TuneLab
NWYR
Tomorrowland Belgium 2019 - W2
We’ve all been there, staring up at the Tomorrowland mainstage as the first euphoric pads wash over us, knowing full well we’re about to embark on a melodic journey that will either save our souls or make us regret that last overpriced beer. The Belgian sky is painted with lasers, and a sea of flags ripples as NWYR, the trance alias of W&W, takes the decks for a weekend two showcase that feels both colossal and intimately anthemic. Operating at an average BPM of 130.7, this set is a masterclass in modern trance propulsion, anchored predominantly in the euphoric key of 12A, with strategic modulations to 7B and 3B for emotional depth.
The energy arc is carefully sculpted, with a focus on driving low-end and resonant mid-frequencies (avg low 0.54, mid 0.39) that build tension without sacrificing melodic clarity, creating a wave-like progression that peaks with soaring leads. Harmonic choices are bold and unapologetic, using crescendos and breakdowns to manipulate the crowd’s heartbeat, while the mixing style is seamless and festival-optimized, prioritizing anthem delivery over subtlety. For crate diggers, the inclusion of Sóniko’s 'Faremo Notte' is a deep-cut nod to the Italian trance underground, while 'NWYR - Dragon' serves as the set’s chest-thumping, mythical centerpiece.
The extended mix of 'Dragon' allows the arpeggios to breathe, and 'NWYR - Heart Eyes' offers a slower, more introspective moment before the final ascent. The choice to bookend with Gareth Emery’s 'Saving Light' – both the original and the NWYR remix – is a clever, full-circle narrative device, with 'Two MoroN - Launch' and 'Sqnc - Quasar' providing essential rhythmic drive. The journey begins with the hopeful chords of 'Gareth Emery - Saving Light,' peaks with the explosive drop of 'NWYR - Dragon,' and closes, inevitably, with the crowd-sung finale of 'Saving Light (NWYR Remix),' leaving us all spiritually dehydrated but somehow renewed.