Mutek Festival 2023: Insects and Environmental Activism Take Center Stage
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Montreal’s 24th Mutek Festival, known for its celebration of digital creativity and electronic music, welcomes a harmonious blend of insects and environmental concerns this year.
Leon Louder, a Montreal artist, has harnessed the ambient sounds of nature’s tiny creatures – mosquitoes, moths, flies, and bees – to craft his project “Entomophonie.” Set to debut at the festival’s outdoor opening show, this unique endeavor has been commissioned by the Insectarium. Louder’s musical tapestry is woven entirely from insect sounds, producing atmospheric dance grooves that are both fascinating and innovative. “The bass lines are mostly bees and moths,” he reveals. The project seeks to mirror human attributes in the insect realm, emphasizing themes of beauty, survival, and mimicry.
Louder’s album “Entomophonie” drops on September 1st, available on streaming platforms and the Insectarium’s website.
But the festival’s environmental ethos doesn’t end with insect symphonies. A number of performances and discussions at Mutek address the climate crisis head-on. American house producer Eli Goldstein, part of the duo Soul Clap and co-founder of DJs for Climate Action, plans to add his voice to the conversation. His collective’s aim is to harness the emotive power of music to raise awareness and inspire action on climate issues.
Their initiatives include Earth Night, a series of worldwide events near Earth Day; the Climate Soundtrack, which showcases music samples from Greenpeace expeditions; and Future Vision, which imagines a more sustainable electronic music industry.
Complementing this, the festival features “Animate,” an immersive experience curated by Chris Salter that fuses virtual reality, augmented reality, and theatre. It offers a vivid exploration of a changing world due to climate crisis. Salter’s intention is to provoke thought and encourage viewers to view the climate challenge from a fresh perspective.
Behind the scenes, Mutek is also amplifying its commitment to sustainability. The festival recently launched its 2023 Eco Guide, emphasizing the responsibility both the festival and its attendees share in combating climate change. Additionally, Mutek plans to donate a portion of its profits to Brian Eno’s EarthPercent, a cause that aids the music industry in backing organizations that tackle the climate crisis.
In sum, the 24th Mutek Festival promises a riveting blend of music, nature, and activism, championing the urgency of environmental consciousness in the modern era.
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