By Chesney Hearst, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Beginning at 7PM on Saturday, September 6th, the Area Externa (Outside Area) of Marina da Glória will host the Neon Future Festival. Headlined by American DJ Steve Aoki, the festival will also feature some of the biggest names in Brazil’s Electronic Dance Music (EDM) scene including; Felguk, BERNN, Mario Fishetti, Johnny Glövez, Raul Mendes, and Bruce Leroys.
The open-air festival is named for headliner Steve Aoki’s soon-to-be-released second album entitled, Neon Future I. “Neon Future is, in short, a positive outlook on human progress and technology, looking forward to a bright, colorful utopia,” Aoki recently told Billboard when asked about the title.
Embracing technology throughout he over fifteen-year career, the 36-year old Aoki, besides being an electronic musician and DJ, is also music producer who in 1996, created his own label, Dim Mak Records.
Considered to be one of the hardest working DJs in the scene, Aoki is known for his collaborating with artists including Iggy Azalea, will.i.am, LMFAO, Lovefoxxx of Brazilian band Cansei de Ser Sexy (CSS), Lil Jon, Tiesto, and Laidback Luke, among others. Additionally, he has remixed works by Kayne West, All American Rejects, Kid Cudi, Snoop Dogg, The Killers, and Robin Thicke.
Touring extensively around the world, playing venues and festivals, Aoki is also well known for his high energy live set antics, which include throwing cakes and stage diving. Aoki was last stage diving in Rio, during the major EDM industry event, the 2014 Rio Music Conference (RMC), held earlier this year in February and March.
Born in Miami, Florida, U.S. in 1977 and raised in the American state of California, Aoki graduated with two BAs from the University of California. After being a member of several bands and starting Dim Mak Records, Aoki released his first album entitled, Wonderland in 2012.
The album would go on to be nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronica Album the following year. The upcoming album Neon Future I, is expected to be released on September 30th.
Three singles from the album; “Rage the Night Away” featuring Waka Flocka Flame; “Delirious (Boneless)” featuring Kid Ink and “Free The Madness” ft. Machine Gun Kelly, are currently available. The release of Neon Future II is anticipated for some time in early 2015.
Also playing at the festival on Saturday will be, Felguk, the name of the Rio DJing duo of Felipe Lozinsky and Gustavo Rozenthal. The pair began spinning and producing music in 2007 and have since become well known around the city and the world. Together, they have played festivals including Rock in Rio, Tomorrowland and Lollapalooza. They have also toured with artists including Madonna and Benny Benassi.
During the festival, Bernardo Novaes, better known as DJ BERNN, will also spin. BERNN began DJing at age sixteen, inspired by mixes by Brazilian DJs Ricardo Guedes, Memê and Maurício Lopes, among others. “I think the electronic music scene in Rio has really grown in recent years,” said BERNN. “I believe that now, electronic music is the unanimous choice of all of the clubs of the city.”
“The Neon Future Festival is an example of the power and greatness of the EDM,” he added, “since it will be the biggest festival of the year in Rio de Janeiro, with an outstanding lineup.”
Also spinning will be São Paulo DJ Mario Fischetti, Rio DJ Johnny Glövez, Niterói born and Brasília-based DJ Raul Mendes, and the DJing Duo of Diogo Vaille and Marcelo Abreu, better known as Bruce Leroys. VJ Vagalume will provide visuals during the event.
What: Neon Future Festival
When: Saturday, September 6th, 7PM
Where: Area Externa (Outside Area) of Marina da Glória
Entrance: R$85-R$460