This year has been a big year for Camp OG, with EDC Las Vegas posing as the first big leap for the Camp; having hosted many Camp artists on Parliament 2.0, the 30 Year Anniversary Art Car, over the weekend, bringing “old school” vibes through Drum & Bass, Breakbeats, and a ‘classic’ approach to mixing, the first taste of Camp OG inside the festival was a massive success. Creating the opportunity to catch rare sets from some of rave culture’s most iconic Pioneers of Underground, a much appreciated chance to switch up your musical experience from the typical, more popular ‘mainstream’ type of music you see on the rest of the stages.
Check out the lineup we were blessed with:
Following EDC, Camp OG was given their own stage inside Nocturnal Wonderland this year; in addition to their annual renegade stage in camp. Up on top of the hill, Camp OG hosted a healthy lineup of Camp DJs, along with a number of respectable icons from the depths of the Underground. The stage over the weekend turned out to be a genuinely valued experience for many, proven by the packed crowd that never stopped dancing. The ample love and appreciation for DNB and Breaks was astonishing to see first hand. The excitement for a stage dedicated to a style of music we all love and rarely get at most festivals; the vibes were infectious. The energy was flying high all weekend through attendees, campers, and all of the Camp OG Family, we even saw staff getting down and having a good time while the OG’s swiftly delivered magic through the beats; completely controlling the energy of the crowd. A truly exceptional experience that put Camp OG even more ‘on the map’ with the Insomniac Events; where Camp OG is ‘home’.
This massive opportunity brought many of the Camp DJs the chance to play individual, life-changing sets on stage inside the event, a chance they may not get frequently. It was also a chance for fans to see some of their favorites on larger scale, with even bigger sound than the production set ups used in camp. All of the artists on the lineup gave it their all, throwing down impeccable sets that blew fans away and kept the entire audience moving all weekend long.
The Nocturnal Camp OG Stage Lineup:
The pre-parties and after-parties were poppin’ this year in camp at Nocturnal, the OG’s held the attention of one of the largest turnouts in the history of the camp parties, for all 3 nights! Night after night the crowd grew far beyond the boundaries of the massive tent that was built for a comfortable, shaded dancefloor; filling the camp roadway with an endless number of happy, dancing ravers. Every night campers would flood in, filling the empty space with joy, dancing on the speakers, and getting to know the OG members personally, bringing true, historic, rave culture vibes back to life, something we don’t get often at larger festivals these days.
Check out the size of the crowd at 5am during the final song of the weekend, on the Camp OG camp stage, brought to us by TankDubz.
As we begin on a journey of getting to know the Camp OG DJs that are committed to throwing down energy-filled underground sets for us, lets dig into some of the history on how Camp OG came to be what it is today.
What is Camp OG?
Camp OG is chosen-family, a group of old school, original ravers who have been heavily involved in the scene since the beginning, we’re talking illegal warehouse days. From creating the first Insomniac Event flyers, to the DJs that played through it all, the original Insomniac attendees, as well as promoters and organizers of numerous iconic underground parties of the past; these are the pioneers of the 90s rave scene; deeply dedicated commandeers of countless dancefloors over 30+ years. They’re die hard ravers that have helped the culture advance and emerge into the impressive standard we see across events today. Many OG’s hold long term, personal relationships with Pasquale and his family, on account of knowing each other since the very first events took place.
What started as one RV, camped backstage at EDC; flourished into the idea of a dedicated camp for the matriarchs of the scene, and has continuously blossomed into a genuinely cherished renegade stage for campers to enjoy and experience a taste of the ‘Underground’. Camp OG came to be an established camp at the 20-year Anniversary of Nocturnal Wonderland in 2015. As part of the show’s celebration, Pasquale Rotella booked a few alumni who played some of Insomniac’s earliest parties; local Los Angeles legends like Fester, Mojo, Oscar Da Grouch, DJ Trance, Donald Glaude, and R.A.W; just to name a few. Since then, Camp OG has been a staple to Nocturnal Wonderland Camping. These Veteran Ravers, along with friends who’ve been loyal to Insomniac dating back to the early ‘90s; have teamed up year after year to share a glimpse of the underground with us, while encouraging a unspoken respect for the significance of rave culture’s roots.
For many, Camp OG is a place where they can discover and enjoy a different style of music from what they are used to; while dancing the night away with those who have contributed to ‘paving the way’ for our community’s culture today. Hosting original, and underground sounds, you can expect to see a generous blend of genres boasting from the powerful sound systems they bring in, with a healthy serving of a variety of Drum & Bass styles, multiple forms of Breakbeats, House and Techno displays, and even the occasional appearances of Jungle, Trance, and Hardstyle debuts; abundantly blessed with talented MC’s who are committed to adding that extra flare to hype up the dancefloor. The music is always a top notch, timelessly enjoyable, with tunes that aren’t overplayed. It’s a pleasant change from what we typically get at festivals nowadays, where the top hits seem to take over every set on every stage.
