Lost Lands 2019| The Final Chapter | A Bass Oddessy | #TBT

SUNDAY: The Final Prehistoric Frontier

I can’t believe it’s already Sunday, the last day of this Lost Lands. I decided to devote this entire day to as many events as possible. I started off my morning returning back to the Discovery Center to check out their holistic offerings. When I arrived, I found that the scheduled programs for that morning had changed a bit and on the center stage was a group of bass musicians hosting their own sets! I wasn’t surprised to see this since several people were walking around with carts towing sound systems and playing bass music, which was awesome. Although these musicians were not on the lineup, Lost Lands organizers allowed them to set up equipment so they could hold a bass session for everyone to enjoy. For almost two hours these guys played bass to a crowd who just couldn’t get enough of it! They sounded very professional so, I knew I had to find out who these artists were. David Merisme was one of the artists on the stage and I told him how much I appreciated the popup morning bass set. The chemistry they all had on stage together was undeniable, and from what David told me they didn’t really know one another and were actively networking. I began to see how much this festival can inspire and influence other artists and perhaps that’s one of the other reasons why they come and do popups like this one.

Now it was time to attend a class called Slow-Saurus Self Massage. I know what you’re thinking because so many people were asking what exactly this class is about and what do you do while you’re in it. Yes, the name of the class put a smile on my face, but the class is all about wellness. Being able to take care of your self and your body and paying attention to the signs and signals that your body is telling you especially at an event like this one where you may be putting a strain on your body. In the hour that followed Molly Grossman lead the group and I massaged my face, neck, shoulders, legs, and back along with my arms and joints. I could clearly see the importance of this class. Molly pointed out that we all have stiff necks from dancing and many of us also have stiff backs from stooping over in our tents. By the end of this session, I felt great for taking the time out to take care of my body and looking at my own priorities regarding my overall health. 

My next and final wellness class was Headbanger Healing taught by Maria Avila. Advertised as a way to help recover after intense headbanging, this class was so much more. Maria led the class through a yoga session and spiritual reflection generating positive energy and addressing the needs of our community. Sharing her journey from the studio to the festival discovery center, Maria shared with us how the class concept came about. It was clear that she cared about the healing we needed and keeping everyone healthy and happy. Maria and Molly put their hearts into providing a deep probing experience for us and I am truly grateful for it. At the end of the session, I gave Maria a hug and thanked her for her guidance. I left transformed, well connected with my thoughts and feelings and feeling fully able to handle the long day of headbanging to come. 

Now heading back inside the festival grounds, I headed over to see LSDream. Like many other artists, his visuals were psychedelic inspired. While his music was otherworldly, experimental and bass-heavy pushing us to the unimaginable. It was another set I didn’t want to end, and I enjoyed his lovely bass tunes. He’s an incredible composer. Already expecting him to kill it, I watched PhaseOne deliver a hard bass set and I was thinking that his track selection was nuts and I couldn’t get enough of it. It was a headbangers delight and the rave went on without any real downtime. I’m surprised the rail didn’t break during this set! Having seen Said the Sky many times I knew the set was going to take my breath away. This time was no exception. I fell in love with them and their dreamy set was paired b2b with Dabin. They were making what they love, simply beautiful music. Dabin gracefully played his snare drum and Said the Sky complemented him providing an equally passionate performance, even playing the guitar for us. The Excision Detox set was up next. Can we talk about Excision?!? I don’t even know if I can express in words how grateful I was feeling towards him, at this moment. He put all of this together and did it splendidly. He gave us a two-hour set already, and now he was going to do another set and later tonight yet another set? I just can’t even thank him enough for all of this.

Herobust was an appropriate second to the last set for me since they wrote my favorite bass tune. The rain was threatening, and I was about to go nuts as he played a heavy, hard-ass bass set which was hip hop inspired. This set practically knocked the stage down. After sneaking in a nod to WTF and appealing to trap heads, he filled the rest of his set with some extreme distortion elements which was fun and exciting and all under the brachiosaurus. 

The Excision B2B Illenium set was the last official set for the PP stage and I knew that this meant this festival was almost over. Promising something special for us, Excision started the set, and I wondered how on earth could this get any better? I started to think about what I had just witnessed over the last four days; the people that I met and the sights and music that I had seen. Reflecting on all the experiences I had and where all of this took me emotionally. At the end of the Excision’s set, I was completely wiped! I decided that despite the fact I was probably spent, I was going to listen to the artists who were doing the takeover event at the pit. After all, it was only 11:18 P.M. as I sat at the VIP section of the Prehistoric Paradox stage area. I saw and heard Boogie T, Blunts & Blondes playing “Around the World” remix, Subtronics, Phiso, and Ubur just to name a few because the pit was packed. The artists admitted that they were exhausted, but they were going to continue to party anyway b2b2b2b! All around me were attendees who didn’t want to leave and laid down sleeping. Although I would have liked another night here, I’m pretty sure it would have killed me.

Overall, I thought the production of this event was top notch. With the appeal not solely from the music lineup but also from the dinosaurs, a beautiful park area with gorgeous grounds, convenient camping, wellness events, singing, dance competitions, producers den instruction, garbage collection incentives, professional and friendly staff and within reach amenities. This whole event really puts you in a position to hear great music. You can sit if you want to, meet people, get really close to artists and even do yoga or sleep when needed. Can we talk about the bass community? There was no doubt, this headbanger crowd was some of the friendliest of the EDM community that I had ever met! In fact, I’m hard-pressed to find a friendlier and happier crowd. I can see that bass is a music area that has not been completely explored with plenty of room to grow. There are so many fans and potential music producers who are investing their time and their dreams in this music. It truly puts the passion for bass music into perspective. 

Another conclusion, Lost Lands cares about its participants and went out of their way to make this a safe and fun event that anyone could enjoy. Lost Lands isn’t just for bass heads and Dino enthusiasts, it’s for everyone who loves music, enjoys good company, and loves the community and coming together to celebrate being alive. No doubt, I’ll return next year. Consider me a Lost Lands convert.

*Featured photo via divisuals | Don Idio