Yonderville Music Festival Founder Dives Deep on Lineup, Sound Production & Plans for the Future [Q&A]

Yonderville Music Festival Founder Dives Deep on Lineup, Sound Production & Plans for the Future [Q&A]

by | Jun 8, 2022 | Exclusive

Are you looking to transport your mind, body and soul beyond the confines of the ordinary life style? The solution you seek lies within the foothills of the Blue Ridge Montains. Here you will discover a portal that leads you to West Virgina’s most premiere music & arts festival experience , Yonderville. After having a few past succesful runs of the festival project , the crew has united once again to showcase some of the scenes hottest and best electronic bass acts that will help further elevate the experience set forth from previous line ups.

“We deploy the worlds most advanced point source sound systems as well as the industries most efficient, deep, loud and impactful subwoofers to create an experience that is second to none.” -Yonderville

This years line up is every basshead’s wildest dream lined up perfectly into four days of absolute madness. Leading the charge as this years main headliner is WAKAAN‘s own founder , Liquid Stranger. Followed by the likes of other popular bass acts such as Truth , Yheti , Esseks , Wreckno , Of The Trees  and more ! If you’re a big fan of the underground like us , there are PLENTY of those fast rising producers that you’re not gonna want to miss. Some honorable mentions we reccomend includes Kirby Bright , Kozmic ,Smokestax ,Ujuu, Engix, Humorme and more. Now it’s time to take a deeper dive into what makes this festival quite the dream experience for any event attendee by getting to know how it’s all done and coordinated thanks to the founder of Yonderville , Max Stone.

DIVING DEEP W/ MAX STONE

First off, hello and thanks for chatting with Headbang Society. First off, could you start by introducing yourself and your involvement with Yonderville?
 
Hello, and thank you for having me. My name is Max Stone, Yonderville’s Founder.
 
Where did the idea of Yonderville originate from? What’s the vision for this festival?
 
The name Yonderville originated while on the way home from an outdoor rave in Baltimore. My friends Taylor and Matt were headed back out to the countryside and thinking about throwing their own event. Matt said “it might be hard to get them to drive all the way down Yonder” and my other friend Taylor said “We’d call it Yonderville”. 
 
Then, in 2017, I was given an opportunity to start a music festival after losing a close friend, Bobby Satre. Bobby and I connected through music and became close friends while playing shows and DJing. After Bobby passed, his mother started a non-profit called CAYA, Come As You Are. At one of CAYA’s 5k runs where I volunteered to play music, I was introduced to the venue’s Management and talks of a festival began.
 
I struggled to come up with a name for the festival and was considering “Camp Wilderness.” After speaking with his friend Taylor, who was also a friend of Bobby, about what he had come up with Taylor suggested “Yonderville.” I personally dedicate Yonderville to Bobby and credits him for inspiring and motivating It’s creation. 
What kind of experience/background does the Yonderville team bring to the table / how is this team uniquely experienced to curate and produce this type of underground event?
 
Everyone involved with booking and curation has experience with this type of music. We work with many different people from within the industry which gives us lots of varying perspectives.
 
Austin Trout is our lead talent buyer this year and hosts events in NYC and beyond w/ Sermon. Wade Appleton and Hunter Guire are two of our support talent buyers who help us keep an eye on the hottest up and coming underground producers in the game. Wade has his Dice Man Project as well as Dub Day which is a national events brand. Hunter Guire curates and hosts events in the Morgantown / Pittsburgh regions with his Appalachian Sound Culture organization.
 
Yonderville also works with many different collectives and labels both regional and national. Artists from Aspire Higher and The Gradient Perspective for example are staples in Yonderville lineups. Ryan Karolyi being with AH and Jared Oppenhiem with TGP. 
What stands out about the festivals venue, Marvin’s Mountaintop? Why was this chosen as the host site?
 
Marvin’s Mountaintop stands out because of It’s rich history as well as It’s incredible landscape. The Hilltop VIP Area and the Hilltop RV Camping are both amazing spots to chill out and experience live music. It really is an amazing vantage point. You can see the entire venue, distant mountains and the sun set perfectly behind them. We also like Marvin’s because It’s off the beaten path a bit. It takes a little effort to get there. It kinda makes you appreciate life a little more. If it was just another exit off of a major interstate then it wouldn’t feel like as much of a journey. After returning from 3-4 days onsite I feel like I’ve grown, learned something about myself and are more confident in my own skin. 
Addressing the concerns about local authorities intruding on 2021’s Resonance festival, hosted at the same site, why will Yonderville 2022 be different and what has the team done to address these issues?
 
