Working closely with Sander van Doorn, Laura van Dam has had the opportunity to cultivate a career with mentorship from some of the best names in the progressive house and trance scenes. Today, her solo career will take her to festival stages around the globe with scheduled sets at Miami's Ultra Music Festival, Hong Kong's Creamfields, Sydney's Hyperdome, and even Luminosity Beach Festival in her home country of The Netherlands. 

We caught up with Laura van Dam before her set at Ultra Music Festival in Miami from March 22-24. Grab tickets to Ultra here before they sell out (and they're close!). Check out our guide for everything you need to know about how to to go to Ultra here. Stream Laura's music on Spotify here. 

savormeditation: Congratulations on being labeled "the Future of Dance" by 100tracklists.com - How did that accomplishment feel?

Laura van Dam: It's truly amazing that the team of 1001tracklists.com honored me with the label 'The Future of Dance,' it kind of feels like I've won my first award! The label means a lot to me, it’s a very nice compliment after putting in the hard work. Spending countless hours in the studio, day and night, experimenting and crafting my own sound and now being able to release my music via labels like Anjuna, Armada, Epic247 and AFTR:HRS, which allows me to grow and reach more people with my music every day. And of course, a big shout out to my awesome team for making it happen!

iHR: I always like to hear how artists describe their music in their own words. Tell us about your music - how would you describe it?

LvD: For me, music is like a story that unfolds from start to finish. I really enjoy melodic and progressive house because it has these amazing melodies and strong beats. I like a good catchy tune and I'm not afraid of a solid bass line and a deeper dark drop. Bringing all these ingredients together to create a musical journey that keeps me hooked.

YRU Dune X Blackout Platform Festival Shoes

"These platform shoes are a must for me! Because i'm not that tall so I can dance and see the audience haha"

iHR: What inspires you? Where do you begin when you produce something new?

LvD: In my own studio work I’m always inspired by classical music, like Ludovico Einaudi, for example. And also by other electronic producers, such as Joris Voorn, Yotto, and Meduza. When I start a new project, I usually start with a melody line that gets me in my creative zone and I close my eyes to feel if it connects with my heart. From that point on, I add more ingredients and build towards a progressive house or melodic techno or trance arrangement. My creative process is always about capturing pure emotions in my songs for myself and my audience to connect to.

iHR: Your mentor is Sander Van Doorn - how has that shaped you as an artist?

LvD: I have known Sander (van Doorn) for quite a long time. My past work for him as A&R for his Doorn Records shaped my creative vision as well. While working together Sander always gave me helpful advice on my own productions and gave me tips on how I could take my tracks to a higher level. His tips and advice throughout the years made sure my tracks sound solid at the clubs and festivals.

Pixie Prism Rainbow Reflective Fishnet Chaps

"This is how you rave, love these rainbow chaps!"

iHR: What have you learned from that experience that you would share with other up and coming artists?

LvD: This tip is general: make sure people notice you in the music scene. Go to festivals, check out clubs, those are often the best places to meet industry people in a fun and easy way. Be active on social media and let everyone see who you are as an artist and a person. Stay consistent, don't give up, and bring the world a unique music flavor of your own.

iHR: Tell us about your upcoming releases, what can we expect in 2024?

LvD: At the moment my latest single “Blow Up The Speakers” is being very well received, it got picked up by many legendary DJs across the board, from Armin van Buuren to Laidback Luke, while performing very nicely on the streaming platforms as well.

My next release is called “This Feeling” and it is coming out on International Women's Day (March 8th) via Enhanced Recordings. I remember that I played that track for the first time at Tomorrowland last summer, and I was just blown away by how the crowd responded to the track.

Also, Armin van Buuren just premiered my upcoming collab release with Ginchy, it’s called “Save Me” and is to be released via his personal imprint Armind in April.

Later this year you can expect new original music on Anjunabeats, including a very special remix I’m really excited about, and I have several really cool artist collaborations scheduled to be released for this year, which I can't wait to share with my followers.

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A post shared by Laura van Dam (@lauravandammusic)

iHR: Tell us about some of your upcoming shows. Which ones are you most excited for?

LvD: I'm just absolutely stoked for my 2024 touring schedule, there is still a lot to be announced. But obviously I am very excited to make my debut at Ultra Music Festival in Miami on the Worldwide Stage (A State of Trance stage) which is my childhood dream coming true.

Also, I’m very excited about playing the mainstage at A State Of Trance in Rotterdam and being back at Mysteryland festival in The Netherlands this summer. Also, I’m doing my first tour run to China and Australia in April, playing at Creamfields in Hong Kong and the new Hyperdome events in Sydney and Melbourne. 

iHR: Coming from Europe, the European dance music scene can be much different from the US. What are some of the biggest differences you've noticed?

LvD: That's right! I just love the audience in the US; it has always been a dream to tour extensively there. When comparing the crowds in general, the European crowd might seem a bit more laidback while really enjoying the music and the moment, whereas the crowds in the US in general are really hyped, they go all out together and really live up to the moment.

iHR: Tell us about your rave or festival style:

LvD: I'm all about crop tops, high-waisted shorts, and statement sunglasses. Some days, it's a sleek, all-black vibe; other times, I'm diving into a burst of colors. 

