Z-Trip @ the Boulder Theatre

Jenn Cohen | May 1, 2012 | 0 Comments

by Brett Harker

The ‘remix’ is one of the most notable advancements in electronic dance music. Sprouting from a sample, a remix can blossom into an entirely new style of music. The art form has been led by pioneers like Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash, and perfected by the likes of Fatboy Slim, DJ Shadow, DJ AM, and Girl Talk. Today, the art of remixing has gone mainstream, heard in nearly every EDM producer’s catalog. As Macbook Pro’s, CDJ’s, Ableton Live, and Traktor fill DJ booths, vinyl turntables accrue dust and occupy basements. Perhaps one of the last great wizards of vinyl is a DJ named Z-Trip.

On a Saturday night in March, Miami was flooded with EDM followers for the annual Ultra Music Festival. For those of you not familiar, Ultra is the largest electronic dance festival in the states. Yet, Z-Trip was not in attendance, for he was 2,000 miles away in Boulder, Colorado. As Z-trip confidently inhabited the Boulder Theatre, there was still enough space on the dance floor to do the Charleston with your family and friends. The absence of the usual beat-starved students could be attributed to the same reason for Ultra Music Festival that weekend… Spring Break. The remaining crowd, composed of the colorful locals, bobbed, bounced, and boogied like the children they once were. Backed by a canvas of L.E.D. lights and thunderous speakers, Z-Trip conducted a symphony of remixes.

Z-Trip’s assortment of songs included current artists like Adele and Pretty Lights, blended into the music of the generations that influenced them. The set list was under constant flux, stumping anyone attempting to anticipate his next move. To top the night off, a west coast, Dr. Dre anthem would invade the theater, just before a “Sweet Home Alabama” lick was perfectly blended into a Daft Punk tune. The various styles he presented were a healthy reminder of how related each genre truly can be!