Happy New Year! I hope yours was one to remember—because mine definitely was. I rang in 2025 at Insomniac’s COUNTDOWN NYE 2025 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, and despite the rain, the night delivered nonstop dancing, pulsating beats, and genuinely good energy from fellow ravers. From the moment we arrived, the music was already calling us to the dance floor, and I knew early on this was going to be a night to remember.
COUNTDOWN offered more than just music—it delivered a full festival experience. Food vendors kept the energy up, photo-op installations captured the moment, VIP areas offered space to reset, and a Kandi-making station added a creative, community-driven touch. No matter where you turned, there was always something pulling you deeper into the experience.
After my first loop of the venue, I landed at the Mothership Stage, where AR/CO had already set the tone for a high-energy night. By the time John Summit took the stage, the crowd was fully locked in. His set unfolded with intention—smooth, hypnotic, and euphoric—easing everyone in before pulling us deeper into the rhythm. It felt meditative yet powerful, leaving just enough energy to carry into the next set.
Over at the BeatBox Stage, Techno Tupac delivered one of the most memorable moments of the night. Though I had previewed his work beforehand, nothing compared to hearing it live. His sound blended hip-hop and dance in a way that felt unexpected and refreshing—so much so that at times it didn’t even feel like EDM. I was completely in a trance. Stress faded, endorphins kicked in, and without realizing it in the moment, this became my favorite set of the night.
The energy carried on as I moved through the venue, eventually catching Southstar at the Twilight Stage, whose slightly more laid-back sound kept the momentum flowing. As midnight approached, I made my way to the Nebula Stage for Sub Focus, who brought pure, unfiltered energy. Aside from a brief pause to count down the new year, the beats never let up—heart racing, body moving, and the crowd fully alive as 2025 officially began.
After hours of dancing, I finally took a moment to recharge—and was pleasantly surprised to find plant-based food options. Instead of my usual fallback of fries, I refueled with garlic noods that hit the spot and gave me the energy I needed to keep going.
Back at the Mothership Stage, CRANKDAT took things to another level. Well past midnight, the party was in full overdrive. The exchange of energy between the DJ and the crowd felt electric, each feeding off the other. I let go completely, staying rooted in the moment as the music took control. When WUKI followed and kept the momentum alive, I stopped trying to plan my next move and simply let the night guide me. And honestly, it felt exactly right.
Experiencing COUNTDOWN at the Los Angeles Convention Center also highlighted something worth noting. The shift from the outdoor NOS Events Center to a fully indoor space like LACC speaks to a larger reality: there simply aren’t many large-scale outdoor venues available for festivals without organizers having to cycle through the same locations again and again. While the indoor setting brought its own intensity and cohesion, it also underscored the limitations cities like Los Angeles face when it comes to hosting events of this scale. That said, COUNTDOWN proved that even within those constraints, the energy, community, and experience can still thrive—reminding me that at the end of the day, it’s the music and the people that truly make the night unforgettable.
