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Behind the Hits: MEDUZA talks electronic music production & the state of Italian EDM on Groove Cruise 2025
There’s few bigger producers in the world of electronic music than the iconic Italian trio of MEDUZA. With ‘Piece of Your Heart’, ‘Paradise’, and ‘Lose Control’ among many other hits, the trio has made its mark in the electro house and progressive house genres. EDMHouseNetwork had the chance to catch up with MEDUZA member Mattia Vitale onboard Groove Cruise 2025 to talk everything electronic music production:
Q1: “In terms of playing Groove Cruise, how is it different from, playing Tomorrowland mainstage, or playing in an Ibiza nightclub? How does the atmosphere change how you guys kind of curate and build your set?”
Mattia: “The good thing is that every venue is different. So no matter if you’re playing in the same city, but if you play two different venues, [it] can be [a] completely different vibe. So, it’s a challenge for me as a DJ, of course. Because, every time I go on stage, I know I have like, a big folder with full of tracks to choose. And then I play some, like two, three songs at the beginning, I try to understand the mood of the crowd, and then I adjust the set based on the mood in the venue. So every time it’s different. Of course, when we play like Tomorrowland, everything needs to be in sync with lights and visuals. So I need to prepare more those sets, because every everybody needs to be ready in the team to know what they’re doing. But when we play like Groove Cruise or just like classic clubs, I can have more fun. So just like playing random sets and then just have fun.”
Q2: “[MEDUZA] Being a production crew of three with you, Luca [De Gregorio] and Simone [Giani], how does that kind of create a unique production process where you guys are pulling ideas from each other, maybe arguing a little bit, but also, you know, really building off each other? And being able to improve each other in every aspect?”
Mattia: “When we are in the studio, there’s not a specific role for everybody. Like, even, like, I know that Luca is more the nerd – the one on the machines and in the group. And Simone is more the musician, and I’m more the one working on the arrangements. But when we are in the studio, it’s just like we start from zero, we start from scratch, and then we talk about ideas, we play some chords, and then randomly, we come up with other ideas to build up the song with the songwriters too, in the studio. And if we can create that magic feeling in the studio between all of us, then everything happens really quickly. Otherwise, like you get stuck in a little bit in in the process. But it’s a normal studio process that’s uh, but the positive thing is that we all living this life. We all coming from a different background. So this helps in, just like giving different ideas and when we are in the studio, that helps, maybe to go out a little bit off the box.”
Q3: “Additionally, obviously, being an Italian producer trio, and that being a huge part of your music, how would you describe Italian EDM? And how does that influence really play into your music and make it unique?”
Mattia: “So many years ago, it was like house music was really big, especially in the south of Italy. We used to have, like, a lot. We still have big DJs like Carola or [Joseph] Capriati, that kind of house stuff. Now the north of Italy is becoming just like the center of melodic house. So there’s Tale of Us with Anyma, Mathame, Agents of Time, and a lot of melodic DJs. So we are just like slowing down a bit, a little bit of the Trance music. And they call it melodic techno. So I think there’s a new era in Italy that has always been like house music. Now it’s more melodic, and it’s a positive thing, because it’s like a generational thing. So it’s it’s really good, especially because when Italy is, it’s so small. So we are all like living close to each other, and it’s good to share moments all together, and then we see each other around the world. So it’s so good to have fun all together too, because we are Italian.”
Q4: “MEDUZA has worked with so many incredible vocalists: Goodboys, Becky Hill, now HAYLA in Another World. What is that process like? Of kind of building your track around those talented vocals that they send you, or then kind of complimenting your production with those vocals.”
Mattia: “So we have two different ways of working on that. For example, when we did Paradise with Dermot Kennedy, everything started from just like remixing one of his songs, and then remixing that we noticed that his voice was just like matching really well with our sounds. So then we asked the label to do an original with him, and then we wrote Paradise. Or in other ways, we just like, I don’t know, for HAYLA, we love HAYLA’s voice. And then we we trying to understand how she writes the top lines, and try to build up like a backing track around what’s best for her, and then we complete that in the studio together. So it all depends, like, it’s really random [at] this point.”
