By NOTES FROM VIVACE
LOS ANGELES – Dutch techno ensemble Tinlicker dazzled the senses in Los Angeles, virtually transporting those in attendance to another world. Tinlicker’s familiar new-age tones have captured the imagination of a wide range of fans, particularly festival-goers and those who follow social media, where the music has found immense success.
With venue lights flashing and stunning imagery, Tinlicker’s stage show could conjure anything from a high-energy “Mission Impossible”-type chase to a daring time travel in a far-off destination.
The lights from the stage beamed as if providing a pathway to follow and computer-generated images were a Rorschach test open to individual interpretation. The band’s flashing white ball-like objects could be seen as fireflies, or chrome spheres racing through time and space.
Either way, as the pulsing beats continued to build, the crowd got into heightened dance mode. Traditional folding fans were seen throughout the crowd, doing their own dance moves.
Around the 20-minute mark, vocalist Hero Baldwin (who joined the band in 2025), came out on stage. Her sweeping vocals layered a captivating dream pop sound over the house beats.
Baldwin introduced their song “I Want My Freedom” by telling the audience, “We really hope you feel the same way as we do. In a world that constantly wants to divide people, I hope you agree, that wherever you call home you should be free. Whoever you choose to love, you should be able to do it without any judgment. And lastly, to every single one in this room, we see you, we are all Jane F*cking Doe.”
“Rebirth” had couples in the balcony hugging as Baldwin sang, “Keep falling in love, keep falling in love.” Based on the screams from the audience as the song ended, it was likely a favorite of the night.
For their encore selections, the band included “Hide U” that had the crowd bouncing as the clock clicked towards the 11 p.m. hour. Whenever the word “Danger” was sung, everyone screamed at the top of their lungs. The band ended the night by telling the crowd, “Sweet dreams . . . until we meet again.”
Opening up the night was trance DJ Helsloot. There was initially a small crowd to catch his set. Gradually throughout, people streamed inside, filling out the venue during his hour-long set. Energy built throughout the set as the venue could visibly be seen filling up, section by section, starting from the front. At times, he would reach up as if he was attempting to send musical notes out into the crowd.
Check out Tinlicker music:
