ILLENIUM is redefining the live show game with Awake 2.0 & unveils his refreshing new single, ‘God Damnit’ [Interview]

The development of live performances from the digital music world was nothing short of a happening. Artists throughout the board, out of house to bass, have continually sought to expand the bounds in which fans could experience their favorite music. Dating back into just the last few years, these attempts have ranged throughout an whole spectrum of legendary acts that have reached the apex of their respective fields, from Odesza’s ‘A Moment Apart’ excursion , to Porter Robinson along with Madeon’s collaborative ‘Shelter’ tour, to The Glitch Mob’s mind-numbing ‘Blade 2.0’ tech. These musicians have found new methods to push the envelope and eliminate the unfortunate stigma from now ’s society that DJs appear on stage with minimal effort and zero reside elements or functionality aspects. Now, as the calendar moves into the homestretch of 2018, another phase of this industry-redefining motion was unveiled at the hands of no one other than ILLENIUM.

Observing an upward trajectory that has propelled him into headlining status over the last few decades, ILLENIUM has always topped the bill of some of the planet’s most renowned festivals to develop into a scorching subject of conversation. He also ’s educated his all-star status with the launch of two critically-acclaimed LPs in Ashes along with Awake, and a couple of chart-topping originals along with an evolving live experience. The latter of the 2 albums marked a significant time for ILLENIUM, who introduced his audiences into the ‘Awake’ live series theory amid his widely sold-out US tour. In calling on the assistance of his two close personal friends in Dabin and Said the Sky, the eclectic trio awarded people in attendance an unparalleled adventure that set the bar high for what could be expected going ahead in the realm of all DJ performances. They transitioned away from the frequent use of only CDJs throughout sets into the incorporation of a array of live instrumentation that lent the spectacle a much more real and emotional atmosphere.

The Denver resident began to tease a refreshed approach to his ‘Awake’ tour at the end of July after taking the last summer reinvigorate that which he had to offer online stage. After months of careful planning and that which he tagged some of the most complex work thus far, ILLENIUM formally announced his inaugural ‘Awake 2.0’ look with a house state occasion at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre. The August event marked a historical moment in ILLENIUM’s burgeoning profession, working as his first-ever headlining event at the place — a feat in which only some of digital music’s most colossal titans have been in a position to grow their record of accolades.

While it wasn’t explicitly revealed what to expect for the ‘Awake 2.0’ environment, ILLENIUM noted he could be creating more of his heavier live edits together with new music along with some potential surprises also. This turned out to be more than fans could have ever dreamed of, as ILLENIUM followed through tenfold on his promise with debuting an outright band installation with the aid once more from Dabin and Said the Sky. The group rightfully took another step in their artistic advancement by using everything at their disposal by a full drum kit into electric guitars into a grand piano.

As if this wasn’t enough enthusiasm for his loyal and self-dubbed ‘Illenials’ area to savor, the artist brought along a special unreleased creation throughout the series that was something that his fans had to see from the boundless 27-year-old. “God Damnit” wasted little to no time viewing the light of day as ILLENIUM requires a leap of faith into unconquered territory for him to provide something refreshing that dance music devotees had be exposed to. Boasting an introspective hook together with infectious rap pubs from climbing lyricist Call Me Karizma, ILLENIUM plasters his trademark drums and haunting melodies to get a crisp, romantic creation that’s primed to send chills throughout your spine. According to us on why he chose to undergo a more hip-hop route, he made it known he was fully aware of the reception it could get, however the story behind the song and also the relationship he felt with it erased all sentiments of uncertainty in pushing ahead with its own release.

ILLENIUM is poised to shoot his ‘Awake 2.0’ experience to three of the greatest cities from the United States to wrap up 2018 with sold out shows in San Francisco, Chicago and New York City as a continuation of his own newly-defined reside idea. Having already taken the original ‘Awake’ tour to the town that never collapses in December of the last year, the blossoming gift will be returning for a monumental three-night-stand that will certainly be one fans will recall. In preparation of his multi-night travel back into the East Coast, DA matched up with a few of the greatest names in dance music to chat about expectations for his rejuvenated series concept, his newest launch “God Damnit” and potentially working on something together with his idol Porter Robinson.

The Awake 2.0 tour has truly seen your whole transition in the DJ to finish live celebrity. I am ’t really think about any DJ who has done a full ring setup before so can you speak a bit about what inspired you to do this route? Did it make it simpler to place together while working together with close friends such as Dabin and Said the Sky?

With the first Awake series, we undoubtedly transitioned it to really be a live performance. It was so special and I managed to operate with Trevor, who’s a mad celebrity, Dabin, who’s an insane guitarist and David too, who’s Trevor’s trip director and does the drums. It was kind of this exciting point to be surrounded by all these awesome musicians such as that and I’m not too crazy of a live musician. Past the actual showit’s very cool to have folks that are starting the display to be a part of the major display where it’s in this way exceptional thing. For Awake 2.0we kind of just put all of that on steroids. We have a complete live drum kit and we have another guitarist come in so it’s just become an development of the Awake series especially since the music I choose to play I don’t want it to be a rock series.

