We Are NRG Brought Music Back to the Basics

Held at the Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, CA, We Are NRG gave Headliners the extra boost they needed to get through what was, musically, an awesome holiday weekend in Southern California. Running in conjunction with EDC New York out on the East Coast, We Are NRG gave those of us West-Coasters a little taste of magic. As a true Back to the Basics event, We Are NRG had a one-stage, one-vibe mentality that made for an amazing night of music.

Starting with trap and ending with trance, We Are NRG brought out an eclectic range of DJs from across the world and had something for everyone to enjoy. It was a breath of fresh air for this techno-head writer, as the event allowed me to listen to genres that I have put on the backburner and gave me a little insight into what is going on in the grander spectrum of electronic music.

This is, inherently, one of the greatest takeaways from the Back to the Basics events. At larger festivals, one tends to get lost in the shuffle, with a narrow genre mindset. But having just one stage allows your experience to mirror that of those around you, while allowing you to open yourself to something new and different. After all, learning about new music is one of the best pleasures of music festivals. For me, it was the Melbourne Bounce track “Back 2 Front” from Joel Fletcher & Reece Low.

Luminox started out the night with his dirty take on trap music, bringing it hard and fast early in the evening. Self-proclaimed festival anthem provocateur Bare took the decks next for a genre-spanning set featuring songs catered more toward a wide-open field, but he still got the crowd going early in the evening. Spinnin’ records prodigy Julian Jordan was next, and at 18 years young, he played a set that would gain respect at any age. This kid is the real deal; you have been warned, Headliners.

While Jordan reminds us all that this industry is forever changing, and the kids are indeed “coming up from behind,” fellow Dutch progressive house legend Don Diablo reminded us quickly to not sleep on the storied veteran. With a masterful set that made Headliners forget where the hour even went, he was the surprise of the night for this writer.

In 2015, W&W need no introduction. The trance duo is Armada Music’s mainstay, providing sets both uplifting and powerful. There could have been no better way to end the journey that was We Are NRG.