Organizing Social Gatherings via Festivals: Interview with Jason Swamy
Jason Swamy's Adventure: Supercharging Events and Communities Worldwide
Jason Swamy, the Festival Director of Suara Festival, has been a trailblazer in the world of community and culture creation for over two decades. This seasoned nightlife influencer and event mastermind lays bare the journey that led him to Bali and the birth of Suara Festival in this candid interview.
Jason shares the spark that lit the flame for creating immersive experiences, and reveals how he turned his vision for Suara Festival into an electrifying reality. He discusses the importance of acknowledging and cherishing local cultures when orchestrating international events and ponders on the vital elements that make a festival truly iconic.
Jason also offers an exclusive glimpse into life as a DJ, event organizer, creative director, and loving father in the breathtaking island of Bali, while giving us a sneak peek into what the future holds for Suara Festival and his other ambitious projects.
Jason, you've had an extraordinary journey in the world of nightlife and events. Can you share what first ignited your passion for creating these immersive experiences and how it led you to setting up the Suara Festival in Bali?
My passion for enchanting experiences began during my stint as an intern at Star TV. One day, over lunch, a colleague invited me to a rave where Welsh DJ and record producer Sasha gave a mesmerizing performance. This encounter sparked a change within me that would define the rest of my life.
I became an underground DJ and started putting on my own parties. I quickly discovered I had a knack and a fervor for crafting environments where people could gather, express themselves, and forge a sense of unity.
As my career unfolded, I ventured through various roles across nightlife and events. Along the way, I founded and owned clubs and restaurants, collaborated with prestigious brands like small&TALL in Hong Kong, and was a part of world-renowned festivals such as Wonderfruit in Thailand. In addition, I contributed to major events at Macau casinos, helped bring elrow to China, and ushered Ultra to the Philippines, Macau, China, and Hong Kong.
After a difficult COVID-19 lockdown in Hong Kong, my wife and I took some time to reflect on our lives and our aspirations. We craved a slower pace and desired a life enriched by culture and nature. During our contemplation, I met Sergey Solonin and spent hours bonding with him over video calls as I wanted to avoid the three-week quarantine period in Indonesia.
I was profoundly captivated by Sergey's vision for Nuanu and Suara Festival's potential to grow and embrace a more international audience while still preserving the essence of Balinese culture. Combining Sergey's unparalleled community and culture-building expertise with my wealth of experience in producing global events was a no-brainer. And so, this third edition of Suara Festival now stands as something extraordinary that transcends the ordinary, allowing attendees to live and breathe an experience awash with music, arts, and culture.
With such an eclectic background in events across the globe, how do you adjust your approach to cater to different cultural landscapes and ensure each event resonates with its audience?
Fashioning something extraordinary as a foreigner in a foreign land demands tireless work. In-depth understanding and profound appreciation for local culture, values, and overall vibe are a must, and this individualization is crucial in each event I undertake.
From my days collaborating with elrow and Ultra in Southeast Asia, I worked closely with local talents and key cultural stakeholders to effortlessly harmonize and highlight the local spirit while integrating international components.
For every event I lead, the process begins with immersing ourselves fully in the local milieu, observing, and learning from the community. In the case of Suara Festival, we carefully blend Balinese traditions with Southeast Asian nuances-- from our remarkable musical lineup to avant-garde installations, interactive art displays, and carefully curated ethnic artisan marketplaces and food and drink vendors.
Forging partnerships with local artists, musicians, and cultural leaders lies at the heart of achieving this melding of familiarity and novelty, ensuring the event feels approachable yet captivating to its audience.
Dubbed as the "Burning Man of Asia," Wonderfruit has earned a stellar reputation for its eco-friendliness. Can you tell us about the vision behind Wonderfruit and how it has evolved throughout the years?
Wonderfruit was born from the idea of creating a festival that delved beyond the realm of music while placing a significant emphasis on sustainability, life-enriching experiences, and culture. Our aim was to establish a platform that would inspire environmental responsibility and social change. In essence, the vision was to create an immersive experience that educated, entertained, and inspired attendees to adopt more sustainable practices in their day-to-day lives.
