DWP 2017 finally came to a close on 15–16 December at JIEXPO Kemayoran.
In the weeks leading up to it, buzz and speculation filled the scene.
In the end, ISMAYA Live delivered a smooth and successful finale to one of the year’s most anticipated festivals.
Over two intense days, ravers from around the world gathered in one place.
Different cultures, sounds, and energies collided on the dance floor.
Once again, the festival proved that music has the power to unite everyone in one massive celebration.
Read more: DWP X Adds Global EDM Stars To Its Full Lineup
Day 1: From Cosmic Station to Fireworks Finale
On the first day, we arrived around 6:30 PM and headed straight to Cosmic Station, where Trilions opened the night.
With their new formation—Six Pratama, Marquee, and MC Joey—the trio warmed up the crowd using familiar crowd-pleasers.
Shortly after, Hizkia took control of the decks and kept the energy flowing with house-driven grooves as the area slowly filled with dancers.
At the same time, the energy at Neon Jungle started to rise. OKIOCTO and Jade Rasif took turns warming up the crowd.
Then Tony Romera stepped in, and his groovy selections lifted the excitement to a whole new level.
Next, we moved to Garuda Land, where the towering Garuda Bot stage instantly stole the spotlight.
Its mecha-inspired design brought anime references to life.
At the same time, Robin Schulz was on stage.
His deep house sound wrapped the area in melody and movement.
As his best-known tracks dropped, the crowd sang along and danced without hesitation.
Later in the night, we returned to catch MaRLo, who stepped in at the last minute to replace Vini Vici.
Despite the sudden change, he delivered a powerful trance set featuring tracks from his Altitude album and several anthems that energized trance fans.
Neon Jungle Kept The Energy High
After that, iLan Bluestone stepped in to shift the mood.
His signature progressive trance sound brought a brief sense of calm to the floor.
He weaved in releases from fellow Anjuna artists along the way.
The moment felt complete when he dropped his then-new track, Another Lover, gently setting the pace for what came next.
His set prepared the crowd perfectly for what came next.
That momentum continued with NWYR, the side project of W&W’s Willem van Hanegem and Wardt van der Harst, who made their Asia debut at DWP.
Their stunning 3D visuals featured fire-breathing dragons, while their sound blended classic W&W energy with psy-trance elements.
When they dropped Chakra, their collaboration with Vini Vici, the crowd erupted.
As the night went on, Marshmello turned Garuda Land into a giant party with his mashups and hit tracks.
At the same time, Zeds Dead took over Neon Jungle with heavy dubstep.
Finally, Tiësto closed Day 1 at Garuda Land, delivering a celebratory set topped off with fireworks.
Read more: DWPX Expands to Bali With Massive 10th Anniversary Lineup
Day 2: Elrow Takes Over
For Day 2, we decided to fully commit to the Elrow Stage, which carried the theme Psychedelic Trip.
From the moment we arrived, the immersive decorations stood out.
The DJ booth resembled a colorful bus, topped with the word Rowdstock, a clear nod to Woodstock.
The day started with Hudi, who set the tone using dark techno sounds.
Yesterday Afternoon Boys took over next and kept the groove moving.
The energy then rose when Fun On A Weekend stepped in, with Winky Wiryawan, Evan Virgan, and Kenny Gabriel pushing the crowd into a higher gear.
They also premiered their track Tom Tom Club, which immediately caught attention.
Next, Elrow resident Marc Maya pushed the party forward with tech house selections.
At this point, the atmosphere truly came alive as Elrow crews handed out stickers and began interacting with the crowd.
Party Continues at Elrow
Confetti suddenly burst into the air mid-set.
Moments later, stilt performers appeared above the crowd.
Traditional Jakarta ondel-ondel characters followed, stepping onto the dance floor.
Together, they merged with the ravers, turning the moment into something festive, surreal, and unforgettable.
Later, we briefly left Elrow to check out Live Etc. Stage, where hip-hop made its DWP debut.
Artists from 88rising drew huge crowds, starting with Joji, followed by Rich Chigga, who performed his popular tracks to loud cheers.
Back at Elrow, Chelina Manuhutu kept the momentum strong, once again accompanied by confetti and costumed performers.
After her set, fellow Elrow resident Toni Varga maintained the high-energy vibe.
One of the most anticipated moments came with Loco Dice, who made his first appearance at DWP.
From the moment he stepped on stage, the crowd responded with nonstop movement. His intense set left no one standing still.
To close the Elrow Stage, Richie Hawtin delivered a masterclass performance.
Even though he had played in Jakarta before, he once again proved his ability to keep the crowd locked in from start to finish.
We ended the night by returning to Garuda Land for Hardwell, whose fireworks-filled set officially closed DWP 2017.
Final Thoughts on DWP 2017
In terms of lineup, DWP 2017 stood out not only for its mainstage acts but especially for its side stages.
The inclusion of 88rising marked the festival’s first step into hip-hop, showing how DWP continues to evolve each year.
That said, not every moment met expectations.
We felt disappointed during DJ L’s set, as his sound shifted away from the dark techno style that impressed us the year before.
After ten minutes, we decided to leave, learning the hard way that expectations can sometimes lead to letdowns.
Still, the Elrow Stage became the clear highlight of the festival for us.
Known globally as one of the wildest parties in the world, Elrow brought a slice of that madness to Jakarta.
While it may have been a small portion, the impact felt huge.
The atmosphere was unlike anything we had experienced before, truly a psychedelic journey.
Looking ahead, we are excited to see what ISMAYA Live will bring next as Djakarta Warehouse Project moves toward its 10th anniversary.
Until then, see you next year.