Yonderville is a boutique festival experience with quality over quantity in mind. By keeping attendance to a more manageable size, we avoid a lot of the problems and headaches festivals experience when growing beyond 5k-10k. Being boutique means we make less of an impact on the local community, use fewer limited resources and put less pressure on the local government to perform. We’ve also spent the last 2 years at Marvin’s showing the local community we’re here for the long haul and really do care what sort of impact we make. This has been achieved through transparency and straightforwardness in regards to attendance figures and long term goals. In 2022 we’re also working with more WV local businesses, vendors and artists than all previous years combined. We believe whenever possible you should support local and nurture those relationships. 
2022 marks the 5th festival in Yonderville’s history. How does this year’s lineup and production celebrate those milestones?
 
In 2020 we planned to expand the experience but because of Covid, those plans had to be put on hold. 2021 was about bringing the team back together after an extended period of absence so this year we’re taking Yonderville to a whole new level. This will be our biggest production to date and will feature more of our favorite artists than ever before. 
 
We’ve elevated “the Monolith” Mainstage production to include incredible Danley Sound from The Sound Live LLC. This will feature the extremely rare Danley Sound Labs BC218s which defy all logic. These subwoofers are directional without the need for a cardioid configuration or the use of an additional speaker. When deployed each pair of BC218s is 10’ long and 5’ tall and resemble a cat eye. These have significant response all the way down to 22hz and sound amazing. “The Monolith” Mainstage will also feature stunning visuals courtesy of Guerrilla Productions. We’ve worked closely with their team and have a deployment that will surely impress even the most seasoned live music fan. Lights, lasers, video wall and stage decor will culminate into an incredible experience you won’t soon forget. 
Rumor has it the 2022 event will feature a never before used sound setup. What can you tell us about that?
 
That’s right. The Sound Live LLC recently acquired the countries largest touring Danley Sound Labs inventory including 8 of the Monstrous BC218s. Like we described earlier, these are some of the rarest touring subwoofers on the market and are designed to be directional. Danley refers to this as their “Boundary Coupled” or BC Series Design. This helps keep unwanted energy off the back of the cabinet and more where you need it – out front. They have significant output down to 22hz and produce an insane amount of energy per cabinet. For example 8 BC218s are equal to approximately 32+ single 18” folded horn cabinets. With tremendous output and no need for a cardioid deployment these make for a relatively quick and easy setup for massive crowds. These are especially good for venues with neighbors close by, when directivity really counts. One of the best attributes about the BCs are the drivers. They use 18s so the kicks are real punchy. The massive cabinet volume and proprietary design help with low end extension. Essentially you have the best of both worlds. 
What is Yonderville most excited for about its 2022 lineup?
 
Thats a tough question, It’s all fire. The DDD Showcase on Sunday w/ the likes of Isded, Coltcuts, Mesck, Hypho, Distinct Motive & Truth leading into a set by Liquid Stranger cannot be ignored.
Friday and Saturday have incredible blocks of sound including sets from Lab Group, Of The Trees, Yheti, Esseks, kLL sMTH and Wreckno. We’re particularly excited for the legend that is Joe Nice to close out the Temple Stage on the last night. Joe closed the festival out in our inaugural year 2017 so we’re coming full circle with this one. 
 
Abelation, Black Carl!, Bricksquash, Jason Leech, OAKK, ONHell, Secret Recipe, Templo, Tsimba, Canvas, Chmura and UJUU all have debut sets this year so we’re pumped for those. Seeing Tiedye Ky return along w/ a set from 5AM + Trio always makes us happy. The Thursday preparty w/ the Undergrowth feat: Kirby Bright, Zeplinn, Cutrugs and Makak is definitely worth checking out as well.
What our Yonderville’s goals for 2022 and beyond?
This year the goal is to scale the festival and provide an incredible experience. We have lots of ideas and things we’d love to accomplish with the festival so growing the attendance is an important part. It’s always been our mission to inspire and make a positive impact beyond a great experience so starting initiatives like the one Excision recently launched is on our list of things to do. Non-profits such as Hungry for Live music, which helps to put musical instruments in the hands of underprivileged children, also inspire us to one day be able to give the gift of music. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE YONDERVILLE INFO & TICKETS

Inside The Minds Of Dreamscape Festival [Q&A]

