Transcending Space and Time with Subtronics’ TESSERACT Tour

By: Nate Follmer

Edited by: Morgan Kohler

Subtronics sent a sold out crowd on a journey through space and time when he brought his TESSERACT tour to Stage AE in Pittsburgh. The night was filled with an incredible mix of Electronic music accompanied by mind blowing visuals. Supporting Subtronics were special guest Wooli and up-and-coming DJ/producers HEDEX, Saka, Jon Casey and Skellytn.

Skellytn

Skellytn opened the night with her unique drum and bass neurofunk style that got the crowd off their feet immediately. Her complex beats and cyber-infused soundscapes quickly filled the room with a dark energy that could be felt through the rumbling bass and seen through her cybernetic army visuals. The room was taken over by Skellytn and the crowd was under her control.

Jon Casey

Jon Casey seamlessly transitioned into his set as Skellytn dropped her final beats. Casey brought a more uptempo dance mix to the night. “Put A Smile On” was a common theme in Casey’s visuals and the crowd was full of smiles as Casey danced around the stage. You could feel the fun energy emanating from Casey as the crowd continued to groove along with his mixes.

Saka

Saka took the stage next to keep the crowd going with his unique experimental beats. Saka’s set was filled with extremely deep and quick basslines that had both levels of Stage AE shaking. Saka infused broken beat patterns with Eastern influences from his hometown of Hong Kong that created a vibe you won’t get from any other producer.

Hedex

Stage AE was at full capacity by the time Hedex took the stage. You could feel the ground shaking from the crowd moving along to his jump up mixes. His set was fast paced, full of drops and unique “vintage” samples from iconic video games like Pacman, which the crowd loved. If you were on the first level of Stage AE, your movements were controlled by Hedex and the crowd’s flow.

Wooli

Wooli somehow found a way to widen the room when he took the stage. Maybe it was the expansion of the LED wall or the laser show that accompanied the massive visuals, but Wooli’s set definitely felt bigger in more ways than one. The bass and snare was tighter and louder underneath his dubstep remixes, the lights and lasers filled the room and moved in sync with the beats and the movement of the crowd. The only time the crowd wasn’t at an 11 was when the vocals to “Zombie” cut through the room, but they were right back to moving the room as soon as the drop hit.

Subtronics

You’d think after a set of five DJs the crowd wouldn’t have much left to give, but somehow Stage AE hit an unprecedented level of energy when Subtronics hit the stage. Subtronics’ set was a fully immersive experience like no other. Together we experienced the Tesseract, “a portal that transcends space and time.” We were sent through many portals, each having their own unique mix and distinct visuals, but all of them had fire. Everybody loves fire.

“TESSERACT is a proper sequel to my first album FRACTALS and in the same sense, I aimed to demonstrate my range in both style, sound, and emotion,” shares Subtronics (Jesse Kardon). “Some songs are meant for the dancefloor, some are meant for the car, and some are meant to serenade you to sleep. I am trying as best I can to create a fascinating alternative reality with magic and a sci-fi world of energy and feeling.”

Subtronics definitely created an alternative reality filled with magic and feeling. His live set is just as broad and captivating as his new album. The mixes were meant for the dancefloor that night. The crowd was in constant motion, only slowing to briefly switch between portals. It was something I never experienced at a live show before and something I hope to witness again soon.