TuneLab
Nicky Romero
Tomorrowland 2022 - WE3
Nicky Romero at Tomorrowland 2022, and we're immediately hit with THE GOALKEEPER's ABBA edit—because nothing says 'mainstage energy' like a euphoric, 130 BPM take on 'Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!' We all secretly love it, even as we mock the sheer audacity. The WE3 stage is a cathedral of LED and pyro, designed for arms-in-the-air moments, and Romero is here to deliver every single one. With an average BPM of 128, this progressive house set lives in the energetic key of 3B, modulating to 10B for those classic progressive builds. The energy balance is more even here—46% low, 43% mid, 11% high—which translates to pounding kicks, soaring melodies, and just enough top-end sparkle for the drops.
Romero's mixing is tight and punchy, favoring quick cuts and build-up transitions that keep the crowd on a rollercoaster. Harmonic progression is straightforward but effective, using key changes to amplify the emotional payoff of each anthem, with Camelot notations like 7A adding melodic depth. His own 'Pressure (Extended Mix)' is a peak-time weapon, all tension and release. Dropping Zedd's 'Stay the Night' with Hayley Williams is a nostalgic gut-punch for the festival veterans.
Alesso's 'Only You' fits seamlessly into the progressive house narrative, while 'Greece 2021' with W&W is a blatant, banging crowd-pleaser. And the closing with Jaroslav Wykrent's 'Agnes' is a surprisingly melodic, almost balearic touch, showing a hint of depth beyond the bangers. The tracklist is packed with originals like 'Easy' and 'Out Of Control', proving he's not just riding on edits. Opens with the ABBA edit frenzy, peaks with the one-two punch of 'I Could Be the One' and 'Greece 2021', and winds down with the serene 'Agnes', leaving us slightly breathless but satisfied.