Barcelona’s Sonar Festival takes place this week (12-14 June), and to introduce the cutting edge event co director Richard Robles has made us a Playlist based on a few picks from the 2014 bill. “The festival’s founding values have defined the festival since its inception,” he notes. “The link between creativity and technology, its commitment to being a global event and a meeting point for creative people from both public and industry sectors, from different disciplines and communities.” It’s a lot of fun too.
Röyksopp & Robyn – Do It Again
“This year’s festival shares an important connection with the Nordic scene, after it’s hosting of Sónar Reykjavik and Sónar Stockholm, and via the presence of Lykke Li and Neneh Cherry (among others). Röyksopp & Robyn will begin their joint tour at Sónar by Night and it is our genuine privilege to have them at the festival.”
Rudimental – Waiting All Night (ft Ella Eyre)
“We have been closely following Rudimental since the success of Feel The Love. Their live performances are pure energy and power, qualities that we always look for in the live shows of SonarClub, the biggest stage at Sónar by Night.”
DJ Snake – Turn Down For What
“DJ Snake is a prime example of how today’s young underground producers can make the leap to the mainstream in just the blink of an eye: from trap produced in his bedroom and uploaded to soundcloud, to the global success of Get Low (with Dillon Francis) and Turn Down For What (with Lil Jon). Times are changing.”
Dengue Dengue Dengue – Senen Pani
“Sometimes the most original ideas come from the most unexpected places. In this case, Peru is the country that gives birth to this remarkable duo presented by Red Bull Music Academy. They will be adorned in huge colorful masks while updating traditional music genres with modern synths and a lot of imagination.”
Clipping – Bout That (Ft. Baseck)
“Clipping convert hip-hop into noise, creating a sound that is a chaste reflection of the chaos and speed in which we all live. Their radicalism and commitment to pushing boundaries also largely defines the festival program and we are extremely confident that their concert will be one of the highlights of Sónar by Day.”
NB If a track does not show in the playlist, follow the individual link
Janet Jackson – That’s The Way Love Goes (Kaytranada Remix)
“Kaytranada has continued to surprise us with each of his tracks, edits and remixes, such as this fabulous rendition of Janet Jackson. His talent is plain for all to hear regardless of his choice of genre, be it hip-hop, funk or even house. His work has effortlessly assimilated the legacy J Dilla and he is now without doubt one of the most promising young beatmakers in the world.”
Four Tet – Love Cry
“We all know Four Tet is a veritable rare talent but what has surprised us in recent years is his towering level of production, enticing the listener to regularly check out his new material, which is consistently of the highest order, with quality always assured.”
Chris and Cosey – Exotika
“At the very least Chris & Cosey deserve our respect for everything they did with Throbbing Gristle. However, besides their career as an artistic partnership, they have always demonstrated a forward thinking and innovative vision. Still on top form with fantastic live show, their appearance at Sónar is long overdue.”
Todd Terje – Swing Star (Parts 1 & 2)
“Listening to Todd Terje and becoming trapped in his web of cosmic disco is as pleasurable as it is unavoidable. Last year saw him perform alongside Lindström offering one of the best concerts of the festival. This time he presents his first solo album, which (among other reasons) we love for songs like this.”
Oneohtrix Point Never – Returnal
“With Oneohtrix Point Never, Daniel Lopatin has created his very own world, which fuses past and future, new age and digital electronica, science and emotion, nostalgia unlived and trepidation for what remains for us to live for. His brilliance is clearly demonstrated by albums like R Plus Seven or songs like Returnal.”
Ben Frost – Venter
“Ben Frost is another person for whom no adjective or superlative is too great and will be one of the most intense and powerful artists performing at the festival. After hearing his latest album Aurora, we have zero doubt that his concert at Sónar by Day will be a mind-altering experience for all the senses.”
For more head to Sonar.es.
