PAUL VAN DYK TO DEBUT NEW LIVE CONCEPT “THE ESSENCE OF ACID” AT DREAMSTATE SOCAL 2026

The iconic DJ and producer will bring his fully immersive live show to the festival, marking its worldwide debut and launching a forthcoming world tour.

North America’s largest trance music festival Dreamstate SoCal 2026 is set to host the worldwide debut of electronic music legend Paul van Dyk’s newest live performance concept, The Essence of Acid, bringing the pioneering artist’s latest production to the historic Queen Mary Waterfront on Saturday, November 21 in Long Beach, CA.

The Essence of Acid is built around a live electronic setup, with van Dyk performing alongside the hardware used to shape the show's sound. The performance will combine exclusive new material, acid-focused compositions, live reinterpretations of selected catalogue tracks, and recognizable records rebuilt specifically for the concept.

The concept also expands the live setup into the visual production. Paul performs with the Boutique Series, a collection based on the iconic TB-303, TR-808 and TR-909, on the show's visual language, alongside imagery inspired by circuitry, oscilloscopes, waveforms and other elements of analog electronic production. Lighting, screens, lasers and stage elements are designed to develop in tandem with the music throughout the performance.

Known for its focus on the history, evolution and future of trance and electronic music, global dance music experience curator Insomniac’s trance brand and festival vertical Dreamstate will provide the setting for The Essence of Acid to make its first appearance worldwide. It will explore acid as an influence across electronic music, incorporating the sound of the Roland TB-303 alongside synthesizers, drum machines, sequencers and effects. The concept’s focus on acid reflects Dreamstate’s own ethos of celebrating the sounds that have shaped trance culture while championing the artists and innovations defining its present and future. 

Paul van Dyk has been a defining figure in global electronic music for more than three decades, with a career spanning landmark productions, international performances and multiple generations of electronic music fans. His connection to Dreamstate dates back to the festival’s inaugural edition in 2015, where he took the stage for the first-ever Dreamstate SoCal, making his return with The Essence of Acid a natural continuation. Acid is already an established part of Paul’s musical catalogue. His previous work in the style includes ‘Acid’ with Chicago House pioneer DJ Pierre and ‘ACID TRAXXX’, as well as his solo release ‘Filthy Acid’. The Essence of Acid builds on that connection, taking the sound from the studio into a dedicated live performance.

Dreamstate SoCal 2026 will take place on Friday, November 20 and Saturday, November 21. Two-day and single-day GA and 21+ VIP tickets to Dreamstate SoCal 2026 are on sale now at Dreamstate.FrontGateTickets.com. 

Media credential applications to cover Dreamstate SoCal 2026 on behalf of a news publication are now open here. Please note that independent photographers and/or videographers will not be considered for credentials.

Stay tuned on the latest Dreamstate news and updates via the website, Instagram, X, and Facebook. Keep up to date with all things Insomniac on Insomniac.com.

ZAMNA UNVEILS PHASE 2 LINEUP FOR 2026 RETURN TO SHARM EL SHEIKH'S SINAI DESERT WITH MARCO CAROLA, GORDO, CAMELPHAT, ELVIS GUETTA AND MORE

Special guests are set to join a stacked lineup that already includes Major League DJZ, Brina Knauss and a wave of regional talent, as Zamna returns to Egypt's Khoroum Valley from 20th–22nd November.

Zamna has confirmed a major expansion to its Sharm El Sheikh lineup, with techno heavyweights Marco Carola and CamelPhat, and Gordo's bass-driven house and techno, joining the bill for the festival's return to the Sinai Desert from 20th–22nd November. 

The additions bring the 2026 edition to its biggest capacity yet at 20,000 daily visitors, as Zamna continues to build out its granite-amphitheatre setting in Egypt's Khoroum Valley.

Also joining are Major League DJZ, Brina Knauss, Elvis Guetta Asal b2b, Sona, Zamna Sound System, and Elvis Guetta - son of David Guetta, making his Egypt debut - Dish Dash, La Familia, Baz and Haz, Mballa and Minds of Lust, completing a lineup that already includes Sasha & John Digweed, Korolova, Mind Against, MRAK, Mëstiza and SHIMZA, with special guests to be announced. 

Following its debut in 2025, Zamna Sharm El Sheikh returns with expanded production, set against the valley's striking rock formations in Khoroum Valley, just fifteen minutes from Sharm El Sheikh's city centre and international airport. The natural venue space will again be transformed after dark with immersive lighting and stage production across the three-day event. Shuttle transfers run from partner hotels throughout the city, putting the desert stage within easy reach of any resort in Sharm. 

Carola brings his signature driving groove to the desert setting, while CamelPhat's fusion of house and emotive melodies and Gordo's bold, bassy techno round out the headline additions. South Africa's Major League DJZ bring their Afro-house sound to the bill, while Elvis Guetta joins with his own house and disco sound, alongside Brina Knauss, Asal b2b Sona, Zamna Sound System and regional talents Dish Dash, La Familia, Baz and Haz, Mballa and Minds of Lust.

General Admission grants full three-day access to Khoroum Valley, with VIP booths and tables available on request. Entry is restricted to guests aged 18 and over, with valid photo ID required at the gate.

