Ecuador is not a place to pop into one’s mind when thinking of big electronic music festivals. However, Juan Pablo Valencia is changing this notion by bringing to Ecuador the biggest electronic music festival the country has witnessed, The Secret Garden.
Video Cred: Samuel Leon
This past Saturday, The Knockturnal had the chance to attend to the preview/press party to what will be the greatest EDM festival in Ecuador. The event took place in a wonderful hotel up in the mountain called Rumiloma. Surrounded by trees, flowers, and beautiful decorations, guests were emerged in what truly felt like a secret garden. Juan Pablo Valencia also took this opportunity to invite some talented up and coming local DJs such as Barbé, Jota Barba, and DJ Jau, whom carried the good vibes and enabled the audience to let themselves go freely. Mingling, enjoying some tasty cocktails, and dancing the night out, guests were able to get a tiny taste of what this festival will bring.
Juan Pablo Valencia & Paula Espinoza (Photo Cred: Samuel Leon)
I got a chance to sit down and chat with Juan Pablo about his visions and inspirations for the festival. It is often times we interview DJs and talk about their music, but very rare it is that we sit down with the organizers and find out what goes on behind the scenes of these festivals.
What was your motivation to begin organizing EDM festivals?
I started to play guitar when I was younger, I am a musician. I wanted to be an artist but I never actually made myself develop as an artist. I told myself I had to be in the music industry, I just didn’t exactly know how back then. Life began to guide me through a path that led me into the industry. I started managing artists and doing EDM parties. At first, it was a hobby that little by little grew into a job. I worked with David Guetta for the first time 15 years ago, when he wasn’t as big. The people I surrounded myself with grew as the industry grew, and that is how all of this came to be.
Based on what do you choose the artists for The Secret Garden?
I travel a lot internationally. I always go to Ultra, Tomorrowland, and just about the biggest EDM festivals of the world. Thanks to this I have gained a good knowledge of which artists work. Ecuador is a small market so, what is working on the outside is bound to work on the inside.
What do you think is missing in Ecuador when it comes to the EDM world?
A lot! With Secret Garden, we are hoping to share knowledge on what an electronic music festival entails. A lot of people don’t know what actually occurs behind the scenes. Many think it’s just a matter of bringing three artists, charge a cheap entry, do a simple job. There are some artists that even if you want to pay them a good amount, they don’t want to come to Ecuador because it doesn’t interest them. We have to use many influences, work, and connections to be able to bring these artists to the country. Sometimes people don’t value this and also are not aware of how much an artist costs. A ticket can be expensive but that’s because you’re bringing the best talent with 2 stages. It’s not just another event, it’s an event that costs maybe three times more than a normal event.
Around how long does it take to plan an event of such magnitude?
We start planning 6 months prior. That’s counting post-production, everything that has to do with the engineering and technical side, artists, etc. The last two months we start sharing everything with the public.
Based on The Secret Garden in Quito, what would you like to improve for this upcoming festival?
So much. The first festival is a learning experience, 100%. We are still in diapers. We are learning so much. Guayaquil is going to have much better stages, infrastructures, decorations, we also have a bigger team (around 50 people working on the festival).
What’s the special touch The Secret Garden brings compared to other EDM festivals?
It is focused on nature. It’s focused on the people and them living an experience of decoration, comfort, a feeling of freedom, a complete experience.
What has been the most gratifying experience for you thus far being involved in the EDM world?
I’ve met a lot of people throughout these 15 years. The biggest experience was two years ago, when I traveled to Europe. I was in Tomorrowland, Ibiza, Pacha, all the biggest and iconic clubs of electronic music. I met up with all of the DJs whom I’ve worked with for the last 15 years, like David Guetta, Afrojack, Hardwell, and all treated me so well. I realized it’s a community of friends where I have cultivated fruits. I’m the guy who does some events and festivals in Ecuador, Colombia and some South America but I got there and I said to myself “Wow, I’m between the top of the top”. It was just very nice because everyone was respectful and considerate. That was the result of doing a good job for all of these years.
What are your goals with the work you’re doing?
I’d love to one day be able to reach the level and claim of some of the biggest festivals. I also manage artists, so we are working hard everyday to be able to become the best and fill those stages.
Having had a great success, this incredible music festival first took place in Quito, Ecuador’s capital this past 31st of March. This beautiful city was host to some of the most recognized artists in the genre such as Nervo, Markus Schulz and Nicky Romero. Attendees responded very positively for the 10 hours of raving they experienced, so much that the festival will take place again for the second time on the same year.
This time around The Secret Garden is coming back even stronger, gathering international and national talent, and bringing EDM music lovers a day they will cherish forever. The Secret Garden will take place on the 8th of October in Guayaquil, Ecuador’s biggest city. The headliner is the one and only Afrojack. It will be the first time this internationally recognized DJ will be joining Ecuadorians and guiding them through what will be an incredible musical journey for everyone present. Also coming are two legendary DJs that I have had the luck to see, Claptone and (for techno lovers) Paco Osuna, as well as trance gods Aly & Fila.
This garden inspired festival will be a sanctuary for electronic music fans, where they will be able to enjoy two main stages, an underground stage, incredible talent and fireworks to make that ecstatic feeling ever stronger.
For more information check out: http://thesecretgardenmusicfest.com/web/
Local Ecuadorian DJs:
https://www.facebook.com/BarbeOfficial/
