Photographer: MICHAEL KANDEL

Thousands of dubstep enthusiasts packed the Xbox Live stage at Hangout Fest, eagerly awaiting Skrillex, arguably the king of bass, to take the stage. The sweltering heat of the afternoon sun was no match for the excitement of the screaming fans, as they stood shoulder-to-shoulder, wide-eyed and ready to be proverbially blown away.

Finally the waiting came to an end, and Skrillex burst onto the stage in full sprint, met by an eruption of applause and screams. Fans went air-born as he took the controls. The heavy bass reverberated through the venue, as the crowd bounced up and down in unison, creating a wave on which dozens of people would ride. Near and far, bodies were passed around the crowd. While I was focused on the middle of the crowd, the yellow bikini of a girl just inches away from me caught the corner of my eye. I quickly switched cameras and took this shot of her as she floated by.

The excitement in her face tells the story of the experience—a euphoric, unexplainable outburst of satisfaction, brought on by electronic synths and body-rattling bass. At that moment, in that place, above those people—fear, excitement, nervousness and joy blended into a nirvana-like sensation that only she and a select few of her peers would understand.