By all accounts, this year’s Electric Playground, from Charm Music Turkey and Epifoni, was a huge success. Featuring the talents of headliners Marshmello and Kungs, as well as appearances from local acts Burak Yeter, DJ Funky “C”, Emre Yönter, and DJ Sisters, it was an afternoon and evening of electronic fun that appealed to a massively diverse festival audience. Renowned international headliners were able to deliver on their uniquely entertaining promise, with the beautiful weather and talented warm-up performers setting the occasion for an energetic night that surprisingly had something to offer to everyone.
As I left my house to begin the journey to the venue grounds of Küçükçiftlik Park in the heart of Şişli’s Maçka, I found myself unusually relaxed. Normally, attending an Istanbul festival with a group of friends brings along its own unique stress. With big music events increasingly relegated to the outskirts of the city and involving an entirely new layer of commitment and planning, it was an uplifting change of pace to be able to just take a breezy 15 minute walk to reach a central grounds that is easily accessible to all methods of public transport.
It’s worth noting that I’m at best a casual fan of Kungs and entirely unfamiliar with Marshmello. As I turned onto the winding road leading to Küçükçiftlik, I was at first taken aback by the number of kids I saw with parents on their way to the festival. Many of them had Marshmello replica helmets/masks or other paraphernalia and all were most certainly excited and buzzing with enthusiasm. I knew to expect the large age discrepancy based on the headliner’s wide-ranging fan base, but it still left me unsure of what to expect.
Ticketing was business as usual, with two separate entrances for general admission and those more committed having bought a front and center ticket. After passing through security, and just reaching the late afternoon/early evening hours, our group was pleased to find the place properly brimming with energy. Attendees were everywhere to be seen, with some lounging in the back on chairs or visiting the many kiosks, while others were either dancing or chatting exuberantly among themselves. The park was largely separated into three quadrants. Directly front of the stage was a massive area for the more devoted fans. Beyond that, the park was divided evenly between a place for those 18 and older, and a space for the younger fans. This worked surprisingly well, with the section for older fans a bit more subdued and with plenty of bars set up to get refreshments.
By the time Kungs took the stage, the sun was setting and fans were most certainly ready for some serious fun. His entry was an explosive shot of electronic energy, steadily gathering attendees scattered throughout the park and pushing them towards the stage. While only 22, the young performer seemed more than qualified to lead the crowd into the darkness of night, carefully balancing his own original tracks with a plethora of samples and unexpected cuts that would frequently have the crowd cheering in a frenzy. A lights show and visual projection only emphasized his presence, corresponding to the songs on set and lighting up the night sky. Somewhere between dance pop, electronica, and dubstep, Kungs carefully spaced out his hit songs, and as the set continued, I was convinced that I’d end up preferring his set to Marshmello’s. At one point, a transition from Martin Solveig’s “All Stars”, teasingly built into Avicii’s “You Make Me”, and ultimately surprised everyone by peaking into Duck Sauce’s “Barbara Streisand”. While they’re songs that everyone in attendance (except perhaps for some of the parents) were familiar with, it was a nice touch and kept the crowd in anticipation for what was to be incorporated next.
Of course, throughout it all, Kungs found plenty of space to give his proper fans what they came for, with “Be Right Here”, “Don’t Know You”, and “Feel So Bad” all receiving a warm welcome from the audience and many of his lesser known tracks making appearances in less emphatic fashion throughout. Nothing however compared to the appearance of “This Girl” – our performer’s breakaway hit that saw him top charts in over 45 countries and launched him into the international spotlight. His blend of surefire crowd-pleasing hits and staying true to the sounds that built his streamlined career made for a genuinely impressive show and he most assuredly won himself many new fans. When it was time for his set to conclude, the place was simmering and primed for what was to come.
Any doubts I may have had about Marshmello being overshadowed by Kungs were quickly put to rest when he came to the fore amidst a massive raucous from the crowd. The first difference to jump out was the stage set-up which with our headliner on a platform with its own projection, connected to the massive screen that served as his backdrop. The resulting illusion was that our masked performer was in the video images themselves, often immersed in visuals that played on his marshmallow persona and complimented his general stylistic choices. It worked with great effect and made for a visual treat that the crowd was eating up.
Much like the previous set, Marshmello navigated a complex web of original mixes and crowd favorite tracks in a way that clearly defined why he was the night’s big billing. With a virtually flawless flow, he managed to offer not only an entire catalog of electronic hits, but plenty of songs seemed to be natural fits while also being totally out of left field. Nirvana, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Florence and the Machine, The Killers, and Journey were but a few of the outlandish choices that had people grinning from ear to ear throughout the set, buoyed by the energy of his sound and a crowd that was letting loose and dancing with joy. His own original tracks, with hits like “Friends”, “Happier”, and “Wolves” were greeted with cheers and applause, but managed to avoid overshadowing the accessibility of his set.
Looking around, it was genuinely the most diverse audience I’ve seen at a festival here, with a range of characters that included everyone from tiny kids in large Marhsmello masks to the stereotypical sunglasses-wearing in pitch darkness electronic types. Kids as young as seven or eight danced with the freedom of not caring about judgement – often on the shoulders of their accompanying parents who seemed to be enjoying the occasion despite themselves, frequently beaming when a track they were familiar with was sampled or looking around in awe at all the people watching opportunities. Teens in big groups could be found breaking out into dance moves that have attained meme status by now (flossing was heavily featured), huddling together in groups, chanting along with songs, and could generally just be seen laughing throughout. The more familiar college-aged and older demographic were up to the usual fanfare of indulging in some drinks and enjoying the night in their own classic way. It was an honest moment of coming together of various ages and backgrounds that really created an atmosphere of belonging, which was only magnified by a headliner who offered one of the most accessible electronic sets I’ve ever seen.
Following on the success of last year’s Chainsmokers set, and this year’s Marshmello performance, it’s safe to say that Electric Playground has carved out a special place in the summer circuit. As I ventured on my easygoing walk home along with hundreds of others on the same path, the positivity of it all was especially striking. This is exactly the type of musical experience that Istanbul could use more of, and if this year has been any indication, it’s something we’ll be getting.
Featured image by Jacob Chamseddine. All photos courtesy of the organizer.