All are welcome on the OG dance floor, and all are immensely encouraged to come join the fun. A lot of effort goes into creating an environment that represents Camp OG; from lights and lasers, to props and UV art, there is no shortage of rave culture vibes. Held together by Camp OG’s front-man, James Warner, along with the bountiful efforts in managing the stage and OG Grounds from PJ Yates; Camp OG strives to continuously deliver a memorable experience to those who join them on the dancefloor. Operating on a low budget, the OG’s work endlessly to create new props, and bring the equipment they have together to manifest an ‘underground nightlife’ in the camp grounds.
One of my personal favorite perks of having Camp OG in camp, for Nocturnal specifically, is that it’s the alternative option for Afters in camp, compared to the silent disco parties; NO LINES TO GET IN, AND NO HEADPHONES NEEDED. There is a wide spread, overflowing gratitude for live sound!
You can always count on Camp OG to be going hard until the sun comes up.
Camp OG is filled with talented creators, aside from the music, who offer their creations in camp; while you boogie, you have the opportunity to score awesome Camp OG Merch and one-of-a-kind finds; like cups, wind chimes, keychains, and more. Brought to you by the Camp OG Family directly, Nifty Nubez & TankDubz work endlessly before festivals to build up an awesome inventory to offer the campers that hold Camp OG in their heart. Along with the Merch and trippy trinkets, Camp OG also offers many other one-of-a-kind creations from a number of other exceedingly talented Camp Members, available for purchase throughout the camp at each event via pop up booths, or by just stopping to have a good chat.
Camp OG, is an ode to the roots of our culture, and the history that brought us this far, paying respect to the underground and keeping the renegade vibes alive.
With the presence of Camp OG inside the festival this year, hopes are high that a new Camp OG tradition has blossomed. We are ecstatic to see Camp OG grow attention in the scene and hope to see more of Camp OG at more events, maybe even some hosted events of their own in the future.
Now lets begin the Camp OG Artist Spotlight Series!
Follow this collection of articles to get to know the OG’s that bless us with phenomenal sets year after year.
D1AL A FR3AK
“I go by D1AL A FR3AK. The name comes from an old school hip hop track by Uncle Jams Army featuring Egyptian Lover called dial a freak. It was a song pressed on vinyl and one of my favorite tracks to date! I started DJing in 1984. I remember scratching on records on my parents turntable and falling in love with that sound. I broke the needle and Mom was pissed! She said I could no longer use her turntable and had to get my own. So I did! My first setup was an old Technics belt driven turntable, a tape deck and a Realistic mixer I got from Radio Shack. I bought another Technics turntable which wasn’t great but now I had 2! That lasted a few months till I upgraded to 2 Technics 1200 MkII’s and a Numark mixer. The rest is a lot of history and an adventure that spans 4 decades, or almost 40 years. If you’re reading this you probably know something about me. If you don’t. .. Just ask around or read my book if I ever publish one. Should be a best seller. I’ve lived an interesting and exciting life! Check my social and listen to some mixes!”
FOLLOW D1AL A FR3AK –
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What does “Camp OG” mean to you? Describe your journey with Camp OG.
– “For me, Camp OG brought this DJ out of hibernation. After almost a decade of keeping my DJing confined to the walls of my bedroom, a friend told me it was time I started playing again. I had really missed playing parties and clubs so I decided to give it another go. Camp OG had just begun and it seemed a great place to get back into it. Most of the DJ’s we’re playing House with the exception of a few DJ’s that played Breakbeat or Drum & Bass. I was nervous going into it because I was going to be playing what I’m most comfortable playing, Breaks! Fast forward about 8 years, now I’m one of Camp OG’s resident DJ’s. I guess you can say it went well. Very well! This year I’m playing on the Nocturnal Wonderland 30 Year Anniversary Stage inside the festival. That’s HUGE! Excited, Blessed and Proud to be an Insomniac OG. I’m also part of Camp OG’s friendly staff helping out however needed and run lasers and lighting for our camp’s own sound stage. Thankful beyond belief to James Warner for believing in me, and Pasqual Rotella for making this all possible and putting up with all us crazy old geezers that refuse to quit. I’m Camp OG for life! See you on the dancefloor!”Who are your top 3 favorite artists in Electronic Music?
– “That’s a tough question and one I will not try to answer. Top 100 favorite artists would still be too difficult so I’m not even going to try. Next Question..”
How have festivals / music changed your life?
