The city was bustling with foot traffic from a plethora of events happening over the weekend, but only Beyond Wonderland was worth going to. The long march towards the venue was all worth it once welcomed at the colourful gates. The Alice in Wonderland theme is always enjoyable to take part in. The first day was perfect to walk around and get the lay of the land to locate all 4 stages. Across the festival grounds were pop-up art installations surrounding carnival rides, along with actors walking around dressed up as characters from the novel to take photos with. More than a dozen attendees dressed as the Mad Hatter, but not enough dressed as the main character, Alice or the villainous Red Queen. 

Speaking of the Red Queen, the Queen’s Domain stage was the biggest setting fit for royalty. It only made sense that DJ Snake got it rocking with the successful run recently. DJ Snake got the packed crowd hyped by opening with his remix of ISOxo “F**k The Speakers Up”. The loud sirens ignited the fans’ excitement immediately. He kept the party going with his iconic Lil Jon collaboration track, “Turn Down For What,” followed by “Lean On” with Major Lazer. DJ Snake filtered out the chorus vocals of MØ, transitioning into UK drum and bass. He then requested the audience to turn on their phones’ flashlights to light up the scene for throwback tunes “Middle” and “You Know You Like It”. DJ Snake proceeded to turn up the heat with reggaeton jams with Daddy Yankee’s “Gasolina” and his Latin America track “Taki Taki”. 

At the Mad Hatter’s Castle stage, many gathered, eager to see Rebecca Black’s DJ set. The pop singer has come a long way since her “Friday” debut. A light drizzle began to pour during her set, which only awakened the crowd’s enthusiasm for her set even more. She started with “Sugar Water Cyanide” before leaning into more provocative techno and house music with explicit lyrics. She then went for more pop playing hits like Rihanna’s “Rude Boy” and Black Eyed Peas “Fergalicious”. She even played a remix of the iPhone ringtone, telling the crow it was their exes calling. Many were pleasantly surprised by her skills behind the decks, and it was great to see her mastering different elements in music.

The Caterpillar Garden tent is where all the House music fans camped and grooved for the weekend. One of the biggest names of the event was Chicago legend, Green Velvet. The energy in the tent was immaculate as fans waited to welcome Green Velvet back home. Once on stage, he wasted little time getting the mood right with speakers so loud you could feel the bass in your chest and cause your ears to ring.

The atmosphere was on point as actors on stilts danced by interacting with the front row, and a sea of bubbles fell from the ceiling. Green Velvet played unique blends of Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” and Sharam’s “PATT,” a modern mix of Eddie Murphy’s 80’s classic “Party All The Time”. Of course, it was only right for him to play “Percolator” and “Brighter Days,” two tracks that are synonymous with Chicago house music and pretty much the city’s anthem in the summer.

Alan Walker arrived to the Queen’s Domain stage to a huge ovation. The Norwegian DJ made sure to give the devoted audience by playing favourites “The Spectre” with vibrant aesthetics. He hit people in their feelings with “On My Way” and “Alone” before ending his set with the epic track, “Faded”. Fans stayed at the Queens Domain stage and rallied for Tiësto to close out the weekend, who started the set with his newest single, “Don’t Lose Your Head”. From there, he continued mixing trance with heavy bass with beautiful visuals and pyro that left fans in awe.

Beyond Wonderland Chicago is always a fantastic weekend to experience music. Even with past events getting rained out, fans continue to support the festival because we desperately need more EDM events at the beginning of summer. Since bringing the celebration to the Windy City in 2024, the festival has grown as a destination, earning the name of Insomniac’s marquee title.

Insomniac has shown its commitment to continue to expand the event by recently announcing the fest will be moving location to Chicagoland Speedway and will be a 4-day event starting in 2027! This will turn the event into a camping festival, something many have wanted to experience. While the event is a year away, we here at Quip can only imagine how big the folks of Insomniac plan to go with art installations and the lineup for the new location.

