The temperature rose as bodies packed into the Solar Dance tent as Tyler, NGHTMRE, took the stage and looked out over what felt like more than half of the 35,000 in attendance at the Moonrise music festival this past weekend. The rising temperature could not keep the crowd from jumping up and down and shrieking as NGHTMRE started to play new music at the end of his set. After the show, and after 20 minutes of trying to figure out where I was supposed to be, I sat down with Tyler for a short interview. From music to random fan questions, Tyler graciously opened up to me.
I know you enjoy horror movies, so what is you favorite horror movie?
Se7en. That one is badass. It's not really a horror movie, but it's my favorite intense movie.
If you could quote another villain in a song, which villain would that be?
Damn, I don't even know. Probably the Joker.
You just released a song a few days ago with Flux Pavillion, what was it like to collab with him?
It was awesome.One of the first few songs I remember really being like 'Holy Shit' this an incredible electronic song that blew my mind was his Gold Dust remix. I listened to all of Flux's music growing up so just to be able to work with him at all was really amazing. He lives in London so we had to send projects back and forth so it was a little different working with him because I've never really done a collaboration like that.
What is the craziest thing you've seen while looking out into the crowd?
Some ridiculous crowd surfing. I feel like I have just seen kids get dropped. During my webster Hall show, we had a kid run up on stage and he tried to run and jump and crowd surf and everyone moved out of the way. He ended up breaking his ankle. He hit me up later and I ended up giving him free tickets to a show because I was like, "Bro that was legendary. You deserve tickets."
Do you ever sneak away while you're at a festival to see someone play?
Sometimes, yeah. I want to go see Excision in a little bit (side note: I went and it was beyond awesome, so I hope he got to see it.) It depends on the festival, though, sometimes I can go out in the crowd with a hat on and it's okay. Other times if one person takes a picture then everyone starts asking you and it turns into me not even getting to watch the show.
Who are you most excited to see perform in the next couple of months?
The first time I was here last year was the only time I got to see Porter life, and I only really caught the last 15-20 minutes of his set. I really want to catch a full live Porter set. He makes really dope music.
You released a lot of new music during your set tonight, what is it like to release new music during a set?
It's always so fun. it greats at Moonrise, because it's a huge crowd of people who love bass music and you kind of know what will do well. You figure out the stuff that works and the stuff that won't. It's good, It's always good.
EDM can sound the same to some people, how have you found your sound?
It's not something you seek out, it's just if you are making music every day you start to form habits. You start to use the same samples and do the same thing. Eventually, you'll show friends your music and they will be like, "Yeah this sounds like you." You kind of just develop a style. I grew up listening to rock music so I like writing melodies and then I grew up in the south so I listen to a lot of dirty south hip-hop which is where the trap comes from.
If you could play at one music festival, that obviously wasn't Moonrise, what would it be?
My answer for this for the longest time was Tommorowland, but I just played it so maybe Ultra because I haven't played it yet.
If you could describe Moonrise in three words, what you they be?
I feel like Moonrise has so many Bass artists here so I Bass is one word for sure. I don't want to say good vibes, but I feel like the East Coast always has good energy and a lot of cool people. The hospitality is always really good. I'm from the east coast so I have so many friends up here to see me and I don't get that when I am playing out west. Good Friends. Good Vibes. Good Bass Music.
