The legendary Sunwaves Festival, known for its unparalleled underground electronic music experience, is making a splash in a new location: the stunning beaches of Roquetas de Mar, (Almería, Spain).
From its humble beginnings in Romania to becoming a globally recognized festival, Sunwaves continues to captivate music lovers with its unique atmosphere and world-class lineup, featuring top-tier selectors like Joseph Capriati, Ricardo Villalobos, and Seth Troxler. We sat down with the minds behind this iconic event to discuss its origins, artist curation, and the exciting new chapter in the South of Spain. Dive into this exclusive interview to uncover the heart of Sunwaves Festival.
Sunwaves has become a landmark in the electronic music scene, but every great event has humble beginnings. Could you share with us the story of how Sunwaves was born? What inspired you to create this festival, and how did it evolve into the iconic event it is today?
The festival started in 2007 with a single stage in the coastal town of Mamaia, Romania. It was planned as a two-edition-per-year festival, focusing on Romanian artists—which had never been done before—and international acts that would have a place where their creativity could be appreciated. It came as a counteroffer to the bigger festivals that focused on lights, fireworks, and corporate sponsorships that took over the scene. Our sole purpose was to gather a community, have high-quality sound systems, and integrate the visual part with video mapping to enhance the audience’s experience.
Organizing a festival of this magnitude year after year is no small feat. What drives you to keep putting in the effort to make Sunwaves happen? What is it about electronic music, particularly the genres of Romanian house and minimal house, that fuels your passion?
As mentioned, the festival was designed to showcase two editions per year—one centered around Labor Day and another at the end of summer. Over the years, the festival grew organically; the stages multiplied, the schedule became non-stop, and keeping the authentic spirit became more important than the physical aspects of organizing.
Because the entire team comes from a background of loving music, things went smoothly—from the two partners that make Sunwaves, Kristal Club, a landmark club in Bucharest with international guest DJs playing since 2003, and Sunrise Booking Agency, which organized events at Kristal Club and other venues across Romania, highlighting the Romanian sound in an age where progressive, techno, and trance music were the norm. It’s simply a project of love and respect for the scene.
“It’s simply a project of love and respect for the scene.” Sunwaves Festival for Night Mag (2024)
Sunwaves is renowned for its stellar lineup, featuring some of the most respected names in underground electronic music. How do you go about selecting the artists who perform each year? Can you walk us through your curation process and the criteria you use to ensure the festival maintains its unique musical identity?
The two partners focus on their respective stages and propose acts for each edition, but as a team, we work together on booking, consulting each other, and suggesting names for the entire festival. It’s always a brainstorming process that brings names to the table—names we agree on, names we discuss, and ideas that come up in an open and friendly environment.
This year marks a significant milestone as Sunwaves is hosted in Roquetas de Mar, Almería, Spain, for the first time. What led you to choose this location, and what can festival-goers expect from this new chapter? How does this setting complement the festival’s ethos and vibe?
This is our third international edition, and our audience is, in its vast majority, international as well. After venturing into Zanzibar and Ras Al-Khaimah, we returned to our continent, to a place that Romanians are very familiar with. Each edition outside Romania brings the same experience, mixed with the local culture. From the design of the stages to the festival setup, we like to integrate elements from each place we hold the festival, and we’re looking forward to revealing the design of this edition.
“It’s better to take a leap of faith than to stay stagnant. That’s what has defined us for over 17 years.” Sunwaves Festival for Night Mag (2024)
As Sunwaves continues to grow and evolve, what are your aspirations for the festival’s future? Are there any new directions or innovations you’re excited to explore in the coming years, especially as you expand into new locations like Roquetas de Mar?
The goal is to nurture our community, as that’s what’s important to us. Our expansion plans will be revealed in the future, but there’s a guarantee that the festival will be held in Romania and Roquetas de Mar next year. Of course, we consider the risks and the effort of moving forward with two editions in two different countries, but we’re familiar with this process, and it’s better to take a leap of faith than to stay stagnant. That’s what has defined us for over 17 years.