A collective affliction for the festival crowd, falling in love with your new favorite artist at a festival is both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, music festivals are probably the best place to discover new music, as most artists thrive in a live music environment, but on the other hand, the experience of hearing an artist you know well perform live is incomparable. If I had to choose one of the two, I would definitely choose the latter. With that, here are five bands you should get to know before Sonic Bloom.
RANDOM RAB
Consistently producing music that touches your soul, it comes as no surprise that Random Rab has been dubbed the “Master of Emotion.” By combining influences of electronic, trip-hop, Arabic and classical, the San Francisco producer has attracted a cult following on the West Coast and beyond. Despite being relatively unknown, legendary live sets and four critically acclaimed albums have put Random Rab on the map. If you are of the large number of people unfamiliar with Random Rab, this is a must-see show at Sonic Bloom. Check out a couple of our favorite tracks below.
SUPERVISION
A gem on the Pretty Lights Music Label, Supervision of Dallas, Texas is a not-to-miss act on the Sonic Bloom lineup. Cleverly dubbed “futuristic electronic hip hop” by the man behind the booth, Supervision’s sound is a fine balance of experimental and melodic, creating an affable sound for both veterans and newcomer electronic fans alike. True to Pretty Lights Music form, all of his albums can be downloaded for free, so get fully acquainted with the Supervision sound prior to his set at Sonic Bloom.
OPIUO
If funky, dance-inducing sets are what you seek, Opiuo is your guy. The Kiwi producer’s music is in a league of its own; by combining glitch hop, funk, breakbeat and drum n’ bass, Opiuo constantly produces sounds which cannot be replicated. In March he released Meraki, a collaboration-heavy album showcasing some of Opiuo’s greatest work thus far. His oddly-named tracks only elicit one emotional response, pure happiness, so make sure to fit Opiuo’s set into your Sonic Bloom schedule.
VIBESQUAD
Colorado darling VibeSquaD is a highly anticipated set at this year’s Sonic Bloom, and for good reason. Having released more than 10 albums over the past eight years, VibeSquaD has been a beloved figure in the rocky mountain electronic scene for quite a while, always delivering memorable live sets. His latest album, titled Spinning Gears and Making Things, features live guitar, keyboards, bass and vocals, all from Aaron Holstein himself. This is a show you won’t want to miss, so make sure to pencil his live set into your when Sonic Bloom schedule. Until then, familiarize yourself with the positive vibrations of VibeSquaD.
ZOOGMA
If you’ve never heard of the genre-bending group Zoogma, you’re in for a real treat. High energy shows which combine rock influences with dance beats characterize this quartet of Southern DJs, their live performances consistently generating rave reviews from those who attend. Their recently released album Anthems 4 Androids has established Zoogma as a force to be reckoned with in the electronic scene, so make sure to catch this set at Sonic Bloom. In the meantime we’ve provided a couple of our favorite tracks for you to chew on.
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