In New York City, concert culture has become dominated by societal expectations; the moment anything happens, everyone pulls out their phones, sometimes refusing to dance out of fear of being an outcast or looking out of place. I often find myself following the crowd blindly as people record memories they can only experience through a screen. At times, I feel fewer and fewer people want to capture the moment in its entirety, making this festival a breath of fresh air.
Primavera Sound is an annual three-day festival held in June at Parc del Fòrum in Barcelona, Spain. During Primavera, I was constantly torn between capturing the perfect moment through the camera and fully enjoying it with the people around me.
As artists make their way to New York City, where they’re usually seen only at festivals, we’re beginning to see a shift in the atmosphere concerts create. These new audiences begin to reflect a growing festival and rave culture. People want to come together and enjoy the artists while respecting everyone around them, much like what I experienced while at this festival. There’s no expectation to “look cool” but an obligation to understand one another. With the rise of festivals such as Governor’s Ball and Zedd in the Park, along with raves at clubs like Pacha, New York City’s music scene has increasingly reflected a sense of community and belonging. Though held across the Atlantic, Primavera Sound reflected many of the same cultural shifts taking place in New York City. As I navigated the crowd in Barcelona, I watched people walk into the audience to enjoy each other’s company in an environment that felt completely free of judgment and the pressures of everyday life. Barcelona felt full of love and recognition of what they had right then and there. I found myself thinking,
‘How have I never heard of this festival?’
The music throughout the festival became a universal language, bringing people together despite their differences. I met so many new people from different places in the world, who all gathered for the love of music and community. I believe these photographs capture that shared love and appreciation for the art and the moment. By taking away names, and stage locations, you are invited to look past the need to get the right video or picture for social media. Instead you can focus instead on the people, the energy, the environment, and the pure beauty of moments lived entirely in the present representing every age, culture, and walk of life. This collection stands as a visual testament to a space where everyone, from everywhere, belongs.
Step into the journey.
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