Mint Festival 2016

I was invited by MiNT Festival this year to team up with Justin Gardener and Elliot Young to become one of their official photographers at the Mint festival 2016.

Having to running across multiple stages, I was lucky to explore the festival at full effect. Production of all stages was on point, and three venue assigned to me were actually all my favourites. Especially Elrow! (Update 2021 – Thinking back about it, this was my first elrow experience and I was totally blown away) It was an absolute madness, but in a good way. The Woodstock theme stood out nicely among all the venues at the festival. Endless confetti and Co2 cannons are definitely a festival photographer’s best friends. Not to mention the amazing dancers and performers. They know how to throw a party!

I’ve put together a mini album of photo highlights of the day.

MiNT Festival 2016 Artists including – Jamie Jones, Craig David TS5, Dannic, Skream, Toddla T, Ms Dynamite, Third Party, Kerri Chandler, Christoph, Hot Since 82, Ummet Ozcan, Patric Topping, D.O.D, Joshua Roberts, Reload, Lukas, Annie Errez, Jay Drop, Molise and many more.

Time machine – More of my photos at MiNT Festivals

MiNT Festival 2017

MiNT Festival 2018

JAUZ: You Can Fill A Semi-Truck With My New Music
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Choosing between the 8 different stages at this year’s Creamfields was damn near impossible. With an incredible line-up featuring some of the globe’s top DJs including Calvin Harris, Armin Van Buuren, Fatboy Slim, Tiesto, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike we just had to see them all.

Saturday midnight, moments after watching Avicii’s last ever UK set, we literally sprinted 10 minutes from the main Horizon Stage to the brand new Steel Yard, to talk to the upcoming American DJ JAUZ, who celebrated his 23-year-old birthday just a weeks ago.

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Lanty: First thing, can you please tell me what’s the correct way to say your name? I’ve heard so many different versions and would like to know the official answer!

JAUZ: J-AU-Z, as the film Jaws, the shark. I got to called all different kind of names in different countries, some pretty funny ones as well, haha.

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Lanty: Are you looking forward to play at Creamfields on the brand new Steelyard stage?

JAUZ: It’s gonna be epic. I mean the UK is one of my favourite places to play ever ‘cos this is where I got all my influence for myself. UK Garage, Dubstep and Drum & Bass, that’s what I grow up and listening to. Everyone was listening to music in America and I was listening to all these guys in the UK that no one else had any idea who they were. So now I got to be here and play that kind of music to a crowd that understands it, it’s so cool for me. Also, I’m brought here because I’m an American, and I do my thing, like an American would, so I can’t just pretend to be a UK DJ. People come to see me because they want to see me, not some guy from UK music. So I do like a mix, of all of it.

Lanty: So you see yourself different from the UK DJs here?

Yes definitely, but more the same than other American DJs, I’m definitely closer to where the UK guys are than a lot of the other American guys who come over here, I think.

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Lanty: I know you’re heading over to Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore for some shows. You’re huge there at the moment! Have you got anything special planned for that?

JAUZ: Every time I played in Asia the crowd is just like SO incredible. I keep losing my mind. It’s one of these places like I can do my thing. You know, just really play what I wanna play and the crowd just react to everything. So I’m really excited!

Lanty: Are we expecting anything new from you soon?

Yeh I have a lot a lot a lot of new music coming up, it’s just about right now figuring out when and where to put out all the music. I’ve just been piling all this music together, you can fill a semi truck with all this music, I’m definitely gonna be putting out lots of new stuff.

Lanty: What plays the most important part in your music?

JAUZ: That’s really a good question. I guess the element of surprise. I keep trying to make sure that people don’t really know where I’m going with my music in any giving time. One day I put out a House song, the next day I put out something else. I try to switch up everything so people are always like “oh I wasn’t expecting him to put out a song like that!” It’s also about challenging myself. Cos if I keep making one kind of music over and over again, I get bored. If I’m not having fun of what I’m doing why do it?! So it’s not about the money for me, it’s about I love music.

Lanty: Having fun and enjoying the life!

JAUZ: That’s it. Exactly!

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If you go on JAUZ’s Facebook page, you can find it says on the genre description: Music has no boundaries. Just like what he said to us, during his 2-hour set, he kept dropping tracks you’d never expect him to play. Jumping from Dubstep to Drum & Bass, followed by classic UK Garage. Then he opened his arms and gave the crowd a massive “air hug”.

When it was time for Jack U to take over the stage, I gave him the “oh I wasn’t expecting him to put out a song like that” look. He laughed, and gave me the V Sign just like he did when we first met.

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Words: Lanty Zhang

Pictures: Creamfields Official Website // Lanty Zhang Studio // JAUZ Official Facebook Page

Chinese version on Reyin App: JAUZ:我的新音乐要用一辆重型卡车才能装得完!