Six Takeaways From the Amsterdam Dance Event
House, techno, EDM…and cooking? Appreciating the booming-yet-discordant state of dance music.
Every October, the dance music faithful descend upon the Netherlands for the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), a five-day conference and festival that attracts close to 300,000 revelers seeking every shade of electronic dance music—from hardcore techno nerds in record-label t-shirts to EDM-crazed bros with spiked hair. Taking place in over 100 venues across the city, ADE is like Austin’s South By Southwest for the international DJ crowd. Or Miami’s Winter Music Conference, without the daytime pool parties.
Here are six insights into the state of dance music I came across in my travels through this year’s festivities.
House Music Really Is The New EDM
I’m dining at my favorite Chinese restaurant in the EU, Hoi Tin, with a friend and former colleague who made the move from music journalism to major label A&R. These ADE meet-ups have become an annual tradition for us since I moved from Los Angeles to Berlin a few years ago. It’s a chance to catch up on the L.A. gossip, but also an opportunity to see what’s happening in the land of mainstream dance music. A true insider’s perspective.
Where in previous years, I’ve gamely smiled and nodded as he enthusiastically played me by-the-numbers EDM demos and spoke of Eastern European pop princesses he hoped to pair with superstar producers I’ve barely heard of (Blasterjaxx?!?), this year his ear has turned towards the sounds of European underground house. One act in particular, German duo Monkey Safari, had caught his attention during the previous night’s parties and he’s thrilled to hear that I am good friends with their manager. Introductory emails are sent immediately.
The idea that house is the new EDM has been bandied about for a minute in the press. UK house duo Disclosure’s reported domination of Coachella was over six months ago. But it’s reassuring to hear such sentiment coming from within the ranks of a global media conglomerate, and not just click-hungry media outlets.
EDM Ain’t Going Nowhere
But then again… I’m taking a taxi to the HYTE Warehouse party at the northern end of the city, eager to hear some full-contact techno at the hands of Berlin breakout DJ star Rødhåd and scene stalwart Chris Liebing (disclosure, this writer works for the company that produces HYTE). The cabbie knows I’m headed to “the festival,” and enthusiastically banters about the music on the radio—a live broadcast of the Amsterdam Music Festival, where 40,000+ EDM fans have packed into the Amsterdam Arena to wave their homeland flags (a tradition at this breed of Dutch events) to megastar acts like Martin Garrix, Dash Berlin and David Guetta.
The aggressive underground sound I’m itching to hear couldn’t be further from the sleek dance-pop coming out of the cab’s speakers, but it is undeniably part of the same industry. And while the 3,000-person techno bash I’m heading towards is hardly a renegade party (Dutch super-promoter ID&T is actually involved in both the HYTE and AMF events), it’s still clear which sound is filling stadiums.
Techno Is Bigger Than Ever
But then again… If one were to add up the plethora of techno events happening across Amsterdam, you could probably fill an arena as well. Just two kilometers southwest from HYTE is Awakenings, the pyrotechnics powerhouse that takes place inside the massive Gashouder in the Westergasfabriek gasworks complex—packing 5,000 sweaty ravers inside its giant steel dome for the industrial sounds of Rotterdam native Speedy J’s Electric Deluxe label.
Further down in the city center, Dave Clarke (nickname: The Baron of Techno) is throwing his annual bash at Milkweg, a multi-purpose concert and events venue that holds at least 2,000 fans. Around the corner, one of the inventors of techno, Detroit’s Derrick May, has sold out the converted 18th century church that is now Paradiso club.
Across the Amstel River in Amsterdam Nord, several thousand more heads are enjoying a lighter breed of German techno at the Kompakt Records showcase as part of DGTL’s weekend of parties at NDSM Docklands. A similar sound is being showcased down south at the beloved Trouw nightclub at the equally esteemed annual Resident Advisor party, where the relatively delicate sound of Jon Hopkins provides a perfect counterpoint for Four Tet, who delivers a surprising tough set of techno, making certain that all in attendance will not be home in time for breakfast.
