This article is in collaboration with IQOS, and only for adults who would otherwise continue to smoke or use other nicotine products.
On June 20, during the IQOS Forever Curious event in Gallio Events Hall, Parañaque, three acts — Rave Republic, BEAUZ, and Eli Cicada — stood out with sharp DJ sets that connected with the audience.
Opening the night was Phuket-based French DJ Eli Cicada, who set the pace with a slower, more considered music selection. His background in funk and jazz shaped a set that relied on texture rather than impact. His goal wasn’t to overwhelm, but to let things unfold. “Curiosity is my main source of inspiration, especially when I travel,” Cicada tells Rolling Stone Philippines. “That’s the best drive.”
One of the more unexpected moments came when he dropped an edit by Jamaican-American musician Shaggy. “It’s totally not my style,” he admitted, “but I played it and it worked. I was surprised, actually.”
Rave Republic, the duo of Mathias Schell and Stas Madorski, note how they were inspired by their experience in Europe’s rave scene, which informed their mindset as they took to the IQOS stage. “Raves were kind of underground back in the day,” Schell says. “People went underground to connect with each other, to escape everyday life. Now raves are everywhere, but we still try to bring back that feeling: the environment, the sense of community, and the love for music are still what drive us.”
That clarity of purpose wasn’t lost on DJ duo BEAUZ, either. Composed of brothers Bernie and Johan Yang, BEAUZ offered a more confronting sound, leaning into hard techno without falling back on safe festival formulas. “Curiosity is what drives me to do everything when I wake up,” Bernie says. “But the one thing I’m most curious about is how far we can push this envelope.”
For Johan, pushing boundaries isn’t just about mixing louder or faster tempos; it’s also about involving audiences into the equation. “We understand that music is a common language,” he says. “If the music isn’t digestible, then you’re just speaking to yourself. If you want people to connect with what you’re doing, you need to show them what you mean.”
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