We are finally back at the Deep Tropics Music, Art & Style Boutique Festival! We had the honor of covering Deep Tropics last year (really, two years ago!), and are beyond the moon to be back in its fresh, liberating and high-energy ambiance for its third year! The pre-parties have been full-blast, and Day 1 was nothing short of an incredible time. This year french bass music producer Clozee headlined main stage Meru Amphitheater for a fully divine performance, after a stacked day of local and international artists alike. After a morning of inclement weather (which apparently sent the Tranquil Temple blowing away in the wind), the weather held out for the majority of the festivities. Here are some highlights from Deep Tropics Day 1!

LOCAL ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

Last year bass music producer ESCPE, local to the Nashville music scene, headlined the Congo Soundsystem side stage. This year he set the vibe for the entire festival by opening up the main stage. Playing a mostly original set, with cuts by his creative peers sprinkled in, ESCPE showcased his innate ability to blend sounds inspired by nature, hip-hop, and electronic dreamscapes into a music experience that helps you let loose and connect to your own imagination. Our full interview with ESCPE is soon to come! Stay tuned.

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

First things first, I made sure to get my Deep Tropics re-usable cup (I totally forgot to bring mine from last year!) and some Flowater to ensure my hydration for the day. It was simply too hot – almost 100 degrees, mind you – to be walking around without liquids. Flowater is one of the many regenerative businesses Deep Tropics partnered with this year, and they do so much more than just provide water! With a fully recyclable multi-use aluminum bottle, 7x advanced filtrated alkaline water with reverse osmosis, drinking water never felt so good.

Deep Tropics does a great job of introducing me to my new favorite artists. Last year I discovered Channel Tres; this year Sango was the one. Honored with the sunset slot, Sango took everyone into the evening with samba-inspired beats rich with dirty, grimy bass. Not a single body wasn’t moving and grooving; it was way too much fun!

The Queen herself headlined Meru this year for a set that somehow outdid all her previous performances. I’ve been able to catch this goddess live many, many times, and there was something very special about this one at Deep Tropics. She recently released her latest album, Nouvelle Era, so of course there was a flare of new energy from her that elevated the entire experience of listening to her music live. There was so much love and power radiating from her up on that stage; it was definitely one for the books.

I ended the night taking it easy. After my dance therapy intensive with Clozee, I headed over to the vendors to grab some food and relax somewhere. Naughty But Nice supplied the vegan goods and Green Disco provided the hammock hangs for a perfectly enjoyable meal and unwind during Whethan‘s closing set, which included some of my favorite tracks like “When I’m Done” and “Savage.”

AFTER PARTY

Though the party moved indoors for the after party, there still was no escaping the heat. The Back Corner hosted the Luttrell and Qrion after, but the tightness of the venue made for a packed and sweaty night. Haums opened with some mixes of rap and rock. Nashville gave Qrion a warm welcome for her first time playing in Music City. Her set was mixed with a sense of nostalgia in her sad, emotional house music, while simultaneously maintaining a party energy level. Luttrell closed the late night with melodic techno and driving beats, definitely making sure to transfer over the vibes from the day festival.

Check out our Deep Tropics playlist, and stay tuned for Day 2 highlights!

Photos by Elena Lin Photography

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