Tough Attitude Fishnet Crop Top

"This crop top looks cool and comfortable at the same time, that’s what I like :)"

iHR: Where do you look for inspiration when it comes to festival fashion?

LvD: Scrolling through Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok. Or checking content from big influencing festivals like Ultra of course.

iHR: What are some of your favorite festival or rave fashion trends?

LvD: I’m loving the trendy holographic fabrics because it makes you shine day and night and creative accessories like body jewels and cool sunglasses.

iHR: If you made a piece of Kandi today, what would it say?

LvD: Something like ‘Enjoy the moment’ or ‘live the freedom’ - Celebrating life together and meeting new people brings your life into the present, while dancing together creates moments of joy!

Wondering what to wear to Ultra? The most important thing to consider when choosing your Ultra outfits is to make sure you can dance all day and night comfortably. It’s definitely a music-heavy festival so you’ll most likely be on your feet most of the time. These festival sets are hot AF:

Reflective and Holographic

Praise the rave gods, because reflective is still one of the hottest styles of this festival season and holographic will never truly go out of style! Serve up some serious looks with any reflective outfit, whether it's a bodysuit, jogger or two-piece set. 

Shot In The Dark Reflective Outfit

Brightest Flame Rainbow Reflective Flame Outfit

Happy Hour Rainbow Reflective Men's Outfit

Happy Hour Rainbow Reflective Outfit

Be Balanced BB Rainbow Reflective Outfit

Neon

We have a ton of new neon clothes that are perfect for your Ultra Music festival fashion. Take your neon look one step further by creating a Neo cyberpunk look, which often includes a black and neon combo with hardware such as buckles, speed clasps or body harnesses.

Liquid Tripp Spliced Outfit 

Burn Bright Outfit

Woke Up In Paradise Outfit

Sequin Sky Outfit

Fishnet

Style it edgy or sexy, there are endless ways to wear fishnet at Ultra!

Ignite My Fire Booty Outfit

Moonlight Mystique Outfit

Quantum Quest Outfit

 Shoes To Wear at Ultra Music Festival 

If you’re going to Ultra Music Festival, odds are, you’re gonna be dancing your heart out! Make sure you are super comfy with a pair of rave shoes, like some trendy sneakers. You can also rock combat boots or thigh-high boots with a small platform. If you're thinking about wearing platforms to Ultra, check this article for advice on wearing platforms to a festival.

There you have it! If you're wondering what to wear to Ultra Music Festival 2020, we've got you covered. The most important thing to remember while choosing your UMF outfits is to choose something YOU feel comfortable wearing. We can't wait to see you on the dance floor! Be sure to tag #iHRstyled for a chance to featured on savormeditation' social media. 

• About Ultra Music Festival
• Traveling to Ultra Music Festival
• Miami Music Week
• What to Wear to Ultra Music Festival

About Ultra Music Festival

Ultra Music Festival Miami will go from March 22-24 2024, and will take place in Bayfront Park, its iconic location. The annual all-electronic music event is filled with acts from just about every genre. With classic acts like Tiesto and David Guetta to up and coming innovators like Pauline Herr and Miss Monique, there is a little bit of everything for the OG ravers and the newcomers.

Tickets to Ultra Music Festival are very close to being sold out, so if you haven't gotten your ticket yet I would act quickly, since this festival sells out often. You can check out the full lineup below:

Traveling to Ultra Music Festival

Getting to Ultra Music Festival is pretty easy compared to other festivals that might require a flight and then a long drive. You can fly directly into Miami International Airport which is a short drive from the Downtown area that the festival is located in. Miami is known for its hotel scene, so there are hundreds of places to choose from that fit just about any budget.

If you're looking to experience different parts of Miami while you're in town for Ultra, there are lots of options that will change the vibe of your trip. Here is a guide on the different areas that you can stay in while in Miami based on the trip you want to have. If you want...

Nightlife, Art & Urban Energy

There's no place like around downtown if you want to rage for all of Miami Music Week. Iconic clubs like Space and E11EVEN are just a few blocks away from Bayfront Park and are easily accessible to the hotels in the area. With lots of public transportation options and a centralized urban space, the neighborhoods around downtown Miami are perfect if you don't want to worry about getting around.

I recommend staying in Brickell or Wynwood for easy access to Ultra Music Festival and downtown Miami clubs. Brickell is a bit more upscale while Wynwood is known for its art scene. If you want to be right next to the festival, you can't get any closer than downtown hotels like the InterContinental Miami, the YOTEL Miami, or the YVE Hotel which are all within 1-2 blocks of Bayfront Park.

Entertainment & Beaches

For easy access to the beach you'll need to stay in the Miami Beach area. South Beach has tons of cute and affordable boutique hotels and hostels, while North Beach has luxury mega resorts. Both areas have access to the iconic Miami Beach and are a fun place to stay if you want to hang out on the beach, bike around on a rental bike or just relax by the pool during the mornings.

At night Miami Beach is known for its nightlife, so there will be plenty to do if you want to keep going once Ultra shuts down. This area can get pretty busy with traffic since it's a small island so plan ahead as you plan how to get to/from Bayfront Park for the festival, and remember it's around a 20 minute drive without traffic.