Q5: “Additionally, one of the most interesting things – this is the song that got me into EDM – huge fan of Piece of Your Heart. [I know] That almost got scrapped. That’s a story that I always actually think is really interesting. Talk a little bit about what that process was like and how you guys maybe kind of learned, you know, from that to just truly never give up on a song. Because now [you all have] over a billion streams on that one.”
Mattia: “Yeah, that was a funny one. Because I remember, we’d been in the studio in London for just like the entire week and we made a lot of demos that week. And at the end of the week, the ANR from the label came to the studio, so we had to play all the demos. And we played everything and he said, ‘maybe to this’ and then ‘this is a no, this is too similar to that one, this is a no, I don’t like that.’ But then we had this demo we made with the Goodboys in just like, really, 20 minutes. But we didn’t want to play that because it was really rough. And if you talk with the producers, they only always want to just like work on ideas before they just like play to the ANR. But at the end, we said, just like, ‘who cares? Like, another no won’t change our life.’ So we play that. I said to Luca, just like, play [it] who cares. And then he played that. And then we saw the AR and the managers like jumping on the sofa, and they say, ‘What is this?!’ So at that moment, we recognized there was something big in that, but we didn’t know what to expect from that song, because we were just like, doing club music, so you don’t expect a big thing. And then I remember our manager saying this: ‘this song will change your life.’ And it was true. After two months, we were viral in the US and UK and everything started from there. So it’s been it’s been funny, and it’s been great, and it’s a it’s been a great lesson. No matter if it’s just like an idea, rough idea, 10 minutes that you made in 10 minutes, five minutes or 20 minutes, just play [it.] Just play [it] to somebody else and see their reaction, so you can really understand what are you doing. That’s the best thing.”
Q6: “Just to finish off, what’s one up and coming young artist and one unreleased track that you really have been keeping an eye on right now?”
Mattia: “One upcoming producer I will say GENESI. Because for us, he’s already big, but he still needs to start touring, but I think he will be big in a couple of years. And he’s been in the studio with us since like, two, three years now, and we’re working together every day. And I think he will be like one of the biggest upcoming producers now and then. And the second one, for the track unreleased, [GENESI and us] have an unreleased track together that I’m playing in the set these days. So it’s still an ID but I think it’s gonna be a big one.”
Q7: “Actually to finish off, AC Milan or Ferrari?”
Mattia: “Oh, for me, AC Milan. I’m more football fan than F1. But for sure, for Simone is more Ferrari than AC.”
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EDM Events Held At The World’s Most Historic Sites, from the Great Wall and Petra to Versailles and the Pyramids
EDM events held at historic sites have become one of the more interesting ways major artists and promoters are taking electronic music beyond standard clubs, arenas, and festival grounds. The strongest examples are not just famous locations with a stage placed nearby, but performances where the site matters to how the event is filmed, produced, and remembered. Anyma and Tiësto have brought major electronic productions to the Pyramids of Giza, Bedouin performed for Cercle at Petra, Nina Kraviz played a sunrise set on the Great Wall of China, and Adriatique filmed a Cercle set at Hatshepsut Temple in Luxor. The same idea also appears through POSITIV Electronic Festival at the Roman Theatre of Orange, Charlotte de Witte at Ancient Messene, and Nifra at Masada Fortress, where historic architecture, ancient ruins, desert landscapes, and protected heritage sites become part of how each performance is experienced. These events show why historic locations are becoming a serious part of electronic music’s destination-event culture, especially when the artist, production, and setting all make sense together.
Great Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
Events:
Anyma presents Quantum Genesys
@anyma
The End Of Genesys | Pyramids of Giza
Tiësto at the Pyramids of Giza
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The Great Pyramids of Giza have become one of the clearest examples of how far large-scale electronic shows can go when the location is part of the story. Anyma presents Quantum Genesys took place at the pyramids on October 10, 2025, with the night split between his Quantum DJ set and The End Of Genesys audiovisual show across two stages. The production leaned into the contrast between the ancient site and Anyma’s digital world, using large visuals, lighting, and a long nighttime format that ran from 5 PM to 3 AM near the Giza Plateau. Tiësto at the Pyramids of Giza followed on December 19, 2025, with a PRISMATIC set that brought another major electronic name into the same setting, adding to Giza’s recent place in destination EDM events.
