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 .

Lazy K has rocketed out of Austin’s parties into international spotlights, propelled by metal riffs and bone-rattling bass drops. He’s the Austin-based producer who watched artists like Caspa , Skream , The Widdler , and Distinct Motive  weave his wobbly sound into their sets, followed by finding his track front-and-center on UKF , and ignited crowds at Freaky Deaky  and Lights All Night previous festival seasons. His ascent in 2024-25 stems from a hunger for grooves that shake floors. With ILLFest  just one week away, he is ready to turn another stage into a global tremor.    Lazy K launched his musical journey, slinging a six-string. He traded the raw rumble of distorted metal chords for the synthetic grit of 140 BPM dubstep when he discovered digital audio workstations - software that let him create a single, earth-shaking drop. “It was the energy it brought,” he recalls. “It felt dark, aggressive, and made me experience a type of way. What drew me into dubstep was its electronic breakdowns, and producing solo felt more immediate than corralling a full band.”  Lazy K’s productions pulse with the kinetic drive of hip-hop drum patterns fused to wobbling low-end textures. He mines inspiration from everything - jagged trap hats, the off-kilter bounce of UK garage, snapping snares, etc. Yet he keeps circling back to one sweet spot: the 140 BPM zone, where groove and grit collide. “I take a lot of elements from hip-hop,” he explains. “I love hip-hop drums with wonky basslines on top. I’m unsure what drags me back to 140, but I’ve always vibed with that range - even in hip-hop.” By weaving these diverse threads through the loom of deep bass, he forges a style that jerks spines, rattles floors, and refuses to sit still.  The moment Lazy K’s track, “Screwdriver,” burst onto UKF’s homepage, that’s when he knew. That single feature would transform his project into a spotlight under the global bass community’s gaze. “Support from pioneers is everything you could dream of,” he says. “Having support from people who paved the way feels indescribable. UKF wasn’t even expected, but it validated all the time and hard work I poured into Lazy K.”  He has also stepped onto the Freaky Deaky & Lights All Night stages, delivering his signature wobble drops straight into the crowd like a wall of sound. “Playing Freaky Deaky and Lights All Night was epic,” he recalls. “I’ve never attended them growing up, but I always told myself I’d perform there one day.” Those festivals ceased to be distant dreams in those moments and became the pulse driving his music forward.   Austin’s bass community cradled Lazy K’s rise from the first time he slipped behind the decks. Collectives such as Subciety  have provided that unwavering backing and tireless support that embodies his core ethos - look out for each other, chase the dream, and shatter every boundary. “I have people that have been rocking with me over a decade, and that means the world to me,” he says. “I’ve been blessed enough to have support from many collectives that have been around from the start until now. There have been so many things in my life I didn’t think I was capable of until doing them. You’re unstoppable, as long as you have a vision and a goal!”  Lazy K eyes the next chapter with a clear focus, aiming to sign with labels that sculpt the bass landscape. He speaks of wanting to join forces with imprints like Deep Dark & Dangerous  and Deadbeats  - labels known for pushing boundaries while keeping the scene tight-knit. His festival dreams stretch across late this year and beyond. Lost Lands ranks high on that list, but festivals like Infrasound , Sound Haven , and The Untz  call to him, too - events with underground grit and fans who crave the next bass innovation. For now, with ILLFest less than seven days away, Lazy K will ignite its main stage, his next crescendo looming.