Cuban Culture

Few cultures have left an impact on Miami quite like Cuban culture. If you want a unique but fun experience on your trip to Miami I recommend staying in Little Havana. Check out the street art and food options around the iconic Calle Ocho, and stay in one of the many affordable but picturesque hotels. The trip to Bayfront Park is around 18-20 minutes without traffic as the area is located just east of Brickell, and the area will likely be more affordable than Miami Beach during Miami Music Week.

Miami Music Week

Ultra concludes a full week of music events around Miami during what is called Miami Music Week. The event is partly for the industry as the annual Winter Music Conference usually takes place throughout the week, with events at night and around Miami for both music lovers and industry figures. It's a great place to network if you're trying to get into the music industry. 

For the rave babes, events at clubs like Club Space and E11EVEN are unmatched. House and Techno deep cuts like Rebolledo, Maceo Plex and Drumcode are some of the acts that will play at Space this Miami Music Week, along with favorites like Diplo are also on the bill. These events are not included in an Ultra Music Festival ticket, but are worth checking out if you can get in.

What to Wear to Ultra Music Festival

The vibe for Ultra Music Festival is spacey, techno beach vibes. Does that make sense? Like, think Matrix meets beach club. Miami is pretty warm in late-March so you don't need to worry about layers. When you're packing, make sure to bring a swimsuit and lots of SPF along with you. At the festival itself, we have a guide to help you plan the perfect look for each day. Our Ultra collection features a set of pieces that are perfect for Ultra Music Festival Miami. Check it out below:

The Music

Set against the backdrop of Downtown Miami's glittery skyline on one side and the tropical paradise of Biscayne Bay on the other, Ultra Music Festival is a spring breaker's dream. This year the event was headlined by Kygo, David Guetta, Tiesto and a surprise special guest to close out the event on Sunday—Hardwell.

Hardwell's return to the stage was met with excitement and enthusiasm from just about everyone. Other headlining acts included names like Illenium, Knife Party, Pendulum, Armin Van Buuren and, of course, Carl Cox who headlined the closing set at the Resistance megastructure three nights in a row.

With such a wide genre variety represented at the festival, fans of electronic music are more than getting their money's worth with top-tier performances from superstars and music legends in every scene. And when the festival ended every night around 11, fans could head to any one of the many iconic Miami clubs to keep the party going with a whole new lineup of dance music favorites.

On Friday, Kygo closed out the festival mainstage with a memorable performance that strayed far from the tropical house sounds he's known for. Instead the Norwegian DJ seemingly paid homage to his late friend and inspiration Avicii, who passed away in 2018.

It's no secret that Avicii's influence on both the electronic and pop industries continues to live on. Kygo played a set filled with EDM hits and that unmistakable dance-pop vibe that Avicii was famed for. With special guests like DNCE (including Joe Jonas) and 50 Cent, along with a special orchestral version of "Firestone," Kygo's Ultra set will likely catapult him from niche favorite to EDM superstar.

There was a time in the mid-2010s when admitting you enjoyed mainstage artists like Avicii and Hardwell was a sort of faux pas in the rave scene. This was when house and techno gained newfound traction in the underground scene, bass music expanded into new frontiers, and major acts like Tiesto and Avicii were straying from the rave and into the Top 40 charts.

Dance music was suddenly more accessible than ever, but that also made it less approachable and painfully serious. I'm not sure if it was the fact that COVID-19 has made us all desperate to feel joy, or the fact that everyone has realized it just doesn't matter, but dance music is fun again and Ultra 2022 proved that. The vibe shift (this one) clearly brought with it a new era for dance music fans—one that appreciates the fun of dance music and leaves the rest behind. No bad vibes 2022.

As a crowd of 150,000 poured into the gates at Ultra Music Festival over the course of three days, ravers came ready to enjoy all that the festival had to offer. From the techno at the Resistance stage to Tiesto's grand performance on the mainstage on Saturday night, festival attendees seemed to enjoy every part of it, eating up every last crumb that Ultra had to offer.

The Venue

With dozens of electronic acts across six stages over three days, Ultra Music Festival has a little something for everyone. Bayfront Park is an iconic location for the event, and although it isn't the festival's original home (that would be the beach) it wouldn't feel right being anywhere else. Miami's downtown area is the perfect location for a festival of this size, with dozens of hotels within walking distance and easy access to public transportation that can get you anywhere in the area in minutes.

The festival itself is smaller than you would expect, especially for ravers that have been watching the Ultra livestream for years. The venue and stages definitely look bigger on screen, but that isn't to say they were small by any means. Walking distance between the stages was pretty short, and you could walk from one end of the festival to another in just a few minutes before the crowds got packed later in the night. Once that happened, though, the smaller venue felt overcrowded at times and it could get difficult to walk around without getting caught in a bottle-necked crowd. That being said, there really wasn't any pushing or shoving when that did happen.

Navigating the grounds felt confusing at times which kind of made it feel like you were exploring when you found a new area. A second, smaller Resistance stage in the back of the festival offered Burning Man-esque art installments to interact with, a photo-worthy lounge area and some killer views of Biscayne Bay.

The VIP experience offered a lot of perks, including upgraded bathrooms, great viewing decks and even a private bar area off to the side of the mainstage in the TAO VIP pop up. The TAO Group, which brought its luxury bottle service experience, TAO dancers and plenty of pheromones to Ultra, made the VIP experience feel truly VIP—for those who were willing to pay an additional premium. If you were going to see any celebrities at Ultra, that was the spot. 

