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ESNS 26: A Look Through A Dance Music Fans’ Lens

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A high-energy, golden-lit concert hall during ESNS 2026, with beams of orange and yellow light cutting through a hazy room as a massive crowd of music fans watches a live performance.

ESNS 2026 transformed Groningen into a borderless map of Europe’s future sound, featuring 300+ emerging artists and a historic opening by the Queen of the Netherlands.

With 300+ emerging artists from nearly 40 countries, ESNS once again proved why it’s Europe’s most important showcase festival and not just a place to watch gigs, but a place to feel where music is heading next.

As a huge electronic music fan, ESNS felt very reminiscent of ADE, shows were spread across the city every night, with pop-up performances in unexpected places, intimate venues just around the corner, and crowds constantly moving, discovering, and sharing moments.

One minute you’d stumble into a DJ set in a club, the next you’d be surrounded by energetic rap performance. From quite and cozy indie folk shows in churches to all the way to absolutely unhinged, high-energy punk shows, ESNS genuinely had something for everyone. And that’s what made it special: it wasn’t genre-locked or scene-exclusive. It was open, curious, and borderless.

Among the countless memories from this year’s festival here are some of our favorites:

The Queen of the Netherlands officially opened ESNS 2026, a moment that underlined the festival’s cultural significance well beyond the music industry. According to an ESNS representative, this marked the first time the Queen has attended the opening of a music festival or conference. Her presence continued beyond the ceremony, as she was later seen attending Dove Ellis’ live performance at a packed Binnenzaal.

Even for dedicated dance music fans, Dove Ellis’  live performance was a standout moment. The performance felt immersive and almost surreal, driven by thought-provoking, carefully written lyrics layered over rich and atmospheric instrumentation. Despite being a relatively new name on the scene, Dove Ellis has quickly become one of the festival’s most talked-about artists and this performance made it clear why.

One of the week’s key highlights was the Music Moves Europe Awards 2026, held during a celebratory ceremony on Thursday, 15 January 2026, in Groningen. A total of seven awards were presented: five MME Awards, one Grand Jury Prize, and one Public Choice Award.

The MME Award winners were Camille Yembe (Belgium), Carpetman (Ukraine), Della (Cyprus), Sarah Julia (Netherlands), and Sofie Royer (Austria). The Grand Jury Prize was awarded to Lia Kali (Spain), who also claimed the Public Choice Award, voted for by music fans across Europe and beyond. All 15 nominated artists performed at ESNS and took part in the MME Education Programme, designed to equip emerging artists with industry insight and long-term career tools.

Swedish DJ and producer Naarly, also co-creator of Engeloop Records, delivered one of the festival’s sickest DJ performance. Known widely for his house hit “Addicted,” Naarly’s set was both eclectic and high-energy, balancing groove with emotional depth. He also tested some unreleased music such as remix of the song ‘Reverie” , If you are into afro house music and happened to be in Groningen, this was the place to be!

Elsewhere, festivalgoers may have noticed flyers inviting attendees to leave a voice note and have a song created from it, an outside-the-box concept devised by the artist Might Delete Later. What blew me away was that her voice genuinely sounds like a sampled vocal but it’s completely live. I’ve honestly never heard anything like it before. Bold, inventive, and forward-thinking, her set made the long queue outside Huize Maas more than worth the wait.

The night continued with homegrown DJ Emmz, who delivered a groovy, multi-genre set at the MEET@AIR DJ Stage. The venue was intimate, the crowd locked in, and genre boundaries were intentionally blurred. Difficult to categorise as it had a flavor of disco, progressive house, electro all together while she sang live over the instrumental.

While waiting for Emmz’s DJ set, I ended up catching Dutch rapper Louis Pedro at the main stage. Didn’t understand a single word but loved the vibes. I could see people in their teens and early twenties jumping to his bars while there was people in the later part of their life who seemed to enjoy the music equally. This is something rare, especially in rap industry so credit to the artists. And that’s what ESNS represents: music without borders. It isn’t always linguistic, sometimes it’s purely emotional.

Beyond the music, ESNS 2026 leaned heavily into conversations about local ecosystems, sustainability, and long-term artist development. Panels and talks focused on how scenes grow, how artists survive, and how Europe can stay culturally connected through music and not algorithms. This wasn’t just industry talk for the sake of it. It felt urgent, necessary, and refreshingly honest.

