THE END OF SKRILLEX's ELUSIVE SEARCH FOR IDENTITY AT RED ROCKS RAVE

 

Photo Credit: edm.com

The concert was cathartic for the dubstep legend, who described it as "one of the best nights in my entire 35 years on planet Earth."

When Skrillex released his first two EPs, My Name Is Skrillex and Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites, in 2010, he laid the foundation for an EDM revolution in the United States. Recess, his landmark debut album, then let the floodgates open in 2014.

A growing rift in Skrillex's personal life was hidden by the music that followed it; it was like a Potemkin village. He turned to alcohol as his sense of self deteriorated after his mother's tragic death, and he eventually sank into depression.

Skrillex's lengthy search for identity came to an end during his five-hour Red Rocks performance. He ended up there, and because of his obvious connection with us, the performance served as a reminder that his inner demons were worth facing down in the interest of self-preservation.

In the words of famed philosopher Alain de Botton: "There is no such thing as work-life balance. Everything worth fighting for unbalances your life."

Skrillex is a DJ with the soul of a poet despite the ferocity of his set. Each trembling drop rattled the enormous monoliths of the legendary outdoor venue, serving as a reminder of the reasons we first fell in love with electronic music.

Skrillex nevertheless adores dubstep, despite becoming one of the most prolific producers of modern music in the world. Except for his remix of Nero's "Promises," he turned back the clock and dropped "Summit," "Bangarang," "Kyoto," "Make It Bun Dem," and practically every other throwback we could've asked for.

One of the night's indisputable highlights was Skrillex's breathtaking performance of "Emily," an emo track from his former band, From First to Last, which was released back in 2004. Here, he struck a fascinating contrast between the pain in his voice and the explosive euphoria of the concert.

Conflicting emotions be damned, it's clear Skrillex remains inspired by his roots.

The energy reached its boiling point during the show's incandescent conclusion, when Skrillex dropped his fan-favorite remix of "Cinema." We were dancing, head-banging, crying, thrashing, purging and singing at the top of our lungs.

"Cinema" capped off a night with zero special guests—just Skrillex and his fans. Somehow, five hours wasn't long enough.