For a moment, we felt beamed onto another planet: violet lasers sliced through the Bomb Factory’s smoky haze in Dallas and arced across Houston’s Bayou Music Center. Latex balloons—slick and cool—floated overhead like drifting jellyfish. Just when you thought the spectacle peaked, a sudden strobe snapped everything back into sharp relief, a reminder that untold wonders still lay ahead on this one-of-a-kind LSZEE journey. Photo Credit: Malcolm Jones LSZEE spent two nights drifting through Dallas’s cavernous Bomb Factory  on May 9 and 10, then resurfaced for two more sets at Houston’s Bayou Music Center  on May 16 and 17. As their sole U.S. collaboration, LSDREAM  and CloZee  wove shimmering synth-scapes into bass so deep it rattled the crowd, sending fans somewhere beautifully uncharted. Each evening unleashed a flood of bass so deep it rattled the crowds. Supporting talent prepared the Dallas and Houston crowds for LSZEE’s arrival, each opener stamping their distinct sound onto the night. Jordnmoody  and Sortof Vague  kicked things off with their syrupy basslines, followed by Artifakts , Vincent Antone , and Thought Process  dropping their experimental and downtempo repertoire. Finally, Wreckno , Zingara , and Levity  closed the sequence to prepare for takeoff on the LSZEE spacecraft.  Photo Credit: Malcolm Jones LSZEE ignited the speakers and rolled bass waves with extreme renditions of fan favorites like “PSYCHEDELIC” and CloZee’s remix of Apashe ’s “Majesty”. The duo stitched together many seamless mashups that simultaneously felt deep and skyward. Above the crowd, lasers swerved in perfect symmetry, painting the ceiling with vibrant colors. Slick and cool balloons playfully floated through the Bomb Factory crowd, creating the energetic vibe everyone craved and deserved. We still can’t get over their vibrantly cinematic visuals.  LSZEE sewed together two sonic galaxies. From LSDREAM’s shimmering soaked synths and CloZee’s grounded, earthly basslines, their energy braids tightly and deliberately. One moment, the crowd floated inside LSDREAM’s cosmic ether while CloZee reeled them back in with her ancestral loops. Each transition built suspense with purpose, and their musical chemistry beautifully poured off the stage. Their joy felt infectious, like watching old friends DJ your dream afterparty.  Overall, we drifted into another dimension while breathing in color. From the space bass echoes to the kaleidoscope laser tunnels, everyone is anticipating what LSZEE conjures next. Even though this may have been a once-in-a-lifetime moment, Texas has been forever changed by LSZEE's journey.

He’s dropping dubs in Fortnite with fast hands and zero hesitation in one universe. In another, he’s behind the decks at Freaky Deaky , where the bass cannon is locked and loaded. San Antonio’s own KAUSE  is a rising force in bass music - fueled by instinct, sharpened by hustle, and driven by a love for chaos and creativity. And at ILLFest 2025, he’s set to level up once again. The first time KAUSE heard his track explode through a festival sound system, he was deep in the crowd, not behind the decks. That moment hit different. “ EDC  and Bass Canyon  were the first festivals I ever attended,” he recalls. “To hear my song played there felt insane.” Since then, his sound has been weaponized by heavy hitters like ATLiens , LAYZ , Riot Ten , and more, dropping like sonic grenades at EDC, Bass Canyon, and Ultra Miami . With tracks like “ Bad Intentions ” and “ Bodied ” released on Excision ’s Subsidia  label - a seal of approval in the bass scene - KAUSE has earned his backstage pass and community respect. His catalog also spans labels tied to Jessica Audiffred and Bear Grillz , with standout tracks racking up over 100,000 plays.  Over the last year, KAUSE has torn through a whirlwind of live sets, opening for bass behemoths like Subtronics and KAYZO . He’s played massive rooms, elbow-to-elbow with fans throwing down to every drop. His name blazed across the Freaky Deaky lineup not once, but twice - 2023 and 2024 -etched beside legends. Most recently, KAUSE hit the road with Jessica Audiffred’s tour, graduating from regional up-and-comer to national act. In cities like Denver and Minneapolis, he’s headlined rooms that pulse with raw energy. “It means everything,” he says. “I’ve met some amazing fans along the way. It reminds me to never take anything for granted and live in the moment.” KAUSE will step onto the ILLFest stage as a fan and featured artist in just two weeks, completing a personal full-circle journey. “My first ILLFest was for my birthday,” he says. “I fell in love with the festival. I’ve always wanted to play it.” He plans to bring USBs full of exclusive edits and a headspace shaped by years of grind. “I hope I leave an influence on new listeners and maybe even get to connect with them after my set,” he says. “That’s what it’s all about!” KAUSE didn’t learn music from music theory books or classroom lectures - he learned by listening. His creative compass is internal, guided by feel, not formulas. “Artists have inspired me before starting my dubstep journey,” he explains. “Although it’s been fun, I want to push myself further.” That push is already happening.  