Photo Credit: Michael Goldberg
Arrived in Miami around 5pm Thursday for Ultra Weekend and decided to set it off early with Group Therapy Miami at Bayfront Park – in conjunction with Anjunabeats. By the time I had made it through the gate, Arty had just started dropping fire followed by an impressive Matt Zo and of course, headliners, Above and Beyond. Andrew Bayer began it all, filling in for Jaytech, who had to pull out last minute due to some work visa troubles. Group Therapy was a blissful way to start off Ultra weekend; Nothing but a bunch of love floating amidst a couple thousand.
Arty
Began with his ‘Mozart’ Big Room Edit which seriously just set the mood for the rest of the evening. Later in the weekend I would have the chance to sit and speak with Robbie Rivera who said Arty was at the top of his list for ‘producer on the rise’ for his technical ability and uniquely creative sound. This was evident throughout his set at Group Therapy Miami, as Arty transitioned from trance love tracks to grit tech house sounds that were so original I really don’t know how to classify them.
Mat Zo
Mat Zo actually stood out in my book as highly impressive. Before Group Therapy I hadn’t listened to much Zo and only knew of him/ his songs through other producer’s remixes. What was impressive to me? The fact that his sound seemed to have two different levels, simultaneously. Half high paced drum beat, half fading trance bits which mended perfectly together. His Dada Life vs. Avicii mashup was fucking ill live, as was his original mix ‘It’s Yours’ towards the end.
Above & Beyond
Not sure if I should begin by talking about the show or the fact that tickets were still available at the gate. Seriously, how does trance royalty not sell out during MMW/Ultra weekend? The world may never know. Regardless, A&B put on a special performance that I will never forget. If you are familiar with their live sets, you know they connect with the fans by typing inspiring messages onto the main screen. At Group Therapy Miami, they actually helped a friend propose on the main screen, his girlfriend said yes, and then they let him come out and press the beat drop button (whatever that is) on a track. Fucking beautiful any way you look at it.
Highlight: They dropped the Above & Beyond club mix of Kaskade’s ‘Room For Happiness’. Spanning euphoria throughout this entire set and I suggest you catch these guys any chance you get.
Arty – Group Therapy Miami Tracklist
01 – Arty & Mat Zo – Mozart (Arty Big Room Edit)
02 – Arty & Matisse & Sadko – Trio
03 – Paul van Dyk feat. Sue Mclaren – We Come Together (Arty Remix)
04 – Arty – ID
05 – OceanLab & Above & Beyond vs. Mat Zo & Arty feat. Justine Suissa – Satellite vs. Synapse Dynamics (Mat Zo Mashup)
06 – Arty – Around The World
07 – Arty vs. Imogen Heap – Seek Zara (SHato & Paul Rockseek Mashup)
08 – Arty – ID
09 – Alesso & Sebastian Ingrosso vs. Arty & Mat Zo – Calling Rebound (Arty Mashup)
10 – BT & Arty feat. Nadia Ali – Must Be The Love
11 – Ferry Corsten – Punk (Arty Rock-n-Rolla Remix)
12 – Arty – Kate
13 – D-Mad & Arty vs. Above & Beyond feat. Richard Bedford – She Gave Me The Sun And Moon (Lavisse Den Bosch Bootleg)
Matt Zo – Group Therapy Miami Tracklist
01. Jerome Isma Ae vs The Paradise – Lets Be In Love With You (Mat Zo Mashup Intro)
02. Sia & Sander Van Doorn vs Mat Zo – The Girl You Lost to Superman (Mat Zo Mashup)
03. Wolfgang Gartner vs Faithless – Montezuma Matters (Mat Zo Mashup)
04. Dada Life vs Avicii – Kick Out the Levels Motherfucker (Mat Zo Mashup)
05. Green Velvet – Flash (Nick Romero Remix)
06. ID
07. Deadmau5 vs DMad & Arty – The Reward Is Happiness (Mat Zo Mashup)
08. Christian Weber & Alex Kenji vs Michael Cassette – Electronic Memories (Mat Zo Mashup)
09. John Aquaviva & Swen Webber – First Stroke (Mat Zo Edit)
10. Jerome Isma Ae vs Madeon – Flashing Icarus (Mat Zo Mashup)
11. Phunk Investigation & Lizzie Curious – Freak the Speaker (Mat Zo Edit)
12. Mat Zo – Its Yours (Original Mix)
13. Mord Fustang vs Eric Prydz – Call On Me Now Connected (Mat Zo Mashup)
Above & Beyond – Group Therapy Miami Tracklist
01 Above & Beyond feat. Zoe Johnston – Alchemy
02 Andrew Bayer & Matt Lange feat. Kerry Leva – In And Out Of Phase (Norin & Rad Remix)
03 ID – ID
04 Jerome Isma-Ae – Speed
05 ID – ID
Guest @20min The Chemical Brothers – Swoon (Maor Levi Remix)
06 Mat Zo – Loop (The Essential Unreleased Mix)
07 Kaskade feat. Skylar Grey – Room For Happiness (Above & Beyond Club Mix)
08 ID – ID
09 Above & Beyond feat. Richard Bedford – On My Way To Heaven (Club Mix)
10 ID – ID
11 Above & Beyond feat. Richard Bedford – Thing Called Love (2011 Club Mix)
12 ID – ID
13 Above & Beyond feat. Zoe Johnston – You Got To Go (Kyau & Albert Remix)
14 Markus Schulz pres. Dakota – Gypsy Room (Duderstadt Remix)
15 Depeche Mode – Personal Jesus (Eric Prydz Remix)
16 Above & Beyond Vs. Andy Moor – Air For Life (Norin & Rad 2012 Remix)
17 Andrew Bayer feat. Molly Bancroft – Keep Your Secrets ? (ID Remix)
18 Super8 – Alba (Maor Levi Remix)
19 Oceanlab vs. Norin & Rad – Secret Bloom (Norin & Rad Mashup)
20 Above & Beyond feat. Richard Bedford – Sun & Moon (Club Mix)
21 Above & Beyond – Prelude
22 Above & Beyond feat. Zoë Johnston – Love Is Not Enough (Above & Beyond Club Mix)
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