The Concert with Intention: Where Light Meets Sound

RISE Festival, for its 10th anniversary, is just outside of Las Vegas in the Mojave Desert. Being the World’s Largest Sky Lantern Celebration did not disappoint and clearly left concertgoers with another reason to come back. RISE was not just about music but about carrying your hopes, memories, and intentions with you.

When you usually go to a Festival, you know you will get wet if it rains, or take a jacket if it gets cold. At RISE, you are defying other types of climate change. Yes, it does get cold; however, there is one thing you cannot avoid and it is what’s common in all deserts. SAND.

As you arrive, whether in your own car or on the shuttle provided by the event, you will be greeted by event staff and can enter a fast line based on your event tier. As you do that, you will be given a light band and, together, a cushy pillow, and inside them, two lanterns per person. This is only the beginning of day 1. As you walk, you see many attractions like the RISE Sign, The Path as described by the event, and The Compass Stage, which is at the heart of the venue.

As I walked in, around 5 minutes from the main stage, Carrie Keller was playing. Her renowned high-energy house and EDM sets electrified The Compass. Electrifying sounds: Carrie Keller’s high-energy sounds

Not the hottest day, but when you are in the middle of the desert, you feel like it. However, when I arrived at the set, heat was the least of my worries since Carrie Keller was taking on The Compass and RISE as the first artist to open the event.

How did I feel during this performance? I felt cool. Going a bit further to understand what that really means, I felt like being in a movie where there is a sandstorm, flashing lights, you use a bandana and goggles to cover your eyes, and you are all dirty. Still, it doesn’t matter; I just wanted to dance, forget about all of my worries, and give my energy during the set.

I don’t want to miss the opportunity to share my thoughts about Carrie Keller. You can see how much she enjoys what she’s created, and through her glow, her music creativity, and the energy to hype up a crowd, I am sure she’ll get to further places to be far beyond expectations.

One thing I didn’t really mention is that Saturday was really all about electrifying sounds and vibing with the crowd. The crowd was amazingly well dressed and had the best energy during the performances, which each one lasted about an hour, to dance and vibe simply.

After the hour has passed, welcome RIVO to The Compass Stage.

The Self-Taught Mastermind

Backing up my claim, RIVO is a French DJ and self-taught since the age of 15. He created a Remix called “You & Me” that went viral, and I can see why. While I was listening to the set, RIVO created this fantastic, fiery, euphoric set, and every time I listen to it afterward, I feel confident walking into a clothing or modeling show in the most extravagant style.

You see, there are styles of music that are hard to describe, since, first, they're emerging, and second, they're breathtaking.

He was getting the Compass stage ready for the other artists coming up soon. The vibe that RIVO transmitted was confident. You see right from the very beginning, a person, whether he is confident or shy, takes the stage like a champ. His music was breathtaking, as mentioned previously, and being in a setting (desert) changes the spectacle.

Throughout the performance, more and more people gathered for the next phase of this fantastic event. Oliver Heldens breaking through the Compass Stage. While I was in the crowd, I could hear people saying, “I’m so excited for Oliver Heldens”, others saying, “I’ve seen him live, he did not disappoint”, and the Dutch DJ definitely did a fantastic job. His outfit fit in with the Compass Stage, with the mountains in the background. He was the last EDM artist before the setting changed into getting ready to release the lanterns.

His music was fast-paced and punchy, and his crisp style changed the style of the day. Instead of dreamy builds, it was more percussions, moving towards a euphoric peak. From this point, he was closing in on a different style, a new ambient where people prepared for an epic finish. I can’t get over Oliver Heldens, he had all crowds dancing, kids, adults, teenagers, all generations into ONE artist. Oliver made history.

Things were changing from now on. After Heldens stepped down, RY X came up. It was a different vibe, different energy. It wasn’t about dancing anymore, but to look at the sky, close your eyes, and enjoy it.

Welcome RY X. Same Setting, different vibe

You see, at RISE, your intentions are very important because you learn as sunset arrives, you focus on what you want to leave behind, or simply write intentions. RY X was the artist concentrate on setting the environment to be peaceful, intentional, loving, and above all, creating a collaboration among everyone at the festival; it was truly special.