Lately, dubstep’s familiar crunch hasn’t hit quite the same. “I’m tired of dubstep,” KAUSE said bluntly. “This project is about making whatever I like.” That freedom fuels a new creative phase - genre-fluid, boundary-free, and wildly authentic. “I’m excited to see where it goes, and I hope my fan base enjoys the transition. When the strobes fade and the subwoofers go silent, KAUSE is still chasing adrenaline - at the gym or in a Fortnite lobby. “The gym keeps me in shape and Fortnite helps me unwind at the end of the day,” he says. “I’m also in nursing school, so finding a balance in everything makes it all worth it.” That discipline - equal part physical, mental, and creative - is key to his evolution.  Whether it’s leveling up in Fortnite or delivering genre-bending sets on festival stages, KAUSE is writing his code. From spinning eclectic playlists as a San Antonio kid to hearing his tracks shake the crowd at Ultra or EDC, he’s already gone further than he imagined. But the journey isn't done. When he hits ILLFest - don’t blink. He might spawn a whole new level.

Under a canvas of layered lights and pounding basslines, thousands pulsed in unison across the riverfront lawns of Panther Island Pavilion, where thunderous drops melted everybody’s worries away. Ubbi Dubbi 2025 was a full-spectrum journey through sound, sweat, and soul. Held the weekend of April 26-27, the Ubbi Dubbi Festival returned to Fort Worth, Texas, for its sixth year, transforming Panther Island into a sprawling playground of diverse electronic music. Produced by Disco Presents, the festival pulled in thousands of fans for two electrifying days that blended high-energy performances, exclusive B2B sets, and a fresh focus on mental health and inclusivity. With three immersive stages, a Monstercat  label takeover, and interactive experiences like the OUTLET x Amplified Minds wellness booth, Ubbi Dubbi proved itself as a simultaneous party and movement.  Photo Credit: Tyler Church Ubbi Dubbi delivered unforgettable sets that made the Texas air crackle with energy. On Day 1, Subtronics ignited the main stage with a seismic blast of bass that rippled through the riverfront. Just before, Seven Lions had crafted an emotional soundscape, blending trance, bass, and cinematic swells into a massive yet intimate set. Day 2 brought in a sunnier groove. FISHER  commanded the crowd with infectious beats that snapped like a sunlit whip.  The real magic unfolded in rare, exclusive sets you couldn’t hear anywhere else. Adventure Club ’s throwback set flooded the festival with 2010s nostalgia, triggering a sugar rush of early dubstep anthems. Boogie T and Dirt Monkey  collided in a swampy, funk-laced B2B showdown. Meanwhile, Dombresky and Patrick Topping  turned their house-driven collaboration into a sweaty, euphoric voyage - an ode to a dance floor cleanse under the vast Texas sky. Photo Credit: Don Idio Each stage felt like its own dimension. The Ubbi Stage pulsed like a living organism - soft and inviting one moment, thunderous and raw the next. Sunday afternoon saw Sunday Scaries transform the grounds into a sun-drenched block party with bubbly synths and sing-along hooks. Right after, Dr. Fresch  threw down dirty basslines wrapped in G-house swagger, stirring the crowd into a frenzy. At the Dubbi Stage , things got heavy. Borgore ’s gritty drops hit without warning, while HVDES sliced through the dusk with her sharp and surgical industrial bass. Earlier,  Mad Muffinz  repped the Texas underground with a glitchy, crunchy opener that turned heads and shook booties.  Meanwhile, in the heart of the grounds, the Zoom Room  staged its own riot. Saturday belonged to Monstercat , whose curated lineup with Riot Ten , Whipped Cream , and more drenched the crowd in strobes & bass. But Sunday? That belonged to 200 BPM enthusiasts, where relentless hardcore sets sent adrenaline to the face every second.  