[Interview] EDMTunes Chats With Timmy Trumpet Ahead of U.S. Debut of S2O Festival in Brooklyn

The first ever U.S. Edition of S2O Festival is less than a week away from splashing down this upcoming weekend in New York City. There’s no better place to be in the tristate area as this 2 day festival takes place during Labor Day Weekend on August 31st and September 1st at the Brooklyn Mirage. Known as one of the best festivals which takes place in countries such as Thailand, Hong Kong, Korea, and Taiwan, the anticipation for this event is at a high. Presented by Pulse Events, S2O New York is set to revolutionize the U.S. festival scene with a one in a kind experience. Get ready for electrifying performances from a star-studded lineup, all while cooling off in S2O’s signature water-filled atmosphere.

Tickets for S2O’s two day pass and Saturday single day tickets are sold out, with only a few Sunday single passes available. Be sure to secure your tickets here before its too late.

One of the headliners bringing the heat on Saturday is none other than Timmy Trumpet who is coming off a massive performance, closing out Tomorrowland mainstage during weekend 1. With over 3 billion streams on Spotify, and collaborations with the biggest artists such as Armin van Buuren, Hardwell, Afrojack, Steve Aoki, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, and many others, the multi platinum artist is one of the explosive and entertaining DJ’s to watch perform in the past decade.

Here are just some of the major milestones for Timmy in 2023:

  • Massive following on TikTok with over 4.5 Million followers
  • Ranked #6 on DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJ’s
  • Headlined over 50 international festival brands including Tomorrowland, Ultra, EDC, Creamfields, Lollapalooza, Parookaville, V&B Fest, Electric Zoo, Air-Beat One, World Club Dome, and many more
  • His breakout single ‘FREAKS’ has reigned in over a Billion streams
  • ‘FREAKS’ has earned Gold and Platinum status in over 10 countries and is the highest selling single of all time on Ministry of Sound
  • ‘NARCO’ hit #1 on the Spotify Viral charts in America with over 100 million social media views inside 7 days
  • Appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live and sat in with the house band, playing trumpet live for the entire episode
  • First live instrumentalist and DJ to perform in Zero Gravity in a collaboration with the European Space Agency and Big City Beats

We had the chance to speak with Timmy before his upcoming performance at S2O and see what he’s been up to in 2024 as well as talk about his future plans.

For anyone that’s not familiar with your background, can you fill us in on how you got started playing the trumpet, and how that transitioned into dance music?

I’ve been playing the trumpet for as long as I can remember—since I was big enough to hold it. My father taught me, just as his father taught him. It’s in our blood, a family tradition. I’m blessed to have inherited this magical instrument, and it means the world to me. The fact that I’ve built a career performing with it around the world still blows my mind, and I’m forever grateful for that. 
Transitioning into dance music was as simple as me jamming in my bedroom as a teenager. I’d listen to Daft Punk on the radio, start playing along with the melodies, and I thought, “Damn, this actually sounds pretty good.” I started experimenting from there, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Congrats on your recent performance at Tomorrowland where you closed out mainstage during weekend 1, can you describe the emotions you felt and what you were thinking during the set?

F*cking epic!! It’s been a dream of mine for a decade. The first time I went to Tomorrowland, I was just in the crowd, looking up at Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike on the main stage. I told myself I didn’t know what it would take, but one day, that would be me up there. It was a real moment where I had to pinch myself to believe it was all happening. After my set, I was physically shaking from the emotion. It felt like ten years of hard work and dreams were released all at once. It’s a moment I’ll never forget.

Your live shows are legendary for their energy. What goes into creating such an electrifying atmosphere?

I’ve got the greatest job in the world, so the least I can do is give it everything I’ve got when I’m on stage. The energy and love I feel from everyone out there remind me every day to pour my heart into every performance and never let anyone down. People spend a lot of money, save up, and even travel across countries to see me, so I never want to disappoint them. When I’m on stage, I become the monster they paid to see—and I absolutely love it.

You will be performing at S2O at the Brooklyn Mirage Labor day weekend. This will be the first time the water festival takes place in the U.S., do you have anything special prepared for your performance?

Absolutely, and it’s been a dream of mine to play Mirage too. It’s my first time as well as the first time for this S20. It’s the craziest party on Thailand – and that place is wild! I’ve got some tricks up my sleeve for this one, but you’ll have to come along to see what’s in store.

Tell us about your new collaboration ‘Drumroll Please’ with GRAVEDGER. How was it working with him and what’s the story behind the track?

He’s a beast! I love everything he does—it’s pure madness, and that’s exactly what I’m all about when I’m on stage. This track was all about creating a moment that I could play at every single show, capturing everything we both represent when we’re performing. I’m so happy with how it turned out. I play it in every set, and it goes absolutely mental, even if you’ve never heard it before. I love it.

What do you have in store for the rest of the year music/touring wise?

This summer has been wild. I’ve closed the main stage at so many of my favorite festivals in countries all over the world, and each show just keeps getting crazier. Our whole team has nailed it with the entire production, but as we head towards the end of the year, we’ll be focusing more on my own branded events, FREAKSHOW. Everything’s a little extra—extra SFX, extra pyro, extra production—and the madness never stops. I can’t f*cking wait!! The next FREAKSHOW in the states is at The Torch in LA. Such an iconic venue. It’s gonna be sickkk!

The music industry can be demanding. How do you prioritize your mental health and well-being?

Be as present as possible in every moment. It’s really demanding, especially with the travel. As I’m doing this interview, it’s my seventh show in nine days across seven different countries, and that can be tough. It’s especially hard on my team, who give everything they’ve got every single day to ensure I can do what I do on stage. When I have time off, I love spending it with friends and family as much as possible. I eat well, I go to the gym, I tell the people around me I love them, and I feel their love. That goes a long way to keep you grounded in the middle of all this chaos.

Lastly, do you have a message you want to tell your fans.

I F*CKING LOVE YOU GUYS!!!