A Sanctuary for Technological Creatives
A weekend at FWB Fest, and the kind of connection that’s getting rare.
Just landed back from an unreal weekend hosted by Music Nerd at FWB Fest in Palm Springs. I got to stay in an amazing compound with an inspiring group of artists. It wasn’t a writing camp or a show, it was a creative residency and an opportunity to learn from each other and connect. So many of us have been friends and creatively sparring online for years, so to finally meet in person was so cool (although it didn’t feel like the first time!).
We’re all so different, but we all have music at the core of what we do, and it really is my happy place being in this kind of environment. All the artists and creators are pushing the boundaries of what it means to build a world using music, technology and different mediums. Everyone comes from a different background, different styles, different sounds, but we’re all more connected than ever, because we share so much common ground when it comes to ethos and a hunger to experiment.
I felt compelled to write about this because one of the things Alone Together has got me thinking about is time to share in unstructured ways. Over the last few years so many of my creative connections have become global, and I’ve ended up with as many internet friends as local ones. Maybe more. So to get to be together in the same place, for more than a couple of hours, was such a privilege. It’s so rare that we have the time to go deep with people in real life, to go beyond the catch-up and into the casual, relaxed time that often leads to the most meaningful and most genuine moments. This applies to all our relationships, but creative ones particularly so. To be able to live together and have the time and space to connect over food, or drinks and walks, and not just be expected to constantly create, was a really beautiful thing. The creative work happened naturally, and the conversations flowed.
The tone was set by @cxy and Carl, which, as I’ve discovered with Alone Together, makes so much difference. Everyone walking in is open and ready to share, not feeling any pressure to perform or to be someone they’re not.
In the daytime at the fest, Music Nerd hosted a Sanctuary for Technological Creatives, where we could share work with each other but also invite others in to see what everyone is working on.
We as artists need more of this. We had time to share our work, our stories, the why behind what we do and how we got here. And maybe most importantly, just to hang out in the down time, over breakfast or late at night, and most days for me before the sun came up too. It really was the perfect example of scenius.
Thanks to C.Y. and Carl Tydinco for bringing us all together in a totally unique way that none of us have ever had the chance to experience before. A special thanks to Jade Garcia for all the work organising , planning and go above and beyond that to make everyone feel comfortable and welcome.
and of course all the artists and creators: Blackdave, Forrest Mortifee, TK, Xcelencia, Chris, Tom Kell, Vivid Fever Dreams, Pete Rango, Mary M3, Jonathan Mann, Latasha, Iman
Beautiful <3