Learn more about EDM Identity Team Member Cristiaan Broderick and find out how he fell in love with the festival scene and electronic music!
Name: Cristiaan Broderick
Rave Name: None
Age: 23
Hometown: Bloomington, Indiana
Current City: Bloomington, Indiana
Occupation: Student, Producer, DJ, Waiter
Facebook: Cristiaan Broderick
Twitter: @rynsmusic
Instagram: @cristiaan_b
What was your first electronic music event?
My first electronic music event was Girl Talk in 2009. This concert was put on by Victoria’s Secret Pink because Bloomington, Indiana had won a competition. This was the first time I had ever been exposed to electronic music in a live setting. A couple of years later I attended a Datsik show in Indianapolis and around this time was when my interest was genuinely piqued.
It is incredible how deeply invested I have become in the electronic music scene since then, exploring subtler shades of genres from house to electro, dubstep to trap, the list goes on. I have attended a handful of festivals and going to see live music throughout the Midwest has been a constant for many years. I have always made an effort to go see live music but the palette of artists I go to see has diversified greatly.
What/who influenced you to attend your first event?
Mostly friends who knew something was going on within the area. We would listen to various artists as they appeared (mostly chillstep and dubstep) because we didn’t understand how much there actually was out there. It wasn’t long before I began seeking them out myself. Before I had much of an understanding of electronic music and the culture, electronic music events were some of the most exciting things I’d ever had the opportunity to be a part of.
What is one moment from an event that was special and why?
Madeon at Electric Forest 2013: First night-time set of the first day of my first festival. I didn’t know who Madeon was. My friends and I were wandering around and while passing the stage, the show started. We were instantly hooked, it was unlike anything any of us had ever seen and at that moment we realized how much of a treat we were in for.
It was an immediate affirmation of why we decided to go to the festival in the first place. It was emotional for me, I remember feeling an unbridled sense of happiness. That moment changed my life. I knew I needed to start making electronic music and I knew that I needed to be involved in this world, in any way I could.
Tycho at Electric Forest 2014: It was one of the last sets at the end of the weekend and the majority of our group was all in the same place. The music was beautiful (I love me some Tycho, in fact, one of my dogs is named Tycho), the whole crowd felt as if they were operating on the same wavelength. It was the appreciation of that one moment in time, the music, the environment, everything felt as if it were one connected entity that is beyond explanation.
Moments like these have provided cathartic experiences for me growing up. It has taught me that there is a lot of beauty in stepping back from everything we deal with on the day-to-day to appreciate that we are fortunate for being able to enjoy the moment together in such a liberating atmosphere.
There are many special moments to recall from events over the years but these two are definitely up there.
What is your favorite festival or event?
Electric Forest: The first year I attended was 2013 and have attended four years in total.
Seven Lions at Red Rocks: He was opening for Above and Beyond but Seven Lions has long been special to me. It was the first time I’d been to Red Rocks (and Colorado) and I didn’t want the set to end.
I have also had many great times at Buku in New Orléans and smaller festivals scattered around the U.S.
What is your favorite electronic song and why?
This is the most difficult question to answer. I’ll have to list a few and I probably won’t remember some of my favorites from the past.
“Days to Come” – Seven Lions: Melodic and aggressive, this song has so many elements that speak to my taste. The vocals are crisp and uplifting, the drop is ethereal and heavy. Seven Lions is truly a master at creating this vibe and between this and his remix of A&B’s You Got To Go, it doesn’t get much better in terms of melodic dubstep.
“Unfaith” – Ekali: I love chill trap and variations of the genre. This song encapsulates the genre well, incorporating crisp percussion bouncing around the stereo field, emotionally driving vocal accents, and subs that come together to make an all around creamy track.
These are just a couple. It’s difficult for me to pinpoint individual songs. There are so many songs from a wide variety of genres that it’s quite the melting pot.
Who are your favorite artists?
Tycho, Porter Robinson, Seven Lions, Shallou, Kasbo, Andrew Luce, Bonobo, Quix, Ekali, Boombox Cartel, Born Dirty, Charlesthefirst, Hucci, Direct, Madeon, Lane 8, Krane, Sublab, Gorgon City, Sfam, San Holo, X&G, Medasin, Hansel Thorn (now Daavy), LeMay to name a few…
What are your favorite genres?
Hybrid trap and variations of experimental bass, Chill trap, House – prog, deep, melodic,, bass, Chillstep, Future Bass, Melodic Dubstep, Dubstep (I’m picky when it comes to this), and Breaks
What do you feel your “Identity” is in the electronic music community?
I feel my identity within the scene is mostly as an artist but before being an artist I am a lover of music. I hope to broaden this identity by sharing information on the community through writing and providing a unique perspective through the eyes of a passionate fan.
Is there anything else you would like to add about yourself for the readers?
I produce and DJ under the name RYNS (pronounced /rins/). I have two dogs named Tycho and Porter (freakin’ nerd). I am studying journalism with a concentration in digital journalism at Indiana University.
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