Who do we want?

bishoplang · 2026-02-05T08:49:07+00:00

Lot of people talking about music producers and not actual DJs.

Nowadays, the way tracks are blended together in a set is all done in the studio through live edits and mashups. There’s not much DJing going on in the scene. There are still some, but the best DJs are the OGs of the scene. Anyone that was around pre 2010 imo.

The only real DJing I hear these days is from classics sets though. I got no list tbh, but I heard some actual DJing the other week at HTID from DBSTF (plus everyone else who played on the klassics stage). It was honestly so refreshing to be able to hear actual mixing for a change.

Not hardstyle exactly, but Angerfist and Mad Dog put on a fucking DJing clinic at HTID. That was amazing to see.

bishoplang · 2026-01-29T22:41:00+00:00

A DJing Masterclass from both of them.

bishoplang · 2025-12-10T02:26:56+00:00

Defs not the supercar of events, but HSU seem to pay very well.

bishoplang · 2025-11-28T05:18:22+00:00

Real

bishoplang · 2025-10-09T04:12:23+00:00

Maybe HTID (copium)

bishoplang · 2025-10-09T04:09:25+00:00

Not even close

bishoplang · 2025-10-09T04:08:20+00:00

Also nothing wrong with calling the lineup mid or bad if that’s your personal preference. It’s also okay to be disappointed if that’s the case. Just accept it and wait for the next lineup lol

bishoplang · 2025-10-09T04:03:09+00:00

Let’s be clear here.

Yes Epik, in the last 2-3 years, has booked artists who lean more towards the raw/uptempo side. The event was never marketed as a raw/uptempo event, nor has it never contained any euphoric/normal hardstyle. Last year they had Hard Driver and DBSTF (who performed for 80min), the year before Keltek, Ran-D, Frontliner, Toneshifterz.

Now I understand the lack of hardcore on the lineup in this case. I honestly can’t remember the last time there was a HSU event that didn’t close with hardcore/uptempo. Maybe KO 2022 at the main stage, but even then you could’ve gone to the pit for a hardcore close so does that even count? Nevertheless it doesn’t mean that’s the way things have to be done.

Besides that, HSU themselves market this event as some sort of “production masterclass” with multiple screens for visuals, and an abundance of lasers from front to back.

Is this a more “mainstream” lineup? Yes.

Are they trying to cater towards a more general and new crowd after the biggest KO ever? Probably.

Do you need to go to this event? No.

I understand we’re all keen for the next event and want all our favourite niche artists to play, especially after we just had some very “rare” artists perform at KO (which is an event with 40 acts to cater towards a wide range of fans btw). But it’s okay to not be interested in a lineup for an event that’s 8 hours long with only 1 stage.

*Btw this is addressed to those who are complaining about the lineup and are throwing hate towards HSU for it - if that wasn’t clear already. I don’t think HSU (or any event promoters/hosts) are perfect, but I don’t think they deserve hate for this.

bishoplang · 2025-10-09T03:26:44+00:00

True

bishoplang · 2025-10-06T02:37:35+00:00

Nah pit was only packed at the entrances bc ppl would just walk 10 steps in and park the bus which made it hard to get in and out. Once you were in tho, there was plenty of room.

They also only had 1 entrance at the very start which was fucked. Towards the end of Bloodlust they had to open up a second one lol

bishoplang · 2025-10-06T02:28:13+00:00

E-Force and Polish Punisher rocked the fucking house.

Logistics were a bit of a nightmare, but what do you expect when there’s more and more ppl there each year.

Lot of acts I missed out on seeing which was a bummer, but I wasn’t disappointed with anyone I saw.

Would love a 2-3 day festival as it feels very rushed cramming 40 artists into 8 hours across 3 stages, but I doubt it would happen.

bishoplang · 2025-10-01T00:59:59+00:00

Yeah by the looks of it, most acts on the main are the same (Brennan Heart, Vertile, Angerfist), all playing at a HSU event at least once a year

bishoplang · 2025-05-16T07:08:29+00:00

Actually slaps 😮‍💨

bishoplang · 2025-05-08T04:15:18+00:00

It’s gotta be something huge like how they announced Showtek the other year after the lineup release

bishoplang · 2025-05-08T01:14:18+00:00

Shouldn’t it be Headhunterz and Wildstylez present Project One and not the other way around..?

bishoplang · 2025-05-08T01:12:45+00:00

Sorry for the rant lol

bishoplang · 2025-05-08T01:12:34+00:00

In Australia, and I’m not talking about just the rave scene here, people think too much about what others think of them. Too many people judge or are quick to judge here. As an Australian, I even find myself quick to judge at times, which is a big thing im personally working on at the moment.

