808 Festival 2015: Warm Up to One of the Top Festivals This Year

For years now, Armin van Burren has been a household name in the music scene. As a cofounding member of the powerhouse dance music label Armada Music, AvB’s list of accomplishments are second to none. Coming in at #4 this year on DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs, the Grammy-nominated DJ continues to headline shows across the Globe and still finds time to host his weekly radio show, A State of Trance, which continues to draw over 20 million listeners Globally.

One of the most exciting things about van Buuren’s appearance at 808 Festival is the fact that the Dutch maestro recently released his sixth studio album in October this year. Packed with collaborations with the likes of Hardwell, Cosmic Gate, and Mr. Probz, you should expect to hear a combination of some of his all-time classic tracks mixed with A LOT of new material.

Fans were left in disbelief when Swedish House Mafia disbanded in 2013. However, just like a phoenix, Axwell Λ Ingrosso arose from the ashes stronger than ever to continue waving their progressive house genre flag. And can't you tell we got news for you, the Swedish duo, just like the sun will definitely be shining at 808 Festival – and so are you!

Since their reformation in 2014, it has simply been impossible for the two to stop making hits. Whether it is because Axwell Λ Ingrosso refuse to release a bad track themselves or they have a very strict Tiger Mom doing their quality control, whatever it is they are doing, it is definitely working. It is almost impossible to listen to a song by this dynamic duo and not be familiar with it as all their songs have been climbing up charts all over the world and have been featured in multiple prominent DJ sets and commercials. Getting the opportunity to see this dream team at 808 is a blessing to your ears.

What do you get when you put together a “Gecko” and Tiësto? In the case of Oliver Heldens, you get signed. At the time of his 2013 Gecko track release, Heldens was only 18 years old. Now at the age of 20, and performing for the first time ever in Thailand at 808 Festival, the young superstar only just became legal to enter clubs. But do not let the age fool you, his ranking on DJ Mag’s top 100 DJs is an even smaller number than his age – coming in at #12 – making Heldens the highest ranked house music DJ in 2015.

With hard hitting big room tracks taking over EDM, the future house sounds that Heldens brings to the table is a breath of fresh air that proves that music fans are always looking to branch out. The success of his track “Shades of Grey” featuring Delaney Jane, which offers a poppy house tune at 125bpm shows that his versatility can really twist a genre enough to make it relevant to the masses. And although it may be too much to ask, after all he is busy appearing in more than 200 shows a year and hosting his own radio show at the same time, but the fact of the matter is, whether he likes it or not, Heldens is now tasked with carrying his genre to new heights.

When Ü first heard that these gÜys were going to be making their Asian debÜt at the 808 Festival after coming together in 2014, Ü may have wet yoÜr pants a little bit oÜt of excitement, do not even lie. Even if that did not happen, one thing is for sÜre, these two need no introdÜction. Their EDM/trap concoctions have been the talk of the town recently, and with argÜably one of the dopest trap-infÜsed dance albÜms to drop in 2015, there is no denying that the dÜo who practically live in the top 20 of DJ Mag’s top 100 DJs as individÜal artists, mean bÜsiness.

Their appeal is so far and wide that a myriad of girls in Thailand seemed to have pÜblicly promised the organizers that in exchange for bringing the dÜo to 808 Festival, they will rÜn aroÜnd naked in the festival groÜnds. Time to pÜt yoÜr money where yoÜr moÜth is at ladies becaÜse Ü are aboÜt to witness them in the flesh. So watch oÜt for the animals everybody, because the prolific American dÜo that is: Jack Ü – the brain child of Mad Decent big boss Diplo and OWSLA foÜnder Skrillex – is aboÜt to take Ü there. Take Ü where? Into the jÜngle, Bae.

If you close your eyes when you listen to a Porter Robinson track, you might feel like you are flying, while riding on a unicorn, with rainbows flowing out of your mouth. Yep. That is literally the only way to describe how this outstanding electronic music DJ from America can make you feel with his tracks. As a DJ who plans, produces, and plays his own music, Robinson has even gained praise from Deadmau5 who would usually reserve his comments for trolling others.

Having started his career early at the tender age of 12, Porter Robinson is on his way to receiving multiple accolades before the age of 30. His album Worlds released in 2014 was so good that he had to remix the whole album and rerelease it again in 2015 simply because his fans could not have enough of his music. His appearance at 808 Festival will ensure that there are enough futuristic electro sounds that will surely give you goosebumps.

As a veteran in the house and techno scene, it proves you do not have to be French to age finely like a glass of wine because the American DJ Claude VonStroke’s sound seems to only get better with age. At the age of 44, his sound is from the future. Although, the veteran DJ’s first love was hip-hop he soon transitioned into electronic music and that was when he found his niche sound and began playing in some of the biggest festivals around the world.

His most recent track releases manage to embrace his roots in house music but somehow retain a mass appeal. Listening to it almost instantly throws you into the middle of a beach club in Ibiza where VonStroke continues to make multiple appearances per year. If you have ever wonder what that experience feels like, head on down to the Sunn Arena and check out the “Dirtybird Sound” for yourself. It may be new, it may be different, but you will not regret it one bit.

If you are familiar with the famous DC-10 nightclub in Ibiza, you will know of the Wednesday night parties called Paradise organized and facilitated by resident Welsh DJ/producer Jamie Jones. Fittingly so for a bikini beach party, the sounds on most of Jones’ tracks will instantly make you want to gyrate…possibly even alone with yourself…in front of a mirror…while you touch yourself…because that is just how sexy his music is. If you are preparing yourself to hear the sensual sounds that Jones will bring to the Sunn Arena at 808 Festival, we recommend you bring some birth control (real talk!).

Prepare yourself for a sensory experience unlike any other, where all your 5 senses of touch, sight, hearing, smell, and taste buds (yes, even your taste buds) will be experiencing a party of their own. Just writing this article about him and we already feel slightly pregnant.

It is hard to put a finger on Sharam’s style because of his versatility, but whatever that style, is it has been working over the years. As a veteran in the game and one half of the Iranian-American DJ duo Deep Dish, he has a Grammy sitting on his shelf. And unlike most guys who win something big and just continue to do the same thing over and over again, he has certainly evolved as time goes by making his tracks always a treat to discover.

But whatever style Sharam shows up with at 808, we are more than happy to just sit back and enjoy. Prepare for what might be the most intense buildups you have ever heard, Sharam is just about ready to drop some magic on you!