I remember when clubs were real—back when we all had flip phones and there was no pressure to document every second. Nobody was out there snapping pics or trying to “feed their eye.” We went out to forget about everything, to just get lost in the night. You know how people always say “a night to remember”? The truth is, the most unforgettable nights are the ones we barely remember in details—they’re remembered by the feeling.

Producers, let’s be real—getting stuck in a genre is a slow creative death. It’s comfortable, sure. You’ve carved out a sound, built an audience, maybe even found some success. But the minute you start playing it safe, you stop growing.

Let’s be honest—music journalism is in a weird place right now. What used to be a space for deep critique, cultural discourse, and actual musical analysis has been reduced to a glorified hype machine. Algorithms dictate taste, PR-driven narratives flood the scene, and way too many publications are more concerned with clicks than content.

In today’s soundscape, many DJs seem to be opting for the familiar rather than daring to venture into uncharted musical territory. Once revered for their boundary-breaking innovations, electronic artists now frequently lean on tried-and-true formulas designed to ensure that every set makes the dancefloor move. The emphasis on safe, predictable beats has gradually eclipsed the bold risk-taking that originally propelled the underground scene into a vibrant force of creative expression.

We love the idea of an overnight superstar. The bedroom producer who drops a track on SoundCloud and wakes up to a million plays. The unknown DJ who goes viral on TikTok and suddenly headlines festivals. The story is almost too perfect. And that’s because it is.

The raw, unpredictable heartbeat of underground dance music feels like it’s barely hanging on these days. Once a sanctuary for rebellion and pure, unfiltered sound—basements, squatted warehouses, secret gatherings where the only rule was to lose yourself in the music—the underground now seems choked by slick branding and corporate polish. What used to be a gritty, do-it-yourself realm is fast being replaced by mega-festivals and overproduced events that cater more to Instagram likes than to the soul of the scene.