At the top of the form, three words: "FUS W SKRILLEX." Below, a disclaimer—this was a request, not a guarantee. The event was shrouded in mystery, but that didn't stop fans from flooding the link, hoping for a chance to experience whatever Skrillex had in store after Miami Music Week.
Then, on Sunday night, just one day after his historic return to the storied Ultra Music Festival Mainstage, a select few invitations started to roll in. The details were scarce but intriguing nonetheless: a listening event at Ice Palace, doors closing promptly at 8pm and a strict no-photo, no-video, no-audio recording policy.
By Monday evening, we found ourselves outside the venue alongside roughly 80 diehard fans and fellow industry insiders all eagerly waiting to step foot into what would ultimately unfold as one of the most exclusive and intimate Skrillex experiences in recent memory.
At check-in, our phones were sealed away in plastic bags—no distractions, no documentation, just the music. After stepping inside we were immediately met with a bold visual, a graffiti-scrawled message in bright orange: "F*CK YOU SKRILLEX YOU THINK YOU’RE ANDY WARHOL BUT UR NOT!! <3," a fittingly cryptic welcome sign for an event shrouded in mystery.
Inside, the air was thick with incense and a hazy, smoky glow. A three-tiered platform stood at the center, scattered with oversized beanbags. People settled in, sipping beverages from an iced tea bar as a mellow reggae soundtrack played in the background. The room was palpably buzzing with anticipation.
Once the doors closed, the room fell silent before Skrillex's stunning new album began to play, from start to finish, exactly as it was meant to be heard. Lights and lasers sliced through the haze as the music filled the space. At first, most swayed or nodded along from their beanbags, but as the energy built, it became impossible to stay seated. One by one, people stood up until the entire room was on their feet, moving to the music.
About halfway through, Skrillex appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. The energy in the room spiked and suddenly everyone was dancing around him as the album continued. At this point, it wasn’t just a listening party anymore. It was a moment, a memory and a night that felt like a snapshot of electronic music history. By the final track, "AZASU," Skrillex stood amongst the crowd, taking a moment to thank the artists, creatives and fans who helped bring the album to life.
Once the music wrapped, it was clear that the genre agnostic album was more of a mosaic, a retrospective mixtape stitched together with blog-era producer tags and nostalgic references. The way it was delivered, too, felt like a throwback to a musical era in which Skrillex played an instrumental role.
As the night wrapped up, we walked away with exclusive merch: a t-shirt, poster featuring the album cover and tote bags stamped with, "You’re not supposed to be hearing this right now." And just when it seemed like the experience had come to an end, the email hit our inboxes. Skrillex sent the album directly to his fans via Dropbox, harkening back to the early days of DIY music discovery.
The next day, Skrillex officially released F*CK U SKRILLEX YOU THINK UR ANDY WARHOL BUT UR NOT!! <3, a sprawling, 34-track album packed with explorative collaborations and groundbreaking bangers that made the intimate first listen feel even more special.
You can listen to the mix below and find F*CK U SKRILLEX YOU THINK UR ANDY WARHOL BUT UR NOT!! <3 on streaming platforms here.
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TikTok: tiktok.com/@skrillex
Facebook: facebook.com/skrillex
Spotify: tinyurl.com/naka2dyv
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