Eric Luttrell’s Take on the Summer of Love
Eric Luttrell has spent more than a decade building a name for himself in electronic music, known for sets that balance melody, movement, and feeling. From his early work as part of The M Machine to his rise as a solo artist on Anjunadeep, his path has been shaped by a clear connection to the dance floor. That connection will be on full display July 5th at The Roof of Superior Ingredients in Brooklyn, one of the more intimate stops on his current run. Now, with his latest series of shows, the Summer of Love Tour, Luttrell is shifting the focus back to something simple but often overlooked: being fully present.
At a time when crowds are larger than ever and phones are constantly in the air, Luttrell is choosing a different direction. This tour centers on smaller spaces, open air settings, and a strict no phone policy, shaped by what he has been seeing more and more during his performances.
“I started to notice an increase of people standing, having conversations and not dancing in crowds,” he says. “The worst has been people standing directly in front of me just staring or recording an entire song on their phone. This doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it’s a huge negative distraction to me and everyone around. My attitude in the past has been more lax, but recently I feel the need to share how I’m truly feeling. We’re here to dance and enjoy music, not make a documentary.”
His words reflect a shift many artists and fans have felt. Phones have changed how people engage with live music, often pulling attention away from the moment itself. For Luttrell, that disconnect is something he wants to address directly. The no phone policy is not about restriction, but about creating space for something better.
Without phones, the experience becomes more immediate. There is no pressure to record or share. The focus returns to the sound, the people around you, and the feeling of being part of something happening in real time. It allows both the artist and the crowd to meet without distraction.
The choice to play smaller venues is just as important. These spaces bring people closer, making the experience feel more shared. Instead of watching from a distance, the crowd is right there, connected to the music and to each other.
“At these more intimate shows, closeness is part of the magic,” Luttrell explains. “There’s this opportunity to have an experience unique to smaller venues that you can’t get at a big festival. It’s like we’re one organism, one energy. We’re all a part of something special for a few hours, and we should lean into that together.”
That sense of unity has always been central to dance music. A room moving together to the same sound creates something that cannot be captured on a screen. It has to be felt in the moment.
For Luttrell, this tour is about bringing that feeling back into focus. His music has always been built around connection, and in this setting, it has more space to land. The shift to performing under his full name, Eric Luttrell, reflects this chapter, with a sound that feels more direct and grounded in the dance floor.
The name Summer of Love points to openness and shared experience. In these smaller, phone free spaces, that idea becomes real. The crowd is not just watching the show, they are part of it.
In a culture where so much is documented and replayed, Luttrell is offering something that exists only in real time. No recordings, no distractions, just music and the people in the room. It is a simple idea, but one that feels more meaningful than ever.
