CRSSD Spring Festival is almost upon which means the beginning of festival season 2023 is just about here.
CRSSD Festival has been around since 2015 bringing in the top names of house and techno as well as live acts to San Diego’s Waterfront Park.
A staple of the region, CRSSD Festival was the first event of this size and scope to happen at San Diego’s Waterfront Park and one of the first 21+ festivals in Southern California.
Now eight years later, they continue to combine headliners and international innovators with their 2023 spring edition. Headlining are huge names like ODESZA (who performed at the first-ever CRSSD Festival), Lane 8, Purple Disco Machine, and Deborah De Luca, so there’s no shortage of top-tier artists to end your night with.
But when you first enter the grounds or as the sun begins to set, it can be hard to decide which artist to go see as there are so many undiscovered and new names performing this year.
Here are six underground artists to check out at CRSSD Spring Festival 2023:
AMÉMÉ
AMÉMÉ is a West African-born DJ/producer whose sound is influenced by his cultural roots and tribal percussion. His afro-house leaning sound first found its way to fellow African dance artist Black Coffee in 2019 who was a strong supporter of his music.
The industry has rallied around AMÉMÉ with Beatport selecting him for their Beatport Next Class of 2022 and Tomorrowland tapping him for their 20 of 2023, a list of the most promising new artists for this upcoming year.
Since then, he’s blown up, performing all over the globe at Coachella, Day Zero Festival in Tulum, Insomniac’s Skyline, and the International Music Summit in Ibiza.
He’s also the mind behind One Tribe, a record label and lifestyle brand that showcased at New York Fashion Week 2018.
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs (TEED) has a list of production and music industry credits almost as long as his name.
A British producer, DJ, singer, and songwriter, TEED, real name Orlando Higginbottom, has done production work for Mark Ronson and SG Lewis, collaborated with Bonobo for his 2020 Grammy-nominated track “Heartbreak,” and with Porter Robinson on “Unfold.”
His father was a choir director, influencing Higginbottom’s singing career, as showcased on “Walking On Water” by The Knocks and “DAWN” by Bronson (the collaborative project from ODESZA and Golden Features).
He’s inspired by almost every genre under the electronic music spectrum: Chicago House, UK garage, funk, disco, and more. This variety is a highlight of his sets which means you never truly know what you are going to get, only that it will be a journey.
Phantoms
An indie-house duo from Southern California, Phantoms is a certified good time. Playing a combo of disco, house, techno, funk, and indie, their sound is fun and unpredictable.
The two have been friends and music partners since they were kids and it shows in their infectious stage presence and undeniable energy. Well-noticed in the industry, they even crafted an official remix for Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj’s “Side To Side” in 2017.
While this is not a live set, many of their songs feature the vocal and drumming talents of members Kyle Kaplan and Vinnie Pergola.
They recently released their sophomore album, This Can’t Be Everything, which explores a more mature side to their usually cheeky sound. But don’t be mistaken, you may hear some classic Phantoms staples like “Ecstacy (Over & Over)” by Prospa or “Love Rollercoaster” by Love Regenerator (Calvin Harris) and Solardo.
Mall Grab
Jordan Alexander (aka Mall Grab) is an Australian producer who took his name from an insult used in skateboarding, but is far from an insult to house and techno.
Mall Grab’s sound has no genre but can be described as fun-loving and upbeat. His tracks often feel nostalgic with an 80s essence or a UK Garage inspiration, but with an innovative spirit that pushes the boundary of electronic music.
Often a solo producer, in 2019 he collaborated with another Spring CRSSD headliner Skin On Skin for their Strangers EP. Since then, he’s traveled all across the world performing at prominent spots in the US, Europe, and Canada.
Anfisa Letyago
Anfisa Letyago is one of Italy’s rising techno stars first beginning her career in 2010 to eventually become one of the region’s staples. She quickly rose in the ranks performing at some of the biggest festivals and clubs around the world, including Awakenings, Tomorrowland, and Amnesia Ibiza.
She’s received support from huge names in the genre including Adam Beyer, Charlotte De Witte, and Carl Cox, with Cox even lauding her talents in an interview and saying she was a “talented live performer.”
Her sets are intense, fast-paced, and industrial with some elements of house and acid house that send the audience into a techno trance. This set is sure to leave fans breathless as they move along to the steady beat.
Kavinsky
Kavinsky is a seasoned veteran in the music now returned after a lengthy hiatus. He is best known for his 2011 track “Nightcall” which was used in the film Drive.
Kavinsky first came to notoriety with his 1986 EP released in 2007 which soon saw him tour with bloghouse legends like Justice, SebastiAn, and Daft Punk.
From 2013-2021, he took an extensive break from producing, returning with “Renegade” featuring Cautious Clay, a 2022 album aptly called Reborn, and a string of live shows.
His French house sound is unique, inspired by 16-bit video games and 80s synth waves that feel like the darker side of a John Hughes movie.
