Love and music go hand in hand in New York City. It sparked in the air when Micha proposed to his wife in the city that never sleeps, and it certainly settled into the nooks, crannies, and balconies of Terminal 5—a venue that forms an open square, with the stage completing the quadrilateral. This three-story space boasts a packed dance floor—a shifting sea of bodies, all caught in the same streaming line of anticipation.

Tinlicker, the moniker of Dutch electronic music duo Micha Heyboer and Jordi van Achthoven, has drawn a devoted fan base through deep house and progressive sounds. Just over a decade ago, the pair were introduced through a mutual connection—a promoter who believed their parallel sounds were destined to intersect. This shared passion led them to create five tracks in just six days, solidifying their decision to join forces and shape the unique sound that Tinlicker’s fans know and love today.

At Terminal 5, Tinlicker attracted a crowd ready to lose themselves in the beat. With the disco ball shimmering overhead and glow-in-the-dark fans waving across the floor, the good vibes were easy to spot. In the front row, a platinum-highlighted blonde shook her head, waving her hands, arms swinging from side to side. She was not alone—her companion swaying next to her, shoulders bouncing up and down to the bombo beat pulsing beneath the Dutch duo’s drum and bass set. At a Tinlicker concert, the movement may be isolated, but the vibe is shared by all. And while the audience came from different walks of life, Tinlicker’s own music influences are just as varied.

The DJ duo’s eclectic music tastes were on full display. Ranging from Radiohead to Bruce Springsteen, Heyboer and van Achthoven’s diverse influences naturally feed into their creative process and self-described spontaneous moments. The night included tracks like “I Am Free (feat. Jamie Irrepressible),” which resonated deeply with the crowd. One NYC-based concertgoer, descending the stairs with a midnight-black reptilian bolsa, described the experience as “captivating.”

Guest artist Felix Raphael joined the show, bringing soft, fluid vocal vibrations—whispers building into bass drum thumps you could feel in your chest. The music breathed deeply with you as the lights pulsed in time. It was late evening in Hell’s Kitchen, and everyone’s swaying in Terminal 5. Hands from the crowd reached out to the stage, feeling the music as “Blowfish” drifted through the venue, enveloping everyone in its deep and steady rhythm.

Mimi, a three-time Tinlicker concert viewer, shared, “They know how to take you on a journey.” Fans were especially moved by perfectly timed moments of pause, where the duo gave space for everyone to breathe before diving back into the pulsing beats. According to Mimi, “Everyone felt very in the moment,” noting how people rarely spoke or glanced at their phones, choosing instead to be fully present in the music and visuals. Mimi’s reflection captures the essence of their music, which is rooted in exploration and connection like the track “Slipstream (feat. Julia Church),” which, when played, wrapped the audience in its smooth and hypnotic flow.

Tinlicker’s name is inspired by circuit bending, a practice that involves reconfiguring the circuits within electronic devices to unlock hidden capabilities and produce unexpected sounds. Circuit bending thrives on unpredictability, resulting in unique soundscapes that are impossible to replicate. It’s an art form that welcomes improvisation and experimentation—much like Tinlicker’s music, which captured the audience through its unexpected depth and iconic quality. This philosophy of creativity and unpredictability translated to their live performance, where each moment was as transformative as the last.

One of the most memorable moments came near the end of the show, when the lights synced flawlessly with the last song, reflecting off the glimmering disco ball and casting a mesmerizing glow across the venue. For us, the lights felt alive, syncing perfectly with the music. Reminiscent images flickered on the screens, with colors ranging from molten silver to pixelated African savanna reds at dusk. Moons crossed in counter-motion, bright and full, all set against the pulsing beats. This philosophy of unpredictability where every light, sound, and beat is carefully curated to create a unique experience was evident in the intense emotion felt as the song “Nowhere to Go (feat. Brian Molko)” captivated the crowd.

So, what is a Tinlicker concert at its core?

A big black table filled with keyboards and switchboards, illuminated by a light show behind our artists—two bald dudes from Utrecht on stage, both with drumsticks in hand and some pretty cool kicks on their feet.

When asked to sum up the night in three words, Mimi didn’t hesitate: “Exhilarating, energizing, and rejuvenating.” It was a Tinlicker concert that felt less like a performance and more like a shared journey, where each beat and visual left an imprint on everyone in Terminal 5.

As always… wear earplugs and stay groovy.

Connect with Tinlicker on Instagram and Spotify.

Guest Artist Felix Raphael can be found on Instagram and Spotify.