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Naturally, the festival theme, Alice in Wonderland, is at the heart of the event. With stages accordingly named – Queen’s Domain, Mad Hatter’s Castle, Cheshire Woods, and Caterpillar’s Garden – the festival is a fantastical playground. Between the stages is interactive art, immersive installations, and performances by Formal Foxes and Leopard Ladies.

The house music lineup includes the likes of Chicago’s own house pioneer Green Velvet, Layton Giordani, Sonny Fodera, Loco Dice, LP Giobbi, and a B2B set from Acraze and Wax Motif. Bass music artist list brings together Zeds Dead, Kai Wachi, Liquid Stranger, Space Laces B2B Eptic, Kayzo, Adventure Club, and a special performance from San Holo (Wholesome Riddim Set). Sets by Loud Luxury, NOTD, Blair, Liquid Stranger, and the Insomniac Records spotlights are also not to be missed.

Entry options include a general admission pass, GA+, which includes an expedited, dedicated entry and special access to premium, air-conditioned restroom trailers, and VIP, which skips the line, includes a locker rental and other amenities in addition to the exclusive VIP dance areas and a VIP lounge.

See the complete lineup and purchase tickets at chicago.beyondwonderland.com.

Cover image by Jake West, courtesy of Insomniac

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In true Chicago fashion, the first day was filled with rain. Fans didn’t mind the persistent spray of mist but the muddy mess below their feet was a bit of a drag. Walking to each stage felt like trudging through a swamp with a couple of shoes lost in the process. Caterpillar Gardens was a large tented stage that offered protection to the soaking fans lining up to hear Max Styler. Accompanied by a floating caterpillar fans packed in tight to dance to Styler’s techno and house beats.

Queen’s Domain was naturally the grandest stage fit for royalty. This stage was a large open space away from the mud with plenty of bleacher seats providing a comfortable viewing experience. The seats in this area, however, were sparsely occupied with fans rushing to dance to Benny Benassi. Benassi flawlessly transitions between different music genres while keeping the tempo intact. Aftr playing his hit song “Satisfaction” he switched to Sean Paul’s “Temperature” ending his set with The Killer’s “Somebody Told Me”. 

Wax Motif was the immediate follow keeping the crowd intact. The set began with a sample of Nate Dogg’s iconic chorus vocals for Ludacris’ “Area Codes” pleasing all of the hip-hop fans in attendance. Back in the Caterpillar Garden fans were comfortably moving to French DJ, Hugel. This party felt like a much-needed throwback with tracks like Technotronic’s “Pump Up The Jam” and a blended mix of old-school house and classic salsa tunes. The confetti cannons were a nice touch.

The second day of the festival was more fitting for Wonderland-type festivities with the sun finally out blessing the concert-goers. The first soulful mix was brought to us by Maddy O’Neal, who was sampling R&B legend Aliyah. Her set included throwbacks like Kid Cudi’s “Day and Night,” Lil Wayne’s “6 foot 7 Foot,” and Big Boss Vette “Pretty Girls Walk” which made the crowd go nuts.

The highlight of the night appeared to be NGHTMRE. As the name implies, NGHTMRE brings an intensity that hypes up the entire set. The head-thumping bass was embraced with applause leading to epic pyro explosions. Attendees were treated to an impressive range of genres during this set, with samples from songs like Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing” to Red Hot Chili Peppers or A$AP Ferg, and fellow DJ Liquid Stranger. This smorgasbord of musical styles was truly a smorgasbord of samples and full tracks blended into a lucid dream. Don’t fight it just let the music consume you and ride the wave.

Insomniac’s Beyond Wonderland conquered Chicago with great success. A little rain didn’t stop fans from having the time of their lives and the energy was contagious. The event was so successful that Insomniac has already announced Beyond Wonderland will return to the Windy City next year, ticket presales are already open.