ESNS 2026 wasn’t just a festival, it was a living map of Europe’s future sound. It was chaotic in the best way. Intimate yet global. Loud, quiet, polished, rough – sometimes all in the same night.

Spotify and Partnerships manager at EDMHouseNetwork. Occasionally chiming in with some new music and news. You can find me in the front row at a Martin Garrix or Tiesto show.

Editorial

ClutchLoop II Is Here — And It’s Taking Phone Security to the Next Level

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If you’ve ever been to a festival — and let’s be honest, most of us have — you’ve probably heard at least one horror story about someone losing their phone in the crowd. Between filming sets, coordinating meetups with friends, and navigating massive festival grounds, your phone has become an essential.

That growing concern is exactly what inspired ClutchLoop. The company originally launched its anti-theft phone tether as a simple solution to help festival-goers keep their devices secure in crowded environments without sacrificing accessibility.

Now, the brand is taking the concept a step further with the introduction of ClutchLoop II, an updated version of its phone tether designed to improve both security and everyday usability.

A Smarter Design

At its core, ClutchLoop works by attaching a phone to a retractable tether that connects to a bag, belt loop, or piece of clothing. This allows users to pull their phone out to film, text, or check directions while keeping it physically secured to them at all times.

ClutchLoop II introduces several upgrades aimed at making the system stronger and easier to use. The redesigned model features a reinforced retractable steel cable along with an improved anchor system that attaches securely to most phone cases.

The updated design also includes a magnetic locking mechanism that helps keep the phone in place when it’s not actively being used. This added stability can be especially useful in crowded environments where phones are frequently pulled out to capture videos or photos.

Moving Beyond Festivals

The launch of ClutchLoop II moves beyond festivals and into everyday life. As smartphones continue to function as cameras, wallets, navigation tools, and digital tickets, the importance of keeping them secure extends far beyond music events.

Grab yours here or use code ‘EHNCLUTCHED’ at checkout!

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Dance Music and Depression: An Emotional Connection

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Dance Music and Depression: An Emotional Connection Through Movement, Memory, and Shared Experience

For many people, dance music is more than entertainment. It becomes a way to process emotion, release tension, and feel connected at times when mental health feels fragile. This experience now has growing support in research. A systematic review and meta-analysis titled Effect of Dancing Interventions on Depression and Anxiety Symptoms in Older Adults by Tiago Paiva Prudente, Eleazar Mezaiko, Erika Aparecida Silveira, Túlio Eduardo Nogueira, and colleagues found that structured dance interventions were associated with significant reductions in depressive symptoms compared with control groups. Although the study focused on dance instead of specific music genres, it supports the idea that moving to music can play a meaningful role in emotional health. For people who turn to dance music during difficult periods, the combination of rhythm, movement, and shared experience can offer a form of emotional support that feels personal, physical, and deeply real.

How Movement to Music Can Help Ease Depression

Clinical and behavioral research shows that rhythmic movement affects multiple systems linked to depression, including sleep regulation, stress hormones, and emotional processing. Regular movement to music has been associated with reductions in cortisol, improved serotonin activity, and better emotional regulation, all of which are commonly disrupted in depressive states. In practice, this means that movement to rhythm can shift the body out of prolonged stress response and into a more stable physiological state. Unlike exercise alone, dance adds emotional and social layers that affect motivation and emotional engagement, which is why people who struggle to maintain regular physical activity often find it easier to move when music is involved.

@bobby.hendrickson EDM can cure depression?! 😢 . #edmmusic #edmlife #edmlifestyle #edmfestivals #edmfestival #housemusic ♬ original sound – bobbyhendrickson

This becomes visible in real dance music contexts. At events such as Anjunadeep Open Air, Boiler Room, or extended house and melodic techno sessions at venues like Club Space Miami, people often describe feeling mentally lighter after hours of movement, even when arriving emotionally heavy. The structure of dance music helps here. Tracks repeat patterns, slowly evolve, and provide predictability alongside variation, which supports emotional grounding rather than cognitive overload. Over time, this combination of movement, sound, and shared experience creates a form of emotional release that many people return to not just for enjoyment, but for relief.

