EDC Orlando 2015 Hits Close to Home for Seven Lions

A metal-haired surfer from Santa Barbara, CA, Jeff Montalvo has always refused to conform to the norm, and his productions are a clear testament to that fact. You may know him as Seven Lions, the man who challenged genre purists head-on from the get-go with a medley of melody and mayhem, as he fused the inner workings of dubstep and trance. Embracing the weird to a new extent now, Jeff has declared no sound safe from the clutches of his in-the-moment approach to music, with his latest, “Cusp,” serving as a whirlwind of trance, trap, prog and psy.

This weekend, he’s bringing his no-fux ethos to Orlando, which will see him playing in a market that hits close to home. Aside from the festival fam who will be losing it to his set at EDC, he’s stoked to be in a familiar place with immediate family close by. It’s looking to be a special one for us all.

On Saturday, Seven Lions will close out circuitGROUNDS with a rip-roaring amalgam of boundless beats.

You’re swinging by EDC Orlando this week. Do you have anything special brewing for your set?
Definitely playing some unreleased stuff. I’ll be doing my traditional blend of genres.

The new visuals you’re working on for your live show with 9iFX look spectacular. What types of concepts are you exploring, and will we get to see them in action at EDC?
Thank you. Some of the visuals will be complete, but not all of them. Basically, it’s about exploring these fantasy realms we’ve created.

I hear you have family in Florida. What region are they from, and how often are you able to pay them a visit?
My parents live near Cape Canaveral. I see them quite a lot, even though we live on opposite ends of the country. They live in a really mellow place very close to the beach, so it’s always fun visiting.

Surfing is a passion you grew up with. Do you still find time to sneak in a sesh every now and then?
I haven’t been in AGES; it’s crazy to think how long it’s been. Nowadays, when I go to the beach, I just drink beer and body board.

Are there any local spots you’re hoping to hit up while you’re in town?
DISNEY WORLD. Really, though—we are going to Disney World. I want to check out Harry Potter world as well, but they are in separate theme parks. :/ My wife and I have been to Disneyland L.A. and Tokyo, so we are going to try and go to all of them at least once.

You’re a self-proclaimed fantasy enthusiast. What’s been holding your attention within that world these days?
I’ve been playing The Witcher 3, and that has been giving me my fix. Recently, I’ve been getting into older books and just read Treasure Island, and now I’m about halfway through The Count of Monte Cristo.

What’s next for Seven Lions?
More music, so much more music. It’s crazy how much new stuff is in the works!

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