Being at RISE is a different feeling from simply writing it. One experience that was worth telling and recording in the books for history really is how people harmoniously connected while RY X was performing.

As I was taking photos, I heard a sob through a crowd. Not exaggerating, it was a painful, loud sob; however, there was respect through the RY X set. Everyone was enjoying his hopeful and beautiful music, while anyone with past suffering had something to say through their emotions.

This set was all about preparing the next scene. Letting go of everything that is stopping you from being your best self, and any roadblocks, to simply leave it behind.

The moment everyone was expecting throughout the day was about to get there. From mid-performance stop, RY X would mention, Get your lanterns ready, write your intentions, and be prepared at the light posts.

Since the Compass stage was in the middle of the whole venue, the set didn’t just have people in front of it but all around it, which set the attention all around RY X. Thousands of people were listening at the same time, “Wait until everyone is ready” or “Let’s not light it yet.” These were words to simply prepare for the magnificent and prettiest night of the year.

You’d still hear, We are One until we were given instructions to light the lanterns properly. In only 2 minutes, everyone would let go of the lanterns, and wow, the real spectacle began.

The Largest Sky Lantern Festival

This was nothing I’ve ever lived through in the past. I had the blessing of going with my wife, and while it was a personal experience, I felt emotions I’d never felt before. I wanted to scream, love, hug, kiss. I let go of all my stress and anxiety and only felt joy and happiness.

Couples were hugging, lying down on the bare sand; sand was the least of their worries. Families were playing, recording themselves, and hugging each other. There were also solo people, closing their eyes, enjoying the breeze as they watched their lanterns float thousands of feet above them. The view was breathtaking, and I wish I could share the feeling with everyone reading this. For now, I’d simply extend the invitation: if you are feeling down, stressed, or anxious, an event like this would help dissipate those feelings.

Some people simply preferred staying behind, while others were getting ready for the last two shows to finish the day. The lanterns never really stopped getting lit. Even during the biggest shows of the night, you’d see every once in a while ten to twenty lanterns getting lit again. It is something you don’t really get bothered by since it is so pretty anyway.

As everyone settles in the bigger stage, past the Compass Stage, everyone welcomes Disclosure to RISE Festival.

The Light Show of the Night

This was an absolute rave. People of all ages were dancing, partying, and watching Disclosure beats. Disclosure is an English EDM pop band that has been nominated for many awards, including the Grammy Awards, for more than 5 years.

Disclosure lit the whole night sky just like the lanterns did. It was a flashing festival at this point, and the crowd was massive, jumping to the beat, recording the set not to forget ever again, and making friendships they will never forget.

It’s impressive to see a huge stage and a prominent artist at a festival like RISE. Then you think about who the next person will be to perform, and it blows your mind, since you’d never think you could see someone like him live, someone who has performed with so many artists around the world, renowned artists known for their popularity.

The Global Superstars Producer: Calvin Harris

It was so loud. There was so much hyperactivity. Euphoria. Dancing. Chanting. Singing. Jumping. Calvin Harris couldn’t get enough from the crowd at RISE. One of the most famous Electronic/Dance musicians and producers taking the stage was like having Michael Jackson or Queen with Freddy Mercury alive present.

He was unique to be the closing act. After all, you want a festival like RISE to go out with a bang, and that was my perspective as the photographer, as well as that of everyone present at this fantastic festival. He went above and beyond, and too many people were just not ready to leave the event, but guess what? Many people were prepared for the next day, which included many other famous artists who would take on the desert at RISE Festival.

Another Day, Another RISE.

People can say whatever they think about how the third day started, and this is what I’ll say. It was definitely more full than previous days. The energy was unmatched. Before I even got into the venue, I saw multiple people —staff and security guards —vibing to the background music and high-fiving people ready to have a blast at this event. After all, it is the last day of this beautiful event, and I can’t think of how much preparation and logistics it took to make this work, especially understanding how many lanterns you’ve got to have so everyone enjoys again, a third night of floating lights.

