The magical time of the start of summer is completely incomplete with out Chicagos’ Spring Awakening Music Festival. Just a few days before before the heat takes over the breezy nights of the city, Spring Awakenings thumps its musical heartbeat for three days, bringing out electronic music lovers from all over the midwest.
Over the last 2 years, we’ve been lucky enough to grace the rumbling fields of Addams-Medill Park while DJs like Kaskade, deadmau5, Above&Beyond, Showtek, Dillon Francis, Steve Aoki, Alesso, Afrojack, Armin Van Buuren, Diplo, Yellow Claw, Galantis, Martin Garix, Rufus Du Sol and ssssooo many more. This year, the festival grew in attendance, stage sizes, sold out crowds and accommodations for its attendees. The after-parties were incredible and the day vibe at the festival, was nothing shorter than musical heaven.
2018 will be no different, as the festival will take over Addams-Medill Park from June 8th through the 10th. If our 2016 & 2017 experience were to predict 2018… Don’t event reading and grab your wallets and buy your tickets right now! We’re already counting the minutes for Spring Awakening, because after all, there’s no better way to celebrate the birth of summer.
Purchase your Spring Awakening tickets here: https://www.springawakeningfestival.com/
“In the regular world, Halloween is when children dress up in costumes and beg for candy…”
In Music Festival World, is just another night where boys and girls can dress up as whatever they like and no one can say anything about it… The hard-core ragers turn on their LED gadgets while they step into their party dimension and stay hydrated. Fortunately for us, this was not our first rodeo.
We gathered our Halloween gear and got to Indy’s hottest event/concert venue, The Pavilion at Pan Am Plaza, for Haunted Fest, Indy edition. WE were extra excited for A) Haunted Fest 2016 was so much fun, we loved it, B) it’s was here, INDY!! Which we’re so happy to see more of our favorite types of show come through our city, and C) Our close friend Jason Barth opened the show!
The Pavilion at the Pan Am Plaza is huge, great warehouse vibe with multiple elevated VIP areas, an ultra VIP area (that could use less lighting and more bass, give it that ultra lounge exclusivity) and bars (for the 21+) all through out. We did missed the silent disco, the outside little plaza would be ideal, plus it would make for the perfect spot to cool down.
Cash Cash rocked the stage with remixes of classic 90’s electronic beats. They rocked a killer mix of Eurythmics -Sweet Dreams, Nelly’s Ride with me and lots of their originals. Their vibe is always so dope and they put on a great show every time. Waka Flocka Flame, for us, totally changed the vibe… Personally, really into his music, but the crowed loved him. He does put on a fun interactive show. He brings his pose up on stage and got the crown hyped. Now, Yellow Claw, that’s totally up or wheel of loving. It’s amazing how music can transport you to a different time and place. I found myself dancing at Ultra Music Festival or Spring Awakening when some of his songs would play. That’s thing about musicians (Yes! I believe DJs/Producers are musicians), if you love them, they take you on an amazing journey with their songs and performances.
Haunted Fest 2017 was a huge success for us. The Pavilion downtown Indy is amazing and we’re so excited to see all the upcoming shows they have in store for us! Check out our Haunted Fest pix below.
The Norwegian musician, Sonny Alven, and I have something common… Music evokes an intoxifying feeling we can’t help but chase after. Now, I don’t know how to make music… so for me is about what I hear. For Sonny Alven is the creation of a something that fulfills him. In there, lies the artistry of his talent… He makes music for a feeling, for something to burst inside ourselves that’s personal while shareable with many. I love this about his passion and was incredibly excited when I got to interview him! Check out Sonny Alven, a guy who loves music… and has something in common with me!
Out of what I can remember, my first CD would have to be “Curtain Call” by Eminem.
3. What do you love about making music?
What I love the most about music is when I get that feeling, where it feels like I’ve made something really good. And I just want to listen to it over and over again, and I’m really proud of it. It doesn’t really matter if people like it or not, as long as I’m happy with it. Chasing that feeling is something that keeps me going.