Tucked between booming stages and swirling LED madness was something far more subtle - and deeply needed. A calm and cozy tent invited festival goers to step away from sensory overload and step into presence. The OUTLET x Amplified Minds booth was a sanctuary. Inside, oversized cushions, coloring markers, and a glimmering gratitude board offered moments of reflection. Hundreds wrote down what they were thankful for. Amplified Minds , a Texas non-profit, partnered with OUTLET to carve out this space of clarity. In a culture where “losing your mind” on the dancefloor is a given, this booth reminded everyone that caring for your mind matters just as much - maybe more. From hard techno to dubstep to house, Ubbi Dubbi 2025 reflected the full spectrum of dance music and the people who love it. Everyone found their place: newcomers, old-school ravers, Kandi kids, hardcore purists. What truly sets the festival apart is its heart, delivering connection and doubling down on presence and belonging. Overall, Ubbi Dubbi brought the rhythm, light, and love and we’re ready for the next one!

Imagine a mural erupting in color as a DJ drops a thunderous bassline - each spray burst synced to the rhythm, each stroke electrified by the crowd. Now, picture that happening under wide-open Texas skies for three straight days. Welcome to ILLFest , a kaleidoscopic, genre-defying experience taking over the Travis County Expo Center from May 30 to June 1. No longer just a hidden gem for electronic music and street art diehards, ILLfest has exploded into a full-throttle celebration of sound, light, and expression - with its most ambitious lineup and immersive experience.  This year, ILLFest evolves - not only in scale but also in spirit. What started as a regional mashup of music and muralism has morphed into a multi-sensory culture clash, drawing global DJs, rising rap stars, and visionary muralists to the Lone Star state. Now, a three-day odyssey, ILLFest 2025 pushes boundaries with a broader musical palette, more interactive art, and stages designed to bend reality. The lineup hits hard right out of the gate. Tape B and Peekaboo  will team up for a back-to-back set that promises to blur the line between murky dubstep and experimental bass chaos. Meanwhile, bass titans Wooli and Liquid Stranger will bring their unique energies and shake the grounds with frequencies that register in your spine.  But ILLFest doesn’t stay in one lane. It’s swerving into hip-hop with swagger and Southern grit. BigXthePlug  and That Mexican OT  will storm the stage with diamond-edged verses and Lone Star modesty, merging rap and rave in a way that redefines both. Further down the lineup, a genre gymnastics showcase unfolds. ALLEYCVT  will zap the air with glitchy futurism. HOL! will throw the crowd into high-speed freefall while Deathpact looms in the shadows. Ray Volpe will deliver melodic aggression, and  Netsky  will provide a cool, euphoric wave of liquid drum and bass. In signature LLFest style, curated back-to-back sets will bring together global collectives for one-time collisions that will live and die on the dancefloor.  While the music shakes the air, the art will shake your perspective. Over twenty street artists will transform raw plywood and stage facades into massive, breathing murals unfolding in real-time. But these aren’t meant to be admired from afar. Interactive workshops invite you into the process, inviting festival-goers to grab a brush, throw paint, and get lost in the tactile mess of creation.  ILLFest’s new 360-degree stage will rewrite the blueprint for live music. DJs spin from a central perch as the crowd wraps around them in a shared orbit of light and lasers. There is no front row, no back - just movement, immersion, and sound slicing in from every direction. Then there’s the Rolling Renegade - part stage, part secret. Outfitted with speakers and illuminated with LEDs, this mobile sound machine will drift into the crowd and deliver surprise sets when least expected. And if that isn’t enough, Brownies & Lemonade  plan to bring their DNBNL takeover on Saturday, May 31: a full-force drum & bass assault designed to leave you breathless. Expect stacked sets, rapid BPMs, and blink-and-you-miss-it energy. So picture it: You’re dancing beneath a mural that’s still coming to life. Bass pulses from every angle of a circular stage. A renegade DJ has lit up the crowd somewhere behind you with zero warning. The air buzzes with paint, sweat, and possibility. In just under a month, ILLFest 2025 promises three days of unfiltered energy, soaked in sound and painted with purpose. And if this sounds like your vibe, we suggest you buy your passes here .

