Most American ravers know little or no concerning the scene within the former Japanese Bloc, apart maybe from Berghain and the festivals in Croatia. Drum & bass denizens would probably find out about Let It Roll out of Prague and perhaps that Czechia is a hub of contemporary neurofunk, however could not understand how huge the scene really is in Czechia and Slovakia. In actual fact, it’s fairly widespread, with the favored creativeness competition, a great deal of golf equipment and a number of the hottest producers popping out of all over the place from Dresden to Russia. Beats for Love, a competition primarily based in Ostrava, Czechia on the Polish border, appears to have been one of the vital ignored by North American punters whereas concurrently turning into one of many greatest festivals on the planet. It’s time mentioned punters take discover.
With competition followers starting work on planning their summers round now, it’s time to search for Beats for Love. Conceived in 2014 by competition director Kamil Rudolf as a technique to deliver huge rave names to Central Europe for affordable costs, B4L’s tenth anniversary is ready for early July, 2024. It’s a full week-long competition set in an previous ironworks with cool, dystopian vibes, in an city and simply accessible space and options big lineups, with 2023’s competition internet hosting almost 500 artists. B4L makes certain they cowl all genres as effectively, that includes everybody from Deadmau5 and Tiësto to A.M.C and the Eatbrain League. There are additionally conference-style boards in the course of the week, daytime carnival actions and a fireworks show on the finish that rivals EDC. It’s no marvel it’s now the most important competition in Central Europe, with almost 1 / 4 of one million guests on the 2023 fest.
Together with her profession born out of the burgeoning Czech and Slovak rave scenes of the late 90s and early 00s, DJ Beaty has turn into a fan favourite each in her hometown of Ostrava and all through Europe. Her high-energy home, techno and drum & bass units are normally a mustn’t miss for these within the know, and he or she dances simply as exhausting as anybody on the ground. Now engaged on her all-female occasion sequence Proppa Rave with childhood bestie and Dnbwear bosslady Mila207, Beaty’s additionally the boots-on-the-ground coordinator and advertising supervisor for Beats for Love. Attending to know her and her constructive vibes can be attending to know B4L, so with the 2024 season approaching, YEDM determined to talk with beaty and get to know them each.
How did you get entangled with music?
I’ve cherished music since my childhood. I bear in mind watching Michael Jackson, Queen, Madonna, and so forth. from the videotapes my father introduced residence from Germany within the 90’s. I used to be into music from the primary heartbeat, I consider, however with digital music I bought into it for the primary time due to my buddy Mila207. Her father launched her to the primary techno celebration at Material – Ostrava. After this expertise. We went to this membership on a regular basis for years, and since then we by no means go to (extra pop-oriented) disco golf equipment anymore. Actually after the primary celebration I knew I needed to be a DJ. I like the connection between crowd and DJ. I began going to DJ college and working towards (on vinyl on the time) and the remaining is historical past!
For the Individuals who’re simply now listening to about it, are you able to give us somewhat historical past on Beats for Love?
Beats for Love is an digital dance music competition held on the coronary heart of the Industrial Nationwide Monument in Ostrava (an precise UNESCO World Heritage Website). It’s surrounded by the ironworks surroundings of the Decrease Vítkovice space, so it’s bought a really completely different vibe. This yr we’ll rejoice the tenth anniversary of the competition and since we’re so well-established now, we’ve been capable of fill it with loads of excellent music on 15+ levels headlining by the most important names everywhere in the world, to not point out a wealthy accompanying program and a great deal of different actions (together with enjoyable for teenagers in the course of the day) for 4 days. This creates a very distinctive environment filled with enjoyable and delight!
What was the thought behind the competition and the way have you ever seen it develop or change over time?
The unique concept was to arrange an occasion in an industrial house and the unique concept was to point out digital music to as many individuals as attainable, which for us meant “lots of music for little cash.” In fact, over time, the competition bought larger, and with that larger names are added, and with that got here a rise in costs, however we’re nonetheless one of many least expensive festivals yr in and yr out by way of the worth/efficiency ratio so we really feel our unique mission nonetheless stands.