Petra, Jordan
Events:
Bedouin at Petra for Cercle
Medaina Festival
Petra is one of the most recognizable historic sites connected to electronic music through Bedouin at Petra for Cercle, filmed at Al-Khazneh, the Treasury, in 2022. The set was not a public festival, but a controlled early-morning performance with no crowd, placing Bedouin’s hybrid live sound directly in front of the sandstone monument. That format worked differently from a standard stage show because the production did not need a large audience setup to make the location central to the performance. In 2025, Medaina Festival gave Jordan a wider electronic music moment across Petra and Wadi Rum, with a lineup that included Âme, Bedouin, HVOB, Jimi Jules, Mind Against, Patrice Bäumel, and Sonja Moonear. With Petra already listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, the location adds one of the article’s strongest examples of electronic music being presented in direct connection with an ancient landmark, while Medaina Festival extends that connection into a broader destination event across Jordan’s desert and heritage settings.
Masada Fortress, Israel
Event:
Nifra Live at Masada Fortress
@nifraofficial Do you know this track? ❤️ My new live set recorded at Masada Fortress is now on youtube #nifra #trance #trancefamily #trancefamily #trancemusic #tranceclassics #raver #femaledj #dj #edm #trancecommunity #masada #delerium #silence ♬ Silence – Andrew Rayel & Achilles Remix – Delerium
Nifra Live at Masada Fortress placed the Slovakian trance artist at one of Israel’s most dramatic historic sites, high above the Dead Sea in the Judaean Desert. Masada is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its desert plateau, Herod the Great’s palace complex, and the remains connected to the Roman siege of 73 A.D. For the 2023 set, Nifra performed from the clifftops of Masada Fortress in partnership with Tiede Night’s, with the sunset timing giving the performance a direct visual connection to the desert landscape around the site. The result fits the article because it connects a known trance artist with a protected ancient fortress, without stretching the angle into a normal festival or unrelated event space.
Great Wall of China, China
Event:
Nina Kraviz at the Great Wall of China
Nina Kraviz played a sunrise set at the Great Wall of China in May 2018, turning one of the world’s most famous historic landmarks into a stripped-back techno performance with no need for festival-scale production. The set was filmed on the wall in the early morning, with the mountain landscape and stone watchtowers framing the performance as the light changed across the site. For an artist closely tied to underground techno, the location gave the set a very different feel from a club or warehouse show, placing her sound against a landmark known for Chinese history, military architecture, and centuries of preservation. The Great Wall is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, which makes Nina Kraviz at the Great Wall of China one of the most direct examples of a globally known electronic artist performing at a protected historic site.
Roman Theatre of Orange, France
Event:
POSITIV Electronic Festival
@saralandrydj POSITIV FESTIVAL B2B WITH BESTIE 💫 After 6 years of friendship it was insane to do a show like this together @Nico Moreno 🥹 Such a crazy venue at the Théâtre antique d’Orange and it was completely full from front to back! 🤯 Thank you Positiv for making this happen 🖤 #electronicmusic #hardtechno #techno ♬ original sound – Sara Landry
The Roman Theatre of Orange brings POSITIV Electronic Festival into a venue that was already made for live performance more than 2,000 years ago. Set in France’s Rhône Valley, the UNESCO-listed theatre is known for its preserved Roman stage wall, which still rises behind the crowd and gives the festival a setting that feels completely different from a standard outdoor stage. POSITIV Electronic Festival has used that space for major electronic lineups, with recent names including Amelie Lens, Argy, James Hype, Sara Landry b2b Nico Moreno, Anfisa Letyago, Paul Kalkbrenner, Mind Against, Joachim Pastor, and KAS:ST b2b Space 92. The event also makes strong use of the theatre’s architecture through large-scale lighting and video mapping across the ancient stage wall, turning the preserved Roman structure into part of the show without losing the historical weight of the venue.
