How did you spend your first morning of 2016? A morning run to start off your new health-kick? Maybe a cup of coffee and a light breakfast with your special someone? Or perhaps, an old fashioned New Year’s Day hangover? Whatever it was, I hope it was a memorable occasion. For some fortunate party-goers who were able to get up (or, stay up) the first morning of 2016, they got to spend it watching the sunrise peer through incandescent pink and orange stained glass windows in an East Williamsburg Warehouse, as globe-trotting DJs Lee Burridge, Gorje Hewek, Izhevski, and more producers, played some of their best music at the BangOn!NYC New Year’s Day Sunrise Party.
As guests lingered in, they were in awe of the stunning 20-foot stained glassed windows that lined the walls. When the first light of 2016 rose, the room could not have been more beautiful. The venue resembled an apocalyptic wasteland, intertwined with an intergalactic world of fantasy. In a way, it felt like the last epic party on earth, decked out in extravagant structures, trippy art installations, and of course, a Funktion-One sound system that curators at BangOn! NYC love to book so much.
The crowd, many resembling the people of Burning Man, came immaculately dressed in glitter, fur coats and embellished robes (not just talking about the ladies either.) As I danced in a sea of beautiful people, I witnessed smiles across everyone’s face. Attendees gave off energetic vibes and showcased their passion for techno and house.
Headliner and Robot Heart legend, Lee Burridge, started off the morning with a marathon set that exceeded expectations of the masses. After a long night of heavy partying this was exactly what people wanted to hear at 5AM. Lee played his notorious sounds of minimal techno music, but also mixed in some mild and beautiful buildups that lead to uplifting drops; bringing attendees back to life again.
The energy kicked up a notch with the next act: a “B2B” (back to back) set featuring All Day I Dream favorites Gorje Hewek and Izhevski. The duo started off their set with a bang by dropping the bass early and continuing to do so throughout their performance, reinforcing the energy of the crowd. Their set featured mostly Tech House with some nice melodic bass-drops and energized buildups. The vibes between the two were fantastic, adding to the vibrant atmosphere for the crowd.
David Hohme, an NYC local of Andante, brought us back to earth with minimal techno and putting us into a dreamy state as he closed out the morning’s acts. Differing from the two acts before him, he brought in more melodic sounds to calm us down to a comedown. Just before noon, the venue was still packed and the crowd continued to dance to David Hohme with pleased faces.
Bummed you didn’t make it past the sunrise? Don’t fret, there will be a reunion of Lee Burridge, Gorje Hewek and Izheviski at BPM Festival in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico the next few weekends in January (January 8-17).
Hands down, the BangOn! New Year’s Day Sunrise Party was one of the best after-hours sessions The Big Apple has seen/heard in some time. The party was a perfect way to spend the first morning of 2016 – it’ll definitely be hard to top next New Year’s Day.