Inside The Minds Of Dreamscape Festival [Q&A]

by | May 18, 2022 | Exclusive

If you’re looking to submit your mind within a world where electronic music meets imagination , then we have found the perfect solution just for you. Dreamscape Festival is one of Maryland’s must see gem destinations within the Darlington region. It’s being hosted at Camp Ramblewood, one of the states most premiere event venues consisted of obstacle courses , a lake , swing sets , pool parties and plenty of shaded areas for camping. Can we take a second to just appreciate what a beautiful job was done curating such a beautiful lineup that encompasses every bassheads dream for festival acts. Leading the march is Rusko and G Jones for the main closing acts of each day,  accompanied by other strong hold houses such as Ternion Sound, Minnesota, Vampa, Illanthropy and others. If you’re looking to dive deep into some of the bass scenes fastest rising underground acts , then you might as well be in heaven. Let’s take a deeper dive into the minds of festival directors Nicole Tossas and John Normal, individuals who have thankfully given us this opportunity and are working day in and day out to ensure a successful Dreamscape 2022 for all attendees.

“There has been a lot of hype on social media this week and we’re noticing a lot of newcomers to our brand which is very exciting and we expect a lot of positive energy and excitement. The weather is going to be be absolutely amazing and perfect for our daily pool parties. We really expect that this will be a fantastic return for Dreamscape!”

DIVING DEEP W/ NICOLE TOSSAS AND JOHN NORMAL

What is the mission behind the curation of this years Dreamscape festival?

–

The original 3 years of Dreamscape Festival focused on making sure every genre had a fair amount of representation. That type of curation can be difficult these days for a midsized festival and a lot has changed in the last 5 years. We decided to carefully curate around what we felt was a defining theme for the rebirth of Dreamscape, with a focus amazing artists that do not regularly play in local markets.

Given this years main acts are Rusko and G Jones, what was the thought process for selecting these two individuals to headline such a festival?
–

Both artists have made such a massive imprint in bass music while simultaneously producing music on different parts of a wide bass music spectrum. 
–
We understand yourself and your team may be very preoccupied ensuring the success of the event with day to day operations , but if you could relax and catch 3 sets which ones would they be and why?
–
It’s hard to say because we booked a lot of artists who we feel represent the vibe of what we are going for. Each stage has people who are producing absolutely brilliant tracks that we feel need to be heard.
–
What do you wish to accomplish by the end of the event and can we expect any other future plans along the line already in the works?
–
Dreamscape was originally one of the first events in the area to provide a fully immersive experience.. We love to put together a good lineup that tells a story from the time a stage starts the whole way to the end. However in addition to great music, we aim to bring interaction and connections that go beyond music from activities, workshops, and experiences. 
–
Our goal is to build on the framework of this year and into future years.

FOR DREAMSCAPE TICKETS & FURTHER INFO PLEASE CLICK HERE

ESSEKS Goes Above & Beyond w/ New Heater “Judgemental”

ESSEKS Goes Above & Beyond w/ New Heater “Judgemental”

by | May 12, 2022 | PREMIERE

Brooklyn-Based producer and frequency bender of the dark arts, ESSEKS , is here to further solidify himself as one of the bass scenes finest not only auditory artists but visually as well. He continues his mission with today’s premiere of ‘JudgEmental’ , the second to last single off his upcoming mind warping project “The Uncertain Future” EP. This 4 track soundscape is not for your average basshead as it embodies all that is deep , dark and immersive. If you’ve been in search of music that can reach the innermost part of your body and soul , you’ve come to the right place. This is only a taste of what’s to come before madness is bestowed upon Red Rocks on May 29th, a location where Esseks will be performing at showcasing the full display of his capabilities via his new ep. It’s time to take deeper dive as to what makes this premiere such a great listen and why we like to call it , a certified bop

“These songs were written during a time in my life where a lot was changing and it was causing me a lot of stress and anxiety. I chose to make my own kind of tarot cards for the art because to me they represent the anxious need to try and predict or control the future.”