Tickets are available now at khoroumvalley.com.

Line up

Asal b2b Brina Knauss, CamelPhat, Elvis Guetta, Gordo, Korolova, Major League DJZ, Marco Carola, Mëstiza, Mind Against, MRAK, Sasha & John Digweed, SHIMZA, Sona, ZSS, Dish Dash, La Familia, Baz and Haz, Mballa, Minds of Lust with more names to be announced.

CARLITA ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM TELEPATHY ARRIVING NOVEMBER 6 VIA NINJA TUNE

SHARES NEW SINGLE “ONE MORE DANCE” 

Turkish-Italian producer, DJ, and multi-instrumentalist Carlita has announced her sophomore album, Telepathy, arriving November 6 via Ninja Tune. The announcement is accompanied by the new single “One More Dance” with Stevie Appleton (one half of duo Collect 200), offering the latest glimpse into a record that widens the scope of Carlita's club-rooted sound through songwriting, production, and an ambitious cast of collaborators.

Telepathy, as Carlita describes it, is "thinking about somebody or something with no attempt at possessing that thing, only for it to come into your life anyway." The album is about the kinds of communication that never get spoken: the invisible thread running between a person and their past, between lovers, between someone and the world around them. The record is feminine, driving and groovy, with a dance-pop subtlety as the throughline across the tracks.

Carlita’s records work like perfume: they return to you later, attached to a person or a memory. Telepathy moves a room but stays with you long after, sitting somewhere between a pop record and a night spent dancing in a smoky basement without compromising either side. The album features contributions from SOFI TUKKER, Justine Skye, Malive, Stevie Appleton, Paige Cavell and Cleo Simone. 

The world around the album was developed with creative director Pedro Damasceno (@pedrose), and the cover and album photographs were shot by photographer Rafael Pavarotti (@rafaelpavarotti_), whose recent work includes Charli xcx, Madonna, Tyla and Addison Rae. The imagery lands between intimacy and editorial finesse. The cover evokes magical realism, leaning into the invisible threads that tie the spaces between what we understand. It extends Carlita's long-running relationship with fashion, pushing a subtle yet idiosyncratic creative universe that follows her last album, Sentimental, and its cover shot by Louis Browne (@louis_browne). 

Carlita has performed for YSL Beauty, collaborated with brands including Louis Vuitton, Chanel and FENDI, and appeared in Vogue Italia, GQ Italia and L’Officiel. Her Senza Fine event series has further brought music, fashion and art together through immersive experiences staged around New York Fashion Week.

Telepathy’s first single, “Patchwork” with Paige Cavell, earned Carlita her first BBC Radio 1 Hottest Record, while “Manhattan,” with SOFI TUKKER, became her first BBC Radio 1 B List record. Together, the releases have marked a significant new chapter for Carlita, carrying her club-rooted sound further into the pop landscape ahead of the album.

Telepathy Tracklist:
1. Intro (Bri Baby Mix)
2. WYWD (with Justine Skye)
3. Pablo
4. Waking Up On A Sunny Morning (with Edd)
5. Manhattan (with SOFI TUKKER)
6. Helado
7. Rising Up (feat. Cleo Simone)
8. Disco Lady
9. Solar Skin (with Malive, feat. jasper.wav)
10. One More Dance (with Stevie Appleton)
11. Patchwork (with Paige Cavell)
12. Another Fantasy
13. Tame My Love (feat. Kosmo Kint)

The announcement follows Carlita’s busiest touring year to date, with 2026 appearances at Coachella, Sónar, Outside Lands, Tomorrowland, Distortion Copenhagen, DC10 Ibiza, Surf Lodge and Circoloco. Upcoming dates include ARC Music Festival in Chicago, CRSSD in San Diego, Depot Mayfield in Manchester and EDC Colombia in Medellín, alongside headline performances across Europe, North America and Latin America.

Telepathy arrives November 6 via Ninja Tune. “One More Dance” with Stevie Appleton is out now.

Stevie Appleton is one of music's fastest-growing talents. Known for his distinctive tone and melodic writing, he’s collaborated with A-List talent across his career, including deadmau5, Tiësto, John Summit, The Martinez Brothers, BLOND:ISH, and many more.

Carlita Upcoming Tour Dates
August 28 — Maona Monte-Carlo — Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France
August 29 — Touquet Music Beach — Le Touquet, France
September 5 — The Surf Lodge — Montauk, New York
September 7 — Union Park — Chicago, Illinois
September 12 — Voodoo Village — Grimbergen, Belgium
September 16 — Pacha — Ibiza, Spain
September 18 — Irmão — Costa da Caparica, Portugal
September 25 — The Church Nightclub — Denver, Colorado
September 26 — CRSSD Fest — San Diego, California
September 27 — Santa Monica Beach — Santa Monica, California
October 2 — Depot Mayfield — Manchester, United Kingdom
October 10 — Atanasio Girardot Stadium — Medellín, Colombia
November 7 — Vale do Anhangabaú — São Paulo, Brazil
November 8 — Club Hípico Mendoza — Mendoza, Argentina
November 13 — Fundidora Park — Monterrey, Mexico

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