How have you ever been capable of get such big expertise to return to the competition annually?
We’re a staff right here at B4L so I feel one of the best individual to reply that is George Ramík, our competition reserving supervisor:
The competition is increasing yr by yr, not solely by way of manufacturing but in addition the composition of this system. Yearly we handle to ebook a greater lineup and that is additionally linked with the truth that the competition needs to develop. To ensure that the competition to be higher, we have to put extra assets into the line-up and we try to deliver individuals a greater program yearly.
I feel the rationale why huge headliners like to return again to us and need to play right here is the distinctive surroundings of the previous manufacturing unit, which isn’t discovered anyplace else on the planet. The principle cause, in my view, is due to our artist care. We go above and past with high-quality artist care and first-class amenities for the entire week. Brokers and managers go to our competition to see what Beats for Love is all about and so they acquired first-class service too, which they drastically respect. I additionally assume it’s our curated picture. Our competition has a face and we hold {our relationships} sturdy. Artists and their brokers already know us from the communication earlier than the competition and these are the identical individuals they are going to meet on the venue. We’re not only a firm, however a staff and a household. The identical individuals have been working collectively on this competition for a very long time, so the artists know precisely who they’re and so they know they will at all times rely on us to handle them and current an awesome competition.
For you personally, how does the competition tie in with your individual music profession?
For me this occasion is at all times the spotlight of the yr, not solely as a result of I work on it the entire yr nevertheless it is without doubt one of the greatest crowds I get to play to. It additionally helps that it’s in my hood, I get to fulfill all my DJ, producer and trade buddies in a single place and I don’t even should journey! I really feel so glad to be concerned with one of the vital necessary rave occasions of the yr.
The place would you wish to see the competition go sooner or later?*
*I requested our head of selling, Mathiass O´Zana, to weigh in on this one:
Our aim is to be on the stage of such giants as Tomorrowland or Glastonbury, that are identified everywhere in the world. Within the meantime, a very powerful factor for us is that the competition nonetheless has so many nice and happy followers, as a result of it isn’t attainable with out them and primarily we’re doing it for them!
How has it been making an attempt to handle the competition in addition to doing your individual gigs?
I´m working for Beats for Love as a advertising supervisor so in the course of the week I’m going to work usually and in the course of the weekends I’m doing exhibits. Generally it’s difficult to be at “work” on a regular basis, however when it’s your ardour and you like what you do, it simply doesn’t really feel like you’re at work.
What’s your favourite a part of touring and taking part in so many gigs?
I like to go to new locations and meet new individuals. I’m doing one or two gigs in the course of the week so it’s fairly tiring typically with the distances to venues are very lengthy. After a weekend filled with gigs I’m actually drained however as I mentioned, I like what I accomplish that it additionally offers me lots of power.
What’s your aim as a musician?
In the meanwhile it’s to proceed what I’m doing and attempt to do my finest as a DJ. My aim this yr is to take my DJ expertise to the subsequent stage, which can brighten up my efficiency so primarily I’m specializing in DJing proper now. Additionally I wish to begin my very own manufacturing however in the meanwhile I’m totally busy with my household, job and tasks so in the meanwhile I’ve bought a fairly full plate.
Any upcoming tasks for you or teasers for subsequent yr’s B4L?
This yr Beats for Love will rejoice our tenth anniversary, so the preparations are in full swing. We’ve got so many upgrades to the completely different areas and visuals to make sure the very best music expertise for our #peopleoflove! Final yr on the competition we began with the brand new venture “Speaking Beats” which is a convention and a gathering of the organizational staff with the individuals on the competition, which was an awesome success. This yr we wish to enhance it, lengthen it to extra days, invite fascinating visitors once more and focus on subjects associated to digital music, psychological well being and different fascinating subjects which can be linked to music and the competition normally.
There are masses extra Beaty units accessible on her YouTube channel. Click on right here to be taught extra concerning the 2024 Beats for Love fest, updates on the lineup and tickets, that are already on sale.