4. If you could collab with any 3 musicians, dead or alive, who would they be and why?
Lana Del Rey, Michael Jackson and The Beatles. It would be so interesting to see how these super talented people work when it comes to music. I’m sure I could learn so much.
5. Tell us about your newest EP, Girls, and what inspired each track.
My EP ‘Girls’ consists of three songs, featuring only female vocalists. I was sent ‘Your Touch’ as a demo and fell in love with the vocals straight away. Olivera has such a great and nice voice which I really like! ‘Wasted Youth’ and ‘Too Late To Love Me’ came together in two different sessions, where I brought some instrumental ideas and we started to write on top of that. ‘Wasted Youth’ is about breaking the rules and going on your own path, not letting anyone else tell you what to do. ‘Too Late To Love Me’ is more of a love song where the boy in a relationship messes up too many times, and tries to get back with her, but it’s too late..
6. Now for raannt’s signature question: How do you define sexy?
Sexy can be many things… But when someone is really great at something, like they totally just own it. I think that can be very sexy (maybe depends on what it is though, haha).
7. What’s going on with Sonny Alven this summer?
I’m doing a lot of gigs, some big festivals and some smaller stuff. Mostly playing here in Norway, at places such as Stavernfestivalen, Findings, Stereo and Utopia. While also focusing on finishing up music that will be released after summer, which I am really excited about!
8. What’s your favorite social media app (snapchat, instagram, facebook, tinder) and why (also tell everyone where they can follow you and your music)?
I think my favorite social media app must be Instagram. I think it’s a fun and easy way to share pictures and videos. You can follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Just search for Sonny Alven! 🙂
9. What are your three simple luxuries?
I can’t really think of three simple luxuries…But my biggest luxuries is definitely being able to do music full time, and having a lot of fun a long the way. I feel very privileged!
Sonny, thank you so much for taking the time to let me interview you!!! Excited for the new beats and will have to make it out to Norway for one of your shows!
AAAHHHH the heat of Chicago summer is always amazing. Even if you’re not a summer or heat person, the warm air and lake breeze puts you in the let’s-go-outside-and-do-something mood! As calendars start to fill up, we’re lucky to compare these plans to the amazing experience Spring Awakening Music Festival 2017 provided us. Sure, every experience is unique, but come on! One can’t have a fun night without remembering other great ones… So, here’s a piece of our Spring Awakening experience.
First day was packed! There were lines for the lines to get in lines to get anything! Though it may sound like a negative, it isn’t. It’s a great thing! Nobody wants to go to an empty festival!! The rides looked amazing, we didn’t get a chance to hop on any, and the food smelled even better! A huge high five to SAMF for their stage game this year. Love how, like years past, the Silent Disco is in a bumping cars festival ride set up… LOVE THAT!! The branded tents were pretty epic, and a huge step up from last year! Another high five!! And both the main stages stood tall and grand to host some of the biggest names in electronic music. 3 days of heat, filled with huge talent equals to (at least for us and for those we witness) a successful Spring Awakening Music Festival experience.
The VIP experience is for sure the way to go, if you can invest a few more $$ in your festival experience, do it! With that, I think a club VIP sponsor would take the whole experience to the next level! The elevated areas can have ‘sections’ or bottle service. There can be multiple bars and even servers for those lounging around… you know, boujee VIP experience! The Corona Electric Beach Oasis was so bomb! I will say this, React Presents has a special touch at each of their festivals and that’s this little bobble like stages that teleport you into a different world within their festival world! The oasis was hot, temp and vibe, the music thumped and the party literally felt as if we were on a beach!
Branded Stage
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Equinox Stage
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Equinox Stage
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Corona Electric Beach Oasis
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Solstice Stage
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Branded Stage
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Branded Stage
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Branded Stage
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Branded Stage
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Spring Awakening 2017, for us you were great! Thank you for bringing the Midwest festival lovers together with a great festival, beautiful music and unforgettable memories! Did you go to Spring Awakening 2017? Tells us about it! We want to hear from you.