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Walking into his trailer with his rep Ari, Alok is leaned back into his chair with his head resting on his fist. He seems exhausted. But wouldn’t you be too after working a plethora of shows? Imagine having to perform in Las Vegas in the afternoon and then Beyond Wonderland in California at night. Let alone flying in from different countries around the world. It’d be demanding on anyone. Yet Alok manages to look up and flash a golden smile. We both take a breather before we start our chat. Alok is his actual name, which means “light, brightness, enlightenment”. During our conversation, he lives up to the definition. Alok shows an honest vulnerability about the hardship of a grueling schedule, his passion for music, and plans to help preserve the Amazon through his “Future Is Ancestral” program.

Vidal Granados: Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with us during your prep time. How are you enjoying your time at Beyond Wonderland? On the way over here, I was listening to your catalog and loved the vibe, especially your version of Mathieu Koss’ “Big Jet Plane”

Alok: [Smiles] Well unfortunately I won’t be playing that song tonight.

VG: No! It’s okay I heard it 6 times on the way here

A: [Laughs] Then you heard it enough… You know Beyond Wonderland brings a different type of atmosphere so I’m just really thinking and preparing for what I’m going to perform tonight. I respect the places I go so the set tonight will be completely different than what I played earlier today in Vegas.

VG: How are you feeling, you’ve been busy running around, how do decompress and relax having been going in nonstop motion?

A: To be honest I’m feeling homesick at the moment. I miss my wife and kids so much. I actually wanted to take a 3-day break and then come back to the US dates, but it would’ve made traveling even more chaotic. I did 5 countries in two weeks so it’s been quite intense. Last year I said I was going to get into a more balanced lifestyle. [Laughs] Hasn’t happened yet. There’s a bit of pressure involved because every market is different. Just because you’re successful in one doesn’t mean it’ll be translated somewhere else. So I put a lot of thought into my sets. But it makes me feel better seeing fans connect with my sound. Having been doing this for almost 20 years I’ve played at empty clubs before. Now I get to travel knowing people enjoy my performances. Every time I perform it recharges my energy. There’s an adrenaline rush and release I feel afterward. Being on stage makes everything okay.

VG: Being involved with music for the last 20 years, how did you get your start?

A: Both my parents are DJs. They were my biggest inspirations. I was born and raised in the electronic scene. Growing up in a talented hippie community, I was allowed to be free at a very young age. This freedom made my brother and I choose DJing as a way to make a living. Some moments in my life I wanted to abandon it because I felt it was too complicated to live off true art. It’s hard and sometimes you don’t have the income to execute your plans. But my dad didn’t allow me to give up. He said, “You have to keep going,” I said that I will but I’ll do things my own way and that’s how I created Alok.

VG: What advice would you give to struggling artists?

A: Dealing with art is subjective. You should still have a job! [Laughs] In order to keep funding your dreams. But it’s all about persistence and loving what you do. Find the balance of staying fresh while seeing what’s the current trend. You have to adapt to whatever media is currently happening. 5 years ago TikTok wasn’t even a thing. My parents are from the era of vinyl and CDs so you have to be aware of what’s going on and adapt. Who will survive isn’t always the strongest one. The dinosaurs are gone [smiles].

VG: Your project, “Future Is Ancestral,” is a climate change project to support the indigenous people of the Amazon in partnership with the United Nations Global Compact that includes a documentary and accompanying album whose proceeds will go to the natives. Please explain how you came up with this idea.

A: Eight years ago, I was going through a rather depressing point in my life. I went to a very isolated indigenous tribe in the Amazon to try and find answers. I was looking for inspiration. It was very remote but it was an amazing experience. We have this mindset that we’re more developed than other cultures. It’s not true just different perspectives. I learned a lot and got really connected with nature. Humans have become really disconnected from nature. We need to preserve it and indigenous cultures. 5% of the global population is indigenous but they protect 82% of the territories because they know how to live off the land. Whereas deforestation is done in the name of progress but harms the Earth. “Future Is Ancestral” means the answer for the future is in the past. People are starting to pay attention to climate change more and realize something needs to be done. We as a collective are starting to shift into an era of consciousness.