Photo Credit: Aylin Susvilla On April 5-6th, Fair Park erupted into a high-voltage playground as Breakaway Music Festival made its long-awaited Dallas debut. Backed by CELSIUS and kicking off the festival’s 2025 season, Breakaway Dallas drew over 12,000 fans through its gates, electrified by a lineup stacked with EDM’s most magnetic names. From start to finish, the two-day festival was a masterclass in production, energy, and community. Under the wide-open Texas sky, Breakaway Dallas didn’t just check boxes - it rewrote the playbook.  Some sets burn bright. Others etch themselves into memory. Breakaway Dallas delivered both. TroyBoi proved the trap genre is alive and lethal. His set became a sonic dojo, slicing through the night with precision and swagger. Classics like “Afterhours” and “Do You?” landed like lightning bolts. Basslines spiraled through the air, a hypnotic blend of nostalgia and resurrection that had the crowds snapping their necks in rhythm. Gryffin  delivered emotional altitude. His set felt like a full-body exhale - fluid, immersive, and achingly human. When he broke into a guitar solo during “All You Need To Know”, his riffs soared above the crowd as fireworks bloomed across the sky. It was cinematic, euphoric, and unforgettable. Then came ZEDD . His set unfolded like a cinematic crescendo, perfectly timed with a fireworks show lighting up the festival skyline. From the opening chords of “I Want You To Know” to the synth-drenched release of “Stay”, he transported the crowd across eras. But the true eruption came with his haunting “Squid Game” remix - menacing strings, collective gasps, and all dancing as one. Photo Credit: Aylin Susvilla On Day 2, Zomboy stripped things bare—and that was his power. No visuals. Just decks and a relentless torrent of dubstep. And that’s all he needed. Each drop landed like a sledgehammer. When he summoned the “Wall of Death”, the crowd split like the Red Sea. Fans collided with a roar so primal it shook the bones. SLANDER closed the festival with a different kind of weight - emotional, not just sonic. “Love Is Gone” turned the field into a cathartic ritual. People danced. People cried. “Wish I Could Forget” and “First Time” followed, each drop soaked in emotion and wrapped in velvet. It was a memorable shared release.  Beyond the headliners, Breakaway’s supporting acts filled the gaps with genre-blending brilliance and fearless energy. Ship Wrek burst in with turbo-charged momentum, delivering back-to-back drops hit like a sugar rush straight down the veins. KREAM , by contrast,   cooled the temperature without dimming the vibe. The set rolled in like a slow-motion tide as dusk fell - lush chords, smooth basslines, and blissful surrender. BUNT was pure joy in motion. One moment, he was slinging thumping techno; the next, lobbing filthy dubstep bombs. Through it all, the crowd had their hands high, hearts light, entirely in it. On Day 2, NIIKO x SWAE wasted zero time. Their set was a playlist made for beautiful chaos: sharp snares, booming 808s, and basslines that hit you in the face. Eliminate & LAYZ turned their crowds into battlegrounds of bass. Eliminates set oozed swagger - clean transitions, wild flips, and filth. LAYZ ’s riddim-heavy felt like thunder traveling up your spine. ACRAZE kept fans on their toes, weaving hits and unexpected twists. Yes, “Do It To It” dropped, but it came with fresh, genre-blending bends that kept the crowd moving. Breakaway Dallas didn’t just sound good - it felt good. Fair Park’s expansive layout offered breathing room for shuffling, spinning, and vibing without the need for constant shoulder-checking. Even near the main stage, crowd surges felt manageable. Around every corner, the festival offered more than music. Brand activations blurred the line between experience and art. End Overdose handed out Narcan with zero judgment. And yes, the Jimmy John ’s sandwich cannon did steal the show. VIP was a dream: shaded lounges, spotless bathrooms, and space to regroup without ever leaving the vibe. The layout was intentional - allowing fans to dance, wander, or rest while fully immersed.  