Good morning! Above & Beyond’s return with their first dance album in seven years is stirring emotions, as 'Bigger Than All Of Us' promises to blend heartfelt lyrics with massive live energy.

Will the 13-date North American amphitheater tour reignite the group’s legacy for a new generation, or deepen connections with their dedicated AnjunaFamily?

In today’s EDM recap:

• Above & Beyond drops emotional anthem, announces 13-date US tour

• Martin Garrix explores progressive house with 'Peace Of Mind'

• Day Trip Festival 2025 sells out with killer house and techno sets

• MK opens up about the DJ dilemma: hits vs. new tracks

Above & Beyond drops emotional anthem, announces 13-date US tour

The Recap: Above & Beyond return with their first dance album in seven years, releasing the emotional title track 'Bigger Than All Of Us' and announcing a 13-date North American amphitheater tour. Read more.

Unpacked:

• The downtempo ballad features longtime collaborator Justine Suissa and got a festival-ready club mix after wowing crowds at Coachella 2025.

• Pre-order the July 18 album and limited-edition merch bundles via Anjuna Music Store.

• Their new fan story hub embodies the track's theme of community connection.

Bottom line: This release marks both a creative homecoming and an evolved live experience for one of dance music's most enduring acts. The accompanying tour and fan gallery show how Above & Beyond continues building intimacy at scale.

Martin Garrix explores progressive house with 'Peace Of Mind'

The Recap: Martin Garrix and Citadelle drop Peace Of Mind, a cinematic blend of melodic and progressive house that marks a creative shift for Garrix. Listen on STMPD RCRDS.

Unpacked:

• The track breaks from Garrix’s usual sound, leaning into progressive house and vocals from longtime collaborators Wilhelm and John Martin.

• Citadelle’s influence shines, continuing their STMPD-exclusive streak since their 2020 collab Alive.

• Garrix’s 2025 schedule includes major festivals and a Brazil tour, hinting at more genre experiments ahead.

Bottom line: Peace Of Mind signals Garrix’s willingness to explore beyond big-room anthems, offering a lush, vocal-driven alternative. Fans of atmospheric progressive house should queue this for sunset sets.

Day Trip Festival 2025 sells out with killer house and techno sets

The Recap: Day Trip Festival 2025 sold out both days in Long Beach, delivering a powerhouse mix of house and techno with sets from Tiësto, Gorgon City, and Eli Brown. Relive the vibes.

Unpacked:

• Diversity ruled: The lineup balanced tech-house (Matroda) and hard techno (Layton Giordani), proving cross-genre appeal drives festival magic.

• Gorgon City’s sunset set showcased how melodic build-ups (like ‘You’ve Done Enough’) can transform a crowd into a unified wave.

• Eli Brown’s golden-hour techno and the Deep End stage’s LED halo demonstrated how production syncs with music for immersive experiences.

Bottom line: Day Trip’s growth reflects West Coast dance music’s hunger for curated energy and tactile visuals. For producers, it’s a case study in balancing intensity with vibe.

MK opens up about the DJ dilemma: hits vs. new tracks

MK opens up about the dilemma of playing his hits like '17' and 'Piece of Me' in DJ sets, balancing fan expectations with creative freedom—echoing a broader debate among artists. Watch his full IG take here.

Unpacked:

• Social media warps perception: MK notes how clips of his hits going viral make it seem like he only plays those tracks, despite diverse sets.

• Fan reactions vs. artist authenticity: He wrestles with playing crowd-pleasers versus showcasing new or lesser-known work.

• Peers like Gorgon City relate: The struggle is shared among DJs who want to evolve while honoring their biggest tracks.

Bottom line: DJs face mounting pressure to cater to audience expectations, often at the cost of creative exploration. The conversation invites fans to reconsider what they demand from live sets.

The Shortlist

• ALIGASH reimagines ‘Quicksand’ with a four-track remix EP, featuring transformative takes by Paul Skelton (uplifting), Rodrigo Deem (big-room), Edlan (DnB), and Once Again (breakbeat).

• Boris Brejcha drops ‘16 Red Even,’ a melancholic melodic techno track with a casino-theme twist, showcasing his cinematic production flair.

• Peggy Gou unveils ‘D.A.N.C.E,’ a sun-soaked house anthem from the F1 soundtrack, blending her signature groove with festival-ready energy.

• VENDETTA launches ‘Heavymetal,’ a dubstep-freeform bass hybrid with cinematic force, proving his genre-blurring prowess.