VG: Absolutely. Speaking of conscious awakening, you’ve stated in past interviews that you’re completely different compared to your 2019. We have all gone through a dramatic change in the last few years. It’s now spring, a new season for change. Are there any last words of encouragement for those seeking inspiration as we enter this new age of consciousness?

A: Continue to reflect, get inspired, and work on yourself. While things are looking bleak continue to fight on. Remember there’s still good in the world. Throughout history, there have been a lot of people who worked hard to us a better life. I want to be a part of that movement. I hope those reading join in.

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Vidal Granados: How are you enjoying your Beyond Wonderland weekend? You’ve done the event before now you’re performing second to last on Day 1, what does it mean to you?

Elephante: I’m having a blast. I’ve been laying low for a little bit, so I’ve really enjoyed getting back out there, feeling the energy from the crowds, and catching up with my artist friends backstage.

Honestly, it’s pretty crazy – I remember playing here super early, and it was one of my first big festivals ever, so to be back with a crazy set time feels surreal. At the end of the day though, it doesn’t matter what time I’m up there – I’m just putting everything I have into the performance and trying to engage with the crowd, big or small.

 VG: With spring now here, the season of change, what are some things you are trying to change or improve about yourself?

E: Ever since the pandemic, I’ve been working on my mental health. Being an artist can be a really weird life, and I’ve struggled with anxiety and depression so it’s been a constant effort to build better habits. Trying to limit the self-loathing and impostor syndrome, doom-scrolling, and just generally feel better about myself.

Of course, I’m always trying to improve on my craft – singing, producing, and playing guitar. And on a more practical level, I just bought a house so I’ve been trying to fix the leaks in my basement… it’s been flooding every time it rains, so there have been many trips to Home Depot.

VG: I want to say congratulations on the success of Heavy Glow. Songs like “Dopamine” and “Holy Ghosts” are a vibe, but I really connected with “Tired of Being Tired”. What do you tell yourself or others when it comes to moments of depression or needing to expand and branch out of their comfort zone?

E: I think the biggest thing for me has been accepting that it’s okay to feel shitty. I’ve found a lot of the emotional pain comes from the cycle of feeling bad about feeling bad – for me, it’s a lot of “you are incredibly lucky and living your dreams, what do you have to complain about? Stop being a baby” etc. But by letting go and just acknowledging how you feel can break the chain reaction. It’s not really something you can think your way out of, and sometimes you just gotta let go of the wheel for a bit.

VG: Loved listening to your collaboration with HALIENE on the track “Hollow”. She’s a very powerful vocalist, what was the process like of working with her? What’s your mindset when picking who to work with?

E: She’s amazing and someone I’ve always wanted to work with.  Her voice just communicates something profound every time you hear her. And Hollow was a song I instantly connected with – sometimes you just hear a demo and you automatically see the Matrix, and know exactly what you want to do with it. And she’s super chill – the biggest thing for me when working with artists is catching a vibe, and feeling comfortable with the push and pull of working together because the song is bigger than just one person.

VG: What artists or albums influenced you growing up? Artists or albums you can play when need moments to unwind. Any upcoming events or projects you’re excited about?

E: I was a singer songwriter growing up, and my idol was John Mayer – he was the reason why I taught myself to play guitar and write songs. Then I heard Skrillex when I was a little older, and my head exploded – he was the reason why I started producing electronic music. And of course, artists like Avicii, Kaskade, and Porter Robinson influenced what my sound turned into. Nowadays I’m really inspired by Odesza, Rufus, and Lane 8.

I’ve got a lot of new music coming! I have a song called “No Explanations” with Stephanie Poetri and Zhang Yanqi coming out on 3/31, and a new single every few weeks for the rest of the year. I’m stoked to get all this new music out and play a bunch of festivals this summer… it’s Elephante SZN

VG: I read when you were learning piano you loved Chopin. (I also love Chopin and currently trying to learn piano) You also got into DJ after going to Harvard which is quite a leap. Any advice you have for people thinking about jumping in and perusing their dreams?