What’s the experience like of earning that Awake 2.0 experience to the legendary Red Rocks for your headlining show?

It was really breathtaking honestly. It’s a really sentimental venue for me personally and I had my entire family there. Merely to get the whole Awake 2.0 display prepared, together with everything from timecoding into rehearsals, it was the toughest job I believe I’ve done live prudent. Shows at this caliber will have light choreographers and stage choreographers, and we didn’t have anything I was micromanaging everyone. It was really cool though as it was like my baby but I certainly learned a great deal and believe there’s manners we could best it more. I felt like it was a best description of if things aren’t overly perfect because occasionally you’ll watch a display and it’s too choreographed. The Red Rocks series felt like it had the perfect amount of imperfection.

You premiered a brand-new ID during that set as well, which is unlike anything you’ve finished before but has that classic ILLENIUM touch. Would you tell us a bit more about that single & the way that came about?

I really like that song. Last yearI felt as though I’ve been listening to a whole lot more variety of things. It’s ’s emotional and I feel as it’s a really cool story, in which it’s quite heartfelt and uncooked. It honestly just feels like it’s a more raw version of my favorite audio and I’m sure it’ll get ‘mixed reviews’. I believe it’ll 100% be some of my fans’ favorite tunes but the folks who loved “Gold” along with also the Kill the Noise remix are going to be like “well, what the f*ck is this sad boy rap? ”

Before you published your final time, “Take You Down” you talked about how it was made from personal struggles you’ve confronted in your past. Did you find it tough to open up like that or did you discover relief from having the ability to share with your committed fanbase?

100%. I feel as it’s a community today in which it’s about helping people out. I believe a whole great deal of fanbases or cultish communities get a bad rap because they enjoy a artist so much that it turns some folks off, which isn’t actually a fair appraisal because individuals are assisting each other in this community. It’s ’s a very personal thing that I managed to place out but ’s I believe I’m actually led with my music where all the things I’m working on today is a lot more personal and storytelling.

Through the launch of both Ashes and Awake and obviously each one of the music as it’therefore safe to say you’ve fully mastered your trademark sound. Why is it that you think that your music has resonated with fans in such a personal manner?

I believe a great deal of stems from how I produce music. I view music as this healing thing in which I go in by myself and it’s like this serene area in which I don’t feel any pressure also it’s emotional healing so naturally, that produces emotional music. I believe that’s precisely how it functions where folks connect to that. There’s instances in which I’m writing things and I just don’t feel it and I’m like “ok, I’m just gonna scrap it” but there’s moments if I’m producing some thing and I’m like “oh, this is tight”.

You’ve stated previously your dream cooperation will be with Porter Robinson but is there too anyone else on your own bucket list of individuals to work with?

I’d love if Porter did some more Porter. He does his own thing and he fully sent it into the Virtual Self material, which can be sick since it’s really innovative. He’s more innovative than I am; I believe I write music for that healing process that I talked and sometimes that just means writing tunes and it’so simple as that. I feel some folks write it in which it needs to be new, it needs to be something that they haven’t completely stepped before. I’d love to work with Porter though and I would love to utilize Skrillex too.

We know that while your sets feature a lot of paths that put you in your feels, you also incorporate a lot of hard-hitting music genres. Do you like playing more emotional sets or would you prefer if you’re able to throw down a great deal of snare and dubstep cuts?

I believe too much of anything and I get sick of it. If I used to play feels-y, then vibe-y sets then I would be amazed. If I was to just play headbanging collections, I’Id be like “oh, I’m gont expire too”. I move back and forth between having the ability to play an Awake series and after that play an afterparty in which I have no plans and can just wing it. It’s ’s fine to be in both worlds and I believe collabing with the musicians that I have last year has helped out with that.

Now taking a look at the other side of it, was producing harder style tracks constantly something you sought to do? Do you believe playing with them live help inspire one to collaborate with manufacturers such as Zeds Dead, Excision and Kill the Noise?

These were my original influences such as Bassnectar and Zeds Dead. I started out creating more bass-heavy music and then when Porter published ‘Worlds’ and Odesza was publishing their music, I really fell in love with that noise so it all combined. I make so many significant edits of my own music also.

It’s been a bit over a year because you published Awake and we all understand you’ve got your forthcoming individual “God Damnit” falling quite shortly but are there any present plans for a third record in the not too distant future?

Yes there is but I can’t really give much information but it’s certainly happening. I don’t actually stop [laughs].

It’s ’s safe to say that we ’re incredibly enthusiastic you’re coming back to NYC for 3 sold out shows from December. For fans that haven’t been in a position to experience Awake 2.0 yet, what could you tell them to expect?

It’s ’s a brand new adventure. If you watched the first Awake series it’s indeed different compared to that since I pretty much remixed the whole record and edited it. It’s actually just what I for-see digital music going about where it’s getting not band-ish, but more than just a DJ. Nothing contrary to DJing but I’can do things such as showcasing buddies also.

Photo Credit: Alexandra Gavillet

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