Beyond the multi-genre and highly-curated music programming, this year’s offering includes a stage takeover in partnership with Mandala for club members, their guests, and premium ticket holders, as well as visual and larger-than-life installation art by the likes of renowned South African artist Daniel Popper as well as a variety of traditional Balinese performances, aerialists and fire twirlers will roam the festival grounds. An artisan market featuring merchants from across the island, as well as food vendors peddling flavors from Indonesia and the world will also cater to festivalgoers’ palates and shopping needs. Other elements include a relaxing and enriching wellness program and a family zone with a nanny service run by Jungle Kids. This Nuanu international kindergarten emphasizes learning through play and nature-based experiences. Lastly, an impressive speaker lineup covering topics as varied as the Balinese philosophy of ‘Tri Hita Karana’, impact and innovation will leave festivalgoers feeling inspired and invigorated to carry forward learnings into the world post-festival.
Now in its third year, Suara Festival is the mastermind of Nuanu City Founder and visionary Sergey Solonin and Alexander Shursh who together last year invited Do What You Love creative agency Owner Jason Swamy onboard as Co-Founder, CEO, and Creative Director to catapult the festival onto the world stage. With a wealth of global experience shaping the fabric of the cultural zeitgeist from the depths of the desert in Nevada to the beachside tropics of Thailand and many more places in between, Swamy is credited with helping birth the ‘deep house’ genre. Having previously held director-level roles with Burning Man’s Robot Heart, Further Future Festival in the United States, and Thailand’s Wonderfruit (Asia’s first sustainable music festival), alongside a slew of brands and cultural institutions like Edition, LACMA Art Basel, M+Museum and NetEase, Swamy has spent the last 25 years working with emerging and up-and-coming artists through to three-star Michelin chefs, Grammy and Oscar winners.
Swamy expressed his excitement, stating: ”While we have an incredible melting pot of artists from across Bali, Southeast Asia, and the world who will grace one of our many stages in July, Suara is so much more than a music festival. It’s an odyssey through Balinese culture where nature, community, and spirituality seamlessly integrate. This is known as ‘Tri Hita Karana’ and this philosophy is the essence of Suara whether we’re talking about food, music, visual and performing arts, wellness, or our family and speaker program.”
“The festival name means ‘voice’ in Indonesian and so we aim to facilitate a platform for Bali to share its incredibly rich and unique heritage with the world. Coupled with our global entertainment lineup it is the epitome of ‘East meets West’.”
In tandem with the release of single-day tickets, the headline acts for each day of the festival are also announced. American alt-pop talent Neil Frances (Duo set) is slated to headline on Friday, hypnotic vocalists HVOB (live) and W Hotels Global Music Director and DJ and producer LP Giobbi slotted for the Saturday and Aussie folk favorites Angus & Julia Stone as the main Suara headline act to close out the festival on the Sunday evening. The headline acts are complemented by a bespoke roster of the world’s most respected indie artists including Brandt Brauer Frick making their Bali debut, singer/songwriter/producer Youngr, instrumental samplists, and bouncy beatmakers Geju, Australian pop siblings Lastlings, GRAMMY-nominees Mansionair, award-winning melodic house and techno producer Rodriguez Jr. (live), Akumandra label founder Sainte Vie (live) alongside regional stars like Ramengvrl, Yung Raja, DJ Wordy, and Jonathan Kusuma. A host of collectives from across the Asia Pacific will also be dialing up the dancefloor with their eclectic showcases taking place from day into night.
Nuanu meaning ‘in the process’, embodies a commitment to harmonious living. Its vibrant community of creators, leaders, and changemakers is empowered to foster a culture of positive change. Designed as an integrated ecosystem, the city is spearheading 32 projects and has eight recreational spaces for education, art and culture, wellness, experience, and nature-inspired living, envisioning a future where these elements seamlessly intertwine.
To purchase tickets and learn more about Suara Festival, visit suarafestival.com.
