Ultra Music Festival 2023 Review: Swedish House Mafia, Kx5, David Guetta

If you noticed Swedish House Mafia again when the trio introduced its Paradise Again World Tour to Miami final yr, you absolutely thought you’d get extra of the identical when the act closed out Ultra this weekend. For probably the most half, it did not deviate an excessive amount of from that present, however in fact, there was a little bit of drama. SHM’s set began a bit late, and the trio appeared in charge David Guetta, the earlier Main Stage act, as the rationale why. Still, it is onerous to remain mad if you end up belting out the lyrics to “Don’t You Worry Child.”

Elsewhere within the competition, Jauz and Svdden Death silenced naysayers who thought their types could not mix collectively. And on the Live Stage, Deadmau5 and Kaskade introduced out their Kx5 venture for a musical duel.

Here’s what else you missed on day three of Ultra 2023:

Tale of Us

Attendees flocked to the Megastructure to catch a beat from the Italian duo Tale of Us. Over the years, Carmine Conte and Matteo Milleri have constructed a status for prolonged, mystical build-ups and synth-ridden drops. On Sunday at Ultra, they did not tinker with the system. The duo used silence as a secret weapon all through the set, leaving the gang sans beat for practically ten seconds. At different occasions, they launched melodies with warming vocals earlier than reintroducing hammering bass. If there’s a story to inform from Tale of Us, it is that mysticism, enthralling techno, and the sound of silence are all a DJ must make a set exceptional. Grant Albert

David Guetta

“Nothing exists however this second/I’ve by no means felt extra actual/I’m misplaced within the rhythm,” went the unreleased future rave monitor, an idea David Guetta created through the lockdown. The French DJ adopted the weekend’s Main Stage development of taking part in a mixture of drum ‘n’ bass and 2010s hits for a packed crowd because the second-to-last set to shut out the competition. Halfway by way of, he additionally introduced out rapper Coi Leray to carry out his remix of Leray’s “Players,” which he declared can be his “subsequent number-one hit.” Unsurprisingly, he closed out his set together with his largest hit to this point, “I’m Good (Blue)” with Bebe Rexha. Mary Gibson

Jauz B2B Svdden Death

Fans have been uncertain about Jauz and Svdden Death having a back-to-back set at Ultra, as their totally different types did not look like they’d make for good bedfellows. On Sunday, attendees have been comfortable to be confirmed unsuitable. Whether watching in particular person or on Ultra Live, the consensus appeared to be that it was one of many weekend’s greatest units. “Let’s see that fucking vitality,” Svdden Death yelled to the packed crowd on the Worldwide Stage. The viewers ate up the multigenre set and did Wall of Death mosh throughout a set stuffed with unreleased music and hits from each acts. Mary Gibson

Carl Cox

With Swedish House Mafia set to take the decks on the Main Stage, the Megastructure was left with solely these prepared to listen to the crème de la crème of techno. Cox started by sounding his boat horn impact and dropping the vocals to “Commotion” by the late Maxi Jazz, who handed away final yr, dedicating the monitor to the artist. In some respects, Cox toned down the abrasives techno from the evening earlier than for melody and respiration room. He dropped bongo rifts and Brazilian samba beats earlier than including one other scoop of pure vitality. With bass, hi-hats, and lasers in full impact, Cox dropped his monitor “See the Sun Rising” because the LED panels displayed the gang for the ultimate minutes. Cox lowered the BPM and sounded the boat horn as soon as extra as if to say, “Goodnight! See you subsequent yr!” Grant Albert

Kx5

Ready to really feel previous? Deadmau5 and Kaskade dropped their monitor “I Remember” 14 years in the past. A decade and a half later, the 2 realized the world wanted one other venture. Kx5 welcomed Miami for a closing reside set that reworked the tiny Live Stage into its personal Main Stage. The pair stood on revolving cubicles on reverse sides of the stage as if preparing for a duel. They began with “Alive,” the primary monitor from their self-titled debut. Deadmau5 and Kaskade had synths and results so as to add to the efficiency. The mau5 made the audio system bleed together with his spectacular synth work, whereas Kaskade added the feelings wanted for introspection. The two then dropped their unbiased tracks, like Deadmau5’s “The Veldt,” whereas the pyrotechnics and lights went into overdrive. Grant Albert

Swedish House Mafia

Swedish supergroup Swedish House Mafia was set to shut out the present Sunday night however had an unknown 15-minute delay earlier than lastly taking the stage round 9 p.m., saying, “Finally! Fucking lastly!” Part of the way in which by way of the set, the trio mentioned their delay was resulting from “different DJs taking part in a bit too lengthy” — maybe in reference to Guetta’s earlier set. The minor setback did not hold them from taking part in an electrical set, as they went by way of hits equivalent to “Calling On,” “One (Your Name),” and “Don’t You Worry Child.” The reception was combined because the trio had a rushed and controversial ending, with followers taking to socials to both specific their help of the brand new fashion or dismay at not having the identical vibe because the SHM from again within the day. Mary Gibson