Ancient Messene, Greece
Event:
Charlotte de Witte at Ancient Messene
Charlotte de Witte at Ancient Messene brought the Belgian techno artist into the ancient theater at Messene for a 2021 live DJ set presented by Onassis Stegi. The performance was streamed through the Onassis Channel and placed her sound inside one of Greece’s major archaeological settings, with the stone theater, open-air site, and surrounding ruins giving the set a very different frame from a club or festival stage. The project was based on a concept by ADD Festival, with Onassis Foundation directing the stream and presenting it as a filmed electronic performance from the ancient theater rather than a public festival. With Charlotte de Witte already recognized as one of techno’s biggest names, the Messene set gives the Greece section a stronger link between a major electronic artist and a historic site.
Hatshepsut Temple, Luxor, Egypt
Event:
Adriatique at Hatshepsut Temple for Cercle
Adriatique at Hatshepsut Temple for Cercle brought the Swiss duo to the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut in Luxor, one of Egypt’s most striking ancient sites on the west bank of the Nile. The temple sits within the wider Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis UNESCO World Heritage property, giving the set a direct link to Egypt’s ancient history beyond the usual destination-show setting. Adriatique performed in front of the temple’s long terraces and limestone cliffs, with the Cercle format keeping the focus on the duo’s melodic techno, the architecture, and the scale of the site. The result placed a major electronic act inside a location already known for ancient Egyptian history, making the performance feel closely tied to Luxor rather than just filmed in a scenic location.
@cercle_music Somewhere in the world, at the Hatshepsut Temple, with @ADRIATIQUE. #cercle #cercleshow #adriatique #hatsheput #electronicmusic ♬ original sound – Cercle
The strongest historic-site electronic events are the ones where the location has a real role in the performance. Anyma at the Pyramids of Giza, Bedouin at Petra, Nina Kraviz at the Great Wall of China, Adriatique at Hatshepsut Temple, and POSITIV Electronic Festival at the Roman Theatre of Orange all show how different that can look, from large audiovisual productions to filmed DJ sets and full festival formats. The site changes the way the performance is seen because the architecture, history, lighting, crowd setup, and filming all become part of the final result. That is what separates these shows from normal destination events, where the location is often secondary to the lineup.
Historic locations also come with limits that standard event venues do not have. UNESCO-linked landmarks and protected heritage spaces involve local approval, access rules, sound restrictions, staging limits, preservation concerns, and cultural responsibility. That does not mean electronic music cannot work in these places, but it does mean the event has to make sense beyond the photo. As more artists and promoters look for settings outside standard stages, the strongest historic-site events will be the ones where the music, production, and location feel connected from the beginning.
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EDM Festivals in August 2025 are keeping the summer alive with a number of massive events happening around the world.
From the massive 10 year anniversary of UNTOLD to the legacy that is Creamfields, here’s your guide to the top EDM festivals you won’t want to miss this August.
UNTOLD Festival
Dates: August 7–10
Location: Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Romania’s premier electronic music festival turns 10 this year with a massive celebration across Cluj Arena and downtown spaces. Expect extended sets from Tiësto, plus Martin Garrix, Black Coffee, Don Diablo, Post Malone, and more. UNTOLD is known for its epic production, long hours, and magical vibes from dusk till dawn.
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Creamfields
Dates: August 21–24
Location: Daresbury Estate, Cheshire, UK
One of the UK’s most iconic dance music festivals, Creamfields delivers another year of powerhouse headliners. 2025 brings David Guetta, Anyma, Amelie Lens, Chase & Status, Carl Cox, and more across massive stages like ARC, Steel Yard, and Horizon.
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Sziget Festival
Dates: August 6–11
Location: Budapest, Hungary
Set on Óbuda Island, Sziget is a multi-genre mega-festival that blends EDM with pop, rock, world music, and arts. With a scenic riverside setting, cultural programming, and past performers like Calvin Harris and Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, it’s one of Europe’s most diverse and vibrant summer fests.
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Hard Summer
Dates: August 2–3
Location: Southern California, USA
Returning for its second year at Hollywood Park, HARD Summer is back bigger, bolder, and bass-heavier than ever. This year’s edition leans hard into techno, with sets from 999999999, Deborah De Luca, I Hate Models, and more, while also staying true to its genre-mixing roots. Expect reggaetón, drum & bass, house, and hip-hop from artists like Kaytranada, Dom Dolla, Sean Paul, and FEID.
