Kitsta

Some sets exist to remind us that before minimalism and moodiness, rave was about gurning to a Gigi D'Agostino melody while someone spills beer on your shoes. Kitsta's Westival 2022 offering for Keep Hush is a glorious, tongue-in-cheek tribute to that era, a set built on sheer, unapologetic fun. The vibe is a sweaty, smile-filled throwback, where every track is a recognizable hook designed for communal shouting. Technically, Kitsta weaves through 90s and 00s classics at an average BPM of 138, using the uplifting key of 12A as a through-line to connect electro, italo-dance, and hands-in-the-air anthems.

The energy is overwhelmingly in the low-end (0.81), with those iconic, squelchy basslines and four-to-the-floor kicks driving the momentum in a way that feels both retro and utterly effective today. The mixing is playful and inclusive, often letting the tracks play out for maximum singalong potential. The selections are a time capsule of peak guilty pleasures. SMV's 'Give It' is a filthy, electroclash-infused opener.

From there, it's a parade of icons: Timbaland's 'Give It to Me', Gigi D'Agostino's 'Bla Bla Bla' and 'Elisir', and 2 Unlimited's 'No Limit'. A standout is the extended, joyous run of Soulja Boy's 'Kiss Me Thru the Phone', a testament to Kitsta's commitment to the bit. Pangaea's 'Fuzzy Logic' offers a momentary, cooler-headed UK bass interlude, but it's all a build-up to the ultimate finale: Underworld's 'Born Slippy'. The journey starts with electro sleaze, builds through euro-dance euphoria, and closes on the timeless, synapse-frying rush of the 'Nuxx' version, leaving us blissfully spent.