He executed his vision immaculately January 24th at Seattle’s Wamu Theater, bringing a classical symphony center stage for electronic music fans. Approximately 7,000 concertgoers packed in for one of two philharmonic orchestra shows to see the innovative producer's ambitious "Antagonist 2.0 Tour" production.
Apashe’s philharmonic orchestral show is a masterstroke. Already one of electronic music's most innovative producers, he is now equipped with a live show that physically demonstrates his creativity. It’s a beautiful, visceral representation of his musical vision and a live experience unlike any other.
"It started as a dream," Apashe told EDM.com prior to the show. "Now that it’s a reality, no one in my team or I expected this to be so complicated or so expensive. It’s very intense but I’m glad it’s working out really well."
It worked better than well—it was brilliant. Roughly 20 hooded classical musicians brought a new level of authenticity to Apashe’s unique musical blend. Violinists, cellists and trombonists were among the druids flanking him on stage.
Sound levels are often challenging when DJs incorporate live instruments into their sets. If not careful, the recorded music can overpower the other performers. But Apashe and the live orchestra were in perfect harmony.
That’s not to suggest that you couldn't tell them apart. Apashe succeeded in bringing his symphonic records to life, the orchestral instruments adding depth and layers to the performance to create bold sounds. The show felt big.
"The goal is to bring live on stage something closer to the recordings of how the music is made," Apashe said at the time. “You get all these musicians. You get the real sound and the mix destroyed with the electronics."
The lighting and pyrotechnics were the strings that tied Apashe’s one-of-a-kind production together. His orchestral show was dark, but not ominous—more so atmospheric. The “Fracture” producer leaned on fire and synchronized lighting patterns—primarily whites, reds and blues—to evoke a medieval mood.
A quality supporting lineup also delighted the crowd. Habstrakt’s reputation precedes him, and his ability to get us moving was a wonderful warm-up for Apashe’s unique production. Rapper Wasiu, whose collaborations include Apashe’s “Majesty” and “Human” as well as Black Tiger Sex Machine’s “Die A God,” was a familiar face perfect to kick off the show.
Josh Teed deserves special recognition. The violinist and music producer is remarkably talented. Teed effortlessly transitioned between playing the violin and DJing to craft a mesmerizing set, and the future is bright for him.
Apashe’s only other philharmonic orchestral show takes place at Paris’ Zenith on February 8th. He will continue touring, however, with a brass orchestra in various American and European cities. You can find his “Antagonist 2.0 Tour” dates here.
