An Unmissable Experience at the Sónar Festival with Teens Media Network
The Sónar Festival, the world's premier event for electronic music and digital arts, is just around the corner. The countdown has begun! Held annually in the vibrant city of Barcelona, this festival promises a unique blend of cutting-edge music, groundbreaking art, and innovative technology. Teens Media Network is thrilled to be covering this spectacular event from a youth perspective, bringing you all the highlights and behind-the-scenes action.
This is Sónar Barcelona / Source: Sónar
The Creative Heart of Sónar by Day 2024
Sónar+D is set to present more than 70 activities and over 100 projects during the three days of the festival. With such a diversity of proposals, ideas, experiments, and installations to discover, the program is divided into seven categories, each offering a unique way to experience the many stages, venues, and styles of the festival.
The AI & Music Powered by S+T+ARTS program focuses on the creative application of Generative AI, encompassing pop music, sound art, audiovisual performances, and more. This program highlights the role of Generative AI in music creation and its future potential. You can attend the forum ‘We Are The Music Makers,’ featuring pioneers of AI software and instrument design, and explore tools like Rave (presented by Ircam), Combobulator, Stable Audio, and AudioStellar in the Project Area. Performances by artists such as Sevdaliza, Lee Gamble presenting ‘Models’ with Candela Capitán, Nicole L’Hullier, Rob Clouth, and more are also part of this exciting program.
In the Creative AI, Science & Society section, delve into the interactions between science, technology, and society, with a focus on AI's impact. Stage+D will host AV lectures by Tim Maughan and Joanne McNeil, who will explore the impact of AI on literature. In the Project Area, you can experience interactive installations like AI & Me: The Confessional and AI Ego, and witness Andy Gracie's exploration of binary systems.
The Future of the Creative Industries segment highlights innovation in fashion, film, dance, and choreography. Gain insights from the engineer behind The Sphere in Las Vegas and the tech curator of TED Talks. Participate in the forum ‘Dance Dance Revolution’ with Kianí del Valle, Gabber Eleganza, and Tianzhao Chen, exploring the most innovative waters of dance and choreography.
The Film, Visuals & Design area discovers the latest trends and technologies in audiovisual content creation. Programs associated with the +RAIN Film Festival and a conversation with Smith and Lyall, who have devised the visual identity of The Chemical Brothers, are some of the highlights. The Project Area will showcase innovative projects from Arts Korea Lab, the VR selection of Realities+D, and ‘Tardes de Prompting’ by Krea.
The Digital Identities section will explore our digital selves through XR, fashion, Web3, and performance. Shows by Team Rolfes and Myriam Bleau & Nien Tzu Weng will speak to the nature of identity, while the 6-hour ritual by ASIANDOPEBOYS constructs a new imaginary from the detritus of the internet. Harriet Davey and Laura AI by LOWKEYMOVES are essential viewing in the Project Area, and Vogue Business will present a talk on digital fashion with Leanne Young from the Institute of Digital Fashion and creative director Isabelita Virtual.
Sound Design & Music-tech will explore new music production tools and sound design techniques. Renowned manufacturers such as Befaco and Endorphin.es will present their modules; Moth Quantum will showcase innovative tools for making music with quantum computing, and Love Hultén will display unique handmade synthesizers.
The Gaming and Beyond section will look at the future of interactive entertainment and new frontiers in gaming. Presentations by Rhett Tsai reflecting on war, Team Rolfes' virtual preview device, and Sebastian Schmieg’s arcade Prompt Battle Training Station are some of the intriguing offerings. Sarah Friend will present a gamified workshop on DAOs.
Sónar+D takes place in the Sónar by Day venue from 10:00 to 21:00 on 13th and 14th June, and from 15:00 to 21:00 on Saturday 15th. Get + out of Sónar by Day here.
