Krewella (once a trio, the group, now a duo, consists of sisters Jahan Yousaf and Yasmine Yousaf after producer Kristopher "Rain Man" Trindl resigned from the group in 2014) was on Ultra’s Live Stage for a Sunday-afternoon set, which was also streaming live. It seems as though Deadmau5 noticed something was amiss and tweeted, "Aw man. Krewellas got them new completely wireless DJMs??? I'm jealous."
Accusations of "unplugged" DJ sets are nothing new in EDM. Everyone, from Disclosure to Justice and David Guetta, has been accused of doing nothing more than waving their hands in the air and pretending to twist knobs when they are doing "live" DJ sets. Some acts have admitted to getting some help from prerecorded mixing, but they insist there’s still some sort of improvisational element to what they do when they get behind the booth.
You wanna plug your shit in? Or you wanna go home! It's up to youuuuu.
— deadmau5 (@deadmau5) March 29, 2015
So how is Krewella explaining this evidence that Deadmau5 presented? "Thx 4 watching our stream @deadmau5! before u tweet maybe u should zoom in & see the USBs plugged in2 the CDJs/mixer:)” We at New Times have contacted Krewella's publicist for further comment. But there will be “no formal” response, the sisters’ rep confirms, aside from that tweet.
Thx 4 watchin our stream @deadmau5! before u tweet maybe u should zoom in & see the USBs plugged in2 the CDJs/mixer:) pic.twitter.com/QeGILU6MgJ
— KREWELLA (@Krewella) March 29, 2015
But Deadmau5 isn't buying Krewella's explanation, hitting back by tweeting, "@Krewella your technical prowess is as apparent as the fuck I give." And for the last couple of hours, he's been taunting the sisters with creative uses of the USB acronym:Useless Shit Bowl pic.twitter.com/TmJDBJLjVg
— deadmau5 (@deadmau5) March 30, 2015
Untied Shoe Beats pic.twitter.com/gjt7CfJLfb
— deadmau5 (@deadmau5) March 30, 2015
Use Strawberries Bro pic.twitter.com/RvRaIDlDfN
— deadmau5 (@deadmau5) March 30, 2015
This, of course, isn't Deadmau5's first Ultra-related drama. In 2011, he slammed the festival over its ticket prices and complained that exclusivity contracts were hurting the surrounding Winter Music Conference events. Then in 2012, he told Madonna, "Fuck off, you fucking idiot" after she made a surprise appearance during Avicii's set and asked the audience, "How many people in this crowd have seen Molly?" And in 2014, after subbing for an ill Avicii, he taunted Martin Garrix with an "Animal-esque" version of "Old McDonald."Oh, Deadmau5. Never change.