFE Entertainment . Each color beamed with a different vibe - red, blue, green - each one a portal. The silent disco embodied the DRIFTED spirit - local, daring, intimate, and interactive. ‘ Playing the Silent Disco at DRIFTED Fest was honestly one of the most fun sets I’ve done,” says REYDEX . “Seeing everyone vibing out with their headphones on, fully locked in, was a cool experience. It gave me a chance to connect with a new crowd and helped get my sound out there uniquely.” For Susie Otto , the setup’s location made all the difference.   “The silent disco setup right at the entrance drew much attention. I had an amazing time playing—I got great feedback, made new fans, and reconnected with old friends. The night’s energy was unreal, from the main stage to the vendors. It’s an event that supports artists and helps them grow.” Danny Dash , echoed this sentiment:  “ The DRIFTED Fest was such an incredible experience. I am grateful to have played alongside many talented international headliners!” In a scene often dominated by cliques and hierarchies, Louie Louie pointed to DRIFTED’s grounded vibe: “I’m so happy to have been a part of the first DRIFTED Fest! Everyone who attended was down to earth! I made a ton of new friends along the way. I also loved playing my music on the silent disco stage, which felt much more personal.” Photo Credit: Daniel Joel Mueller Meanwhile, BLUE IIZE  summed it up in two sentences : “It was nothing but vibes from start to finish! From the silent disco DJs to the top-tier talent, you could feel the sense of community and work that went into it. Huge shoutout to the Jacks House, AFTRLIFE, and the DRIFTED Fest team!” And Nicky Bender reflected on the scale : “Forty-five local DJs had the opportunity to showcase their talent to so many people that night…. we played in the same room as some of the greatest international DJs in the world.  I left it all out there that night and can’t wait to return again!” The DRIFTED Fest hit that elusive Goldilocks balance: spacious enough to dance without collisions, tight enough to feel the crowd’s collective heartbeat. Whether you grooved in GA or swayed behind the stage of VIP, the crowd was all one. DRIFTED’s magic came from people. Security, vendors, and staff smiled, engaged, and kept the vibe flowing. Every interaction felt intentional. At random intervals, someone would let loose a cloud of iridescent bubbles floating through the festival’s ecosystem. Out back, a renegade stage popped up on a flatbed truck - music, sunset, and vibes. We loved wandering around and discovering DRIFTED’s little wonders. The DRIFTED Fest mapped out what’s possible when imagination and community align. For 11 hours, strangers moved as one - caught in the same rhythm, speaking the same house, techno, and movement language. If this is just the beginning, we can’t wait to see how far the Drift carries us next year!

Meet Majed — an individual whose journey from the bustling streets of Lebanon to the heart of the global digital stage has been anything but quiet. While millions know him for his viral, emotionally raw music reactions, he is responding to sound and shaping it. His music is deeply personal and emotional, and he is unafraid to embrace chaos. It weaves Middle Eastern textures with gritty, experimental bass that echoes his roots and revolution. With his first-ever festival performance at ILLFest 2025 in Austin , the Lebanese-born artist has entered a new chapter.  Photo Credit: Leon Murphy We caught up with Majed just before his set to learn more about the inspiration behind his journey and his evolving sound!  EDM Texas: Let’s take it back to the beginning - who lit the spark that made you want to become a DJ? MAJED: Hardwell ! I used to watch Hardwell all the time. I was honestly deep in the Revealed Recordings  fanbase—his label. I was on Twitter all the time, literally hyping Hardwell up. He was a huge inspiration that drove me to where I am today in 2016. EDM Texas: Can you tell us about your first music festival experience, as an artist or a raver? MAJED:  The first one would be Lost Lands . It was fun—honestly, really fun! I don’t research festivals before going to them, so when I arrived, I was like, this is huge. It’s like a little island of rave music. It was amazing! Photo Credit: Leon Murphy EDM Texas: Is there one track in your set that carries a personal story or emotional weight for you? MAJED:  This song, titled “Paris of the Middle East,” is one of the best songs I’ve made. It’s not the best production-wise , but it’s the best song  because it has a blend of bass music and Middle Eastern sounds and vocals.  EDM Texas: What sonic direction or style are you diving into creatively? MAJED: Right now, I would say it’s bass music. I had taken a break from bass for a while and was producing a lot of techno and other different styles—because that’s how I’ve always been. Now, my soul is telling me only to do bass. I’ve been sound-designing a lot of new stuff, and I’m not gonna lie—I used to hate it. I was not the biggest fan. But I have started hearing Peekaboo and others over the last few years. I hope the wonky genres last because you can’t do many things with that style. For some reason, I feel like it could become commercial. That wub  sound is one of the sounds I think would work commercially—if someone did something unique with it. EDM Texas: What wouldn’t people expect about you until you meet in person? MAJED:  If I’m honest, I feel like a lot of people think I’m a mean person. If you see