Having previously held director level roles with Burning Man’s Robot Heart, Further Future Festivalin the United States and Thailand’s Wonderfruit (Asia’s first sustainable music festival), alongside a slew of brands and cultural institutions like Edition, LACMA Art Basel, M+Museum and NetEase, Swamy has spent the last 25 years working with emerging and up-and-coming artists through to three-star Michelin chefs, Grammy and Oscar winners.
Swamy expressed his excitement, stating: ”While we have an incredible melting pot of artists from across Bali, Southeast Asia and the world who will grace one of our many stages in July, Suara is so much more than a music festival.”
“It’s an odyssey through Balinese culture where nature, community and spirituality seamlessly integrate. This is known as ‘Tri Hita Karana’ and this philosophy is the essence of Suara whether we’re talking about food, music, visual and performing arts, wellness, or our family and speaker program.”
“The festival name means ‘voice’ in Indonesian and so our aim is to facilitate a platform for Bali to share its incredibly rich and unique heritage with the world. Coupled with our global entertainment lineup it really is the epitome of ‘East meets West’.”
In tandem with the release of single day tickets, the headline acts for each day of the festival are also announced. American alt-pop talent Neil Frances (Duo set) are slated to headline on the Friday, hypnotic vocalists HVOB (live)and W Hotels Global Music Director and DJ and producer LP Giobbi slotted for the Saturday, and Aussie folk favourites Angus & Julia Stone as the main Suara headline act to close out the festival on the Sunday evening.
The headline acts are complemented by a bespoke roster of the world’s most respected indie artists including Brandt Brauer Frick making their Bali debut, singer/songwriter/producer Youngr, instrumental samplists and bouncy beatmakers Geju, Australian pop siblings Lastlings, GRAMMY-nominees Mansionair, award-winning melodic house and techno producer Rodriguez Jr. (live), Akumandra label founder Sainte Vie (live) alongside regional stars like Ramengvrl, Yung Raja, DJ Wordy, and Jonathan Kusuma.
A host of collectives from across Asia Pacific will also be dialling up the dancefloor with their eclectic showcases taking place from day into night.
Suara Festival Co-Founder and Nuanu Founder Sergey Solonin also shared his enthusiasm for this year’s edition stating, “I am thrilled to welcome everyone to Nuanu as we open our doors for the first time during this year’s Suara Festival. This event symbolises our vision of creating a space where culture, art, and community thrive together. Suara Festival is more than just a celebration; it’s an invitation to experience the harmony and creativity that Nuanu represents.”
Adds Swamy, “This is not for the passive-minded. Rather it is designed to be participatory in every possible way. By bringing so many talented people and purveyors together and with so many lovers of music, culture and art set to join us from all over, we are reshaping the future of the festival experience. I couldn’t think of a better backdrop for it than the Island of the Gods. See you on the dancefloor.”
Nuanu meaning ‘in the process’, embodies a commitment to harmonious living. Its vibrant community of creators, leaders, and changemakers is empowered to foster a culture of positive change. Designed as an integrated ecosystem, the city is spearheading 32 projects and has eight recreational spaces for education, art and culture, wellness, experience, and nature-inspired living, envisioning a future where these elements seamlessly intertwine.
