Posted by: Derek
whoa, what a ride…
As mentioned in my [last podcast post] I just got back from Miami Music Week, and hot damn that was alot of awesome.
Industry parties, pool parties, things happening at all hours, craziness all around.
Given that nearly the entire dance music community was there it was a great place to meet friends, listen to some amazing tunes at arms-length from legendary spinners, and bask in the sun and the beats coming from every direction (even Wallgreens had a DJ!).
roger sanchez - yup, he's right there.
Besides new connections and great memories though, one of the most incredible things I took away from the experience was the power of dance music as a uniting and unifying force for all sorts of people. This was present on every dancefloor in town, where the vibe was just ALIVE in some indescribable way, from the small events to the huge warehouses. However, the largest events seemed to showcase it the most - Above & Beyond’s Anjunabeats Ice Palace event was incredible, and the biggest of them all - Ultra Music Festival - trumped all reason.
Ultra is insane.
According to the figures, this year was attended by over 100,000 peeps.
ultramainstage
The amount of people there should be absolute chaos, and if you look at the aftermath photos it still was to some extent.
However, nothing speaks to the human spirit like 70,000 people in sync with the DJ and each other in an undulating, bouncing, flowing tide.
Though every stage at Ultra shared this, the tent (or blimp hanger I should say) shared by Carl Cox and then A State Of Trance 500 was off the charts.
Absolutely nothing like it - look in any direction and thousands of people are experiencing what you are, bobbing to Carl Cox’s impeccable rhythmic melange, or completely losing it to Gareth Emery throw down Forbidden City.
The crowning moment for me had to be when Ferry Corsten threw down Beautiful - and the message hit home, leaving the entire arena crying, laughing, jumping, and sweating their hearts out. Very meta in a way, as one of the (minimal) lyrics to this tune is “Let the music carry us together” — it did, and in a way impossible through any other medium.
I’ll have to get a video from somewhere of this slice of time — it was absolutely incredible - will post if I find.
If you’re interested in seeing more pix of what Miami is like during music week, check out my album on Facebook.
And if we’re not friended on there, add me for chrissakes ^_^.
Bienvenido a Miami!
PS - I had the awesome chance to spin on one of the smaller Ultra stages! it was epic. and very miami. see below:
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