Why Familiar EDM Songs Can Become Emotional Anchors During Depression

For many people experiencing depression, familiarity provides stability when motivation, focus, and emotional regulation feel disrupted. Well-known EDM tracks such as “The Nights” by Avicii, “Don’t You Worry Child” by Swedish House Mafia, and “Summer” by Calvin Harris work in this context because their structure, melodies, and emotional direction are already known. The listener does not need to process something new or make sense of unfamiliar sounds. The brain follows a recognised pattern, which reduces mental effort at a time when decision-making and emotional processing often feel exhausting. This predictability allows engagement without pressure, making it easier to return to these tracks during difficult periods.

These songs also carry emotional clarity without requiring introspection or explanation. “The Nights” by Avicii is commonly associated with urgency and freedom, “Don’t You Worry Child” by Swedish House Mafia centres reassurance and release, and “Summer” by Calvin Harris evokes warmth and forward motion such as the passing of time during pivotal moments in ones life. Even when lyrics are present, they are direct and uncomplicated, which matters during episodes of depression when complex emotional narratives can feel overwhelming. Beyond personal memory, these tracks are tied to shared cultural moments such as festivals, radio, and collective experiences that many listeners recognise instantly. Returning to them does not just recall a sound, but a time when connection felt possible. For people struggling with depression, that reminder alone can make dance music feel less like entertainment and more like a reliable emotional anchor.

When Dance Music Becomes More Than Just a Night Out

So the next time you find yourself reaching for dance music when things feel heavy, it is worth recognising that this instinct is not random or shallow. For many people, dance music becomes a reliable place to land when emotions are hard to name and energy feels low. It offers rhythm without pressure, emotion without interrogation, and connection without obligation. Whether it is putting on a familiar Avicii track alone at night, letting a Swedish House Mafia chorus play through headphones on repeat, or standing in a crowd where the music carries the weight for you, the experience serves a purpose that goes beyond distraction. Dance music does not promise to fix depression or replace professional support, but it can offer moments of steadiness when everything else feels unstable. In that sense, calling it a lifeline is not exaggeration. It reflects how music, movement, and memory can quietly support people through periods when simply staying present is already an achievement.

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yetep’s ‘ÿ’: A Debut Album For The Books

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If you already know yetep, you know he’s one of EDM’s most promising acts. If not, let his debut album introduce you to one of the USA’s fastest rising artists. Blending melodic bass, future bass, and emotive EDM, ‘ÿ’ marks yetep’s first LP, released via Insomniac’s ‘Lost In Dreams’ label.

Blurring lines between multiple genres, the album is a journey through freedom and curiosity, one that reflects yetep’s musical beginnings.

Speaking about ‘ÿ’s concept, the artist says: “I started my music career making mixes on SoundCloud and posting them on Tumblr, just playing whatever I loved with no genre rules at all. That freedom is what made me fall in love with music in the first place. With this album, I wanted to bring that same energy back.

Rather than starting with a strict concept, I wanted to let the project develop naturally and feel open, the same way my relationship with music began,” he adds.

Consisting of 13 tracks, the production is also a representation of yetep’s evolution as both an artist and a community leader. Each track stands on its own, yet together they paint a complete picture that captures the DJ’s path so far.

Standing at the centre of the album is a spirit of togetherness and love, fuelled by the DJ and producer’s deep involvement within his community. yetep constantly provides aid to homeless youth and raises awareness around mental health through his Common Unitÿ charitable initiatives.

At its core, this album is about connection and honesty, and creating space for listeners to take away whatever the music means to them,” mentions the artist about his debut album, ‘ÿ.’

yetep: The Journey To ‘ÿ’

‘ÿ’ arrives following a long rollout which began in May 2025 with the release of the album’s lead single, ‘Hate It When It’s You.’ Finally putting out his first full-length project, yetep steps into a pivotal new era, expanding his artistic boundaries while remaining connected with the values that have shaped his rise.

Originally from Seoul, Korea and now based in Los Angeles, the artist attracted a global following through a series of monthly mixes posted on SoundCloud.

Moreover, the unique, emotional depth behind his sound helped him cement his reputation as a producer, with support from names such as Seven Lions, Dabin, and Adventure Club.

Since his first official release, yetep’s productions have become a regular presence on renowned labels including Monstercat and Lost In Dreams, the latter of which released his album on February 27.

Even though a written format of yetep’s journey could go on for pages, there is no better introduction to this artist other than listening to his debut album, his most expansive and personal statement so far.

Listen to ‘ÿ’ by yetep now, available on all platforms worldwide.

 

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