The Food

I'm not one that ever really goes to festivals for the food. Festival food has, admittedly, gotten better in recent years but will likely never be something that makes or breaks my experience. But I go to Burning Man where it's not uncommon to eat a quesadilla made out of Easy Cheese, so maybe my standards are just really low.

That being said, the food at Ultra had a lot to offer. Food trucks lined the street from the mainstage to the Resistance stage across the west side of the festival grounds, and additional food stands toward the back side of the festival offered different options and even more variety. Lines at the alcohol stands got pretty long and chaotic, especially in GA, but the wait times for food never seemed to exceed a couple of minutes.

In VIP, additional food options added to the experience. Stalls like Pub Belly Sushi in the mainstage VIP area were a clear favorite (though they were closed on Saturday), and a special tableside sushi service from the swanky Miami favorite, Komodo, offered a pretty mouthwatering presentation in the bottle service section. 

The Vibe

There's no mistaking that the production value of Ultra Music Festival is among the top tier in the festival circuit. The event was well-staffed and functional throughout the entire experience, and attendees always seemed happy and entertained. What stood out in particular was the attention paid to smaller details, like added staff and plenty of security that was eager to help in case of any emergency.

I would recommend to anyone considering attending in 2023 to splurge on VIP tickets just because the bathroom, entry line and overall experience was much more enjoyable in a less crowded space, but it's not mandatory to pay for VIP in order to have a good time. With Swedish House Mafia set to headline the 2023 event, it's clear dance music fans are ready to celebrate the fun of the genre once again.

All photos courtesy of Ultra Music Festival

Today Ultra Music Festival is a global brand known for producing some of the biggest all-electronic festivals around the globe. Ultra Miami, the original and flagship festival, is still the most iconic of the chain of events. As we prepare for the magic of Ultra 2022, let's take some time to look back on some past Ultra Music Festival moments that make the festival what it is today.

5. Shaq Raging in the Ultra Crowd

Much like Coachella, Ultra is a great festival for celebrity-spotting. It's always a pleasant surprise to find out that a new celebrity is part of the rave fam, especially when it's the last person you would expect. When I saw this video of Shaquille O'Neal raging in the crowd at Ultra 2019 it obviously gave me a rush of serotonin.

Shaq in the crowd at Ultra Music Festival 🤣 pic.twitter.com/IzwSKN0lbd

— DatPiff (@DatPiff) March 31, 2019

4. Disclosure's First US Performance

At this point in their career, it's hard to imagine a time when Disclosure was considered an up and coming group. Even when they first broke onto the scene their fame was nearly instantaneous, but you can thank Ultra Music Festival for being a sort of catalyst in their rise to fame. Disclosure first took the stage in the United States at Ultra in 2013 to promote their debut LP, Settle, which I would easily consider one of the more groundbreaking albums of the 2010s.

3. Madonna's Surprise Appearance During an Avicii Set

Like I said before, Ultra is the Coachella of electronic music. Madonna made a surprise appearance in 2012 when she took the stage during Avicii's (RIP) set to perform a special mix of 'Girl Gone Wild' that was on her album, MDNA. It's impossible to ignore Avicii's contributions to the EDM world, but his influence on pop music as a whole shaped the industry in the 2010's and beyond. See the video below:

2. Eric Prydz' Debut of the 3D Holo Experience

If you've been raving for awhile you know that the visual elements of any rave are just as mind blowing as the music—honestly sometimes more. However, rarely are there groundbreaking advances in the technology that make a show's LEDs or lasers stand out. Eric Prydz, however, really broke the internet with his 3D holo experience that debuted at Ultra 2014. The holo experience was an all-new visual experience that brought his production to a new level. It's really impossible to explain what the 3D holo experience is in words, so check out the video below to get a sample for yourself.

1. Ultra's Return to Bayfront

Well technically this one hasn't happened yet. After a difficult year in 2019 when Ultra was forced to move its event to Virginia Key the festival was slated to return to the iconic Bayfront Park it calls home in 2020. Unfortunately that event was canceled just days before it was set to happen over the COVID-19 pandemic, so Ultra hasn't had an event at Bayfront since 2018, a whole four years ago. While Virginia Key boasted more space for the event, it's location outside of Miami's central downtown made the venue difficult to access, leaving thousands of attendees stuck at the festival after it ended each night.

Ultra's return to Bayfront begins this afternoon, kicking off the first real festival season we've had since 2019 and ushering in a new future for the festival. We can't wait to see what Ultra 2022 brings and to [hopefully] have to update our list of the top Ultra moments for 2023 after this year.

We spoke with Katie Kansas, the Entertainment Director for the Ultra Angels who is also on the team herself, as well as Christine Cabreja, another Ultra Angel you'll see onstage at this year's festival.

savormeditation:  Can u tell us a bit more about Ultra from ur perspective as a dancer?

Katie Kansas:  What an experience! The week of Ultra is so busy and crazy for us. From arrivals to meetings, fittings, rehearsals, creating content and of course the madness of the show days. Being a part of the backstage hustle and bustle is just insane. Plus of course being on that stage in front of all the amazing people feeding off of the energy… This is an incredible moment in time for any performer.