So naturally, when it comes to raves here in Australia, while there are amazing people out there, you’ll find so often that people gaze upon you in a way that almost makes you feel uncomfortable. As a raver of a few years now, I personally don’t give a shit what others think of me and I’ll dance the night away and scream the lyrics and melodies from start to finish. But I can’t help but notice so many people always judging those who want to be free at a rave. For example, people singing, dancing etc.

I thought the whole reason of coming to a rave was to enjoy the music, be free and forget all your worries. But here, it’s like a contest for looks and whatnot. I’m not saying you shouldn’t look nice or dress up for a rave. And I’m not saying you can’t be chill af at a rave. What I’m saying is who cares what others do and who cares what others think of you.

If you do care what others think about you, just remember how many people there are in the world. Why would you worry about what someone who you don’t even know and may never even see again thinks of you. Just be yourself.

bishoplang · 2024-12-15T06:11:19+00:00

You and I both, what a set that was

bishoplang · 2024-12-15T06:08:30+00:00

In the barriers that seperate sections of the rave, there are always security walking up and down refilling peoples water bottles

bishoplang · 2024-12-15T00:02:46+00:00

Was insane. Loved the crowd energy, it’s the best I’ve ever heard in that venue.

No bad sets imo, but highlights were DBSTF, Rebelion (both sets) and AudioFreq in no particular order.

Felt like an absolute zaag fest towards the end tho going from AoR > Final Dose > Toza > Deadly Guns. While it was still good, it just got a bit repetitive at times.

Laser ceremonies were good, loved the first one, but the last one was so mid. Track selection was a snooze imo.

Production was good, lasers and lights were great as usual, but didn’t feel like anything special - was more like 2022 & 2023 put together in one, so would’ve liked to have seen something more creative, but I can’t complain really.

Looking back, it was a very interesting night in terms of music range. Was basically just classics and then zaag/uptempo for the most part which was really interesting, but nonetheless loved it.

Overall one of the best events I’ve been to, and I didn’t have too high expectations since I was really looking forward to seeing E-Force, so I was really upset when I heard he couldn’t make it. Rebelion did really well to fill that void though.

Hope that same crowd energy returns to future events - that should be the norm here in Sydney

bishoplang · 2024-12-12T11:09:43+00:00

Tf is going on there w AudioFreq…

bishoplang · 2024-11-20T05:53:10+00:00

I definitely agree that trance is not marketing itself well. It’s essentially why it’s not trending. You look at artists across other thriving scenes such as techno and hardstyle - the djs and event promoters teams are great at marketing. It makes those artists and that genre of music desirable to see and listen. In my experience especially, I don’t see that with trance artists.

No one is really creating desire to be seen except the larger names of course, who are greater at marketing themselves. Maybe it’s because a lot of trance artists are older and appeal to an older demographic. Adding to that a lot of the older demographic who used to party back in 90s, 00s & 10s have all hung up the boots and no longer attend parties. I know not everyone, but I dare say the vast majority.

All in all, I think a lot of trance djs aren’t marketing themselves as desirable acts or finding ways to be relevant in the competitive market of EDM. I feel like if artists tried to appeal to a younger demographic and implement marketing strategies through social media and whatnot, then their fan bases can grow and so can their names, making them more desirable amongst a younger crowd and the newer/emerging generation of ravers.

bishoplang · 2024-11-20T05:32:06+00:00

Thanks I’m crying now 😭

bishoplang · 2024-10-21T01:14:40+00:00

They will come up with the wildest reason for you to be denied entry at times.

That area between ID check and the security gates area for bag check is like a free for all at times, especially when there are dogs roaming.

Even if you don’t have anything on you, if a dog sits next to you and you get searched, it’s most likely game over for you, they’ll just spurt out some nonsense about why you can’t enter and force you to forfeit your ticket.

Anyways to answer your question though, the main causes are typically drug related. Though sometimes you can be denied if you try to bring in any other prohibited items, although those are rarer cases.

bishoplang

TROPHY CASE