-“Festivals have brought me closer to people because you get to spend time getting to know them. It’s amazing waking up to a sound system pumping beats and basslines and venturing out to see your people. Friends become better friends and people who were once acquaintances become friends. Music is the common bond, the glue that holds us together.”
Any upcoming performances you’re excited about?
– “I will be performing at SNRG in Nevada, a regional burn held in October. Followed by a Halloween Afterparty for Presence Productions at the end of the month, where I will be running lighting and laser, with the possibility of closing out the night!”
If you could give advice to newer ravers, what would it be?
-“Don’t be afraid to explore out of the box. There’s so many of us out there and the next greatest adventure is out there waiting to be found! Be careful what you take if you partake and don’t put yourself or those around you at risk. Be responsible and if you see someone in trouble or struggling in any way, help them out and let them know they are safe. Most importantly, be yourself! All Are Welcome Here!”
TANKDUBZ
TankDubz comes straight from the underground Southern California Jungle and Drum n’ Bass scene. He is known for consistently bringing his high energy talent of mixing, blending and turntablism to the dance floor. This DJ/producer is influenced by classic techno breakbeats, hip-hop, hardcore and jungle music of the early 90’s. You can find TankDubz holding down the vibes and electrifying festival dance floors at Nocturnal Wonderland, EDC Camp OG, and other yearly events.
FOLLOW TANKDUBZ:
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What does “Camp OG” mean to you? Please tell us about your personal journey with Camp OG.
– “My older brother raved in the early 90s in Southern California and would share with me the music he would discover. By the time I had reached Jr high in the mid 90s I was already well bereaved in the underground music culture. At this point my family had moved from Apple Valley to Santa Barbara. I created a bond with a small group of friends who had the same interests in the music . We raved our brains out for the next 10 years going to wherever we could afford. Eventually our group fractured as we got older. I stayed the course and kept producing music and Djing in the Los Angeles area and hosted many events and residencies which eventually led up to me making new relationships with prominent members of Camp OG. In 2018 I was reached out to and asked to preform on the Camp OG boombox art car inside the main festival grounds for Nocturnal Wonderland as well as inside the camp ground which has led me to be a resident Drum&Bass Dj for Camp OG. The meaning of Camp OG to me would be togetherness, love , culture and helping to keep the true essence of the RAVE alive within the current evolution of festivals and events.”
Who are your top 3 favorite artists in Electronic Music?
How have festivals / music changed your life?
– “Raves , Festivals and the music has given me a chance at living a life that allowed me to be me at its truest and most open.”
Any upcoming performances you’re excited about?
– “Off The Grid 10/20/2023 & I Love LA Halloween Masquerade 10/29/2023″
If you could give advice to newer ravers, what would it be?
– “Look out for your fellow ravers.”
MAXIMUS CARNIVOROUS
Maximus Carnivorous first became acquainted with the LA Underground music movement of the early 90s and sparkling his passion for the scene. Music has always played an important role in Maximus’ life so he become involved as a promoter at an early age for various events in LA during the birth of the Electronic movement in Los Angeles. After many years of collecting vinyl and finding his own sound, he is a true connoisseur for Electronic dance music (House & Techno) He is a storyteller, a vibe creator spreading MUSIC & LOVE through every journey of sound from a unique and eclectic taste ranging from blues, reggae dub, disco, funk, house, and techno. Tune in & Turn it up.
FOLLOW MAXIMUS CARNIVOROUS:
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What does “Camp OG” mean to you? Please tell us about your personal journey with Camp OG.
– “Camp OG is a community from the early rave days of the 90s. Camp OG means Family, means Freedom of expression and an absolute Love for our community. My journey with Camp OG began in 1993 when I started promoting for insomniac events as part of the original street team. I still have my promotional business card and jackets from those days! My artist name is Maximus Carnivorous – Hungry for the beats!”
Who are your top 3 favorite artists in Electronic Music?
How have festivals / music changed your life?
-“Music has been a big part of my life since birth but Festivals have helped me aligned myself with electronic dance music since day 1.”
Any upcoming performances you’re excited about?
-“No shows coming up. However I do have 5 songs in my pipeline for release next year. My main focus is in production and creating my catalog of Electronic Music”
If you could give advice to newer ravers, what would it be?
-“Be kind to one another, help each other, don’t judge others, be accepting of others and always PLUR as this is the main principals of the LA Underground since 1990.”
COOLHANDLUKE
FOLLOW COOLHANDLUKE:
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What does “Camp OG” mean to you? Please tell us about your personal journey with Camp OG.
– “Camp OG is a community of old schoolers from the LA area that host a stage and a vibe at most Insomniac parties. Most of us were here since the first booms came out of the first sound systems. I was contacted by James through Dezz in 2016 to come and be a part of this. I have been blessed to play music at our camp and at our other stages at Nocturnal and EDC over the years. It is such a cool experience to see old and new ravers come together through the music.”
