Three custom stages with state of the art audiovisual experiencest. This four day transformational music & arts festival was ranked as one of BC's 5 Best Electronic Music Festivals by the Georgia Straight in 2017. #danceandbefree.
Our "The Nest" Stage is an enforcement of our commitment to provide a venue where local acts can join international headliners in entertaining the Electric Love attendees. It's no accident that some of the best DJs in the world hail from the Canadian West Coast, and weve prepared a stage especially to showcase these hometown big names.
If you haven't already, check out our local lineup, a group of talented individuals whose sounds we eagerly await.
As the time draws near for world-class EDM acts like Astronaut to hit the Electric Love stage, we had the chance to explore the minds of the self-proclaimed Eggplant genre musicians. Check out what they had to say about their DJ histories, their inspirations, and the funniest sign they've seen in the crowd.
Electric Love: Do you have any collaborations coming up?
Astronaut: We've been working with some cool producers lately! But, we can't say who at the moment in case the tracks don't get finished :)
Electric Love: Do you have any new releases to anticipate this year?
Astronaut: Yes we do! and maybe a new video too... When we're ready to announce the next release our Facebook and Twitter will be the first place that we post.
Electric Love: How would you describe your presence online? What elements of your personalities come through via social media?
Astronaut: Me and Dan like to goof around a lot online and make people laugh. Our Twitter feed is usually full of eggplant emojis and memes... sometimes we might post some music too ;)
Electric Love: What would be your go-to synthesizer? What would be your go-to plug-in?
Astronaut: Massive is something we've always used and probably always will. There are some other really cool synths out there like FM8 and Serum but we really like the way you can route everything on Massive.
Electric Love: Where is your favourite place to perform in the world?
Astronaut: Perth in Australia is one of my favorite places to play. There's always a really great crowd and city is awesome.
Electric Love: Do you prefer writing music on the road or in the studio?
Astronaut: In the studio is always better because we're usually together and it's easier to focus. It's fun to start tracks when we're on our own but its always better to be in the studio vibing on an idea together.
Electric Love: When did you start DJing?
Astronaut: I started DJ-ing when I was about 9. I remember connecting two Sony Walkman CD players up to a really broken 4 channel radio mixer that my Dad used to own and trying to beat-match tracks without using a pitch slider. The love for dance music came further down the line though...
Electric Love: Do you play any other instruments?
Astronaut: Dan used to play drums and I was really into guitar going through my teens. Learning a instrument from an early age definitely helped but I always wish that i learnt piano instead!
Electric Love: Who was your main mentor when you were first learning?
Astronaut: I used to chat to a drum and bass producer called 'TC' a lot when we first started making tunes. What I like about Tom is that he's brutally honest with everything that we make... Sometimes it's really good to just cut all the shit and tell it how it is so you can learn from that.
Electric Love: Which producer are you most inspired by?
Astronaut: Rob Swire.
Electric Love: Where do you see yourself in the next year?
Astronaut: Hopefully on a beach in Hawaii, drinking cocktails from a Pineapple :)
Electric Love: What is the funniest sign you've seen in a festival crowd?
Astronaut: Just a picture of John Travoltas face.
Electric Love: What are you looking forward to about playing Electric Love, a small festival in the heart of a beautiful valley?
Astronaut: As Monstercat's based in Vancouver, we're looking forward to partying with all of those guys!
A powerhouse producer, DJ and sound healer, DJ Myshell is immersed in the world of sound waves. She believes strongly that dance has a freeing effect on individuals and builds community when people of all ages join together to be free in music and dance. Electric Love's team has had the privilege of learning from her wisdom, and she shares some of it in our latest artist profile.
Electric Love: How would you describe yourself as an artist, first and foremost?
Myshell: I'm always nervous. When I play I've prepared music that I've remixed - originals - so it's not as much of a DJ as it is a producer and I've done that all along. That's always more nerve-racking from the artist side. A social experiment because you put yourself out there. If I get them in it then it's amazing and you're one with them. And I'm just the conduit and it just goes through and it becomes whatever they want it to be. So it doesn't matter what I made because the audience are going to make the magic themselves.
Electric Love: Would you say you have a signature style?
Myshell: Fusion, different. I would like to say innovative. Using different basslines. I see music evolving from rudimentary electronic loop-based music and I love to think of my signature as something that's looking from the past to the future to fuse them. You'll see things like a lot of different drum rhythms or a lot of analog sounds, the warm, real recordings. Guitar players, horn players, hand drums put into it, trying to bring a fusion of the live into the electronic. I try not to be cookie cutter, I take what I love about all types of music and bring them together and see if we can't make a new kind.
Electric Love: What has been your most intense experience as an artist?
