Photo: Andy Quella
UVITA, COSTA RICA — Envision Festival, a transformational gathering nestled along the oceanside of the Costa Rican jungle includes a wide array of musicians from all over the world. These individuals will perform their own arrangement of frequencies that will rejuvenate your soul and rattle your bones on the state-of-the-art Funktion-1 sound system. These are the top five artists you absolutely can’t miss!
Autograf
A talented young group with forward looking philosophy, Autograf has designed their own live experience, which they hope will revolutionize the world of electronic music. Combining two art students and a derivatives trader into an all-encompassing art project was surely a novel concept. Formed by Jake Carpenter, Louis Kha, and Mikul Wing–craft a shimmery mix of futuristic electronica with a DIY ethos that melds the skills from their former day jobs. These multi-instrumentalists certainly won’t disappoint with their bass, deep, and tropical house vibes along the oceanside jungle.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/245101883″ params=”visual=true&show_artwork=true&callback=YUI.Env.JSONP.yui_3_17_2_1_1487225636061_48331&wmode=opaque” width=”100%” height=”400″ iframe=”true” /]
Opiuo
For New Zealand native Opiuo, making music has been an undeniable passion that encapsulates his every moment. His incredibly original, against the grain style is often referred to simply as “funkadelic bass music”, a term he supports wholeheartedly. The producer who now calls Australia home first gained international recognition in 2010 with his single “Robo Booty” from his debut album “Slurp and Giggle”, which was a finalist for Best Dance/Electro Release at the Australian Independent Music Awards that year. His music has since reached the #1 position on the iTunes, Hype Machine, Beatport & Addictech charts. Racking up 7 million plays on his Soundcloud page, Opiuo swept the 2013 UK Glitch-Hop Awards with 5 wins. His 2nd full-length album “Meraki” won Best Electronica Album at the New Zealand Music Awards 2014 and his 3rd full-length album “Omniversal” is a finalist in 2016. The crowd will definitely be getting the “funk” down to Opiuo this year at Envision Festival.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/141372795″ params=”visual=true&show_artwork=true&callback=YUI.Env.JSONP.yui_3_17_2_1_1487225636061_49854&wmode=opaque” width=”100%” height=”400″ iframe=”true” /]
Pantyraid
There is a rare time of day just before sunrise when connections are more intense, gazes are more meaningful, and the possibility of magic is stronger. In these final moments of the evening, anything seems possible. This ephemeral setting is the inspiration behind Afterglow, the third album from electronic outfit Pantyraid. The duo—South African producer MartyParty and Josh Mayer of The Glitch Mob—have been making music under the Pantyraid banner since 2008, and in the years since have become a force in the club and festival world on the power of their sophisticated dance music with alluring sex appeal.
“These are love songs for the club,” Marty says of the new album. “They’ll make you dance your ass off, and give you an emotional charge.”
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/261589145″ params=”visual=true&show_artwork=true&callback=YUI.Env.JSONP.yui_3_17_2_1_1487225636061_46718&wmode=opaque” width=”100%” height=”400″ iframe=”true” /]
CloZee
Personal favorite of mine, CloZee! I first discovered her at Infrasound Music Festival 2016, where I was mystified by her unique sounds that defy genres, oscillating between Glitch-Hop, Trip-Hop, Future Bass and World Bass. She’s created her own place in the bass community, thanks to a unique, highly surprising style mixing powerful basslines, funky off beat percussion, world instruments and emotional cinematic sounds. Her recent track ‘Koto’ (Otodayo Records) reached 1 million plays on Soundcloud, and 5 million views on YouTube.
A musical identity which led her to play all across North America (more than 250 shows since 2014, including the festivals Coachella, Shambhala, LiB, Camp Bisco, Sonic Bloom, Envision Festival, Enchanted Forest) but also in India, Germany, Ukraine, Israel and more than 50 different cities in France, alongside artists like Bonobo, Gramatik, Tipper, Nick Murphy aka Chet Faker, Pretty Lights and Beats Antique. Her set will likely be one of the most memorable at Envision Festival this year.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/208319538″ params=”visual=true&show_artwork=true&callback=YUI.Env.JSONP.yui_3_17_2_1_1487225636061_44789&wmode=opaque” width=”100%” height=”400″ iframe=”true” /]
Random Rab
Emerging from his own distinct corner of the West Coast electronic music scene, Random Rab is the only Envision Festival artist that has been on every bill since the first installment back in 2011. Random Rab offers a powerful and unique contribution to sonic exploration. Often referred to as “The Master of Emotion” his music is patently beautiful and melodic. With diverse influences ranging from trip‐hop, classical and Arabic to bass driven compositions, his songs are considered anthemic and timeless. As a multi-instrumentalist and singer, his tracks are organic, uplifting and stand on their own as a distinct genre. Listeners of all types of music can find something they can relate to in his sound.
Sometimes performing solo and at other times featuring collaborative musicians, the live experience is focused on a high quality translation of sound that is simultaneously sexy and psychedelic. He is very well-known for his ethereal sunrise sets, which will captivate you like you never thought possible.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/3095921″ params=”visual=true&show_artwork=true&callback=YUI.Env.JSONP.yui_3_17_2_1_1487225636061_43272&wmode=opaque” width=”100%” height=”400″ iframe=”true” /]
General Admission + VIP on sale now! Visit the official Envision Festival website (link) for more information.
—
Written by: Ryan Quella
