2dreamagain
the curator of
Between2Clouds
300+ events designed,
much poetry written
A deep dance
music magic maestro
Lover of chocolate,
sweet people, travel,
and cozy moments,
And an artist in the arena,
hoping to inspire himself
and those around him
2dreamagain
Set Story:
Wonder Wander 2024
Tucson, Arizona, USA
10.26.2024
This was recorded during a Sunset Charcuterie party as part of the deeply beautiful Wonder Wander 2024 event in Tuscon, Arizona. I was chatting a lot during this as it was a dandy social environment.
Wonder Wander is described as an "experiential potluck" crafted by Ethan Maurice [ethanmaurice.com], a philosopher, writer, and world traveler, as well as a dear friend of mine. I have been invited to all 5 Wonder Wanders, with the first being in 2018. It is easily one of the best parts of my life as it has both been home to some of my most cherished experiences as well as been a catalyst for many wonderful friendships with incredible and eclectic folks.
My life would be vastly different if I did not respond to that random reddit post one time long ago.
I have curated a dance party at each of the Wonder Wanders on the last night, with the first in 2018 happening shortly after I just began DJing. I barely knew anything about anything, and I got into DJing quite late. I was 27 at the time, but had been an audiophile for a decade prior, making playlists of music I would find on the internet from all over the world. The popular music never felt like home to me. Playlist building, finding music, and music listening was my healthiest hobby and safest sanctuary for a long time. I was not much of a partier or festival goer, but I did make music sporadically. I would claim one of my greatest regrets thus far in life is that I did not release the music as I made it and focused on finding the right help more. I have made some pretty neat music. With the right support at the right time, I think it could have found meaningful homes with some folks. This is something I am gradually amending in my life, as some of my favorite music I have made is from this year and closer to ever in being good enough to send to labels or release publicly....
back to the topic :)
Since 2018, I have significantly improved in about every way as an artist, a DJ, and as a person. Wonder Wander has had a significant impact on both. I now see myself starting to find some footing with what my taste, direction, and style looks and feels like at times. To record a set like this, in an environment like this, with people like that, at the 5th of an event that means quite a bit to me, many years later from the first, is special to me. There is so much room to grow still, so much to explore.
As always, there is much more to all of this.
I want to let you know that truly beautiful moments can exist for you, regardless of what you are going through, have been through, or will go through. My hope for you, whoever you are, is that you become open, and stay open whenever you can. Try new things. Meet new people. Never stop growing. Stay curious. Always make time to wonder, and to wander. If your life is what you predicted, you haven't tried anything. Try, risk, love, explore, fail, succeed, work hard, do nothing, live, die, everything.
For better or worse, I want you to know that someone on this planet, the person speaking to you now, has lived and pursued what they believe in relentlessly and has done so at great sacrifice. I have made the changes when the deeper parts of me felt things were off, regardless of what anyone else has said. Financial, medical, mental, social, friendships, family, with safety, and more, many times over. I have lost so much, so many times. This has happened because I refuse to lose the forest for the trees, no matter the cost. I will never become stuck in my ways and in any one life.
I can tell you from this path never previously travelled, that it is worth it to risk everything you think you are for the chance to discover what you can become.
Sacrifice being the drop of water to become the ocean.
Do so with people that love you dearly. Let go of what you have to find them if you need to.
With love, your friend, 2dreamagain.
Set Story:
Wonder Wander 2024
Tucson, Arizona, USA
Journey Set - “Pure Listening”
10.29.2024
This set was an experiment.
11 wonderful people laid around a candle lit circular room after a 4 days of an event called Wonder Wander, described as an "experiential potluck". I asked everyone to get comfortable and apply an idea which I will call, "pure listening" while I chose music. It was a concept brought to us by the youngest, and probably wisest, of the group, Luiz. He lead an activity based on it. Instead of nodding, responding, and actively participating in a conversation (even non-verbally), we just listened. No trailing thoughts or internal reactions while our paired partners spoke freely. We set a timer for 10 minutes, and we were supposed to answer the prompt and continue to speak for that period of time, without interjection. If we paused for too long, our partner, who is "pure listening", could ask the prompt again to help, but that was it. It was a gorgeous experience and impacted all of us. It is so normal to listen and intake to respond, to validate what someone is saying through gestures, nods, questions, and words, but how often do you speak your mind to someone at length as they just listen? The prompt was, if I remember correctly, "What gives your life purpose?"
I have wanted to do this concept, this journey set idea for years. No specific songs in mind, but the idea of people just listening to and feeling music together that is curated to have some sense of story and depth. All too often when dance music and electronic music is playing, people are dancing, chatting, or doing something else alongside it. As someone listens along they assess whether they like something or not. What they like about it. If they can dance to it. If the people around them are enjoying it. And any other number of responses. Hearing a set as a "pure listener", was something I value deeply, so now having a word and concept to apply to it, one which already had such a strong response just a couple days earlier was the perfect opportunity to explore. I am so happy that I did and I hope to do these more, as there is something to it. I purposefully did not try to mix the songs together, to allow each song to speak for itself, beginning, middle, and end. This allowed me to focus purely on picking the exact song I wanted to share in the moment and so I could experience the music with everyone too, hearing what they hear clearly.
So, if you go to listen to this, the environment we were in and the music was chosen for was no lighting besides a couple of candles, everyone was cozy in blankets, on pillows, some holding hands, some cuddling, 2 speakers, spread enough to have a quality stereo image (look it up if need be!) aimed directly at your ears. Not too loud to feel loud, but loud enough to feel that it fills your entire space.
I am sure there is more I could say, but this gets us goin somewhere!
A special treat, is the last song is one of my own that is not complete yet, and I hope to release one day. It uses a couple samples from different songs of one of my favorite singers, Astrud Gilberto.
With love and gratitude, 2dreamagain.
Set Story:
Festival of Yes 2024
Mt. Baker Forest, Washington State, USA
08.03.2024
The rumors are true,
Yes, I was naked during this set.
I needed to feel free and uninhibited. It was done tastefully, only folks that meandered behind the stage shared this secret with me. 😁
This recording includes a field recording of the crowd throughout my set and properly captures the power, emotion, and energy we felt together.
This turned out to be easily the best set of my life both in how it felt to perform and in the response of the crowd, which was jumping, cheering, and extremely responsive throughout. It was also first one where I felt like I shared and performed exactly how I want to, where I was completely in control, connecting without compromise, and as if my voice and style had a valuable place in the world of dance music. The majority of this set was improvised, inspired by the environment and enthusiastic crowd that came together during my set. I prepared relentlessly both before and at the festival to make sure there were no limitations between what I felt and how I could express it in the moment.
There is so much I could say about the significance of my set for Festival of Yes 2024, and how it clearly reflects how I hope to share and inspire through music anytime I am given the opportunity. It made it clear that my way forward is to continue exploring life as an artist, without compromise.
This set includes music from many parts of the world mostly in the deep progressive afro house and melodic techno spaces of dance music.
Thank you for not only allowing me to be myself, but to celebrate it with such enthusiasm and joy.
This is only the beginning of us coming together in beautiful spaces like Festival of Yes,
and 2dreamagain, just a bit more. 🤍