Myshell: Well, billboards across India of me were awesome when I did a tour there. I was the first Budweiser girl there. India taught me so much about the cultural difference between North America and India. They all dance. We travelled 8 hours into the jungle, the whole town was coming to the show from little children to grandparents. They all know their Bollywood music and its a very modern day sound. So what I was seeing was community dancing. In my generation we watched boys not having to ask girls to dance anymore, and now we can all just dance. This is huge. So to be a part of that, and to see it and to bring it back here - like this is how the old country does it, they all dance. They don't say you can't dance until you're 19 and you can drink. The tour was great, to be out there like that.
Electric Love: What is your greatest hope for your work as an artist?
Myshell: It happens all the time - when it's received. You've communicated on a whole other level.
Electric Love: What message would you say your music communicates?
Myshell: Unity. Acceptance. Non-judgment, we just are. There's so much acceptance on the dance floor, and I want to orchestrate that in any way that brings people together. It's an incredible privilege.
Phixx Cravin has found a balance between the conscious notions of his mind and the catchy sound that mainstream fans adore. An MC with a lot to say, he'll be playing our Arena stage come August 1: in the meantime Electric Love's Racquel delved into Cravin's thoughts on social change, his musical style and how he engages a crowd.
Electric Love: How did you get started in music? What inspired you to get your career going as a rapper?
Phixx Cravin: When I was three my uncle Charles was babysitting me, he was eighteen at the time, my parents got home and found me somewhat unattended, he promptly left (probably due to fear) and forgot the Sugar Hill Gang record at my house. When I was seven I discovered it and thought this is something I can do without the need for vocal talent.. That was my first memory of discovering rap, but I didn't take it serious until Nas' illmatic.
Electric Love: What are some current projects you're working on this summer that you want fans to know about? (Song releases, touring, music videos etc.)
Phixx Cravin: I'm currently working on an album with three very talented producers and some side projects, as well as a video with one of my favorite directors, Matt Leaf. As for shows I'm most excited about Electric Love. On the 29th I'm going to be performing at the Rickshaw. My main focus right now is the album and video release in August.
Electric Love: What do you personally or what does your music bring to the table that sets you apart from the rest out there in the rap scene?
Phixx Cravin: I think what sets me apart from other artists is my detailed storytelling and social awareness. Being a conscious MC isn't for everyone so I put in a mainstream element and don't shy away from catchy beats and simple three/ four chord progressions. Just because it's melodic doesn't means it lacks substance and appealing to the masses isn't always a bad thing.. In fact by definition it's a good thing! that's what makes that discussion funny to me. I'm myself always, and I think that's a rare attribute in a genre so colorful. Music can be ironic what it asks for in a "genuine artist"
Electric Love: What is your message/advice to other musical artists out there today who are hustling to make their mark in this ever-changing and challenging industry that is the music industry?
Phixx Cravin: I think new artist that feel they have to conform to the already cookie-cutter style hip hop, that happens to come in fads and waves, i'd say be yourself but simultaneously stand out.. Innovation is the best way to open eyes and ears, just don't go backwards! The public has issues with something that recently fell out of style. Plus read the small print. And between the lines of the big print. Go viral before seeking a deal. If that fails take what you can get cuz life is short and artist relevance is much shorter.
Electric Love: What is your wildest/most interesting festival, tour, or performance story?
Phixx Cravin: One time a bouncer wouldn't let me into my own show and we got in a yelling match. He later found out that my graphic artist and close personal friend was his boss and let me in one minute before the set and I bombed. It's not a wild story but it stands out in my mind. That guy was a potty trained prick!
Electric Love: What is your secret to engaging a crowd and getting them hyped up at a large festival/show?
Phixx Cravin: Engaging with a single person in the crowd can always get things headed in a positive direction right off the jump. Also people have good innate gauges that tell if somebody's having a good time or not, so if you're not feeling it the crowd's not gonna feel you..
Electric Love: What are you looking forward to the most about the Electric Love Music Festival?
Phixx Cravin: I can't wait to see and feel the crowd's energy. I've only ever done clubs, bars and private shows so I am hyped to perform in the festival rave type setting.
Electric Love: What do you love most about the summer season? What do you like to do in the summer?
Phixx Cravin: I'm an outdoorsy guy, I love nature so nothing beats camping, bonfires with friends and fam and T-shirt, tank top weather at midnight
Electric Love: Who/what are your greatest sources of inspiration?
Phixx Cravin: I have so many different inspirations from so many different facets of life. Musically everything from Curtis Mayfield and Sam Cooke to Paul Simon to Eminem and Jay-Z to Fleetwood Mac and Jimi Hendrix. Classic rock and 80's pop. But what usually gets me sitting down and writing is a great story. An independent movie or commercial can even get me.
Electric Love: What do you think this world needs more of?
Phixx Cravin: Individuality without the confines of social constructs. Division is the worlds biggest enemy and possible threat. Being divisive is fucking simian! We don't even talk about it let alone create a movement for change. If we thought as individuals there'd be no wars. It's actually a pretty easy fix. Thinking for ourselves is crucial to getting along.