For the 30th anniversary of Electric Daisy Carnival, it felt only right to have legendary DJ and producer Paul Oakenfold be part of the celebration. As one of the true architects of modern electronic dance music, Oakenfold helped shape the global EDM movement long before it became mainstream. His influence on trance, progressive, and festival culture has inspired generations of artists and fans around the world.
Having him perform at this milestone edition of EDC Las Vegas was not only a tribute to his incredible legacy, but also a reminder of how important pioneers like Paul are to the history and future of dance music culture.
During our conversation backstage at EDC Las Vegas 2026, Paul reflected on what it means to be part of such an iconic milestone in dance music history. With decades of experience performing around the world and helping build the global electronic scene from the ground up, his presence at EDC’s 30th anniversary carried special significance for longtime fans and newer generations discovering his music for the first time.
Oscar Yerushalmi: Hello, everyone. This is Oscar Yerushalmi from EDMTunes. Today, we are at EDC Las Vegas 2026 for its 30th anniversary, and we are with a legend, Paul Oakenfold. Paul, how are you today?
Paul Oakenfold: I’m good, thank you. And you?
Oscar: Very good. I’m glad to be here with you. What does it mean to be part of the 30th anniversary of EDC Las Vegas?
Paul Oakenfold: Wonderful. I mean, I’m a big fan of what Pasquale’s done. I’ve been playing for EDC for many years, and to celebrate their 30-year anniversary is a wonderful moment for all of us. And I think, as you can see, we’ve got some of the original pioneers from electronic music mixed up with the next generation from around the world.
Oscar: How many editions have you played?
Paul Oakenfold: A lot. I can’t remember! laughs
Oscar: What can fans expect today from your show at Quantum Valley?
Paul Oakenfold: Because it’s the 30-year anniversary, I’m going to play brand new music, but I’m going to pepper it with classics and some of my music in between. So, because it’s the 30-year anniversary, I do want to touch on some of the old tunes. And the set’s live on YouTube, it’s on the EDC site, so it should be good.
Oscar: Cool. Can you tell us about your new single coming out in June, “Masquerade”?
Paul Oakenfold: Yeah, “Masquerade” I’m going to showcase tonight. It’s going to be the dance mix, the up-tempo mix. And what I mean by that is I’ve done two different mixes: one is down-tempo that’s more radio-friendly, let’s call it that. And tonight is the world premiere of the up-tempo club mix of “Masquerade.”
Oscar: Nice.
Paul Oakenfold: Oscar, you’re going to love it!
Oscar: You also have a new mix album coming out at the end of July. What can listeners expect from that project?
Paul Oakenfold: Transmission 2 is collaborations with a bunch of colleagues, from Carl Cox, Armin van Buuren, Markus Schulz, Ferry Corsten, and a few others. Collaborations taking classic tunes from back in the day, reinterpreting them, and bringing fresh ideas around them.
Oscar: Great. Tell us about your upcoming U.S. and North American tour with The Crystal Method.
Paul Oakenfold: Yeah, I’m really looking forward to that. The Crystal Method, Liquid Todd — two pioneers of the industry in America coming together with myself to tour the World Cup. As I’m a big football fan, we’re going to go to a lot of the fan zones, a lot of the games, a lot of parties, and be DJing, playing, performing, and hanging out. So, it’s the World Cup tour. Really looking forward to that.
Oscar: That sounds very fun.
Paul Oakenfold: Yeah.
Oscar: As one of the original architects of electronic dance music, what is your perspective on the current state and future of the EDM industry?
Paul Oakenfold: I think it’s grown. It’s massive. It’s worldwide. It’s getting bigger and bigger. You’re looking at China, India, emerging markets. Obviously, Europe’s still there. Germany is really big at the moment. So, electronic music is here to stay in a big way.
Oscar: Lastly, but not least important, you have a lot of fans at EDMTunes. Do you have a message for them?
Paul Oakenfold: Yeah, thank you for your support. Love you, love you, love you, and I look forward to seeing you on the dance floor.
Oscar: Thank you so much. That’s it.
Paul Oakenfold: Thank you, buddy.
Paul also shared insight into the evolution of the EDM industry, his passion for continuing to push creative boundaries, and his excitement for upcoming projects, including his new single ‘Masquerade’, the upcoming Transmission 2 mix album, and his North American tour plans with The Crystal Method and Liquid Todd.
Even after decades at the top of the electronic music world, his energy and dedication to the culture remain as strong as ever. From honoring the classics to premiering new music on one of the biggest stages in dance music, Oakenfold continues to bridge generations while helping push electronic music forward.
Before we wrap up, we want to thank Paul Oakenfold for decades of unforgettable music, groundbreaking performances, and for continuing to inspire the next generation of DJs and producers around the world. His passion, innovation, and dedication to electronic music continue to leave a lasting impact on the scene.
Thank you, Paul, for being part of the EDC 30th anniversary celebration and for helping shape the soundtrack of so many lives.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.edmtunes.com ’
