[Event Review] Techno Queen Charlotte De Witte Captivates NYC With Her Multi-Day Takeover

New York City has a knack for amplifying artists who possess the unique charisma necessary to thrive under its bright lights. Charlotte De Witte is the latest in a long line of performers who have leveraged NYC’s feverish music culture to create an exceptional experience. 

The Belgian techno icon – who just released a highly-anticipated EP called Overdrive – took the Big Apple by storm last week. She unveiled a new fashion collaboration, played a pop-up set in Manhattan, and capped the week off with two headline shows at The Brooklyn Mirage. 

Check out iEDM’s review of Charlotte De Witte’s NYC takeover below. 

Since its advent in the mid-1980s, techno music has primarily been an underground phenomenon, limited to secret basement raves and niche corners of the dance music community. Synonymous with Berlin and other European hubs, the minimalistic sub-genre is yet to reach full mainstream appeal in the United States. However, New York City has earned a reputation alongside Los Angeles and Detroit as one of the country’s techno epicenters.

A wildly popular producer and DJ at just 30 years old, Charlotte De Witte is accustomed to breaking barriers. Now, her meteoric rise to stardom is introducing a new generation of ravers to her captivating, dark, and moody brand of techno. De Witte gave herself plenty of opportunity to make a good impression on New Yorkers last week, publicly launching a new fashion collab and playing sets each night from Wednesday through Friday. 

72 Hours To Remember

The fun started on Wednesday evening when De Witte – who owns the techno music label KNTXT (pronounced “context”) – celebrated the release of her new EP Overdrive with a pop-up set in Manhattan’s Lower East Side.

She performed outside of Extra Butter, a clothing boutique with which De Witte collaborated on some eye-catching apparel to generate more hype surrounding the EP. Techno fanatics and curious passersby alike flooded the streets to catch a glimpse of Charlotte De Witte in action, setting the stage for her impending Brooklyn Mirage takeover. 

After playing a memorable all-night set during her sold-out Brooklyn Mirage show in August 2022, De Witte doubled down at the breathtaking venue in 2023. On Thursday, May 18th, she played an extended set with support from KNTXT stalwarts Chris Liebing, Henry Brooks, and Hiroko Yamamura.

The following evening, De Witte presented KNTXT Konnected, described as, “a brand-new concept in which solo sets and exclusive back-to-back sessions seamlessly morph into each other… showcasing the label’s distinctive and versatile sound.”

Joined by fellow KNTXT artists Indira Paganotto and Onyvaa, De Witte & co. each played a solo set, with back-to-back sets interspersed throughout the night. The three artists united on stage for a rare “b3b” set to close out the evening. The combination of musical performance and stage production made the night unforgettable from start to finish. 

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The KNTXT Konnected Experience

One of the benefits of techno’s niche appeal in the US is that, often, a high percentage of people in techno crowds are dedicated supporters of the artist. Several songs throughout the show garnered excited applause and cheers from the crowd – for which De Witte consistently showed her appreciation. Her connection with her fans was palpable. De Witte’s effortless, buttery-smooth mixing made the transitions between tracks feel almost nonexistent, creating a ceaseless party atmosphere. 

She played out a techno remix of ABBA’s all-time dance hit “Gimme Gimme,” which prompted a rare moment of full-crowd singing amidst a set that was otherwise modest in its lyrical output. “Reflection,” De Witte’s collab with her husband and fellow techno standout Enrico Sangiuliano, also generated a serious pop from the crowd when they recognized the beat.

She also played the couple’s “The Age Of Love” remix, featuring the iconic crowd-pleasing line, “come on, dance with me.” The visuals associated with this track were particularly enthralling, featuring a blinking red LED screen with De Witte’s silhouette flashing in front of it.

Other graphics catered to a more ominous vibe, reflecting De Witte’s stripped-down brand of techno. These visuals were entrancing in their simplicity, especially in one mesmeric instance where the letter X was continuously fractalizing and transforming in texture and shape.

Another graphic gave viewers the feeling that they were watching a deity emerging from a kaleidoscopic pattern, amidst blue and gray flashes. Just when the crowd thought the visuals could not get any better, orange lightning flashed across the screen before a golden metronome appeared, mirroring the beat hypnotically.

It was a privilege seeing De Witte’s style adapt to that of her on-stage collaborators as the night went on. While she is known primarily for her techno prowess, De Witte mixed in some thumping trance-style beats as well, particularly during her b2b set with Indira Paganotto. 

The Road Ahead

All in all, the KNTXT Konnected performance was a huge success. The night was filled with b2b sets that flowed seamlessly from one to the next – all full of thick, sexy basslines. Each buildup was more entrancing than the next, leaving the packed crowd salivating for the drop.

Charlotte De Witte had a tremendous week in NYC, further reinforcing her role as a main character in the burgeoning techno scene. She showcased her business acumen, masterful production, skillful live mixing, and humble demeanor for all to see in the city that never sleeps. Being that The Brooklyn Mirage is a local juggernaut with mainstream appeal, her efforts are bringing techno to a new level of audience exposure. 

With De Witte’s 2023 NYC takeover in the rearview mirror, we cannot wait to see what the “techno queen” has in store for us in 2024.

Photos courtesy of Charlotte De Witte and The Brooklyn Mirage.

Check out our review of Dom Dolla at The Brooklyn Mirage HERE!

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