Being the last day, I was not prepared to leave. You see, as previously stated, the festival is all about intentions, and I felt something I didn’t know was there. I discovered myself in ways I would not have been able to elsewhere. I am sure other people felt the same way. After all, influencers, event organizers, and even RISE officials show how much RISE can affect people.

One of the Openers. Elderbrook.

I have too many feelings about what exactly to share since, by now, I have described everything about how I feel about each artist; however, Elderbrook gave a different impression on the third day.

I don’t remember a single person not vibing to this guy. He was simply killing it, a natural, and he’d do the same or even a better job in my opinion if you give him the big stage, for example, where Calvin Harris or Disclosure took part. After all, Elderbrook categorizes around the same genre.

Elderbrook, an English electronic DJ, has been playing since 2015 and has definitely hit big stages like RISE, Coachella, and Bonnaroo, which is no small feat. It seems he’s been around for longer than 10 years, given how famous and popular he is today.

Preparing for the last calm night. Patrick Watson

Just like day two, one artist sets the environment. The desert is already silent, but with Patrick Watson on stage, it was calmer than silent. It’s not an eerie silence, but the type when you go to bed with white noise in the background, or if you love camping with a campfire, connecting to nature.

Once I photographed Patrick, I settled myself again to RISE the floating lights, get ready for the prettiest part of the festival. While watching the set, Patrick says “To wake up one day and hear one of my songs being viral on TikTok” also, being one of the prettiest songs to prepare for the RISE ceremony which is “Je te laiserrai des mots” which means “I will leave you some words” and as he starts playing it, I got the chills, teared up a bit, even by writing this article I remember how special was to let go.

His set was special, the closing act of RISE, before we had to wait for the next year before releasing our life decisions, intentions, and love for one another. While we still had Goose soon to perform and John Mayer, melancholy struck hard, and we had to say goodbye.

The sun was setting, and there wasn’t really a crowd anymore. It was scattered across each corner of the Compass stage. Getting ready. And there it goes.

Last Ceremony

Can you get over the sight? Does it make you ponder life? Does this want to make you go to RISE Festival next year? How do you think you’ll react when you see it for the first time?

Those are questions I didn’t really have when I first saw it. I still can’t get over it, and it’s been 2 weeks since I was there. It really made me think about my life decisions, and as a photographer, you’ve got to do more than just look through a lens and take pictures. You want to create a story behind it; it is a different perspective, especially if you are going through something.

I do wish to be back next year, to release new intentions, to think about how much I’ve grown, and release my mistakes and be better, even though I am as imperfect as many others.

Does this give you enough to think about it for next year? To bring your family, spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend? Goose Improvises at RISE Festival

Back in August of this year, I had the privilege of shooting their set in Park City, Utah. Never seen them before and didn’t know what to expect since I had also never heard of them. This time, not only was I able to commute to RISE from Utah, but I was able to see them on a bigger stage, which was impressively AMAZING.

They have a touch for improvising, and they are fantastic at it. The crowd was wild, and if you are a guitar enthusiast, then you get the best show of your life.

Grammy-Winning Songwriter and Guitarist: John Mayer

For the closing act, none other than the master and legend, John Mayer. As a brief introduction, he started playing as a teenager and is known for blending the blues, pop, R&B, and rock.

He was well-suited to be the closing act. After all, he has collaborated and featured with many artists like Billy Joel, Alicia Keys, Barbra Streisand, and toured for a long time with the band Dead & Company.

I was thrilled that I was able to shoot John Mayer’s set. He is my favorite artist to date, not being the only time I’ve seen him live, but the first time to be able to take photos of him, which was a privilege. I love that I was able to hear people singing his songs; there were a lot of people who knew every part of the lyrics, so the stage was loud with people singing in unison with his voice and band.

And if you have never heard of John Mayer, you are welcome to listen to his music; he is well-known as one of the best guitarists in his generation anyway.

RISE Festival is For You

I can’t describe all of my emotions about this beautiful event; however, I do extend an invitation to the readers. Read about RISE Festival, understand more about the intention behind it, if you are struggling, or you simply want a place where you can chill and listen to live music and disconnect from the world, RISE is for you.

Official Article in the Festy GoNuts