If you’ve been keeping it locked on Pulse Radio or been mindful of exceptionally good times globally then you’re no doubt well aware of Kazantip, the best times anyone ever has had on the beautiful beaches of the Black Sea. In it’s 21st year of operation, the Republic of Kazantip runs for approximately 14 days and aims to embrace the creative spirit of all of its “citizens” by encouraging celebrations and love in any form one wishes. One form of celebration we particularly enjoyed on our recent visit was the monstrous lineup of A-list international DJ talent that was on offer. Luckily for us all, our good friends at Be-At.tv were on hand to live stream many of the event’s most exciting sets and we thought we’d feature a handful of them for you to enjoy.
Maceo Plex brought his Ellum family to Kazantip’s Befooz stage which is the newest addition to the Republic’s staggering and widely varied venue selection. Located immediately to the left after entering the grounds, it’s got a forgiving wooden floor, large white canvas roof pieces and as with everywhere at Kazantip, a massive sound system. The visuals are top notch and the beach makes for a great backdrop. As the sun came up Maceo/Maetrik whipped people into a fury as the President of the entire Republic bounced beside him and the sea claimed more than a few frenzied ravers and lovers. Label mate and partner in Jupiter Jazz, Danny Daze preceded Maceo and served as the vital interstitial musical tissue after a great opening set from one of the label’s newest additions, Odd Parents. It’s hard to pick favorites as the music and vibes all night on this stage were fantastic. But we’ll let you see for yourself.
The Croissant stage is aptly named because the taught white roofing that envelops the dance floor looks like a big white croissant from a distance. What’s interesting experientially, beyond the world class DJs, sound and production, is that you can cool off in the pool located in the center of the dance floor. Check out Kollektiv Turmstrasse keeping things deep and H.O.S.H offering the flip side of the coin by bringing his classic bass-driven Diynamic sound. As with all stages at Kazantip there are plenty of lasers thrown in for good measure.
At Kazantip the sunset can mean very different things depending on where in your party you are but on the Befooz stage where things get particularly hectic during the evenings it’s a special time to catch your favorite artists playing more downtempo tunes while people filter through the booth for a hug or two and citizens filter through sharing the last rays of the warming sun. Here Philipp from M.A.N.D.Y injects a little love into everyone’s late afternoon.