We catch up with Zaeden and Lost Stories before they play at the electronic music festival in Belgium
Boom in Belgium is a small town with a population of just about 16,000 people. But every year, the otherwise quiet town plays host to the biggest electronic music festival in the world, Tomorrowland which has had headliners such as Armin van Buuren, David Guetta, Skrillex and Tiesto. Indian artistes Zaeden and Lost Stories, in association with Budweiser Experiences, will play at the second biggest stage, the Freedom Stage this year. We speak to the artistes about their set lists and the exclusive track they have made for the festival:
Zaeden
What can one expect from your set?
I will definitely be testing out new songs, but the good thing about playing with artistes you share a
rhythm with (Lost Stories, in this case) is that ideas flow naturally and the vibe is right.
How is the crowd there different from the crowd in India?
The good thing about music is that wherever it is played, crowds are always energetic and passionate. Of course, there is a distinction in terms of cultural differences with people attending from all over the world, but the beauty of it all is that they share the same passion for music which unites.
You have been to the festival before. Tell us about your experience.
My last time at the festival was in 2015, as a guest DJ during Borgeous’s set to premiere our song Yesterday in front of 30,000 people.
What can you tell us about the new exclusive track for the festival?
Lost Stories and I have been contemplating producing a track together for long time, and we couldn’t have possibly thought of a better time to release our collaboration than at Tomorrowland. The song is so catchy, that I find myself whistling the melody so often. It’s fresh and I am excited to explore this opportunity with Budweiser to produce magic together.
Which other artistes are you excited to see at the festival?
Dua Lipa, Galantis, Martin Garrix, Axwell, Pendulum, Ekali...so many!
What other plans do you have for when you are in Belgium?
As of now, I’m planning to spend a few days off in Bruges. I have heard it’s a really beautiful city.
Rishab Joshi, Lost Stories
How did you find out you were playing at the festival?
My talent manager informed us that we would be playing at Tomorrowland with Budweiser, and we were really thrilled! We were instantly transported back in time, revisiting all the great times we had last year while anticipating the great times that were yet to come.
Is there any difference between the crowd there and the crowd in India?
Sure. Taste-wise, the audience here is more diversified but enthusiasm-wise, both regions are extremely fun to play for.
Tell us about your experience at the festival last year.
Playing at Tomorrowland is like being at a giant picnic inside a fairy tale. The festival has become like our home now and each time the excitement only multiplies. This year, being in association with Budweiser Experiences makes the adventure all the more thrilling as we will be playing on their Freedom Stage.
Give us a peek into your collaboration with Zaeden.
We had so much fun writing the Budweiser track. The process was super organic. We decided the vibe, felt it truly and instantly started writing the melody. In fact, this may sound surprising but the whole track took us just two hours to write. After we left the studio, we couldn’t stop humming the melody.
Which other artistes are you excited to see at the festival?
We will definitely hit up Finjan, Dogma Cocktails, Bocadero and Roxy! We will be doing
a few surprise sets as well.
July 20-22 and 27-29. At Boom, Belgium.
Star Acts
Here are some chart-topping artistes who are headlining the festival
Dua Lipa
The 22-year old British pop star is known for her hit numbers such as Be the One and IDGAF. Her break-up number, New Rules, became the summer anthem for women last year.
Lil Pump
The 17-year old rapper shot to fame with his single Gucci Gang. His is also known for his track Welcome to the Party which was featured in Deadpool 2, and his latest music video, Drug Addict, featuring Charlie Sheen.
Infected Mushroom
The Israeli DJ duo is the biggest name in psytrance. Formed in 1996 they are known for their tracks Heavyweight, Spitfire and Becoming Insane.
Steve Aoki
This American DJ’s album Wonderland was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronica Album in 2013. The DJ is known for his antics, such as throwing cake and spraying Champagne at his fans, while performing.
Fatboy Slim
This English DJ has been playing since 1979. He popularised the big beat genre in the ’90s. His most famous tracks are Right Here, Right Now, Eat Sleep Rave Repeat and Praise You.