WRITTEN By Anastasiia & Stephen Riddle
PHOTOGRAPHED BY MATTHEW DEMARKO

Shows are such a powerful tool for artists to express their emotions and convey the messages within their music to their fans, from visual aids in custom production to singing live to the people in front of them. San Holo’s “Existential Dance Music Tour” was an opportunity for him and fellow artists, Droeloe and OddKidOut, to do just that for their fans here in Atlanta at The Eastern on Friday, February 2, 2024.

Kicking things off for the night was OddKidOut. His colorful and melodic sound design combined with energetic bass music was the perfect way to get vibes flowing early as the floor and mezzanine quickly became full. Captivating us all with his finger-drumming and build-ups, OddKidOut showed off his live music experience as a drummer and skills on the decks with drops for fans of any genre.

OddKidOut at The Eastern February 2, 2024 - Photo by Matthew Demarko

Droeloe (pronounced “Droo-Loo, Droh Loh, or even Droey Loey'' as he informed us all) never misses. The grooves in his beats, the emotion in his lyrics, the live trumpet, this man brings energy so original to himself, that it’s hard to put his sets into words. Droeloe’s sound has always been of uniqueness and exploration, from older beloved tracks when Droeloe was a duo, such as “Backbone,” to new, more experimental, drum & bass-influenced tracks, such as “Landscape,” there is always something that can appeal to any fan, old or new.

Droeloe at The Eastern February 2, 2024 - Photo by Matthew Demarko

When San Holo finally took the stage, the energy was impeccable. The fans were anticipating the main act and he didn’t disappoint. We might be biased fans, but this tour was hands down the best one we’ve yet to experience. From production to seemingly flawless transitions to emotional singing to energetic guitar solos, his set brought tears to our overjoyed eyes. We’ve seen many of San’s sets throughout the years, and this time, he delighted his fan base with new, unexpected drops and renditions of his most popular tracks, adding techno and almost dubstepy sounds that worked perfectly with the lights and lasers. His song “Light” also happened to be quite different than the live version, everyone is so accustomed to, making the crowd go absolutely crazy. San ended it on a high note, leaving everyone euphoric and happy. After all, it’s all about highs and lows.