A bigger-than usual, pack of thousands dolled up in patterned bras and trippy eyewear, came together on Saturday to see an unrivaled lineup of the best DJs in the world in a one-night exclusive show that most of Morocco knew nothing about.
Hidden in Marrakech desert, and available for a costly 1,200 DH to a select few, the beats of electro music sounded in the Lost Nomads music festival with an opening from DJ Nawfal who played a variety of tracks as the sun was setting.
The Scenes were marked with rave looks and risqué leather tops, plumes of smoke, and half-chugged beer, setting the tone for what would turn out to be a perfectly successful Lost Nomads edition, where the crowds, mostly in their 20s and 30s except for a few older heads, could relax – judgment-free.
The Hespress EN crew, the only media present on ground, saw techno enthusiasts losing themselves in dance and music in a magnificent desert setting that was lit only by candles and soft LED lights.
The future is female, Kawtar Sadik did it again
Kawtar Sadik or the desert princess took over in the last sunny moments of the day, with her live vocals, the listeners were transcended to her mythical world.
The Moroccan singer outperformed all of her prior appearances and played all of her greatest hits while singing in Amazigh, Arabic, and English.
The audience swayed and moved nonstop for the duration of her two-hour performance as she presented music of Hassani and Amazigh origins while putting a heavy emphasis on booming traditional trumpet blasts.
Everyone was taken aback when she performed a rendition of the well-known Gnawa song “Lalla Aicha,” which, along with her biggest hit “Sala Ala Nabina,” turned her performance into a spiritual experience during which many people chanted loudly.
Mr ID and Birds of Mind, two different styles
Mr ID, Sadik’s longtime collaborator and unquestionable leader of the Moroccan DJ scene entered the stage to play a set of songs reflecting African spirit, traditional Moroccan music, and a hint of funky jazz rhythms.
The DJ performed plenty of remixes of traditional Moroccan music, including Gnaoua, songs by the legendary Amazigh icon Rouicha, songs with Egyptian influences, and even Taha Rachid’s “Ya Rayah”, while dressed in traditional attire with a contemporary touch.
Committed to his cultural roots, Mr ID danced and swayed with the crowd until Birds of Mind took over and played their unique mixes.
The group, composed of Alex Heim and Adrian Carreno gave electro-dance genre fans a performance to remember.
The two, either playing together or rotating, were able to offer a breath of fresh air to a scorching desert night as their music reverberated through Agafay’s deserted dunes.
The audience arrived completely prepared in their best festival attire, as well as with their finest makeup and hairstyles. This artistic expression exuded excitement and confidence.
From lace, pearls, gems, glitter, dresses, sequins, and cowboy boots, to black glasses, the outfits blended with the flashy deery aesthetic.
Giving Meaning to desert raves: Pablo Fierro
Spanish musician Pablo Fierro, a pioneer of the modern era of world music electronica, combined Arabic, Catalan, Moroccan, and Andalusian sounds to elevate the expression “desert rave.”
Pablo drew inspiration from ancient sounds as the crowd grew bigger and bigger at his performance. With a crowded VIP area behind him and a sizable flock large enough to fill one’s sight, Pablo was fully absorbed in displaying his masterpieces.
Fierro performed while buses shuttled massive numbers of his followers back and forth to the festival site.
Prior to the event, Lost Nomads alongside Travel Link Morocco, organized a remarkable medical caravan in Agafay, providing healthcare assistance to the local communities of the deserted village.
Peggy Gou at sunrise:
Peggy Gou, one of the most well-known female DJs in the industry, was brought in by Lost Nomads which made many’s dreams come true. She is a true creative and her distinctive mixes represent her Korean heritage with a modern twist reflecting all the places she visited.
Her performance had a number of standout moments, including Moroccan “Darbouka” players, her donning a classic red “Tarbouch,” fusing her songs with sounds with Arabic roots, and the crowd repeating every Korean phrase she had composed.
The icon referred to the rendition of her songs that she performed with a Moroccan flair as the “habibis in desert remix” on Instagram. She praised her devoted followers for the warm reception.
A lengthy night of electro-masterminds sharing their love and enthusiasm with fans of this music genre was perfectly capped off by her morning performance.
The Lost Nomads music event came to an incredible peak in Agafay’s village with cheers and tears, leaving nothing but echoes in the Desert.
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