Festival Insider Podcast

Hey insiders! In this episode, we're joined by Stu Hackley and John Curley, two industry veterans and partners of Arc Music Festival. We discuss how they plan to merge the origins of house music culture in Chicago with rising international talent and a community that's growing by the minute. Stu and John chat about how the lineup came together, what fans can expect to see at the event and where they think house music is headed in the future! 

Elena Cruz is one of the most recognizable faces of the shuffling & shapes community. Her hard work ethic and positive outlook on life have helped her turn her passion for dancing into a full blown career online. In this episode, Elena shares her thoughts on the growth of the shuffling & shapes world, gives tips for beginners and talks about how her life has changed since sharing her journey online!

Hey Insiders! In this episode, we're joined by the talented singer-songwriter and DJ Anabel Englund. Anabel has become one of the most recognized voices in the dance music industry. With a stacked lineup of collaborations with artists like MK, Lee Foss, Dombresky and Jamie Jones, two #1 US Dance Airplay hits and her Messing With Magic Deluxe album release, Anabel is becoming a household name for fans of house music.

Hey Insiders! In this episode, we're back with a very special guest...the one, the only...Disco Donnie! James "Disco Donnie" Estopinal, Jr. is the CEO and founder of Disco Donnie Presents, a premiere dance music event production company that's been in business since 1994. Donnie is credited as being one of the godfather's of the dance music industry. Today we learn more about Donnie's evolution as a promoter, how he navigated through a bankruptcy and new ownership (in 2020 Estopinal bought back his company) and what the experience is like producing events now in a post-pandemic world!

In this episode, hosts Michael Julian and Emma Kapotes discuss the current state of house music in North America and what artists, labels, brands and music festivals are paving the way for the future. They also share what trends they're seeing in the genre and how they envision things progressing in the next few years.

Hey insiders! In this episode, French house producer Dombresky talks breaking into the American market and his secrets to making timeless house music. With early support from fellow French artists like Tchami and DJ Snake, Dombresky quickly became a must see act for dance music fans. Today we chat with him about American festival culture, his dream back to back sets and his thoughts on live streaming vs. live events. It's clear in the longevity of his career that Dombresky's uplifting, infectious tracks can stand the test of time! 

Hey insiders! In this episode, we're joined by the iconic two-time Grammy nominated electronic duo, live-streaming sensations and passionate activists SOFI TUKKER. For the past year, Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern committed to playing virtual shows every day which led them to recently hit a milestone of 365 streams in total.

Today we chat with them about what they learned throughout this process and how their hit single "House Arrest" with Gorgon City came about during this time as well. We also discuss their friendship with fellow artist LP GIOBBI and what their future live shows will look like!

Hey insiders! In this episode, we're joined by one of the industry's leading creative talents Jeroen Jansen. Jeroen has helped create some of the world's most successful dance music events and experiences including Tiesto's first world tour, Tomorrowland, Mysteryland and Sensation to name a few. His Iatest endeavor 'Our House,' the world's first electronic music museum launching in Amsterdam this summer, will allow fans to explore the history of house music through an interactive experience. Today Jeroen takes us through his career in entertainment and shares why this new project is a can't miss for fans!

Hey insiders! In this episode, we're joined by Scott Dennison, a domestic and international risk professional who specializes in communication and strategic planning. Today Scott shares with us the in depth planning that goes into making sure large scale events are safe for attendees. We discuss weather contingency planning, medical staffing, security risks, international travel and new COVID-19 safety measures that may go into effect. Lastly, Scott also gives tips that festival attendees can use to protect themselves and their rights at events!

Hey insiders! In this episode, we're joined by Sam Distaso, the VP Business Development at Sansar, a new destination for virtual live events and entertainment. We discuss why festival producers, artists and fans alike should all be taking advantage of the endless opportunities that come with planning and attending virtual live events. Sam discusses some of the amazing capabilities that Sansar offers on their platform and shares examples of virtual experiences that they've created for the electronic music community. VR presents an incredible opportunity for this industry to reach and connect people all over the world!  

Hey Insiders! In this episode, Elements Music & Arts Festival co-founders Timothy Monkiewicz and Brett Herman tell us how they went from throwing parties in Brooklyn to launching a unique camping festival experience that unites dance music lovers.  We also discuss how they've been able to safely throw events during a pandemic with new safety measures and a two-step COVID testing system. Timothy & Brett also share what makes the Elements Festival lineup and experience so special and we get their best tips & advice on how to prepare for a camping music festival!

Hey Insiders! In this episode, you'll hear the rich history of how one family spanning across 6 generations pioneered the dance music scene in Spain with clubs and events like Florida, Monegros Desert Festival, Row14 and elrow. Our guest Juan Arnau Jr., the CEO and founder of the outrageous and magical party that is elrow, shares with us his family's journey in entertaining the people of Spain. Their philosophy has always been to do everything with passion, to make sure people are having a great time and to always stay close to their customer.

Hey insiders! In this episode, we're joined by the piano house queen herself LP Giobbi. Whether it's her infectiously positive attitude that wins you over or one of her catchy house tracks that have earned the attention of Insomniac Records, Diplo's Revolution and events like Coachella, Elements Lakewood, Burning Man, SnowGlobe and more, LP Giobbi is on her way to becoming a household name. Her career started to take off after touring with SOFI TUKKER and she's since gone on to wow audiences with her high energy sets that mix groovy house beats and classic instruments. Not only is she an incredible producer, but she's also a feminist, entrepreneur and label owner here to make her own unique mark on the industry. You can check out her FEMME HOUSE RADIO stream on Diplo's Revolution Saturday's at 9pm ET. 

Hey Insiders! In this episode, MJ and Emma discuss how music festivals can utilize influencers to market their events and reach new audiences. They also chat about why it's important for influencers to remain authentic to themselves and share their honest opinions on their experiences.

Hey Insiders! In this episode, we're joined by Rutger Jansen, the Senior Vice President Production and Operations at Insomniac Events, who's career in live event production spans over 25 years. Rutger is the man behind some of the most unique and memorable productions in the dance music industry. Today Rutger shares how he grew his career and gives us a behind the scenes look at some of the more challenging operations he's worked on. He also gives some advice for anyone who aspires to work on the production side of the festival industry. 

Hey Insiders! Welcome to the first episode of Festival Insider Podcast - a podcast for insiders, by insiders. Meet your hosts Michael Julian (MJ) and Emma Kapotes and get an inside look at what's to come with this podcast. Stick around until the end to hear who our first big guest is!