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ÎLESONIQ
Dates: August 9-19
Location: Montreal, Canada
Held in Parc Jean-Drapeau, ÎLESONIQ is Quebec’s largest electronic music festival. It blends international stars with immersive visuals and a passionate Canadian crowd. Notable stars taking to the stage are Alesso, D.O.D, John Summit, Oliver Heldens, and more.
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VELD Music Festival
Dates: August 1-3
Location: Toronto, Canada
Toronto’s biggest EDM festival lights up Downsview Park with a massive set of artists that make any dance music fan excited. Previous years have featured big artists and this year is no different with deadmau5, Dom Dolla, Tiesto, Third Party, and more set to take the stage.
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Weekend Festival
Dates: August 1–2
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Returning to Espoo with over 60 artists, Weekend Festival 2025 delivers two days of high-energy performances, cutting-edge visuals, and massive production. Headliners include Armin van Buuren, Hardwell, Robin Schulz, and Fisher. Known for its towering custom-built main stage and immersive light shows, the festival blends sound and spectacle like no other in Finland.
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Mysteryland
Dates: August 30–31
Location: Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands
The Netherlands’ longest-running dance music festival blends house, techno, trance, and hardstyle across colorful, immersive stages. Known for its art installations, spiritual elements, and top-tier curation, Mysteryland remains a staple for true festival heads.
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Dance Valley
Dates: August 10 (TBC)
Location: Spaarnwoude, Netherlands
Dance Valley turns 30 in 2025, and it’s going all out for its anniversary edition. Set in the iconic hills of Spaarnwoude, this one-day Dutch mega-rave spans 8 stages and 70+ artists across dance, techno, hardstyle, trance, and house. The lineup is stacked with legends: Tiësto, Martin Garrix, Boris Brejcha, Ferry Corsten presents Gouryella (25 Years), Charly Lownoise & Mental Theo, Nervo, Chris Liebing, and Radical Redemption.
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Les Plages Électroniques
Dates: August 08-10
Location: Cannes, France
Set on the sun-drenched beaches of the French Riviera, Les Plages Électroniques returns with one of its most diverse and stacked lineups yet. Headliners include Tiësto, Charlotte de Witte, Peggy Gou, Eric Prydz, Mochakk, and Booba, alongside a wave of rising talent and local French stars. With beach stages, boat parties, and after-parties extending late into the night, the festival blends deep house, techno, afro house, and reggaeton into a three-day oceanside escape.
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August may be the final stretch of summer, but the party is far from over.
With iconic brands, oceanside escapes, and late-night energy, these festivals are ready to make your summer go out in style.
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UNTOLD celebrates its 10th anniversary with a historic lineup of debuts, exclusive shows, and once-in-a-lifetime performances.
The 10th anniversary of UNTOLD is shaping up to be the festival’s most unforgettable edition yet, packed with exclusive performances, never-before-seen shows, and jaw-dropping debuts. The Mainstage will light up with global icons like Post Malone, who’s kicking off his Big Ass Stadium Tour with a debut at UNTOLD, and Metro Boomin, playing his only European festival show this summer. Fans can also catch performances from ANYMA, Becky Hill, Hugel, Rag’n’Bone Man, and CANCELLED MUSIC (Kris Fade), all bringing fresh energy to the Cluj-Napoca stage.
This year’s UNTOLD debuts and special shows are not just on the mainstage but also across all other stages. The underground Galaxy stage will host Dom Dolla, Adriatique, and a rare TOTO CHIAVETTA B2B ZAMNA SOUNDSYSTEM set brought in by Zamna. Meanwhile, the Daydreaming stage features acts like Ben Böhmer, Röyksopp, Pachanga Boys, and Bob Moses. But what truly sets this edition apart are the exclusive shows: Tiesto’s extended set, Don Diablo’s one-of-a-kind UNTOLD performance, Armin van Buuren’s special stage production, and Martin Garrix’s specifically tailored UNTOLD set.
Expect even more custom shows from Romanian stars like INNA, Delia, Irina Rimes, and Vama, all with surprise guests. And on Friday night, a mystery act will take over the Mainstage, revealed live at the festival. With this stacked lineup of UNTOLD debuts, world premieres, and unforgettable performances, the 10th edition promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime celebration for every music lover.
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