My first encounter with Alison Wonderland was seeing her set at EDC 2015. I’m not sure what time she went on, but all I remember is seeing her walk around the stage, talking to the crowd and letting everyone know how much it meant to her to be there. Her set was amazing, plenty of variety and hints at what was to come, not to mention taking a few moments to explain a few songs and how they personally impacted her when she wrote them. Seeing her at the Bluebird was an unreal experience, though it started with Golden Features.
The masked artists of the scene generally make some of the best music I’ve decided, and given that this was my first encounter with him, I was wowed beyond belief. To a small crowd, Golden Features took to the decks and threw down a monstrous deep house set. Not only were there tracks I recognized, but he played plenty of music that was just so damn fun to dance too. I had a hard time stopping dancing long enough to take pictures! It was a great lead in for Alison as the crowd was full of life and ready for the talents of Alison Wonderland. If you have the chance, make sure you see Golden Features, worth every penny.
It was on to Alison next and I was once again impressed by her stage presence and ability to interact and connect with the crowd. She took things to the next level with cameras designed to show her mixing, but she also offered up some inspiration for the crowd as she pointed out that you don’t need a studio to make music or be creative. You can do it on your phone creating a vocal, or in bed late at night while you grapple with your thoughts.
Throughout her set she would take a moment to get onto the decks and take the mic, telling the crowd how a certain song was written and what was going on in her life at the time. She went even further by relaying a message of hope for those struggling, that things will always get better and that you’re strong enough to overcome it like she was. I was surprised with how personal Alison became, but it was obvious that music gave her the best way to express her thoughts and feelings and translate them for the rest of the world.
I couldn’t have enjoyed her set more as the variety of music gave something for everyone, while the crowd was energetic and responsive to everything she played. Hands down one of the best shows I have been to in a long time, Alison absolutely killed it. Check out some of my pictures below and if you have the chance, GO SEE HER. You owe it to yourself.