me walking down the street, I always look angry, so people don’t approach me. But then, when they come up to me, I’m like, “Oh, hi!” When I was in Miami, I’d be doing my own thing, and then I’d go home and see a comment in my section like, “Hey, I saw you at Target—I was too afraid to go up to you, but I’m a big fan.” And I’d say, “Oh man, I’m sorry!” Then I’d think, why didn’t they come up to me? But then I’m like... well, I wouldn’t come up to me either if I saw myself looking that angry. [laughs] EDM Texas: Was there a moment that made you stop and think, “Wow… I’m really doing this”? MAJED: It was when I posted about feeling like no one would show up to my ILLFest set. Then Subtronics commented and sent a heartwarming message, followed by double-commenting on my post. The way he approached me with so much love, supporting my music—made me feel like I looked up to him. That made me feel like, ‘ Oh damn, people do care’. It brought me down to earth, and that’s when it hit me. It’s nice to get those moments of actual PLUR in the community. I work with artists daily because of my videos and reactions, but that  was personal. That was the first time someone spoke to me on a human level. Majed’s story transforms from a wide-eyed kid hyping up Hardwell online to a rising producer redefining his sound and presence on stage. More than just a digital creator, he is an artist confronting vulnerability through sound. Whether he’s channeling nostalgia or finding solace, his work reminds us that every beat is a human heartbeat - and it’s clear his story and sound are only getting louder.   Follow Majed on his socials below: Instagram SoundCloud Spotify TikTok YouTube

Texas-based EDM artist Raddix  has inked a game-changing deal with Create Music Group  - one of the industry’s most powerful engines, known for backing artists like deadmau5  and Marshmello  and acquiring culture-shifting labels like Monstercat  and mau5trap . Signed earlier this year, the partnership gives Raddix access to CMG’s deep infrastructure - distribution, marketing, and creative support. It frees him to lean wholly into live production, evolve his sound, and strengthen the connection with fans who’ve followed his journey. More than a personal milestone, the deal signals a shift in Texas’s presence on the global EDM map. Create Music Group assembles a sonic superhub where EDM, hip-hop, and digital culture intersect. With recent acquisitions of Monstercat  and deadmau5 ’s mau5trap  imprint, CMG has redefined the possibilities for producers once working outside major markets. For Raddix, this moment landed like gravity. “This is a full circle moment - not just for me, but for everyone who’s been rocking with Raddix since day one,” Raddix says. “It felt like the universe finally connected the dots after years of relentless grinding.”  His roots stretch back to Helotes, Texas - a tight-knit town of just over 2,000 where teenage Raddix had a dream. “I built Raddix from the ground up,” he says, “with no industry handouts, just pure passion and belief in the vision.” That belief morphed into packed-out sets, a spot on iHeartRadio ’s Top 12 Indie Artists of 2023 , and a Grammy membership. But according to Raddix, CMG saw something more profound than buzz. “They believed in not just my sound but the movement. They respected the freedom I need to create - and the legacy I’m trying to leave.” The Create Music Group deal rewires Raddix’s operation from the inside out. The music industry machinery hums behind him, giving him room to fine-tune his live sets, deepen fans’ experiences, and build something bigger than a brand. “ From basement sets to festival stages, from being just a lost teenager struggling to find my place in the world to being inducted into the Grammys, this journey has always been about more than music,” Raddix says. “It’s been about proving that someone from a small town with big dreams can make a global impact. Partnering with CMG gives me access to resources and distribution to take this vision worldwide. He says it validates all the sacrifices and opens up new doors for creativity, connection, and community.” he says. “My goal this year is to bring back the energy of EDM from the golden era so many people truly miss. This year is about creating music that brings back that feeling. I know that this partnership with CMG will allow me to bring that vision to the world.” Texas has never waited for a green light to go hard - and Raddix knows that better than most. “ Coming up through the Texas scene, especially from a small town on the outskirts of San Antonio, there weren’t many blueprints for someone like me,” he explains. “We didn’t have EDM labels knocking or execs at our open mics. What we did have was heart. Community. And a grind-it-out mentality that built something real from the dirt.” That Texas grit helped launch fellow artists Crizzly , Bailo , Mashbit , and Riot Ten  - all names Raddix credits as fuel for his journey. “You have to believe in your vision, stay consistent, and be unapologetically yourself,” he says. “The world will catch up. It just takes one spark to light the whole fuse.” This moment stretches beyond one artist’s rise. It opens the door for producers across the Lone Star State, proving that even without a direct line to the coasts, they can build something magnetic-something heard worldwide. And today, Raddix stands on the threshold of a global movement - one built from scratch, powered by belief, and committed to spreading good energy - one drop at a time.

