Intercell x RE/FORM Helped Bring LA Rave to a Global Audience

Amsterdam-based collective Intercell and Los Angeles rave staple RE/FORM teamed up for a night of high BPM fun, courtesy of Hot Meal Records.

Los Angeles has maintained a thriving rave scene for three decades, but the music-first, underground community often took a back seat to big commercial brands. As a result, the city’s legacy hasn’t carried the same underground weight as other foundational hubs like New York, Chicago, Berlin, Amsterdam, or London. The past tense was used because that is certainly no longer the case.

Over the past several years, Los Angeles has attracted a slew of highly sought-after European collectives and talent. The latest group to venture to the West Coast is globally renowned collective Intercell, in collaboration with Hot Meal Records and Los Angeles-based techno haven RE/FORM.

The event was held on Labor Day in a picturesque warehouse in Downtown Los Angeles. Intercell invited trending artists who have embraced the bouncier side of techno and trance, including Etari, Bad Boombox, Mija, Mischluft, and Ollie Lishman, and they certainly understood the assignment. The music was lovingly relentless from start to finish.

Photo Credit: 7ISHEAV3N

Now Serving: Hot Meal Records

Bounce techno/trance has a tendency to attract a loyal crowd. If you’re a fan of Mischluft, then you’re probably equally into Bad Boombox. Because of this, the ravers at the Intercell x RE/FORM event were clearly there for the music.

Hot Meal Records supplied the talent for the evening, and the curation was what bounce enthusiasts’ dreams are made of. Los Angeles-based techno/trance producer Etari started things off, setting the blistering tone for the night. Next up: Ollie Lishman. The Berlin-based producer kept things true to his hard house-esque, vibey form. His set became a divine soundtrack for the stunning blood orange sunset that spilled through the windows of the venue.

Mischluft followed Lishman with a fiercely energizing performance. His sexy, lyric-heavy signature sound relies largely on a throbbing bassline, serving as the perfect warmup for the chaos that would follow with Bad Boombox. The charismatic producer, who is set to perform during the forthcoming Amsterdam Dance Event, played a medley of edits and original tracks, most notably his latest release with Mija, “Obsession.”

Mija closed things out for the evening. She hopped on the decks, and it was off to the bass races. The second track in was a dreamy, mechanical-like edit of “b2b” by Charli xcx, a song that, sadly, Shazam could not retrieve. That’s how you know it was a heater.

The crowd mirrored the energy emanating from the speakers, solidifying a larger theme that has been unfolding within the city’s rave community. The reason global electronic music initiatives are growing increasingly more interested in the City of Angels is clear: there’s finally a market for it.

Photo Credit: 7ISHEAV3N

See No Evil at Intercell

The thing with electronic music is that it takes more than just a “market” to make it authentic; there has to be an appreciated understanding of the music and culture, too. For bounce techno/trance, it would be hard to contest why fans are so loyal to the genre. The music is just downright fun.

Between dance breaks, attendees could be seen hopping, skipping, thrusting, sweating, and fist-pumping to the 140+ BPM beats. Smiles stretched ear-to-ear. Strangers turned around to dance with their neighbor. The smoking patio was ripe with friendly faces and inviting conversation. The best crowd will always be one that’s there for the music, which rang true for Intercell Los Angeles.

The event also had a strict “no phones” policy. Upon entry, stickers were placed over your camera. Attendees were also asked to agree with the policy via signature, a procedure that felt a little like placing your hand on the Bible. For good reason, too: it worked. There was one phone that was noticeably in the air toward the end of the event, and witnessing that felt like watching a sin unfold before our very eyes.

While “no phones” isn’t new for Los Angeles, and certainly not for European-based collectives like Intercell, it’s important that it’s continually implemented in the city. It creates a sense of unspoken camaraderie. With nothing distracting ravers from the experience, it allows for collective effervescence to flow. In a historically commercial-driven, artificial city like Los Angeles, the effects of these authentic gatherings extend far beyond a simple night out. They alter the people of the city.

Photo Credit: 7ISHEAV3N

Los Angeles Rave is RE/FORMed

The future of rave is looking very bright for Los Angeles. After decades of existence, the city’s dance community is increasingly gaining hard-earned global attention, as seen through the recent Intercell x Hot Meal Records x RE/FORM collaboration. The success of the event was validation that we’re heading in a new direction. To the ravers, organizers, and talent of the city: all credit belongs to you. Keep up the good work.

Follow Intercell, Hot Meal Records, and RE/FORM on socials to keep up with their latest events and releases.

Follow Intercell:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | SoundCloud | YouTube | TikTok

Follow RE/FORM:

Website | Facebook | X | Instagram

Follow Hot Meal Records:

Website | Instagram | SoundCloud | YouTube