Cooking Is The New Mixing
I’m strolling down Keizersgracht between the Felix Meritis and Dylan Hotel, the two venues where the conference portion of ADE primarily takes places. The narrow road is choked with badge-carrying attendees who buzz about on their way to and from the various panels, seminars and keynotes on offer for those who are willing to shell out a few hundred euro to be an official delegate. There are just as many non-delegates milling about along the canal, rapidly accruing roaming charges on their iPhones while they attempt to coordinate their next meeting or industry dinner.
Located between the two main buildings that bookend the block is the Traktor Cookery School. Now in its third year, the pop-up event invites some of the scene’s biggest DJs to cook a meal for 20 or so friends and colleagues — and the occasional freeloading journalist. As I pass the open door I’m hit with the unmistakable smell of Mexican food. REAL Mexican food. I walk inside to find Los Angeles natives Drumcell and Raíz (brothers Vangelis and Vidal Vargas), who collectively run techno crew Droid Behavoir. On the menu is fresh, genuine, homemade, East LA tacos. Running things in the kitchen is the Vargas’ mother, which tells this is the real deal as smoke from the kitchen (the good kind) fills the entire dining area. It’s a taste that is completely and utterly impossible to find on this continent. I am in heaven, as is Trouw resident Patrice Baumel sitting beside me. The atmosphere is relaxed and jovial, as if you’ve been invited into someone’s home. All the over-priced DJ dinners in Amsterdam can’t top this.
Equally inviting, though more competitive than the Cookery School, is the annual ADE DJ Cook Off. Now in it’s fourth year, three-time winner Seth Troxler has chosen the judges table over the kitchen counter, opening up the competition to a whole new set of contenders, including German tech-house duo Pan-Pot, electro innovator Arthur Baker (who once owned a BBQ spot in London), Danish Top Chef Finalist and DJ Kolsch, and Boy George (yes, that Boy George) who is now two decades into his career rebirth as a house DJ. The Cook Off might be the toughest ticket to score in all of Amsterdam, which runs opposite to Traktor’s drop-in vibe. But both events demonstrate the friendly family vibe that exists throughout much of the dance music community. A wholesome counterpoint to the late night hedonism usually on display.
4 Deaths Were Reported At ADE
It’s been widely reported that four people died while attending this year’s ADE. While only one has been confirmed to be the result of ecstasy use thus far, it’s not hard to assume that some sort of indulgences were possibly(?) involved in all four fatalities.
While such tragedies have become frustratingly frequent occurrences within the EDM scene, particularly in the United States, 2014 proved that even in the highly-enlightened drug culture of the Netherlands, unfortunate things can happen. Improvements can always be made, particularly if there is a will within the industry and governments to make conditions safer for those who chose to ingest intoxicating substances. But no drug is completely safe, and as the sheer numbers of people attending dance music events rises, the number of casualties at dance music events will increase correspondingly.
Charity Is On The Rise
But then again… While a select few ADE adventures ended tragically, an immense amount of good was achieved this year as dance music shifts its focus towards altruistic endeavors around the world. The most visible accomplishment was undoubtedly Cycle2ADE, a collaboration between online dance music magazine Resident Advisor and the Bridges For Music charity. Launched just two years ago immediately following ADE 2012, Bridges has already made a significant mark by bringing some of dance music’s top stars, including Richie Hawtin, Skrillex and Luciano, to do presentations and perform in some of South Africa’s most poverty-stricken townships, raising the spirits of those who call these shantytowns home, and awareness of SA’s immense (and immensely talented) house music scene to the outside world.
Cycle2ADE was a four-day, 300 mile bicycle trip from London to Amsterdam for ADE. Among the riders were DJs Chris Liebing, Luciano and Midland, along with several members of the RA staff and others from the London dance music community. The goal was to raise £100,000 to build a music school in Langa Township outside of Cape Town, South Africa—a donation amount that the supportive dance music community easily surpassed. Proof that as ADE and dance music in general continues to expand, its ability to touch lives around the world will also grow.
You can still donate to Cycle2ADE
Follow Joshua Glazer on Twitter @JoshuaGlazer.
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