Benny Benassi loves Halloween.
Since he began touring in the U.S. over two decades ago, the Italian producer and DJ has made a habit of playing raves dedicated to the haunting fall holiday, including Escape Halloween, where he’ll make his sixth appearance at Insomniac’s themed festival, the largest of its kind in the country, later this month.
After performing (dressed as Superman) at Escape’s electro-heavy inaugural edition in 2011—the same year he released “Cinema”—the genre legend returned to perform at three consecutive editions from 2014 to 2016, and then at Escape’s post-pandemic comeback in 2021.
Ahead of the festival’s return to the NOS Event Center in San Bernardino, California, on October 30-31, Benassi told EDM Maniac about his love for American Halloween raves, what’s kept him coming back to Escape over the years, and, like any proud Italian, waxed philosophical about what makes a good pizza in the exclusive interview below.
EDM Maniac: You played Escape’s inaugural edition in 2011. What do you remember of being pitched on the gig, especially as a first-time event?
Benassi: I remember perfectly when my agent told me, “Look, Pasquale Rotella and Insomniac are launching a new festival dedicated to Halloween.” I was thrilled. I was already familiar with Pasquale and Insomniac’s big events and knew how special they were, so the idea of taking part in the very first edition of a new festival entirely dedicated to Halloween was really exciting to me. Plus, I already knew I was going to have a blast!
EDM Maniac: What do you remember of your first performance at Escape?
Benassi: To be honest, it’s been quite a few years and I don’t remember every detail of that first edition. But I remember the atmosphere very well, and especially a very strong lineup that was deeply connected to the electro sound of those years.
I seem to recall Steve Angello, Afrojack, and many other big names of that time being there. It was exactly the music scene I was part of at that moment, and I remember being truly happy to be there.
EDM Maniac: This will be your sixth time back at Escape. How have you seen this festival grow or change from your first appearance to now?
Benassi: Yes, it will be my sixth time, and I’m really happy to be returning. Over all these years, I’ve seen Escape and Insomniac festivals in general grow so much. One thing I think they’ve always understood clearly is the importance of the fan experience.
Today, there are so many things to discover and experience within the event. This year, for example, I know I’ll also have a very unique meet-and-greet with fans, and I’m really curious and happy to do it. It’s great to see how much Escape has grown while always keeping the experience of the people attending the festival front and center.
Escape has never just been a music festival, it has always been a world to step into for a night.
EDM Maniac: What have been the biggest highlights or most memorable moments from your previous Escape performances?
Benassi: What I remember most about Escape is the incredible energy of the crowd. For me, it’s always been one of those festivals where I love testing out new music and seeing people’s reactions immediately. This year will be even more special because I’m preparing a new EP, and I really can’t wait to play them at Escape and see what happens!
EDM Maniac: You dressed as Superman at the first Escape in 2011. What other costumes have you worn at the festival since then?
Benassi: I remember Superman perfectly! Actually, that costume came from a bet with a couple of friends of mine, he’s Italian and she’s American, who live in the U.S. I don’t even remember what the bet was about anymore, but I remember very well that I lost it!
At one point, she knocked on my door and said, “Hey, this is your costume for tonight.” And just like that, I found myself playing dressed as Superman.
In the years since, to be honest, I haven’t always dressed up. Coming from Italy and traveling constantly, it’s not always easy to get organized and bring a costume along. A lot of times, there’s simply no time. I’d like to do it more often, but Superman definitely remains one of the funniest memories.
EDM Maniac: Are you dressing up this year?
Benassi: I haven’t thought about it seriously yet, but maybe! This year could be the perfect opportunity.
EDM Maniac: Any idea of what you’ll be?
Benassi: I haven’t decided yet, so no clues for now! However, this year I’ll have the exact same friends with me that I came with to the first edition in 2011. Considering they were the ones who made me wear the Superman costume, I’d say anything can happen!
EDM Manaic: Since you began DJing, what changes in the broader dance music scene have you come to appreciate most?
Benassi: Dance music has always been a massive laboratory, and since I started DJing, I’ve seen it change so much.
One of the things I like most right now is what’s happened over the last couple of years: I feel like a certain electro energy is coming back, and even some of that early 2000s electro house that I’ve always really loved. It’s a sound I heavily identify with, and I love seeing a new generation of artists reinterpreting it in their own way.
EDM Maniac: What excites you most about the scene today? About the future?
Benassi: What excites me most is the number of interesting young artists who have emerged in recent years and the energy I see in the scene. And I’m not just talking about the big festivals. Sometimes the most interesting things happen on the small stages.
Recently, for example, I was at a festival in Cyprus, and I saw incredible energy even on the smallest, most underground stages. This is probably one of the things that excites me the most today.
As for the future, I like to think that small clubs can go back to having more and more importance. Clubs are fundamental places for birthing and nurturing a music scene, and for experimenting with new sounds and new artists. And then maybe, what is born there can one day make it to the biggest stages.
EDM Maniac: For how long have you been playing Halloween events in the U.S., and what was your first Halloween gig like?
Benassi: I’ve been playing Halloween events in the U.S. for quite some time now. I started traveling and playing in the U.S. in 2003, so it’s been over 20 years. Coming from Italy, the thing that immediately struck me was just how important Halloween was to Americans.
In Italy, especially back then, Halloween wasn’t really a big deal yet: We had Carnival! So I remember that one of the things that surprised me the most about my first experiences in the U.S. was seeing how much people got into this holiday and how important it was to them.
EDM Maniac: How does America’s celebration of the holiday compare to other countries around the globe? In the rave scene specifically?
Benassi: I think Halloween pairs perfectly with the American rave scene because it gives everyone the chance to completely transform themselves and dress however they want. Beyond the music and the fun, there’s this incredible atmosphere created by the people, the costumes, and the masks.
I have a blast from the stage, looking out and trying to figure out who is behind every mask! When I see a particularly beautiful or weird one, sometimes I even stop to talk to them and ask for the story behind their costume. It’s one of the things I enjoy most about Halloween in the U.S.
EDM Maniac: What’s your favorite Italian dish, and when you’re visiting, are there any spots in Southern California that prepare it as well as back home?
Benassi: Obviously, I’m Italian, and one of my favorite foods is definitely pizza. But there’s pizza, and then there’s pizza! Even in Italy, they aren’t all the same, and behind a great pizza, there is a ton of research: the flours, the fermentation, the dough, the ingredients.
I’m pretty particular about my tastes, but in Southern California, there are people who have learned to reinterpret this Italian dish very well. I actually found a place that I want to go and try while I’m there.
And since I’ll be in California, I also want to take advantage of it to go for a nice gravel bike ride with an Italian cyclist friend of mine who lives between Los Angeles and San Diego. A ride in the California hills: I can’t wait!
Featured image courtesy: Benny Benassi.