Who are your top 3 favorite artists in Electronic Music?
-“(What a difficult question!!!) Richard James, Pure Science, Freestylers“
How have festivals / music changed your life?
– “Electronic music has been a huge part of my life since my teenage years in the mid 90’s. All we did was attend underground parties, clubs, and raves. Over the years the only thing that has stuck with me is the music and a strong sense of community. I am very grateful to continue this wave of energy for the next generation and beyond. One love.”
If you could give advice to newer ravers, what would it be?
– “Balance is key in life. Also at big festivals try to check out the smaller stages.. the new dopeness always starts there. Explore music and sounds that are new to you. Listen to your ears.”
ERIC SCOTT
I started DJing in 1997 and immediately fell in love with Trance. I began to play shows almost immediately for Wednesday Matrix and performed at the Masterdome, Fox Theater, Orange Show and it was an infectious feeling being in front of the crowds and watching everyone dance to the music I love. In 2000 I began producing my own raves under the production company Cosmic Events. My raves had thousands of attendees and this became a very important part of my life. In 2006, I produced events called “Shaggyland” “Lunar Madness” “Slippery When Wet” but the largest event was called “Almost Better Than Sex which had over 4000 people at The Henry Fonda Theater in Hollywood. Years later we also had over 15k people at The Forum in Inglewood for ABTS which was an incredible moment! Through the years I’ve always felt truly blessed and grateful to have had so many special moments as a DJ and Rave/Festival producer. Camp OG brought me back to that feeling and I’ll always be so thankful to have that as part of my life.
FOLLOW ERIC SCOTT:
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What does “Camp OG” mean to you? Please tell us about your personal journey with Camp OG.
– “I met James in 2017 at Nocturnal Wonderland, and I immediately felt so much love from the OGs. I personally felt welcomed and it was a very difficult part of my life as I had cancer at the time and James made so much of an effort to always make sure I felt safe and loved at every festival. In 2019 just before I had a procedure for my cancer treatments, James, PJ and the OGs let me perform inside of EDC on the Camp OG renegade stage. During my performance, all of the OGs wore shirts which said “Camp OG loves Eric and Fuck Cancer” I was so emotional during that moment that I totally Train Wrecked my mix and had tears In my eyes. That moment lives in my heart forever and I feel just beyond blessed to have this second family. James and PJ have become family to me and I am grateful for them.”
Who are your top 3 favorite artists in Electronic Music? *
How have festivals / music changed your life?
– “Music festivals gave me an outlet and exposure to a scene that thrives on love and inclusivity. I produced festivals and raves for 20 years and cherish that time in my life.”
Any upcoming performances you’re excited about?
– “I am always excited to perform events for Camp OG”
If you could give advice to newer ravers, what would it be?
– “Enjoy the magic and music. It’s such a special environment and it can change your life in such an incredible way! Always stay safe!!”
THEE-O
Thee-O started DJing at the young age of 13 and by the time he was 18 in 1992, he started DJing in the thriving underground rave scene of Southern California. He has created a name for himself while changing genres and staying true to his integrity, committing to what he feels is the best in underground dance music. His consistency of skillful mixing and lively scratching has cemented “his sound” regardless of what genres co-mingle in his style.
In addition to his DJing, Thee-O is also an accomplished producer and remixer that have landed tracks on Bedrock, Suara, Perfecto, Looq, Drops and System Recordings to name just a few. His approach to music production mimics his DJing artistry in the aspect that genre comes second over the feeling of the music. Genres and styles are split, shattered and then reformed into songs that work on multiple dance floors.
FOLLOW THEE-O:
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What does “Camp OG” mean to you? Please tell us about your personal journey with Camp OG.
– “Camp OG is a place for all of us that really were foundational to the building of the Los Angeles rave scene to still be a part of the current scene. It allows us to keep that sense of community that we had as young people to remain with us as we get older. I think it is important that we keep our sense of community. I love that Camp OG has grown over the years and has been a place for talent to emerge from that isn’t exactly a part of youth culture.”
Who are your top 3 favorite artists in Electronic Music?
– “Hmmm that is tough but I will go Electronic in general and not just dance music. Depeche Mode. New Order. Aphex Twin“
How have festivals / music changed your life?
– “The rave scene became my home in 1992. It has provided so much in my life. My wife. My best friends. Opportunities to travel. All of it came to my life because of the music and the scene. It has provided me so much love and so many experiences.”
If you could give advice to newer ravers, what would it be?
– “Learn about the roots. Don’t just attend. Try to understand how the scene was built. Who was involved. How the music was shaped. Don’t be just and observer of the scene. Become a student of the scene.”