Photo Credit: Aylin Susvilla Tucked away from the main stage thunder, the Silent Disco buzzed like a secret garden of sound. Here, headphones replaced speaker stacks. Ravers flipped between three channels - red, blue, green - each helmed by a different Texas DJ. Over 100 local artists rotated through the weekend, transforming the Silent Disco into a vibrant showcase of homegrown talent. The vibe was intimate, communal, and electric.  “My favorite part was playing to an audience of new faces,” said Mala Fama , “The Silent Disco gave me a chance to hear local talent between the bigger stage sets. I wish every festival did this!” SOMBER  described it as a Dallas reunion wrapped in rhythm. “The vibes and energy were amazing,” he said. “It was awesome to see the local Dallas scene unite and support each other. Ten outta ten - would rave again!” From our Gone Rude friends, stepping into that circle of glowing headphones felt like a milestone. “After such a crazy fun week at Breakaway, this event is something I will remember forever,” NOODZ  said. “The sheer amount of community representation on that stage - familiar faces, best friends, all growing together - reminded me exactly why I do this. Every late-night set, every early morning beat session led to this.” Miss T , meanwhile, brought a reunion. “I had friends from high school show up,” she said. “Some I hadn’t seen in years. I freestyled a set full of trap, bass, and dance music, and seeing them out there, cheering me on. That’s the part I’ll never forget.” Breakaway Dallas brought a movement to Fair Park. Every beat felt intentional, from the colossal mainstage moments to the quiet unity of the Silent Disco. Every light, every drop, and every space was built not just for the spectacle but for connection. And if this debut was any indication, the Lone Star state gained a new EDM tradition - louder, more profound, and more unforgettable than we imagined.

Before the sun dips below the horizon of the Bahamas, a silent disco pulses to life—headphones on, crowds swaying. Hard-edged techno and deep, liquid house fill the air and take command of the sound. At the helm is Susie Otto, who sculpts sound like an architect of rhythm. It’s a culmination of years spent grinding through DFW, live streaming on Twitch , and forging genuine connections in the heart of Texas’ ever-evolving dance music scene. Now, Susie is bringing that energy to Breakaway Dallas , the state’s newest festival, this weekend! From cello strings to club lights, digital chats to festival stages, this is the story of an artist who’s creatively carved her lane in the scene - one beat at a time. The first time Susie Otto felt music in her bones came from the warm crackle of a vinyl spinning on her Dad’s record player - disco grooves pulsing through the speakers, basslines thick with funk, the kind of sound that makes people move. “My Dad was always playing disco and classic rock around the house,” she says. “That shaped my ear for rhythm and groove.” Music wasn’t just something she listened to - it was something she lived. Hours spent with a cello taught her more than just technique; they gave her a deep appreciation for melody. But nothing could have prepared her for the moment she stepped into an underground rave in El Paso. The air was thick with anticipation, the low thump of bass vibrating through her body, neon strobes cutting through the dark - this was a different kind of symphony. “Trance, happy hardcore, deep progressive house - it was magnetic,” she recalls. Something clicked when watching a DJ work the decks, seamlessly weaving one track into the next, controlling the crowd’s energy. She knew she had to get behind those decks.  Photo Credit: Tony's Photography Life It all started with a glowing screen, a chatbox flying at lightning speed, and a digital audience of 3,800+ tuning in worldwide - this was Susie Otto’s foundation. Twitch streaming wasn’t just about mixing tracks; it was about curating a vibe and reading the energy of a faceless crowd through emotes and reactions. But stepping from the safety of a webcam into the heat of a live stage? That called for a whole new kind of presence.  “Transitioning from streaming to live gigs came with challenges,” she says. “Just because you have a good following online doesn’t always mean you’ll pack a dance floor in person - it’s a different kind of connection.” The intimacy with Twitch - fans typing inside jokes, dropping requests, vibing in their own spaces - gave way to a live crowd’s raw, unfiltered energy. There is no chat box safety net - just bodies in motion and bass rattling the floor. “But once I got a few shows, I realized how much the two worlds overlap. Both require more than just playing music - creating an experience, reading the crowd virtual or in-person, and building relationships.”  Networking turned digital followers into real-world supporters. Then came the breakout moments: Groove Cruise , supporting Mike Saint-Jules in Las Vegas, and now, Breakaway Dallas  - a festival in her own backyard. “Playing a festival in my city, surrounded by friends and the local music community - it’s a full-circle moment,” Susie says. Each stage, set, and crowd taught her something new - how to adapt, command a room, and, most importantly, stay true to her sound. Photo Credit: Faith Thompson By day, she crafts bold visuals; by night, she blends beats. For Susie Otto, the bridge design and DJing lie in one shared goal: crafting an experience. “Both design and music are all about vibe and connection,” she says. “In design, I’m thinking about how visuals can evoke emotion and tell a story. With DJing, it’s the same concept - only with sound.” A clean, minimal logo carries the weight of an entire brand, just like a single bass drop can shift the mood of a crowd.  Beyond music, she’s building a creative universe through visuals, mixes, and posts. Whether she’s curating a set or mapping out a campaign, the same question lingers: How will people feel when they experience this?   In Dallas, the EDM scene moves like an intricate dance - fluid, interconnected, and driven by mutual energy. DJs, producers, and promoters share an unspoken understanding: show up, support, and put yourself out there. “I’ve been part of a few tight-knit collectives over the past few years, and the amount of talent in DFW is truly inspiring,” Susie Otto says. “The scene is full of creative minds pushing boundaries, and collaborating with other artists has helped me grow - not just musically, but also in understanding the business side.” Photo Credit: Faith Thompson Beyond just sharing lineups, DJs and producers in Dallas swap knowledge, elevate one another’s projects and show up - physically and digitally - to build something bigger than themselves. “It’s not just about networking; it’s about building relationships with people with the same passion. We learn from each other, support each other, and push the scene forward together. That’s what makes it feel like a family.” For artists trying to break through, Twitch is a digital stage, feedback loop, and a branding powerhouse rolled into one. “Streaming on Twitch isn’t just about building an audience - it’s an incredible way to practice, experiment, and refine your sound,” she explains. Susie has helped DJs transform their streams from casual jam sessions into immersive experiences, guiding them on everything from technical setup to engagement strategies. “I help DJs use streaming to test new tracks, get real-time feedback, and develop their performance skills in a low-pressure environment.” Curating sets shaped her artistry, but now Susie craves complete creative control. “I’m so excited to dive into production - it’s the ultimate expression of my musical identity,” she says. “I’ve spent years curating and blending artists’ tracks, and now it’s time to bring my vision to life. That classic Chicago deep house sound especially inspires me. Still, I also love the emotional depth of melodic house and techno. Expect lots of groovy basslines, soulful samples, and atmospheric textures. It’s all about crafting a feeling - and I can’t wait to share that.” From digital stages to real-world dance floors, Susie Otto has built more than a brand - she’s built a movement rooted in authenticity, community, and fearless creativity. As she steps into music production, she plans to blend tracks while composing her truth. And when her set drops at Breakaway Dallas this weekend, DFW will feel every step of her journey, grind, and growth.