Anyma’s The End of Genesys is a Triumphant Glimpse Into the Future
Tale of Us‘ Matteo Milleri launched the Anyma project with an emphasis on the fusion of nature and technology, man & machine, and what it means to be alive. The Project launched to much fanfare as Anyma incorporated sophisticated NFT visuals which raised the bar for dance music show visuals. All of these elements were refined, expanded, and woven together to create The End of Genesys show, the very first electronic dance music show to take place at the revolutionary Sphere venue in Las Vegas. This was much more than a rave or a party, it was a cultural touchpoint and a revolutionary moment in entertainment that will reverberate far into the future. With this show, Anyma achieves the level of genius that many would assign to legends like Avicii. It’s unlike anything you’ve ever experienced, and it includes two completely different experiences depending on your location within the Sphere.
Attention Off the DJ
For years, a common refrain in the EDM community from veterans is that back in the day the DJ was in a separate room and people just danced, whereas today everybody stands facing the DJ as if it’s some idol worship. The ironic thing about The End of Genesys is that it highlights, in epic fashion, the genius of Anyma, while allowing him to fade into the background of the show. The gargantuan screen of the Sphere diverts your attention to the artificial atmosphere created around and above you. You will be constantly looking around, taking it all in. I was unaware when Grimes took the stage to perform a new collaboration live, because I was too busy looking around at the scenery. Sure you will notice the intricate platforms Anyma included for himself and his robotic musicians but they are but a blip in this digital universe before you. How you feel about this will depend on whether you view the show as a dance party or an opera. Some may find it odd to be so focused on the screen and the visuals, but it’s not anything like other visual techno shows.
That Screen
That screen! Oh my God, that screen! While Tale of Us and Anyma have made the big screens and gorgeous visuals a calling card over the past few years, the Sphere is an entirely different level. The sheer size and detail of these visuals is mindboggling. When there is a sky full of stars projected overhead, it really feels like the sky. The most gamechanging aspect of the Sphere screen happens right at the beginning (shown above). When the robot falls backwards into a void and falls upside down to become the Afterlife hanging-man, your body will respond physically like it thinks you are falling. That’s the moment when the power of this experience becomes apparent. It feels like a theme park ride where you sit in the car the doesn’t move but just tilts and vibrates with the screen in front. It tricks your brain into thinking you are falling or that there is a sky overhead, and more.
Even with the simpler visuals utilized by the opening acts, the detail was staggering. You can’t help but examine every bit of it to try and make sense of what’s being displayed. Again, the visuals were so impressive that the DJs blended into the background while people in the crowd took in this revolutionary experience.
Two Completely Different Experiences in One
I was fortunate enough to have both prime viewing angle seats in Section 203 and floor tickets. The experience for these two types of tickets is completely different. If you have a seat you will have a prime viewing angle of the visuals and the scope of them will be fully apparent. The seats vibrate and even have audio built in, but for the most part people will be seated. Sure some people will stand up and vibe, but it’s not the majority. The seats provide an opera-like experience, where you watch the show like you’re in a theater. However, if you’re on the floor you feel the enormity of the screen so much more. Whereas the seats feel like you’re watching this cybernetic opera, the floor feels like you are living in it. The floor is definitely a more fun party-type experience where you can dance freely. Ideally, you’d experience both at some time or another.
Narrative
When the Sphere was completed, the EDM world speculated on the best artists for the space. Names that came up included Eric Prydz, Tale of Us, Anyma, etc, because these all include cutting edge technology and visuals. When discussing this with another industry colleague at the show, it came up that only Anyma has a narrative he is trying to convey using this very unique medium. While we love Eric Prydz HOLO, it’s more about the wow factor than it is telling any type of story to the audience.
Here, Anyma took things beyond just cool visuals and technology. There is a narrative at work here during this five-part cybernetic opera, that explores themes so universal that they can be understood and appreciated by anybody there. While it might be difficult for somebody to tell you the story shown during this cybernetic opera, there is a loose narrative concerning the interaction of nature and technology, the differences between organic and artifical life, whether human and machine can love and care for each other, and the nature of life and death.
The Music
Anyma has, in a relatively short time, made a name for himself as a hit producer. Almost everything he touches turns to techno gold, and that was on full display at The Sphere. The show is mostly unreleased tracks, with each date featuring a unique collaboration premiere. There are also plenty of the most beloved prior releases (except ‘Running’ or ‘Angel 1’), but they are elevated by fully fleshed out visuals and a thematic tie-in for those tracks. ‘Consciousness’ was reworked and amplified to become this operatic theme that you won’t be able to get out of your head, and there was even at least one new remix of a prior Anyma track in there.
The ID tracks were a delight across the board. Tracks like ‘From Japan’ had the entire crowd going wild to the sights and sounds, while the gorgeous ‘In The Dark’ and ‘You Make Me’ tugged at the heartstrings. There was a beautiful new remix for The Weeknd‘s ‘Blinding Lights’ which hints at more future collaborations between those heavyweights as well.
The Future
The coolest part about these shows is being part of history, an entertainment revolution if you will. It would be like attending the very first color movie theater screening or the type of revelation we all experienced seeing Avatar 3D in theaters for the first time. Being there for New Year’s Eve made it all the more special. In many ways, it felt like being at the center of the universe, and it was probably the hottest New Year’s Eve event in the world for 2024. As the clock approached midnight, the Sphere was dark and quiet during a changeover. As midnight ticked closer, Anyma took to the stage and the show began. Rather than the typical intro scene everybody has seen before, there were fireworks and the Las Vegas Skyline added in to make for a truly one-off experience that the audience will never forget.
You realize during the show that this is an entirely new form of entertainment, like an interactive musical movie. The mind runs wild at the possibilities now that other artists have experienced this and could make a play for their own concept. While some may call it a gimmick or liken it to 3D movies that were only ever done properly by James Cameron, it feels like this is the future. You can envision a day when every city has a Sphere of one size or another like an opera house. We can’t wait to see what the future holds.