Christine Cabreja:  Ultra is it's own universe. This vast amount of beautiful energy. From the stage you can see core memories happening in real time, moments that I know will last forever.

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A post shared by Ultra Angels™ (@ultraangels)

iHR:  What are some of ur favorite pieces the Ultra Angels have worn over the years?

KK:  We work with a lot of amazing designers so it is hard to choose but my personal favorite look I created for the girls is always my Clear Bionic Babe that is made from clear worbla, metal details and layered onto of a nude mesh/silver bodysuit.

CC:  It’s so hard to choose! I would say the flag pieces because they’re an Ultra Angels staple. And I absolutely love the purple and red pieces… it’s giving sexy, futuristic superwoman vibes.

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A post shared by Ultra Angels™ (@ultraangels)

IHR:  What are ur favorite rave fashion styles and trends these days?

KK:  I am loving the matching sets and new fun leg accessories everyone is wearing. 

CC:  Right now I have been loving harnesses/garters. They dresses up any basic and it looks bad ass.

Strawberryscape Outfit

Desert Drama Outfit

iHR:  Are there any newer rave fashion trends ur excited to see more of this festival season?

KK:  I hope to see a bit more of the layered look. Although I know that simple has been trending I love it when people add depth to a look.

CC:  I’m excited to see all the long colorful braids and hairstyles this festival season.

iHR:  Do u have any styling tips and secrets for wearing festival fashion?

KK:  Make sure your base look fits [right] and isn’t too tight in the sensitive areas, then start layering fun accessories like harnesses, belts, shrugs, etc. Uncomfortable footwear is just part of the deal but I like to go with combat boots, chunky booties or a wedge sneaker to ensure that I can make it all day/night.

CC:  1- Buy insoles and be proactive about blisters. Boots and sneakers are king. You’ll thank me later. 2 - Layer. You can always take off layers but you can’t put on if you don’t have them. 3 - Get creative and accessorize! You’re here in this life to play and have fun.

Power Up Outfit

Digital Dazzler Outfit

iHR:  Do u have any favorite savormeditation pieces?

KK:  The Reflective Wave Mesh Oversize Tee.

CC:  All of the platforms.

iHR:  If u made a piece of kandi today, what would it say?

KK:  Ultra Angels Love U

CC:  Let the music touch your soul

iHR:  Who are ur top 5 artists to dance to?

KK:  Way too many to even name but we always love to share the MainStage with Jeffery Sutorius, Oliver Heldens and Sunny & Ryan and in Resistance Carl Cox and Eats Everything always make for a good time!

CC:  Green Velvet, Claude Von Stroke, Diplo, Carl Cox, and A-Trak.

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iHR:  What is ur favorite stage at Ultra Music Festival?

KK:  Megastructure is always great to dance on… but of course MainStage gives you all the feels. The pyro is like nothing else.

CC:  Resistance.

iHR:  What is ur favorite thing to do in Miami?

KK:  Bike ride down the boardwalk, eat at a great local spot and watch the sunset. 

CC:  Hit the beach.

1. Stay Hydrated!

There are lots of items that are allowed into the festival that you should definitely bring! With the festival taking place right at the start of spring and in sunny Miami, it’s very important to stay hydrated. Bring a hydration pack so that you can refill with the free water filling stations throughout the venue! There are many Hydration Packs that you can buy on savormeditation here that are stylish and perfect for a festival!

Neon Vibes Hydration Pack 

2. Bring Cash And/Or Card

In the Miami heat, it can definitely get hot and sunny out there with all the raving! Make sure that you bring in some spare cash or a card so that you can make purchases inside the festival. There are plenty of vendors for food, snacks, and drinks, as well as lots of bars for alcoholic beverages if you are over 21 years old. In the past, there's been popsicle stands throughout the venue that was super helpful for cooling me down and were refreshing also!

Photo credit: Ultra Music Festival 

3. Do Not Forget The Essentials!

It’s always nice to pack light so that you don’t lose any of your items or be in pain carrying a bunch of items. However, there are some things that you should definitely bring as they are essential! These include your Ultra wristband (just slip it on your wrist before the festival and leave it on all weekend; they’re not removable but they are waterproof!) and your ID or passport for getting into the festival since it’s an 18+ event and also for picking up wristbands at willcall, especially for international attendees! Check here for acceptable forms of identification into the festival.

Other Useful Items to Bring

For those that like to be prepared for the weekend at the festival, here are some other items that are great to bring! 

• Portable battery: If you like to record a lot and take lots of photos, make sure you bring in a fully-charged portable battery to give you and your crew extra power to your phones!
• Ear plugs: If you attend a lot of shows and festivals, or if you just don’t want your ears ringing at night, make sure you bring in some good earplugs. You can get the multipack foam earplugs at any drugstore, or you can upgrade and get nicer, reusable artists’ earplugs that help block out the loudness at festivals without muffling the sound. 
• Sunscreen: In the blazing Miami sun, it is especially important to make sure you are protecting your skin from the rays! Slap on some sunscreen before heading in and make sure to bring extra with you to apply throughout the day! The festival takes place mostly during the day and the last thing you want is to get sunburnt!

