Levitation Fest 2026 held a stellar lineup highlighting a variety of genres, from gothic synth to indie rock to classic Riot Grrrl, sprawling a variety of venues across Austin, Texas. On the third night of Levitation, Takuya Nakamura headlined at 29th Street Ballroom, a personal favorite venue of mine. Doors for the late night show opened at 11, and despite the near 1am show time, the sold-out crowd had an unwavering energy that continued well into the night.
A Japanese born musician, Nakamura moved to New York City in 1990. He is notorious for his unique blend of Jazz and Jungle, a combination as delightful as it may be unexpected. In a KVRX interview, Takuya talked about his history with music. Before he was a master of sound boards and mixers, Nakamura studied Jazz theory at a music conservatory. However, he soon decided to branch off and pursue a different path, leading to the unique genre-bending music we hear from him today.
Nakamura is notorious for the appearance of his brass trumpet during his live electronic sets. The tone of the trumpet beautifully melts into heavy bass creating what some call “space music”. The combination of the long drawn out trumpet, with the high-paced tempo, asymmetrical beat, and psychedelic pedals created a transcendent trance that had my toes trapped on the dance floor.
Nakamura’s energy matches his music: vibrant, expressive, and incredibly creative. The crowd was engaged in every beat drop and honestly, seemed just happy to be there. A bit of authors bias here, I am not a huge EDM listener, however I was totally entranced by Nakamura’s set. He was able to connect with the crowd, danced along with us, had constantly refreshing and unique rhythms, and utilized some awesome samples. I had an amazing time dancing, watching the psychedelic graphics float around the walls, and letting myself slip into the beats of the night. For any curious listeners out there, whether jamming out in your car, on a walk, or on the dance floor, Takuya Nakamura’s music is sure to captivate.