UPCOMING TOUR DATES

5/21 – Red Rocks – Morrison, CO

6/30 – 7/3 – Yonderville Music & Arts Festival 

7/23 – Beyond The Void Festival 

8/19 – 8/22 – Elements Music & Arts Festival 

9/3-4 – ILLFest

9/15-18 – Imagine Music Festival

CLICK HERE TO PRE-SAVE JUDGEMENTAL

THRASHA Brings The “Endgame” w/ New Club Stomper

THRASHA Brings The “Endgame” w/ New Club Stomper

by | Mar 18, 2022 | PREMIERE

Step aside everyone.  Thrasha,  Boston–native , has finally surfaced from the depths of her studio to make her mark on the ever growing dubstep scene. Today she makes her debut with a new single titled “ENDGAME” , a thriller of a heavy club stomper bound to leave every show attendee with a jolt of energy and defiance. If you’ve been in search of that new new that leaves you with no option but to play it endlessly on repeat, then we have some good news for you. THRASHA delivered on all levels of the auditory spectrum with this bass rush experience of a tune. Let’s take dive as to what makes this song what we like to call, a certified bop.

DIVING DEEP W/ THRASHA

1. What is the origin behind your project alias?
–

I wanted to come up with a brand or concept that represented the way that bass music made me feel whenever I was listening to or experiencing it live. I could never put my finger on what it was about those frequencies that made it nearly impossible for my body not to react to it. Bass music has its own unique energy that is truly unmatched and it has the ability to physically control me more than any other genre of music.

THRASHA represents that uncontrollable urge to throw limbs in every direction and let the music truly take over. 

It’s the feeling you get when the bass rips through your entire body and you can’t help but react in the most extreme ways possible. Taking that energy that builds inside you and releasing it into the world is what this project is all about. I want to share this feeling with everyone who comes to my shows and I want to know they are experiencing that special feeling.

–
2. What has been one artist experience that has been the most memorable and why?
–
Although it’s difficult to choose just one, there are two artist experiences that stick out in my mind the most; when I met NGHTMRE for the first time in 2018 and when I opened up for Mersiv at the Aggie Theater in May of 2021.
NGHTMRE‘s project and musical journey played a key role in me realizing that I wanted to do this as a career for the rest of my life.
–
In 2018, I got to meet him for the first time, one-on-one, backstage at the Portal Tour at the Intersection; it was a surreal experience because I was meeting the person who pushed me to become the artist and DJ that I am today. He gave me an immense amount of career advice which helped solidify some choices at the time that I was unsure of pursuing, such as music production school.
–
The other moment was when I was given the opportunity to open for Mersiv at the Aggie Theater last May. At the time I had only played one show under my previous alias, so to be able to play my first show as THRASHA with Mersiv was something I could’ve only ever dreamed of. Being able to debut this project with one of my music heroes was such a blessing but what really made this memorable was that this crowd didn’t know who I was and yet they all showed up early and raged so hard the entire set. It was one of those moments in my journey where I knew if I kept putting work into my project, the possibilities were endless.

Xavage Comes Out “Knockin” Via Circus Records

Xavage Comes Out “Knockin” Via Circus Records

by | Mar 8, 2022 | PREMIERE

In today’s electronic scene, there is never a shortage of talented artists looking to be the next big thing in the bass music community. One of these standout artist straight out of Southern California, XAVAGE, is an individual who continues to take things to new levels and showcase some absolute bangers. That is exactly what we can see in today’s premiere “Knockin’” off his upcoming Circus Records EP. This track carries that heavy dubstep feel XAVAGE is known for while also switching up the auditory landscape into something new and exciting with each drop. This one definitely will leave listeners wanting more and pressing that replay button over and over. Let’s dive deeper and see what makes this heater what we like to call, a certified bop.

“I released my first EP with Circus Records in 2020 and we have kept a close relationship ever since. As we approached 2022 it only made sense to release my sophomore EP with them. I’m honored to have Circus Records give me a platform to showcase my bouncy trap music even though historically the label is known for bass music. They truly believe in me.”

DIVING DEEP W/ XAVAGE

1. What would you tell your younger self today knowing where you’re at now and what it took to get there?
–
I’d pour myself a glass of scotch and tell young XAVAGE enjoy what you do and do what you enjoy. Everything else is just noise.. Ohhh and invest in Bitcoin.
But really though, in the modern music era full of “noise” including trends and viralness it can be easy to stray away from what inspired you when you first got into music. Stay true to yourself. I’d then finish by quoting the beginning of Drake – Pound Cake:
–
 “Only real music is going to last. All that other bullshit it here today and gone tomorrow”
–
2. If there was an artist you had the chance to collaborate with, who would it be and why?
–
Tyler, The Creator. Why? While the modern era of “Flower Boy” is pretty I need to get Tyler back to his roots of Goblin and Bastard. I would love to produce some dark beats for him. Also, Tyler is one of the most forward thinking artists and I would love to get the opportunity to collaborate with someone as creative as him.

Click here to stream on all platforms