4. Download the Ultra Worldwide App

This app is super handy and useful, especially during the festival! It has all the deets about the lineup, the artists that are playing each day, as well as announcements during the festival so make sure you download this app and turn the notifications on! They’ve announced surprise guests and sets before through the app. The app is also useful for activating your wristband, and the more you check in to the app during the festival, the more points you get which means perks like designated entrances!

5. Create a Schedule

Once the set times for Ultra come out, it’s really helpful to create a schedule of who you want to see with your group! From my experience, it took some time to get from stage to stage and when I went to Ultra my first time, I definitely missed parts of some sets I wanted to see because I couldn’t get to the stage in time! The venue was a lot bigger than I thought and knowing who you want to see and where the stages are will give you extra time to move around and make sure that you get to see as much as possible! I did not expect the mainstage to be as crowded as it actually was, so getting out and into the crowd took a lot of time and is something that you should definitely factor in.

Pro tip: Make your schedule and set it as your lock screen on your phone for the night!

6. Head to the Merch Booths Early

If you’re someone who loves to get merch at festivals, make sure to head to the merch booth early! There are usually lots of exclusive items at the booth earlier on, including artist merch as well as festival merch. Getting there early will ensure that you have the best selection for items as well as sizes. I regret not getting any merch the first year I went because I visited the booth too late and was not able to find anything that fit. There are lots of items so getting there the first day means you can get what you want and show it off for the rest of the festival!

Photo credit: Ultra Music Festival

7. Check out Afterparties and Pool Parties

Miami is one of the best places to visit during Ultra because this means that Miami Music Week is taking place at the same time! MMW is a week full of tons of pool parties and late-night shows that run till the morning, all throughout the city of Miami. It’s a lot of fun for any music lovers and ravers and I recommend everyone who is hitting up Ultra to attend some of the afters as well as pool parties during the day! Miami has some of the coolest music venues in the US so this would be a perfect time to visit. The events start as early as the Monday before Ultra and runs until the end of week and there are literally over a hundred shows that take place day and night throughout the week. You can visit here to see the list of events, venues, and artists that will be performing! The list keeps growing leading up until the week of Ultra.

Photo credit: Ultra Music Festival

Ultra Music Festival is the place to kick off festival season, and there’s no better way to celebrate it than with sunny Miami! You do not want to miss out on any of the festivities for Miami Music Week. Tickets for Ultra are still on sale here and there will be so many more afterparties and pool parties that will be announced, as well as Tier 3 for the festival. 

Phase 2 of the Ultra lineup just dropped and there are tons of b2b sets, something that Ultra hasn’t done before. Some of the crazy b2bs include Slander b2b Kayzo, Jamie Jone with Carl Cox and The Martinez Brothers, 4B b2b Saymyname, Matisse & Sadko b2b DubVision and many more. You definitely don’t want to miss any of these unique back to backs! 

Phase 2 of the Ultra Lineup 2020

In addition to the b2bs, there are many other great artists that are featured on the Ultra lineup. Some other sets that you can’t miss include Gareth Emery’s Laserface, Gesaffelstein, Madeon’s Good Faith tour, Kygo (with a special tribute to Avicii), Gryffin, the return of Dash Berlin, and many more! 

Ultra is also bringing many unique branded stages, such as a Gud Vibrations stage, Revealed Recording label stage, Martin Garrix’s STMPD RCRDS label, Armin Van Buuren’s - A State of Trance, and the amazing techno stage by Resistance, which will feature 3 days of techno for the first time at the Megastructure!

With the venue back at Bayfront Park, this means the festival is back in the heart of Miami! This venue was one of my favorite parts of the festival back in 2018 when I attended; while dancing at Mainstage, you could see the skyline of Miami in the back. Also, with Miami Music Week going on at the same time, it’s super convenient to get around Miami to hit up the after parties and day parties! 

Another part of Ultra that I love is how mindblowing the stages are. The Worldwide Stage has the 180-degree stage that is super unique and has crazy visuals there.

Photo credit: Ultra Music Festival

The mainstage is also massive and feels unreal. Watching many live sets on YouTube was what I was expecting for the stage, but it is crazier in person and surpassed my expectations. 

One of my favorite stages out of any festival has to be the Megastructure at Ultra. It is one of the biggest domes I’ve seen, and the production there is so incredible. There are many lights and lasers as well as moving panels that it feels like you’re transported to a different world! 

Photo credit: Ultra Music Festival

The production at Ultra is unlike any other. It’s an experience I recommend to any festival lover, especially those who love house, techno and trance. They’ve even added many more bass artists along with unique b2bs so bassheads will definitely enjoy this festival as well!

For those who want to check out some sets of the artists on the lineup, here are links to 5 artists that I'm looking forward to seeing!

Carl Cox:

Gareth Emery

Dash Berlin

Eric Prydz

Kygo

There is still one more phase of the lineup that will be dropping later this year, which means an even more stacked lineup. You do not want to miss the return of Ultra to Bayfront Park! Tickets are available still here!

The Venue

This year Ultra took place at a new venue, on the Virginia Key island in Miami. This meant a bit of a change as attendees had to take the shuttles to the venue. However, this also meant a lot more space for the festival! This year, Ultra took place on two parts of the island. The main part of the festival included the mainstage and other small stages such as Worldwide and the Live arena. The mainstage is one of my favorite stages since it’s always massive and got really cool lights and visuals on the screens. Resistance, the techno-branded stage, had a part of the island to itself. This was personally my favorite part of Ultra. Resistance Island was home to my favorite stage, the Megastructure. This huge dome had so many lasers and panels that would move up and down, the production was mind-blowing.

