Sonic Bloom 2017 || Erin's Top Picks

Sonic Bloom is less than a week away, and I’m so ready to make the trek to the mountains!

This year will be my first Sonic Bloom, and I can’t wait to experience everything this festival has to offer. I wrote before about the wide variety of activities available to attendees, and I will certainly be participating in some of the amazing yoga classes and expanding my mind with some of the workshop opportunities hosted by great organizations like DanceSafe and Unicorn Riot.

But the real reason I’m attending the festival is, of course, the music. Sonic Bloom has consistently brought an impressive lineup to Colorado, and this year is no exception. Although I admit that it was the appearance of Claude VonStroke that first drew me in, the lineup is as diverse as it is talented, and my must-sees run the gamut in terms of style.

Erin’s Top Picks at Sonic Bloom 2017

Claude VonStroke

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Claude VonStroke has been one of my favorite artists since a friend dragged me to the Neon Garden to catch him at EDC Las Vegas in 2014. If you’re not familiar with Dirtybird’s big boss, now is the time – he’s hitting a ton of major festivals this summer in addition to his own Dirtybird BBQ series and Dirtybird Campout, and he seems poised to have yet another breakout year. His music is an amalgamation of funky house beats mixed with dirty basslines and some truly ridiculous vocal samples. The end result is a sound that is purely VonStroke – funky, booty-shakin’ music that will have you dancing the night away.

Claude is without a doubt my #1 pick for Sonic Bloom. Will I see you on the dancefloor?

Bluetech

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Bluetech is an artist that seems tailor-made for an appearance at Sonic Bloom. The San Diego-based producer creates music that feels more like a full-body experience than anything else. His downtempo beats combine contemplative melodies with grounding basslines that evoke a definitively tribal vibe. It’s the sort of music that makes you feel the interconnectivity deep in your bones.

I’ve only had one opportunity to catch him live, but that set changed my perspective on what electronic music could really be about. I cannot wait to see what he has in store for Sonic Bloom!

https://soundcloud.com/slowdownmovement/slow-down-vol-004-bluetech-original-mix

Golf Clap

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There are no two ways about it – Golf Clap always brings the fire. Hailing from Detroit, these house music aficionados have gained widespread acclaim through a series of killer livesets and impeccable releases. Perhaps Thump said it best: “Golf Clap differs from their peers by doing everything right.” These two are without a doubt a force to be reckoned with.

Not convinced? Check out the mix below for a taste of what you can expect from Golf Clap.

Whitebear

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While Whitebear might not be a name that you’d see on most mainstream festival lineups, his talent is without a doubt worthy of recognition. The Australian-based producer’s sets are a musical journey, filled with driving, groovy basslines and complex, soaring melodies that evoke imagery of the deepest realms of the earth and human understanding. I’ll admit that I’d never listened to Whitebear before really digging into the Sonic Bloom lineup, but it didn’t take much to convince me to check him out. Catch him just before sunrise for a set that promises to be out of this world.

https://soundcloud.com/hwitebear/whitebear-alchemy-circle-boom-2016

Mikey Lion

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For those in the know about Desert Hearts, Mikey Lion is a man who needs no introduction. San Diego-native Lion is the ringleader of the intrepid Desert Hearts crew and a fantastic DJ and producer in his own right. He’s brought his signature brand of funky house and feels to festivals across the country, and his Sunday night appearance is set to be one of the highlights of the weekend. If you’re a fan of groovy beats, house music, and love, you’re a fool if you miss him.

Desert Dwellers

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Hailing from New Mexico, Desert Dwellers is a downtempo, psy-bass, and tribal trance duo consisting of Amani Friend and Trevor Moontribe. They started playing together in the late 90’s and have built a reputation for pushing the boundaries of what is possible or imagined in electronica. I’ve even heard them referred to as “yoga dub” before, a name that seems particularly fitting. No matter what you call it, their blend of earthy basslines, ethereal vocals, and complex instrumentation create an experience unlike any other that you will hear in music.