Event Review: Diynamic London – Solomun (5hr Set)
On Saturday 5th August, the man behind Diynamic Music, and 2diy4, Solomun, was set to take-over Finsbuy Park, London for a Dyinamic showcase which included the label head honcho performing an extended set for 5-hours long. This was a sold out event, and Solomun’s supporting cast included Krankbrother [promoter], Cromby, Chloe Robinson and Disfreq, who fans will know from their recent EP on Solomun’s imprint too.
Solomun founded Diynamic Music imprint during 2006, and for Solomun music is more than a dancing tool, it’s as diverse as life itself, built upon many different moments and colours, whilst his musical listeners create memories in such moments, together. Solomun is the sorcerer, he represents music, and he casts a spell on his audience, taking them on an emotional musical journey, channelling his feelings into his track selections.
To-date, Solomun’s career as a DJ/producer has seen him achieve multiple awards inc. Best Producer, Best Remix, Best DJ, Best Melodic House DJ and the accolade of most Shazamed summer track for an Ibiza season. Such dedication to his trade has enabled him to achieve admiration from multiple platforms and people within the music industry.
Now for the 5-hour extended set; the first hour or so of Solomun’s set was all about rhythm and flow, groove, he dropped a couple of Tribal-driven Tech House tunes, heavy-percussion, and drums, this creates energy, and this also complimented his tracks which featured a rap topline, inc. ‘You Don’t See Me Now’ by Transfering Project, and another catchy vocal tune entitled ‘How You Feel’ by Reo Cragun & Kino Todo, the Cowbell in the tune is attention-getting too!
Solomun’s mid-set picks for me were based on crown-manipulation, elements in a track which capture the imagination of the listeners, an example is ‘Ugo Banachi – Dance With Ibiza’ the main melody escalates, and u find yourself doing ‘Air Piano’ waiting for the beat to kick in again, whilst ‘Tim Cullen’s ‘Take This’ will have you chanting ‘Take This’ whilst the Acid-beat is unleashed.
Solomun’s ‘Peak-Time’ picks really did ‘Raise The Roof’, hard-hitters including ‘Complete Control’, Techno, more quirky vocals from the Diynamic-released ‘Like This Like That’, break-beats also featured in Spektre’s ‘Retrograde’ whilst Solomun also dropped another diamond signed and soon to be released on his Diynamic – Rafael Cerato’s ‘Step On The Lead’ which has also gained a spin from Steve Angello of the Swedish House Mafia during his Tomorrowland set, and it contains another catchy Rap topline too.
The final few tracks in Solomun’s selects were filled with meaning and emotion, this included ‘Martin HERRS – Forgotten’ which vocalises about being lost in the moment, coming alive in the night time, which then lead to some euphoric hands in the air Trance melodies via Barnes & Heatcliff’s remix of ‘Forget About Us’, onto an absolute classic from Supermode [Axwell & Steve Angello’s alias], this is a dance classic, before closing out on on Chic’s ‘Everybody Dance’ with that topline of ‘everybody dance, clap your hands’, is Solomun sending message via his music? YES! Absolute vibes!
I also feel what makes a Solomun distinctive as a performing artist is that his DJ sets are never the same, each DJ set he curates is unique in terms of track listing, you can tell he devotes a lot of time to perfecting his craft, exploring multiple sub-genres of music to expand his awareness, find those hidden gems, whilst also fine-tooth combing his Diynamic and 2diy4 promos, and other promos for the hottest up and coming tracks to be signed and spun in his sets too. A lot of his sets are ID-ID, this Finsbury Park set was, and as a music enthusiast it makes you want to search for the answers, go crate-digging etc!
There is no worse feeling then seeing one of your favourite artists spin the same set they’ve spun for months on end, it’s boring, and there is no creativity behind this approach. Solomun showcases suspense and surprises within his sets, you don’t know what to expect, but the only guarantee with Solomun is you’ll hear past, present, and future hits, this is what real music enthusiasts want and need to experience.
Access on the day of the event, travel and access to Finsbury Park is super-easy, a 5-minute walk from Finsbury Park underground station, entry into the venue was also quick due to multiple que lines being available, and when you’re inside the venue, there is a great vibe to it, the crowds were super-friendly, you could feel the unity, no issues whatsoever, whilst you also get forest feel as if you are in the middle of nowhere at a ‘secret rave’, when actually you’re in a park in the City of London’s financial district.
Prices for food and drink was also not excessively expensive, you always need fuel for a rave, and food options also great inc. pizza, Indian curry, burgers, friend chicken too, and most places done vegetarian and vegan options. Staff were also polite and helpful when approached regarding questions, i.e. toilet locations, or exit procedures, which makes going home easier too, instead of walking round in circles in the park trying to find the exit haha!
Overall, I would rate my experience at Finsbury Park for the Solomun Diynamic showcase as a 10/10 experience. Solomun’s set truly showcases why he is in such demand for festival sets, club sets and residences worldwide, and to play a 5-hour as opposed to your typical 90–120-minute set enable the artist to ‘stretch their wings’, delve into multiple genres of music which Solomun did, inc. dabbling in Dance, Electro Pop, Tech House Indie Dance, House, Funky House, Techno, Electronica, Nu Disco and more, and it creates that musical journey which Solumun is reknown for in his DJ sets.
Lastly, this was also my first time seeing Solomun live, and if Solomun returns to Finsbury Park for another extended set during 2024, anyone who hasn’t seen Solomun live needs to book their ticket ASAP, it’s evident he’s appreciated in London as this is the 3rd consecutive summer he’s spun at Finsbury Park , so take my advice, as soon as you see pre-sale tickets for Solomun spin in London, book ASAP!
For the tracks I was able to ID from Solomun’s set, also see my Beatport playlist HERE
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