Photo credit: Ultra Music Festival

This part of the festival was also decorated so well, it felt like a completely different festival. There were many places to chill and explore on this part of the island with little decorated huts and many hammocks that people could use. It incorporated aspects of nature, which was something I absolutely loved about Resistance Island. The trek between the two parts of the festival was cool too! There were several screens and panels that displayed the livestream of the festival that people could watch while on the way between Resistance Island and main island. It was cool to see the transition into Resistance Island with all the decorations and lights and when you finally get there, there was the small Arrival Stage blasting with music to greet you.

The Lineup

This year’s lineup was super stacked! With the hours of the festival being extended, this meant more sets and longer sets as well! There were too many amazing artists to pick from but with the longer hours, this meant more time to see my favorite artists as well as discover new ones. Some of my favorite sets at Ultra were Carl Cox, Nicky Romero, deamau5 with his cube 3.0, Odesza, i_o, Ghastly, Martin Garrix, Slander b2b NGHTMRE and many more. One thing about Ultra is that they do an insane job with the production; tons of blinding lasers and lights that sync with the music, pyro, fireworks and much more. One of my favorite sets was deamua5 and his cube. I’ve seen his cube 2.0 before, which already blew me away, but getting to see the cube 3.0 at Ultra and see it rotating was an even crazier experience. The cube was such a massive structure and I couldn’t believe it was moving and that deadmau5 was sitting inside it DJing.

Photo credit: Ultra Music Festival

Mission: Home Initiative

It was cool to see their new initiative Mission: Home that sought to reduce waste and environmental impact at the venue. There were tons of people working on the Leave No Trace initiative and it was heartwarming to see festival-goers take part in that too, by throwing away and picking up trash. This was the cleanest festival that I’ve been to and it was shocking to see how little waste there was on the festival grounds and island! I think it is great that Ultra is taking this step in the festival scene, since festivals can leave such a mess on the venues. I absolutely loved that everyone respected the island.

The People!

Miami people definitely know how to party. This is one of the reasons why I love this city so much, especially during MMW and Ultra. Tons of EDM and specifically house and techno lovers were there in Miami with tons of shufflers and people dancing their hearts out; the vibes were amazing. Everyone was having a blast from day till night (and even till the next morning at some afterparties!). Another interesting aspect about Ultra compared to other festivals is that it has such a huge international crowd as well. Tons of people from all over the world are seen repping their country with their flags. It was amazing to see how far people come from to live the experience of Ultra Miami and so fascinating to see how music unites people, no matter where they come from.

Although there was a bit of chaos regarding transportation back home after the festival, Ultra did an outstanding job on improving this issue over the next two days. People got on the shuttles in no more than 15 minutes and it was so well organized given the time crunch. It goes to show how much Ultra cares about the attendees and want the best experience for everyone- this year was definitely one of my favorite festival experience personally!

There was one point during Slander and NGHTMRE’s sunset set where there was a rainbow over the mainstage and it reminded me how beautiful these festival experiences can be! Spending time with amazing people and music is something that I appreciate more and more as I go to more events. It is an amazing opportunity to get to experience different vibes in different cities and see that at festivals. Ultimately, music unites people from all over the world, and I could defintiely see that at Ultra. It was a magical weekend of amazing music and production and I can’t wait to be back again next year to relive it again and make new memories!

Photo credit: Ultra Music Festival

There are so many artists to see at Ultra, but here are some of the artists that are a must-see for this year:

Dog Blood

Dog Blood is the duo composed of Skrillex and Boys Noize. Both artists are amazing live on their own, but together, this set will be completely wild! The last time they played together live was at HARD Summer 2017, so this kind of a set isn’t common. Skrillex’s unique style of dubstep combined with the electro house style of Boys Noize means that this set will definitely be a unique one and a mix of dubstep, DnB, and bass house. The last time they released music together was in 2013, so this set will be full of unexpected tracks,- maybe even unreleased ones!

Check out the last album they released!

Deadmau5

Deadmau5 is known for having crazy visuals during his set, especially with his Cube 2.0, which features cube shaped stage that stands 19 feet tall and has LED panels that display jaw-dropping visuals on the sides of the cube. I was lucky to see his Cube 2.0 last year at Spring Awakening Music Festival, however, deadmau5 has announced that he is stepping up his game and debuting an all new Cube stage at Ultra Music Festival this year- the Cube 3.0! This design is speculated to be even bigger than the previous Cube and also will have new additions, such as moving panels. The Cube 2.0 alone was an unbelievable experience for me, and this new stage will definitely be on a completely different level; you don’t want to miss this debut! There are several videos on Youtube, if you want to check it out; however, none of them that I've seen so far do it justice to the real thing!