ILLFest  more than a festival—it’s an uplifting sensory shockwave. Set against Austin’s vibrant backdrop, the three-day experience fuses massive bass, live art, and a deeply connected crowd into a living, breathing world. Every detail was an invitation for discovery, from muralists conjuring magic on blank walls to stages that pulsed with light. The ILLFest 2025 edition delivered a potent lineup, featuring bass titans like Tape B & Peekaboo, Wooli , and  Liquid Stranger alongside special hip-hop guests, BigXthaPlug & That Mexican OT , creating a weekend where the community came ready to move, make, and connect.  Photo Credit: Aeisha Izaguirre ILLFest started with an electric Day 1, the grounds packed with familiar faces. The brand-new ILLUSIONS  stage immediately became a fan favorite, maintaining a constant, flowing crowd. Wonky Willa ’s set stood out, inspiring a sea of attendees dressed to get wonderfully weird on the dance floor. It was a high-energy pulse and the perfect ignition that carried us throughout the night with mind-blowing sets from Deathpact and Tape B x Peekaboo . Overall, it set the stage for the massive weekend ahead.  Photo Credit: Leon Murphy Photo Credit: Leon Murphy Photo Credit: Leon Murphy By Day 2, the ILLFest atmosphere was visibly evolving as graffiti installations neared completion. Their vibrant colors deepened the venue’s psychedelic feel. The ILLPickle  stage hosted an epic Drum and Bass takeover, with legends like Delta Heavy  and Netsky unleashing breakbeats. As BigXthaPlug  drew a colossal audience, the staff’s smart implementation of guided flow paths kept the energy moving - a much-appreciated touch. Later, Wooli closed the night with a relentlessly heavy set that left us breathless. Photo Credit: Leon Murphy Photo Credit: Leon Murphy Photo Credit: Leon Murphy Photo Credit: Leon Murphy Our energy was waning by Day 3, but Know Good ’s soulful, feel-good set was the perfect remedy, reminding us why we fell in love with this scene. The final day felt like a reunion, filled with wholesome rave-fam moments as we continuously ran into friends. We had an opportunity to try one of the food vendors, Eiffel Waffle . Eiffel Waffle Creamery was a dessert lover’s dream come true. Their signature bubble waffles are warm, fluffy, and perfectly crisp on the outside—ideal for holding generous scoops of rich, creamy ice cream. Toppings like cookie dough, fudge, Fruity Pebbles, and fresh strawberries turn each creation into a colorful, over-the-top masterpiece.  Photo Credit: Leon Murphy Photo Credit: Aeisha Izaguirre The art installations now stood complete, transforming the ILLFest grounds into a stunning open-air gallery. That Mexican OT commanded a massive crowd, while ALLEYCVT ’s performance at Your Mom’s House  stage was a sound and light spectacle, with rainbow lasers slicing through the darkness. Liquid Stranger delivered the final sermon, closing the night with some much-needed “spaghetti time” that perfectly capped the wild weekend. A final heartfelt thank you must go to the festival staff and parking team, whose efficiency made exiting the venue a seamless 10-minute process. Photo Credit: Aeisha Izaquirre Photo Credit: Leon Murphy Photo Credit: Leon Murphy ILLFest 2025 carved out a special place in our hearts. It gave us a profound appreciation for the immense effort required to bring such an experience to life—from the creative vision and production to the tireless work of staff, security, and vendors. It was an honor to witness the magic from both sides of the rail, and we are deeply grateful to have been part of something so genuinely connected. Major love to every artist, worker, and attendee who made ILLFest feel like home!