E: Chopin is the goat. My advice to everyone who’s thinking about a creative life is to not wait for permission to start. There’s no single path anyone takes – you kind of have to just figure it out for yourself, and there’s no roadmap. So just get going and start creating, and don’t worry if you’re bad, which you will be because everyone is bad when they first start. The difference between artists who make it are the ones that are able to grind through being bad and have that irrational belief in themselves that they can get there one day.

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San Bernardino, California, was an incredible landscape to get lost in with mountains creating an idealistic backdrop for the event. Walking into the campgrounds you’re greeted with awe-inspiring recreations of Alice In Wonderland-themed interactive displays. It was like the characters from the renowned novel leaped off the page and came to life.

Further into the venue, there was a sobriety comfort zone where strangers can chat and open up about what they were dealing with. A wall of zany doors lead to a comfy tent area where you could sit on the floor and watch YouTuber Lyle Forever. Lyle sat and chatted with strangers in real life as well and yours truly got on the mic to do a quick beatbox cipher.

Of course, Insomniac went all out for the 6 stages. Again all whimsical themes with some being hidden inside domes. The 2 biggest stages were on opposite sides of the event making for a long walk to get to “Mad Hatter’s Castle” from “Queen’s Domain,” but boy it was worth it. The “Mad Hatter’s Castle” had the fortunate luxury of being at the racecourse half of the NOS Event Center. This meant that there was plenty of open space for fans to dance while also offering a seating section for those needing to relax. After walking 30k steps each day, having a seat felt like a godsend! After taking a seat to enjoy the scenery I immediately got back up to the opening sounds of Borgore.

Bolgore is known for the hardcore bass fans that love to headbang. The artist created such intensity it could give you a head rush but you can’t help yourself but bang along to the opening track, “Forbes”. He continued with bangers like a sped-up version of Bad Bunny’s “Me Porto Bonito”. However, some of his transitions weren’t the smoothest with some tracks abruptly stopping but fans didn’t care.

Dillon Francis kept the party going all night at the “Mad Hatter’s Stage”. He went off with an array of techno tracks and out-of-this-world light show that blew everyone’s minds. Francis does a great job of knowing how to integrate and blend catchy mixed genre songs like Tame Impala’s “Let It Happen” or the vocals of System of a Down’s “BYOB” with funky percussion to really make the tracks more vibrant. He was also kind enough to bless fans by sharing some new Diplo collab tunes.

The crown for best stage, however, went to “Queen Domain”. Redtape brought the heat early on in the day by playing a slew of Latino jams from modern artists like Bad Bunny and Cardi B to classic tunes we grew up with. His expert blend of salsa soul with house-dance music was a vibe everyone could get down with regardless of the language barrier. Another set that was great was seeing Alok. The Brazilian DJ rocked a gold, shiny robe and played tracks like “Fuego,” Souja Boys’ “Superman” and other fan songs from the yesteryear.

Heavyweights like Tiesto made it impossible to get under the tent with massive crowds flooding the area. There was no way to squeeze into the tight space where people had been camped out most of the day. Hearing “BOOM” mixed into his rendition of Marvin Gaye’s “Grapevine” showed how effortlessly Tiesto could go from house music to trance.

The honors to close out Beyond Wonderland went to none other than Kaskade who took the crowd on a wonderful journey. First starting off light-hearted and fun and moving to a more of a darker atmosphere before bringing us back to peace. Tracks like “Bright Lights” and “Alive” had us all zoning out and grooving.

Beyond Wonderland is one of the best festivals any EDM fan can attend. It being their 30^th anniversary, Insomniac set the bar high, and it will be hard for any other fest to top it this year. The production value and set design were imaginative and a joy to be around.

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