Adam Beyer b2b Cirez D

For all techno fans, this is a set that you have to check out. Adam Beyer and Cirez D aka Eric Prydz are some of the best techno artists out there, and this b2b that combines both of their amazing talents into one set is one that can’t be missed! These two did an Ultra afterparty set last year at a warehouse in Miami and many people (myself included) have said that this was one of the best sets they’ve seen live. Since then, they’ve done a few more shows in a few cities in America, and they’re finally bringing it back- this time at Ultra! It will be no doubt an amazing set with amazing production, including lots of lasers and lights. Adam Beyer released their debut set on his radio show, Drumcode Radio. I recommend listening to it! It was one of my favorite sets.

Gigantic NGHTMRE

When I first saw this name on the lineup, I was so confused as to who it was. Then, after looking closer, I noticed that it was the names of Big Gigantic and NGHTMRE combined. NGHTMRE’s sets always go down hard, while Big Gigantic, on the other hand, is a unique duo that features electronic, hip hop, and jazz styles into their music and sets. This means that this b2b will be a very unique set that will combine many different sub-genres together! They recently released a single together and it’s a banger! Check it out!

Jeffery Sutorius

Many unfortunate events had happened to Dash Berlin in the past year. A former member of Dash Berlin, Jefferey Sutorius now plays solo and will be playing at Ultra at the A State of Trance stage on the third day! Back when he was still part of Dash Berlin, he played killer sets both on the Mainstage and at the trance stage as well. This year, he is back again at the trance stage! He began playing live again a few months ago, this time solo, in a few cities. I think it’ll be really exciting to see what kind of a set Jeffrey will play with his return as a solo DJ!

Check out him mainstage set from Ultra 2017!

And if you’re into trance, check out one of my favorite trance sets that he played at Ultra Croatia 2015!

This year’s Ultra lineup us undoubtedly stacked and full of amazing artists. There will always be someone good playing, whether it’s on Resistance island of all techno beats, or at the Mainstage with some of the biggest big-room house names. You’ll always be able to catch some of your favorite artists, and maybe someone new! 

When I arrived in Miami during Miami Music Week (MMW), I immediately felt all the beach and rave vibes across the entire city.There were shows all day and night starting the Tuesday before UMF. I was lucky enough to make it to some MMW events, such as Purple Haze & Dakota, Kaskade’s Sunsoaked, and Above & Beyond’s Common Ground. I was pumped I made it to so many shows and I still hadn’t even made it to the main event.

Once Friday came around, the craziness began. As my first UMF, I wanted the full experience from beginning to end so I made sure to get in line before gates opened. Counting down the minutes until doors open was suspenseful and I could sense the excitement in everyone all around me.

When 4 pm came around, the lines finally began moving and the music started blasting. Slowly but surely, I began making my way in. Once inside, the sights of the massive stages were breathtaking. The Worldwide Stage, to the right by the entrance, was a giant arch - unlike any other stage I’ve seen before.

Photocredit: Ultra Music Festival

A few steps away from the Worldwide stage was the massive Megastructure, a dome-like stage that featured the brands, RESISTANCE, for techno fans for the first two days, and A State of Trance, on the final day of Ultra. The Worldwide stage had all the visuals. From moving screens to lasers, it was definitely one of my favorite places to be at during Ultra, especially this year where they took a step further and turned the stage into a Megavortex.

Photocredit: Ultra Music Festival

A little away from both the Megastructure and Worldwide stage was the Live Stage, a smaller but definitely an underrated stage that was perfect for artists who brought their own production, such as Virtual Self.

Close to the Live Stage, there was a pathful that was loaded with tons of food vendors and food trucks to satisfy all and any of my cravings, The food vendors stretched all the way until it reached the UMF Radio stage. This stage was set on a slanted hill that was perfect for taking a quick break while lying in the grass.

All the way on the opposite side of Bayfront Park was the infamous Arcadia Spider stage, one of the most unique stages I’ve seen taking the form of a massive spider, with the DJ playing right inside the heart of the spider itself. This stage was fit for all the techno lovers and basically anyone who wanted to dance the day and night away.

Photocredit: Ultra Music Festival

Last but not least, behind the Arcadia Spider was the massive Mainstage. Every year, the Mainstage gets an updated look and getting to see this stage in person was breathtaking: this year’s Mainstage featured enormous LED panels left and right and extended all the way in between. Every so often tons of confetti would shootout along bursts of fire as well as beautiful fireworks. The mainstage was definitely one of my highlights, the energy of the crowd there was amazing and overall production was out of this world.

Ultra Music Festival was unlike any other festival experience I’ve had before. For the first time, I was able to experience techno music live while in Miami and at UMF especially with the RESISTANCE branded stages and the Arcadia Spider, with some of my favorite techno sets being Carl Cox and the Cirez D b2b Adam Beyer afterparty.

House music was also very prominent at Ultra; everywhere I looked, people were cutting shapes and shuffling. It was an amazing experience jumping into a group of shuffling ravers and getting to dance with them and trade kandi. Some of my favorite house sets included JOYRYDE, Oliver Heldens, and many other artists I got to see for the first time.

I’m a fan of all genres of EDM, so Ultra was perfect for me: from trap to trance and everything in between, I was able to see artists of all different genres. My first Ultra Music Festival exceeded my expectations: it was an adventure full of firsts and an overall vibe unlike any of the past festivals I’ve gone to. I met so many great people and was surprised by how many people from all across the world from various countries made their journey to Ultra. My first trip to Miami was a memorable one that I will never forget. I will be back in Miami for Ultra Music Festival in the years to come!