Hats Off To Marshmello
People both young and old had a collective, worldwide freak-out yesterday at 2pm EST when rising EDM star, Marshmello, performed live at a Fornite party. Ten million gamers attended the virtual concert. I’m not clear what “the lobby” is, but maybe that’s where the party happened; somewhere within the interface, that much we know.
We’re here today to get intel on what’s been called an “innovative” and “game changing” performance. If you didn’t get a chance to read about it/watch it in the 24 hour news cycle, DJ Marshmello is here to break it down:
Press: Tell us, Marshmello, how you managed to break into the game interface?
DJ: Personal Relationships 101. Me and Ninja, well, it started there. And, for the record, the party was at Pleasant Park.
Press: Okay, Pleasant Park! Thanks for clarifying. So, how did it feel to have the gamers doing their best emotes right in front of your dj booth? How could you spin without being distracted by those moves? I saw Breakin’, Disco Fever, Electro Shuffle, Freestylin’, Fresh, Groove Jam, Pop Lock, Reanimated, Rock Out, Rocket Rodeo, Squat Kick, Star Power, The Robot, Baller, Best Mates, Boneless, Chicken, Confused, Dab, Eagle, Flapper, Flippin’ Sexy, Hootenanny, Hype, Kick Ups, Kiss Kiss, Laugh It Up, Make it Rain, and, of course, Floss. What’s your favorite?
DJ: Ah. Hmm. I can’t give up anything like that. I can’t tell you what my favorite is- they’re all really powerful. And unique.
Press: Very diplomatic. Can you expand on Epic’s vision and possibly bringing in other live performers? Maybe dropping new skins in anticipation of the party?
DJ: You’d have to speak direct with them. But I like the way they mesh pop culture and gaming. In fact, I think they’re controlling pop culture from the game at this point. You hear me, gamers? Gamers got the power.
Press: Noted. And agreed.
DJ: I have to say one thing. I can see something here with the 2020 race. I picture Cory Booker or Elizabeth Warren taking it from CNN’s Town Hall (sorry, Anderson) straight into Epic’s lobby, or the Park. Forget human applause and staged questions. Instead, approbation comes from the emotes. Makes a lot of sense. Heck, I could moderate. We take questions from YouTubers with the most follows. Ninja, that’s you, buddy.
Press: Hmm. Ya. Kind of like Barack Obama enmeshed his campaign in Facebook in 2007? That was cutting edge back then. Before the Russians.
DJ: Exactly. It’s not just young kids playing Fortnite. It’s college kids. It’s plenty of adults. The power rests with the youth, though. The youth vote wins elections, IMO.
Press: Yea. But say, hypothetically, the candidates speak and the gamers don’t like their message, do they get sniped?, metaphorically speaking, of course.
DJ: That’s the issue. I’m not sure how the arsenal can be muted during their party. That’s up to Epic. But their developers can make anything happen. Yesterday, it was turned off for me. Nobody Rocket Launched me. You saw that, right?
Press: Yup, I saw. To sum it up: Far out, Marshmello. Thanks for skipping over JayZ and Bey or Drake as next in line, and cutting straight to the heart of the matter: breaking up the stalemate. YOLO.
Epic, are you listening?