Pinche DJ || Sónar 2016
Good2b || Sónar 2016
Pinche DJ is always forecasting the newest trends and bringing the newest threads of debate to our contemporary society and readers. We’ll cover the most satisfying musical and immersive audiovisual experiences at Sónar 2016 of course. But first, before talking about music, debuts, visuals, musts and new stuff of this year’s edition, let's start pointing out the main critical voices and issues revolving in our contemporary world (gender issues, surveillance, climate change, border policies, post-capitalism and hyper-consumerism).
One of the most expected debuts will be (and should be) "Hopelessness", a protest record that mingles criticism with electronic danceable pop music. The lyrics reflect a new gender status, drone attacks, citizen surveillance. Anohni (Antony and the Johnsons) presents her new show for first time in Europe at Sónar (with Oneohtrix Point Never and Hudson Mohawke joining her on the stage).
We'll be discussing about global warming and the anthropocene with John Luther Adams, renowned fighter against consequences of global warming. Sónar will feature "Become Ocean" at L'Auditori. Work concerned with the Arctic regions, awarded with the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2014 and the Grammy for best contemporary composition.
Jean Michel Jarre and his collaboration with Snowden for one track are also a must. The French producer met with former NSA agent in Moscow, which led to Snowden's involvement on the track "Exit" included on Jarre's latest album, "Electronica Vol. 2: The Heart of Noise", which will be premiered by Jarre on Friday 17, at Sónar by Night.
Immigration policies are a hot issue in all European debates, a lot of critical voices are raising to denounce the conversion of the Mediterranean sea in "a cemetery full of anonymous corpses". Flamenco will meet electronica again with El Niño de Elche y Los Voluble; this year, Paul B. Preciado, a famous queer philosopher that revolves around the European Union border policy will offer the lyrics and texts to this concert.
The masterclass by Brian Eno is also a very coveted venue this year Sónar+D, "Why We Play", the name of the conference that will inaugurate all the activities. Eno is part of DIEM25, a group leaded by Yannis Varoufakis, according to this collective what Europe needs is change. And they know how to start it.
The rights of women and the LGBTQ communities are an important affair (Remember last year’s controversy with Ten Walls and his Facebook rant against homosexuality?). This year the focus is with Anohni and The Black Madonna, amongst many others, these two are widely recognized for their struggle with gender, feminism and supporting the queer and trans causes.
Marea Stamper, dj and producer, shares a part of her feminist manifesto: "Dance music needs riot girls. Dance music needs Patty Smith. It needs DJ Sprinkles. Dance music needs some discomfort with its euphoria. Dance music need salt in its wounds. Dance music needs women over the age of 40". Other example, Girls in Lab, at Sónar+D workshops, "From technology consumers to technology creators", or how to struggle to reduce the gender gap in the fields of technology and engineering for women. Educate girls at an early stage to increase their presence and assuring future positions of responsibility.
And finally, hyper-consumerism, post-capitalism and many reflections on the dehumanization of the times we live in. It is patent the existential emptiness and violence as inherent elements of this hyper-consumerist contemporary society. Now: Time to debate!
Don’t miss Sónar+D venues: Sónar Planta. Descentralize. Little Sun, solar lamp by Felix Hallwachs (project by the prestigious Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson).