LuShreds stands at the intersection of two scenes: Dallas grit and Tokyo discipline. He first sketched café-vibe demos on GarageBand at age nine, then leveled up to Logic Pro and Serum under remote mentorship from Tokyo. His tracks now echo from KNON ’s guest mixes to KNTU ’s local rotation, and in April 2024, earning his first club spot. Guided by a philosophy of “small, consistent steps,” he weaves classical piano training, jazz improvisation, and glitchy bass textures into the evolving tapestry of Texas EDM.   Long before club lights flickered, LuShreds greeted dawn beneath Tokyo’s pastel skies, fingertips tracing ivory piano keys. “In Tokyo I mostly listened to whatever my parents put on,” he says. “We would have dance parties to Skrillex , Deadmau5 , and some pop stuff like Nicki Minaj . I got a small keyboard as a toy and played with it all the time, so my parents put me in traditional piano lessons. In Japan, that's just practicing a piece until you have it perfect and then going to the next one.”  Outside the studio’s metronome clicks, he taught himself GarageBand at nine, molding Café Del Mar-style chill grooves and uploading them to SoundCloud. Back in Dallas, he pooled savings into a DJ controller, sliding into Logic Pro and dialing in custom Serum sounds until his bedroom demos thumped like nightclub anthems. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, musicians couldn’t play in clubs, so some turned to private lessons. That's when I met my mentor, Philip Woo, who had a completely different approach. Teaching by ear and theory worked a lot better for me, and he taught me how to improvise in different keys, helping me set up for making music. They also had music lessons in Japanese public school where I learned traditional kids’ songs on the melodica, so I learned Japanese nursery rhymes instead of English ones.”  Through sessions with Woo, LuShreds learned to sculpt sub-bass frequencies and polish mixdowns. In his home studio - he shifts effortlessly from stiff four-on-the-floor house kicks to the snap-and-grind of 140 BPM grime. “I make music based on whatever I'm listening to. There was a lot of house music in my house when I started making my first tracks, so it was easy to copy that 4/4 track style,” he explains. “Then, I made a Deadmau5-sounding track the day after I caught him at Toyota Music Factory . I've been recently inspired by artists like Prosecute , Viperactive , and Tape B  when trying to push out heavier tracks. As long as it sounds good, I like to make it.”  Momentum first hit when LuShreds slipped into DJ Positive P ’s open-deck stage and was invited to KNON’s Then & Now Show on the spot. As 89.3 KNON  and KNTU  spun his tracks, promoter Phonixx  tapped him for a debut club spot. A year later, back-to-back shows with Sounds from Below  had their crew’s cheers filling a cold night sky.  “We'd show up to other shows and bump into people we met the week before, and even people I hadn't met yet had heard of me and wanted to say hi,” LuShreds recalls. “That's when I started to feel like part of the community when I was connecting with good promoters, getting to know people personally, and getting repetition on lineups.”  Rooms trembled under his sets at Wonder Bar , Sons of Hermann Hall , and the Green Elephant . His track “ Stars ” into rotation on KXT’s  Music Meeting, its crystalline pads slicing through rush-hour banter. “The radio play is cool to see what it's like to be a more successful artist because I can see how they submit tracks and record intros for their songs like I did for 97.1,” LuShreds explains. “Playing live on the air at 89.3 KNON  taught me a lot about broadcasting rules and some technical tricks, like keeping the show moving smoothly with all the commercial breaks and promos the DJs need to do, so I feel prepared to handle that environment now. It's fun to play in new venues and with different groups, and I learn something new every time!” LuShreds thrives on open-deck nights, testing unreleased drops against shifting crowds. He says that showing up to as many open decks as possible to experiment with what musical style and dance crowd feels good. “Listen to feedback and other people’s mixing styles. Put in the practice to become confident enough to get yourself out of any technical issues. From there, as long as you go meet people, network, and stay respectful, you'll find spaces that accept you.” LuShreds’s journey traces his beat from the click-clack of a toy keyboard in Tokyo to seismic bass rattling Dallas venues. June’s lineup reads like a mixtape: birthday bass at Good Side Pizza Pub  on June 4th, Kid’s Fest  on Green Elephant’s outside lawn on June 8th, and the all-ages Summer Flow Session at Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studio  on June 15th. His signature alchemy - equal parts childhood curiosity and grown-up grit - spins on, and we urge you to chase his next drop .