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Floor Essence 〜dance・club・party〜

The case of Eric Prydz’s first visit to Japan. 2023 with a sense of scene reboot.

2023.5.9

#MUSIC

In 2023, the restrictions imposed by Corona are finally over and people are returning to the music scene. The Japanese dance scene, which has been losing energy over the past few years, has been suffering for various reasons, especially in Tokyo, which last year lost ageHa, CONTACT, and VISION, which can be called the foundation of the scene. However, depending on how you look at it, this situation could also be a great opportunity to restart the scene. A party is only possible with a few friends who enjoy listening to music together, and this may be a good time for the birth of new ideas and unconventional ways of doing things.

In this series of “Floor Essence”, I would like to follow up on topics and news about dance music, the club scene, and party culture, and follow the rebirth of the Tokyo scene or the birth of a new party scene by the younger generation. No one can stop you from enjoying music, and you can enjoy it however you want. I hope that music fans will regain their enjoyment of partying from there.

Sticking to his own style, he has been at the forefront of the scene for nearly 20 years.

There are already signs that the Tokyo scene will be revitalized and rebooted once more this year. One such sign is the recent opening of the new club ZERO TOKYO in the middle of Kabukicho Shinjyuku. One of the signs is the recent opening of the new club ZERO TOKYO in the middle of Kabukicho, which may become a base for a new scene in Japan, as well as for more opportunities for foreign artists and DJs to come to Japan. The other is that the booking of international artists for “Summer Sonic” and “Fuji Rock” has returned to normal. This year, many of the hottest dance acts are booked for both, with Fuji Rock’s Romy and TSHA on Saturday being a must-see. I will talk about the UK dance scene surrounding these girls in the next issue. First of all, I would like to spell out my opinion about Eric’s Prize just before his visit to Japan.

As someone who has been following the scene for more than 20 years, Eric Prydz’s visit to Japan is news on a level that could be described as an event in a sense. He has been a major force in the EDM scene since the chart success of “Call On Me” in 2004 and the early days of Swedish House Mafia (a legendary group of Stockholm allies and EDM leaders Axwell, Sebastian Ingrosso, Steve Angello, and others), he has been a fixture on the scene since his early days. His unique presence in the world was recognized in 2005 with the single “Aftermath” and the following year with the release of Paolo Mojo’s “1983 Eric Prydz Remix”. The following year saw the release of Paolo Mojo’s “1983 Eric Prydz Remix.

These two tracks were played by DJs and at parties of all kinds, crossing over into house, trance, techno, and other genres. His rhythms are stripped down to the bare essentials, and the sound of each individual part is polished to the extreme, so much so that the quality of the sound can be achieved with just the drums alone. The composition of the track is also very simple, but the slightest development in the break is incredibly emotional, which many party freaks in Japan must have experienced at parties every weekend over the past 20 years. Since 2005, many clubs and festivals have offered to bring the band to Japan, but never have they been able to do so. One theory is that he hates airplanes and would not be able to tour Japan because of the long flight time.

I decided to go to London in 2011 to see him if he could not come to Japan. The venue was the O2 Academy in Brixton, the best live venue in London with a capacity of 5,000 people. Naturally, the sold-out venue was incredibly hot and the moment I opened the door to the main floor, a hot wind blew in my face. There was a party frenzy there that Japan had lost at that time, as if it were commonplace. The following year, his party became a 2-day event at the 10,000-capacity Alexandra Palace, and it is safe to say that he was already on top of the world at this point.

He has always maintained a certain distance from the fast-changing trends of the dance scene, and his style is what makes him so special. 2010s saw most top DJs move closer to EDM, but he kept his own style. He has also been incorporating 3D video in his party productions as early as 2011. As many of you may have seen during the recent Coachella broadcast, he is currently holding a party titled “HOLO” that makes full use of 3D images. Unfortunately, this visit to Japan will not be a “HOLO” party, but that will allow us to concentrate on his special sound. Eric Prydz has been at the top of the world scene for the past 10 years, and we hope that all music fans will experience his long-awaited first visit to Japan.

『Eric prydz Japan tour 2023』

Date: Thursday, May 11, 2023
Venue: Tokyo Shibuya CLUB WOMB
https://www.womb.co.jp/
Doors/Start 23:00

Date: Friday, May 12, 2023
Venue: Osaka CLUB JOULE
https://club-joule.com/
Doors/Start 23:00

Date: Saturday, May 13, 2023
Venue: Tokyo CLUB ZEROTOKYO
https://zerotokyo.jp/
Doors/Start 23:00

YODA DJ DATES

5.14 (SUN) 12:00~
Yagata Beach, Chiba
GROOVETUBE FES
https://www.groovetube.net/

5.26 (Fri) 23:30 – 6:00
Kichijoji CLUB SEATA
ONE AND ONLY 8th Anniversary feat. Solarstone
-Trance & Progressive Classics Night-
t. livepocket.jp/e/77nba

2023.6.04 (Sun) 9.00-17.00
Yokosuka Mikasa Park Music Outdoor Stage
Shiosai Boot Camp entrance free!

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