GATHERING MOMENTUM The EDM (electronic dance music) scene developed its roots in the mid-1970s within the burgeoning disco movement and has been gather-
ing immense momentum since then. The discotheque was primarily home to the genre, but as time passed and the popularity of the DJs who played at them increased throughout the ‘90s, the venues had to evolve to fulfill the increasing crowds. A current example of the voraciousness of that need and currently one of the most popular, is the Electric Daisy Carnival, which took place in Las Vegas this last June. The largest of Insomniac’s worldwide events, attendance estimates for the three-day festival exceeded 400,000. EDM has grown into a multi-billion dollar business around the world and producers in the states are taking aim at Southern California’s LGBT
community. Our roots in the dance scene are deep and the 1 Life Festival, is the latest (and first) attempt to create an EDM “massive” as they call them, specifically for us. The Rage Monthly sat down with producer Phil Tran to talk about the new venture.
by joel martens
Let’s start by having you tell us a little bit about your background. Basically, we have been producing all sorts of EDM events for many years.
We also do monthly events for the LGBT community called Momentum in L.A., so it kind of made sense for us to merge the EDM world and the LGBT com- munity around a large festival. They run synonymously in so many ways, so to have a larger scale event in Southern California as an entertainment draw for people all around the world… it was a no-brainer. There really aren’t any EDM “massives” specific to the LGBT community anywhere else in the country are there? There are other large-scale events, the White Party in Palm Springs, the
Black Party in New York, things like that, but they are a little different. 1 Life is definitely more in line with the EDM style of event. We have done a lot of collaborating with Motive Events, who have done 10 to 15,000 person shows in SoCal and the White Party’s Jeffrey Sanker. We are integrating their fresh concepts into what we already had established within the LGBT community. The EDM movement has really taken off, with so many worldwide festivals available, it seems like that’s where the clubbing vibe is going, it’s more about events than a specific club or venue. Definitely, it’s about that larger than life festival environment and that kind
of experience, rather than going to the club, with the same four walls, over and over again. When you attend EDM festivals, you never know quite what to expect; some have carnival rides, zip lines, circus performers and art installa- tions, there is so much more than just music involved. Of course, they are centered on the music, but events like Burning Man set precedence for the direction these festivals have headed. We see 1 Life as
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one of those moments. There are, of course, DJs as well as performing artists on stage, but there is also a mass amount of work put into the ambience. It’s about the whole experience of the event. I am curious about the choice to do different events in three different locations, why did you choose that concept? For the 1 Life Festival main event on Saturday, July 5 we chose the National
Orange Show Events Center in San Bernardino because of the nostalgia be- hind it. It’s an amazing spot and a proven venue with the size and space that we needed. Everybody there has been so supportive and has been instrumental in helping us to make the event possible. The Opening Party on Friday, July 4 at 333 Live in L.A. kind of sets the
precedence as to what kind of experience people can expect at the festival. The Closing Party at the Belasco (also in L.A.) on Sunday, July 6 is a way to give people a cool down after it is over and a way to regroup—a way for them to reminisce and have a closure. Are there any surprises that you can tell our readers about? We’ve been talking a lot with agents and I know that Bright Lights has a
very special show planed, as well as DJ Tom Stephan, who is coming in just after doing Black Party New York. Then, there’s Robbie Riviera, Tenisha and Chubs+Ceballos, all of which have been on fire lately. Mark my words; the performances that are being brought, particularly on the 5th are going to be amazing.
For tickets to 1 Life Festival and its surrounding events, go to
flavorus.com. For the most updated information on what will be happening there go to
1lifefest.com.
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