You know when you listen to a song for the first time, that you like, your body feels a spark of energy that isn’t like a loud scream or a sick shuffle. It’s like a buildup of energy that boils up as the song progresses. Sometimes it dies, cuz the song sucks, and others it boils to an eruption of alone-in-the-car-dancing or trying-to-sing-the-unfamiliar-words-into-your-brush jumps while getting ready. Well, this was my feeling while I was watching Sonny Alven‘s video trailer to his newest EP – Girls.
The trailer previews the three tracks in the EP and teases the highly entertaining upcoming videos. Sonny Alven has a great sound, he combines upbeat melodies with a subtile tropical house vibe while weaving in sensual lounge-like thumps. Sonny, you now have a new fan! Check out the Girls EP trailer above and purchase the single here.
We’re only a couple of months away from Spring Awakening and our excitement is literally through the roof! The 2017 lineup is literally bomb and we can’t help ourselves to tell our friends ‘YOU MUST COME!!!’ Yes, we love festivals, but not just any. The vibe is just as important as the music. This year, Spring Awakening has gathered some killer musicians to take over their four stages over the June 9th weekend. Each day is jam packed with some of the biggest names in the music industry, giving festival goers some of the best electronic music industry options!
Spring Awakening 2017 Daily Lineup
Tear two tickets are still available here: http://www.springawakeningfestival.com/buy-tickets
So while React Presents work on scheduling the official after parties and you purchase your ticket, recap Spring Awakening 2016 with the official after movie below:
What happens when the sexiest city in the US is hosting an epic music week and you add, not only it’s regular sexy people, some of the hottest names in the electronic music industry AND place them in one of the newest and freshest rooftops? ME! You get ME Miami!!!
The iconic hotel chain celebrated it’s official Miami residence during the last three days of Miami Music Week. ME Miami partnered with Urban Junkies, Pacha Ibiza and Café Mambo Ibiza to celebrate the brands expansion. Located on the 14th floor, the luxury lifestyle hotel has a main pool and infinity-edge lap pool with views of the bay, surrounded by sunbeds and cabanas… all while Ultra Music Festival lights up the sky a few blocks over.
The music was sexy (Jasper James, Hot Since 82, Guy Gerber, Lauren Lanem, La Fleur), The people (of course) was sexy, the place (everything!) was sexy, and so was the vibe and energy. What’s more exciting? We now have a 2nd place to crash in Miami! ME Miami is incredible and can for sure host a killer party!
Sophie Francis has been on the electronic music scene for a little over a year now and is already hitting the Ultra Music Festival Worldwide state… THAT’S UNREAL! The freshly 18 yearold started her DJing career as a high school project. Her passion for music, love of people, and ability to create has brought her to live a dream she didn’t know she had. We found ourselves chatting with her at the backstage lounge of the SiriusXM Music Lounge Miami about her journey and what’s next. Check out our interview with her, you’ll fall in love with her, if you’re not already!
Sophie, you’re such an inspiration!! Can’t wait to see you at Ultra Music Festival 2017!
Kicking off Miami Music Week at the SiriusXM Music Lounge Miami at the beautiful 1 Hotel. While enjoying the sun and sipping on some well deserved drinks, we wait for our time with Dutch brother duo DubVison. We’ve loved their music and this time with them is pretty exciting.
Ready for some shuffling with Oliver Heldens? The Delano is such a sexy hotel that this will be a party to go to! Get your tickets here: https://www.wantickets.com/Events/218578/Heldeep-Oliver-Heldens-Table-Packages/?affcode=8446580e8cfd42d4b95f#StepOne
Afsheen | Alok | Bakermat | Chris Lake | Dante Klein | Oliver Heldens | SNBRN | Steve James, |Throttle