Over time, Wonderfruit has morphed into a diverse festival featuring an extensive roster of activities, incorporating art installations, workshops, wellness activities, and talks. It strives to minimize waste, encourage recycling, and embrace eco-friendly materials in every aspect of the festival. Distinct initiatives such as plastic-free zones, compostable food containers, and renewable energy sources are just some examples of its unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship.
At its core, the objective behind Wonderfruit is to create a space where guests can discover and delve deeper into sustainability in a fun and engaging way, in hopes of triggering positive change on a larger scale. Albeit having moved on from this chapter, the memories are ones I treasure dearly.
As a seasoned event-mastermind and festival guru, what aspects make an event truly unforgettable and impactful?
The keys to crafting an unforgettable and impactful event are a sense of community, one-of-a-kind experiences, and an attention to minute details. Building an environment that embraces and frees people to express themselves is paramount--consider the example of Robot Heart and the magic woven during its transformative Burning Man gatherings.
The importance of immersive experiences cannot be overstated. Picture-perfect stage designs, world-renowned musical acts, and extravagant, interactive installations create a multisensory spectacle that enthralls attendees. And fostering a sense of community and oneness amongst the attendees is crucial. When people feel they are part of something extraordinary, memories, and feelings of belonging are ignited that cannot be shaken.
Balancing being a DJ, event organizer, creative director, and now a father leaves little room for error. How do you keep these out-of-control spinning plates from crashing to the ground while finding time to revel in the beauty of Bali?
Juggling all these roles can prove daunting at times, but my family and my yoga practice, which I picked up during the pandemic, act as my anchor--I also make it a priority to spend quality time with my kids in the mornings. Starting my day this way makes me more focused, allowing me to tackle whatever the day throws at me head-on.
Adaptability and flexibility are crucial components, as each day brings its unique challenges--some good, some not so good. With Bali's breathtaking scenery serving as the backdrop, it's easy to find sanctuary amidst the chaos, be it in the form of invigorating nature hikes, unwinding at the beach, or simply enjoying precious moments with my family.
This delicate equilibrium pumps me up, keeps me inspired, and allows me to continue contributing passionately to my craft.
With a scorching career under your belt, how do you maintain a healthy work-life balance, particularly with this new life in Bali? What habits or routines lend a helping hand in staying grounded and maintaining a balanced equilibrium?
Living on the picturesque island of Bali has encouraged a healthier lifestyle for me. I've integrated early mornings (thanks to my kids), workout sessions (be it TRX, yoga, or a HIIT class), and meditation into my daily routine, which helps me stay centered and energized, even with ADHD on my side.
I believe that Bali's natural beauty and more relaxed pace of life have played a vital role in helping me prioritize wellbeing and familial bonding. Integrating wellness practices into my day-to-day life ensures I stay calm, focused, and ready to offer my best to my work and family.
Having lived in so many different places throughout the world, how have these diverse experiences influenced your approach to event curation and your understanding of cultural trends?
The varied places I've called home--from Hong Kong to the UK, India, the US, and now Bali--have greatly impacted my approach to events. Integrating myself into diverse cultures has enabled me to envision and orchestrate experiences that resonate with people deeply. It's all about blending the best qualities of each culture while integrating innovative, international trends to create truly unique, transformative experiences.
Embracing flexibility and innovation has become crucial in staying ahead of the game in terms of contemporary tastes and cultural shifts. I look forward to seeing what the future holds and am excited to continue crafting unforgettable experiences for festival goers.
- In crafting his Suara Festival in Bali, Jason integrates local Balinese traditions with Southeast Asian nuances in various aspects such as music, art installations, and food vendors to appeal to the audience and preserve the essence of Balinese culture.
- Jason's extensive experience in the events industry and numerous collaborations across the globe have underscored the importance of acknowledging and catering to local cultures while integrating international components for each event he undertakes. This helps create an event that resonates with its audience and transcends ordinary boundaries.
