Martin Garrix New Year's Eve @ Pier 36
RPM Presents, founded and operated by Pacha NYC owner Eddie Dean and promotional director Rob Fernandez, has swelled to the world’s premiere dance music-focused marketing and management group dominating NYC's major music events. Most recently, RPM Presents brought 2014 to a proper close with some of the world’s top emerging DJs and electronica producers for their New Years Eve party at Pier 36. With the appearances of Martin Garrix, Oliver Heldens, Jay Hardway, and Julian Jordan, it came as no surprise that this event was the perfect end to an amazing year for EDM, while ringing in a new year of possibilities.
So we all threw on our parkas (because honestly the temperature outside should've been illegal) and shuffled our way to the F train down to the last Manhattan stop and power walked it down to Pier 36, passing a magnificent view of the majestic Freedom Tower in all of her glory. Nothing rings in a NY New Years than a huge building that is so patriotic no other name besides Freedom made the cut. 'Merica! As we walked up to check in, I was pleasantly surprised how smoothly everything went in getting us inside the building. The coat check, however, was another story that I will choose to exercise my 5th amendment right for at this time. Luckily the group managed to all link up again to grab a much needed drink to enjoy what Oliver Helden was layin down.
Moments before revealing Martin Garrix, the stage’s engine began to rev. Sonically, things buzzed and volume knobs were being turned clockwise towards red. Taking a brisk scan across the crowd, everyone seemed to be buckled in and ready to be shifted into overdrive. The green ‘GO’ light came in the form of an alarm clock illuminated across the stage, welcomed with opened arms to each of its 125,000 square feet filled to the brim with smile-clad fans, and music lovers-alike. Not only was this particular lineup diverse and esteemed, the entire event production was on par with the best, featuring a mesmerizing light show, a pyrotechnics countdown to the new year, and confetti snowing throughout the night.
With his snug harmonies and intricate instrumental interplay, Martin Garrix’s two-hour set felt carefully crafted but never constrained. Its sumptuous arrangements seemed both remarkably involved yet naturalistic, invigorating, and free; its power born of the clash between the DJ’s sonics and the often-traumatic crowd answering back. Songs like “Animal” and “Turn Up The Speakers” were easy highlights for me. Both fueled with samples that break up the repetitive four-on-the-floor build, drop and repeat, and repeat again, and again.
Between landmark festivals and his studio work, Martin Garrix’s universal explosion shows little sign of slowing down. Add whirlwind tour duties and it is apparent that his days as the Netherland’s best-kept secret are well and truly over.