With sand between your toes, salty air flowing through your hair, a cold beer in your hand, and some of the world's most cutting edge electronic music caressing your ears, how could you have a bad time?

That's SXM Festival's hook, line, and sinker. The intimate festival on the island of St. Martin in the Caribbean was formed as a different way to festival to replace massive, faceless electronic music festivals popping up everywhere. Year One of SXM (so named for St. Martin's airport code) attracted an influential group of dance floor aficionados – who value and respect the scene’s history and culture – to St. Martin's diverse and historical environs. The island's culture and energy stem from Dutch, French and British traders who brought their European traditions, alongside Africans who brought the language and culture of West Africa. Mix in inimitable beauty and tropical temperatures and the fact that it's a short flight from North and South America, and you have the makings of an excellent festival experience.

Year Two hosted artists such as Aeden, Atish, Bedouin, Blond:ish, Bob Moses, Doc Martin, Fur Coat, Honey Dijon, Jamie Jones, Lee Burridge, M.A.N.D.Y., Nina Kraviz, Richie Hawtin, Thugfucker, and many others.

Enjoy the dazzling photos below, courtesy of SXM Festival itself.