What Not to Miss at Sónar by Night 2024
Want more? Then, you must take up Sónar by Night's limitless schedule, which features a variety of iconic performances, dance music pioneers, famous DJs, and the underground world. Here there’s something for everyone! On Friday night, legendary French duo Air will perform at SonarClub with their cult album ‘Moon Safari, backed by a full live band. Alternatively, you can experience enigmatic UK rapper CASISDEAD’s mix of street narrative and retro-futuristic synth-pop at SonarLab x Printworks. Jessie Ware, a modern disco diva, will deliver a spectacular show, followed by an emotional live performance by Ben Böhmer at SonarClub, and Canadian beatmaker Kaytranada will premiere material from his forthcoming album ‘Timeless’ at SonarPub.
On Saturday, Paul Kalkbrenner’s epic live show at SonarClub promises to be a highlight. Vince Staples, one of hip hop’s best live performers, will showcase tracks from his new album ‘Dark Times’ at SonarPub, followed by Floating Points’ finely crafted electronic music and incredible visuals. KI/KI will lead a new wave of trance producers with a rare live set at SonarLab x Printworks.
For those interested in the origins of dance music, Friday offers Richie Hawtin’s back-to-basics live set DEX EFX X0X at SonarClub, designed to recreate the feel of clubbing before giant screens and lasers, alongside New York house artist Danny Tenaglia at SonarPub and female drum’n’bass originators DJ Flight & MC Chickaboo at SonarLab x Printworks. Saturday’s lineup includes techno master craftsmen Octave One at SonarLab x Printworks and Kerri Chandler’s tribute set to house, disco, and funk pioneers on reel-to-reel tapes.
Superstar DJs will also take the stage. On Friday, Adriatique will deliver a stadium-sized melodic techno performance at SonarClub, DJ Tennis will bring his Mediterranean sounds to SonarPub, and VTSS will close SonarClub with a relentless session. Saturday features Charlotte De Witte’s fast and furious AV show ‘Overdrive’ at SonarClub, DJ Daddy Trance’s fun mix of trance edits, eurodance, and hard house, acid techno maverick Reinier Zonneveld’s punishing live set, and The Martinez Brothers playing until dawn at SonarPub.
The global underground will be represented by a diverse lineup. On Friday, SonarCar will host local FLINTA collective Me Siento Extraña, DJ Verushka, the reigning queen of ‘treggaeton’ La Goony Chonga, Argentina-via-Mexico DJ and producer TAYHANA, and an all-Andalucia back-to-back from GAZZI and DALILA. Eliza Rose, Dan Shake, and Sally C will play every shade of house music at SonarLab x Printworks, while Jennifer Cardini and HAAi will bring post-punk to psychedelia at SonarClub. Rising star salute’s infectious mix of UK garage and house will be at SonarLab x Printworks, and C.FRIM and BAMBII’s borderless club music will range from dancehall to club-ready r&b.
Saturday will start with Sepehr’s unclassifiable psychedelic live set at SonarLab x Printworks. Radical collective Club Cringe at SonarCar will feature mosh pits, theatrical readings, and AI-generated gabber. Soto Asa’s slow-motion reggaeton, Marie Montexier b2b Mor Elian’s cutting-edge techno, and JASSS’s eclectic yet refined dance music will close SonarLab x Printworks.
The Significance of Covering Events for a Teen Audience
Covering the Sónar festival is a thrilling experience for Teens Media Network, showcasing our team's talent and dedication while amplifying youth voices. We are grateful to the Sónar organizers for trusting in our youth storytellers. This coverage empowers us to provide a platform for youth expression and solidifies our presence in Barcelona and Europe. Returning to Barcelona after a decade in New York, we're thrilled to lead a passionate team shaping TMN's European journey. Covering the Sónar festival with our youth will be an unforgettable experience, and we can't wait to do it!
Stay tuned for live updates, exclusive interviews, and in-depth features from the Sónar Festival 2024 with Teens Media Network.
See you in Barcelona!
Written by Pablo Herrera and Aina Piñeiro.
