Headstash

Jamie Janover Talks Sonic Bloom 2012

Sonic Bloom is quickly becoming one of the summer’s most highly anticipated events.

With a lineup that includes artists from every sub-genre and style of electronic music like Tipper, OTT, Bonobo (DJ Set), Emancipator, PANTyRAiD, ESKMO, Random Rab, Zilla, Papadosio, Michal Menert and many more, and a beautifully scenic locale just an hour from Denver, the festival is creating buzz all around the country.

[FIND the complete lineup, ticketing prices and more on Sonic Bloom's official website.]

Taking place June 21 to 24 for the second year in a row at Shadows Ranch in Georgetown, Colorado, the festival is an initiate family affair among fans, artists and organizers.

We caught up with festival founder Jamie Janover, who will be making appearances at this year's event alongside Karsh Kale as well as his project with Aaron Holstein (ViBeSquaD) and Michael Travis (SCI/EOTO). Jamie gave us the inside scoop on what makes the event unique, the festival’s atmosphere, and balancing art, music and consciousness in one weekend.

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Headstash Magazine: Sonic Bloom 2012 looks to be the most extensive and ambitious to date. Given the stellar lineup – not to mention the unfortunate cancellation of Re:Generation – how are you feeling about this year’s festival?

JJ: We have been very excited about this year's festival from the very beginning. We know the lineup and site are awesome, and we know we can make each and every aspect of the event even better having already had the incredible experience that we did last year.

HM: For past bloomers, is there anything musically and otherwise, that’s new for this year’s installment that you’re particularly hyped for?

JJ: We’re excited to be expanding to a four-day event this year with a special early-Bloomer Thursday night entry with Bonobo and others performing. We also have a silent disco with Silent Frisco and Motion Potion into the late hours.

HM: One of the things I’ve noticed about Sonic Bloom is the continual progression of the festival over the past six years. It seems to be a very hands-on and responsive team putting it on. Given your direct involvement from its inception, what would you attribute that to?

JJ: I would say that the festival evolves along with the community that gives rise to the festival.

I would say that the festival evolves along with the community that gives rise to the festival.

HM: With new festivals popping up each summer, how has Bloom been able to maintain the same vibe that keeps veterans coming back year after year while staying fresh and relevant?

JJ: Music and art are infinite things and they are blooming like never before. We are just riding the wave of that creativity and giving it a vessel to contain it in – a concentrated, juicy distillation of art and music.

For four days, we’ll share space in the most beautiful mountain zone with a river, a pond and shaded flat camping.

HM: I’ve recently noticed that in addition to marketing musical acts, art installations and the like, festivals are also marketing “consciousness” a lot these days. What’s your take on that?

JJ: It’s a huge improvement from marketing many of the things that used to get marketed. Getting people to think about thinking is a good thing. We have the opportunity to make choices about what to do in society and life in general, so we better get together and start talking about what we want to do.

The "conscious festival" is one of the great places to exchange this kind of vision and ideas of what to do into the future.

We are just riding the wave of that creativity and giving it a vessel to contain it in – a concentrated, juicy distillation of art and music.

HS: Now that SB is in its second year at Shadows Ranch, how has the festival atmosphere improved?

JJ: Now, we know how to evolve the layout and the flow of the grounds. We will be doing even more treatment to the site in terms of deco, zones, art installations, lighting, workshop spaces and chill zones. We have also expanded out and cleared out more space in camping and parking areas.

HM: In closing, what’s the best piece of advice you would give to aspiring festival organizers out there?

JJ: Don't do it! [Laughs.] Actually, just follow your heart.

HM: Well, that about does it for us. Thanks again, Jamie. Looking forward to another spectacular year.

JJ: Thanks so much for talking to me and for being conduits of the information out to the universe.

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Sonic Bloom 2012 takes place June 21 to 24 in Georgetown, Colorado and features Tipper, OTT, Bonobo (DJ Set), Emancipator, PANTyRAiD, ESKMO, Random Rab, Zilla, Papadosio, Michal Menert. For more information, including ticket prices check out the festival’s official website.