Earlier this month, Robin Schulz – of “Prayer In C” and “Waves” fame – came through DC’s Echostage to support his sophomore album, Sugar. Released via Warner Music Group in September, Sugar feels like an album meant to differentiate Robin Schulz the DJ from Robin Schulz the Producer. While 2013's Prayer was remix heavy (see: "Rather Be," "We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off," and "A Sky Full Of Stars"), Sugar comes off as an older, wiser sibling, driven by — and strongest during — Schulz's original tracks. Songs like "Love Me Loud" and "Show Me Love" get at a more mature, emotional depth not present in Prayer while still maintaining Schulz's danceable-house brand.
Photo Credit: Garrett Hoppin
That maturity came through during Schulz's performance, as seen by his incredibly measured and consistent control of the audience. The set opened with "Wave Goodbye," a strong, sax heavy track that maintained the upbeat tempo set by opener Cyril Hahn, immediately sparking movement within the crowd. Throughout the set, Schulz moved from EDM into deep house with seamless transitions and grace, eliciting particularly strong responses from the crowd during "Pride" and "Headlights." As expected, the room lit up during "Prayer In C," but surprisingly even more so during "Sugar," the second single off Sugar (in case that wasn't already clear). Schulz held a fantastic stage presence during the entire set, moving around the booth and leaving it several times to further engage the audience. After almost an hour and a half of crowd-pleasing music, Schulz handed off the decks to Le Youth, leaving him with a beyond satisfied room ready to continue dancing.
If the show was any indicator, this next phase of Robin Schulz's career is going to be thoughtful, considered, and pulsating. Schulz's show was a great launch for Sugar in the U.S. and made it very clear that he is an artist to follow.
Photo Credit: Garrett Hoppin
Also worth mentioning are Cyril Hahn and Le Youth's fantastic sets. Hahn read the room well and slowly built up the crowd — even created some drama when his set went from pitch black to blaring color — setting the scene well for Schulz. Le Youth closed the show well, proclaiming early in the set that he wanted to keep the dance party going and very much living up to his promise. Follow Cyril Hahn on Soundcloud here and Le Youth here. Make sure to check out Cyril Hahn's Destiny's Child and HAIM remixes if you haven't already.
Many thanks to Panorama Productions and the Club Glow crew for putting on an awesome show. If you're in the DC area, be sure to check out their calendar for upcoming events.
Photos by: Garrett Hoppin