Why DJ Chris Lake is so pumped for Insomniac’s Skyline Fest in Downtown L.A.

As Chris Lake walked out to a sea of thousands of fans standing along Hollywood Boulevard for a special show with DJ and friend, Fisher, dubbed Under Construction Los Angeles in October 2023, a wave of nostalgia swept over him before his hands even reached the decks.

At that moment, time seemed to stop, the 41-year-old British DJ and producer recalled during a recent phone interview. He found himself reflecting on the long journey that had carried him to that point and more so the small studio apartment he owned that started it all with music, located less than a block away from where this particular show was unfolding.

It was a poignant realization that his dream of venturing to California to pursue music and one day grace the stages of Southern California’s biggest festivals had finally become a reality.

“You know, I really consider Los Angeles my home, and at this point, I know the city like the back of my hand and I wouldn’t trade that for the world,” Lake said. He’s set to headline the East Stage of Insomniac Events’ Skyline Festival at Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 24. The fest continues with Carl Cox, Vintage Culture, Klangkuenstler and more on Sunday, Feb. 25.

“I’ve laid so many roots here, it’s been my home base for the past 13 years, where I’ve been able to grow so much as an artist,” he continued. “And I feel that for whatever reason, this part of the world holds so much energy for electronic music in America and I love that I get to be apart of that.”

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That wasn’t the first time Lake has paused to reflect during a monumental moment. The three-day, two-weekend Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April 2023 marked a significant turning point as he and Fisher closed the Outdoor Stage each weekend. As the crowd responded fervently, Lake observed a surge in his following, igniting a fresh wave of enthusiasm for his music. All of this paved the way for him to be able to earn a top spot on this year’s Skyline Festival lineup.

Presented by Insomniac’s techno brand Factory 93 and house brand Day Trip, the third annual two-day electronic music festival will feature Lake alongside Adam Ten, Adiel, Bakke, CamelPhat, Carl Cox, Chris Stussy, Cinthie, Deborah de Luca, Heidi Lawden, Hot Since 82, Indira Paganotto, Juliet Mendoza, Klangkuenstler, Laolu, Life on Planets, LP Giobbi, Marco Carola, Mason Collective, Mind Against, Nico Moreno, Palma, Pawsa, Prunk, Rossi and Vintage Culture.

For the first time, the fest is taking over four blocks of Downtown Los Angeles to bring fans two stages of live entertainment that will showcase newer acts, while remaining true to the roots of the underground techno and house genres. And for Lake, the new layout and location feel “right at home.”

It’s not his first time participating in an Insomniac Events festival either, and certainly not the last, he said. Lake expresses his genuine affinity for the brand, happily involving himself almost every year. With notable appearances at EDC 2023 in Las Vegas and Beyond Wonderland in Monterrey, Mexico, in 2022, it “always feels better and bigger,” Lake said. “And it feels kind of fitting that we go and play Skyline Festival with the city backdrop once again. I played the festival a couple of years ago, and they have such a good thing going on, and I’m just happy to be back again. I’m playing in Los Angeles; I can’t complain about that one.”

This year, Lake has an abundance of new material for fans, much of which they may experience during Lake’s set at Skyline. Among these offerings is his latest track, “Somebody,” a collaboration with Fisher. The song serves as a remix of the popular and indie-rock cult classic that was released by Gotye in 2011. On the flip side, Lake sees this upcoming performance as an opportunity to experiment with new sounds.

“I feel like I’m always using my fans as a guinea pig for my new material,” he shared with a laugh. “I’ve been putting in so much work the last few months, and it’s always nice to have the opportunity to test things out. It’s funny because I think people, at this point, expect that from me. I always just want the crowd to have a great time, and I’m always determined. If I’m playing a two-hour set, I want people to dance for 120 minutes and forget about (actually) being on their feet (for that long) until minute 121, when they realize their feet are covered in blisters. That’s really all I’m trying to do.”

Insomniac Events’ Skyline Festival

When: 2 p.m.-12 a.m. Feb. 24; 3 p.m.-11 p.m. Feb. 25

Where: Gloria Molina Grand Park, 200 N Grand Ave., Los Angeles

Tickets: Two-day general admission passes start at $189; One-day passes start at $119-$169; Two-day VIP passes start at $339 at Skylinefest.com.