From the perspective of a curator, what would you like to say about this year’s lineup?
This time around we have invited artists that already are on the spiritual journey through music and some that we feel will grow and have a positive reaction to the experience. Every year we gather all the artists before the event and hold a pre-party get together, usually the night before, where we connect, eat and drink and discuss what is about to go down the following day. I am super excited about the way the line up feels this year and the set times have been curated for maximum effect to take us from 5pm on the Friday through to midday on the Saturday.
Now, musically speaking, have there been any particular standout moments for you over the years?
Acid Pauli’s closing sets have always been very special, Mathew Jonson’s live set on top of the pyramid 2 years ago was in a different league and Massive Attack performing at the first event was simply incredible. Personally speaking, my sunrise sets at Day Zero are very important for me and I feel it gives me the energy and right vibes to move forward musically throughout the rest of the year.
This year you will have an interesting performance collective Red Moon, founded spearheaded by Cirque Du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté. How did this collaboration come about? I don’t want to ask for you to give anything away here, so I will simply ask about Guy Laliberté as a creative mind and personality. How do you respective artistic approaches match?
I met Guy a few years back and we became immediate friends. His creative vision and ability to create magic everywhere he goes is unparalleled. What he brings to performance I try to bring to music. We collaborated at an event at his house in Ibiza this summer and created an unforgettable experience for the people and I think we just felt we have a common mindset and I am delighted to have him involved now with Day Zero.
Finally, as 2015 has come to an end and Day Zero being one of 2016’s first premiere events, how does it aid in your own reflections on the past year, as well as what is ahead?
When you are with us at Day Zero, soaking in the beauty of what we have created – amongst the spiritual guides, the artists, the performers, the unique staging, the out of this world lighting and you are there beneath the cosmos in Tulum, holding hands with your friends and experiencing the incredible sound, it is impossible not to reflect on how lucky you are to live in this world of magic and to think on all the possibilities that await you. Day Zero really is one of the most important events at which to realize how special it is to love and be loved.
8 January | Day Zero Festival | Tickets | Tulum, Mexico