10 Emerging Artists You Shouldn’t Miss At Lightning in a Bottle 2022

by: Sami Weisband

May 24, 2022

Known for its eclectic and connective nature, Southern California’s Lightning in a Bottle will return with an iteration that offers attendees a bit of everything. 20th Anniversary Event Headliners Include Dance/Electronic Mainstays On Almost Everyone, Such As Glass Animals, KAYTRANADA, The Man Behind Dancing Astronaut’s Album of 2021, SG Lewis, and many more that are turning heads. But the enthusiasm of the participants does not stop there; the festival will welcome a variety of talent spanning all genres, from emerging and established artists. Below, dancing astronaut spotlights 10 must-see artists, some of whom just might be your new favorite. Be sure to check out these promising numbers ahead of Lightning in a Bottle from May 25-30.

Born and raised in New York, Blu DeTiger’s rise to fame is undeniable. Amassing 80 million streams across all streaming platforms on his debut EP, How we came here, DeTiger has clearly positioned herself in the driver’s seat of her already burgeoning career, which has led to remixes like Anna Lunoe, Flight Facilities and Tricksters. If there’s one defining aspect of the singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, it’s her expertise at ripping the bass guitar that’s grabbing worldwide attention. Having already played bass for bands like The Knocks, Caroline Polachek and The Bleachers on their recent Saturday Night Live performance, it’s more than safe to say that Lightning in a Bottle attendees won’t want to miss it.

House music visionary VNSSA upped the ante this year, making way for Music4TheMasses, via Diplo’s Higher Ground imprint. 2022 also saw her working alongside LP Giobbi on his compilation FEMME HOUSE earlier this year, in addition to touring with friends and frequent collaborators Walker & Royce. VNSSA’s renowned history gives way to its crisp sound design and upbeat live show, and as all Coachella attendees can attest, it’s sure to bring the heat to this festival circuit.

In the wake of their Inevitable tour, postponed from 2019, the overseas MEMBA family members are more primed than ever for the 2022 festival circuit. Riding through the pandemic, releasing one electronic anthem after the next, including features with EVAN GIIA, Nevve, Alexander Lewis and many others, the New York natives have amped up their sound. Offering intricate synth work and a robust tone, MEMBA’s live set is sure to take fans’ breath away.

If fans are looking for a unique and expertly crafted sound design, look no further. Hailing from Orange County itself, Vinny Pisciotta, better known as Rome in Silver, has competed in Dancing Astronaut’s radar since 2017, when it made its on-site debut in our 5 Under 5k feature. Since then, the local SoCal has grown from around 2,000 loyal listeners on SoundCloud to 300,000 on Spotify, cultivating a following of bass enthusiasts. Signed to San Holo’s bitbird imprint, Pisciotta links his own sound to that of Robotaki and MEMBA. Releasing his 2021 EP, fortune moonvia bitbird and joining San Holo as part of their North American tour last year, Rome in Silver has taken their trip to the next level.

A recent addition to Dancing Astronaut’s 5 Less than 5k Vol. Aged December 31, 2021, Jon Casey has already started making major waves in bass music, soaring to nearly 40,000 monthly listeners on Spotify in less than a year. A stalwart of RL Grime’s Sable Valley footprint that has made its way to the Sand Valley Summer Vol. 1 compilation, the bass provider offers elements of trap, dubstep, etc. Gaining popularity through his collaborative track with IMANU, “Kotoro,” which landed on RL Grime’s highly anticipated “Halloween IX,” Casey boldly showed the stage what he can do.

Young on the scene, HoneyLuv has already lived several lives. From playing college basketball to becoming a US Navy sailor, HoneyLuv has now made a name for himself as a house DJ, and an impeccable DJ. In an industry very clearly dominated by Caucasian men, HoneyLuv has already defied all odds in her short-lived but ever-growing career. Since releasing her debut single in late March 2021, HoneyLuv has worked alongside LP Giobbi’s Desert Hearts, Groove Cruise and Femme House, while also landing her own radio show on iLL Donuts Radio, “House of Honey.” To say it was an explosive start to an illustrious and long career would be a colossal understatement.

Supporting CloZee, the psychedelic patroness of dance music, during her recent shutdown neon jungle tour, Of The Trees blazes its own trail filled with warbling basses and chilling soundscapes from its Maine-based studio. By recently bringing their own Memory Palace label to life, Of The Trees have found a place for their distinctive sound to thrive alongside like-minded peers. Generating downtempo beats with ethereal-toned singers on his The Tale of Elegos EP, the emerging artist composes bass-riddled entities entirely in their own dance music lane.

When it comes to electronic music, the realms of folk and blues are generally well separated; that is, unless Canadian duo Moontricks have something to say about it. Blending gritty bass with soulful vocals, Moontricks created their own space entirely with a live show to boot. Joined on stage by an assemblage of guitars, keyboards, banjo and an inspiring vocal range, the multi-instrumentalists take the world by storm. Playing folk festivals one weekend and dance music events the next, Moontrick’s versatility remains unmatched.

With just over 1,500 monthly listeners on Spotify and almost no news online, their music should speak for itself, and it does. The mixed trio fuses passionate vocals and seductive guitar progressions with an electronic vibe and stunning instrumentation.

Founded in Los Angeles’ ICON Collective, uh…brings together Ben Bruce and Dylan Gold, who began their journey in 2014. After making major strides with their 30-minute bass mix for the Shambhala Music Festival since 2017, the duo only retained and elevated its eccentrically grimy, surreal sound.