As we count down to ADE, we had the opportunity to chat with Bonobo about DGTL ADE: Outlier by Bonobo, taking place on Friday, October 18. He reveals his vision of blending his live performances with club-focused DJ sets, and how his Outlier concept introduces a fresh perspective on musical diversity. From crafting an electrifying dance floor experience to pushing musical boundaries, Bonobo shares his vision for making this ADE truly unforgettable.
Experimenting with melodic sounds
When asked to describe his music, Bonobo explains that it has two sides: the live aspect, which incorporates acoustic elements and instrumentation, and the DJ side, which is more club-focused and tied to his Outlier brand. “The two aspects definitely meet in the middle”, he says. Over the past two years, he’s focused more on DJing, allowing him to test ideas and feel how the music resonates in real time on the dancefloor. “You can really sense the energy of the crowd reacting to certain tones”, he adds.
To shift expectations, he experiments with more melodic sounds. ”I wanted to create something that better represents my own style, rather than just dropping banger after banger.” He sees DJing as a process of guiding people to embrace sounds they might not expect.
Bonobo describes the Outlier concept as progressive, community-driven, exploratory, and fun. Through Outlier, he aims to broaden his audience and introduce them to unexpected artists. “It’s about coming to see a DJ you know, and then being pleasantly surprised by someone you’re less familiar with”, he says. For Bonobo, curating these experiences relies heavily on trust.
How it all started
Bonobo’s vision for Outlier began with the idea of creating a unified platform for his club and DJ activities. He wanted to build a community centered around the parties. “It’s a collective of people, DJ’s’ parties, music and radio and more”, he says. Over the past few years, Outlier has made its way to places like Colorado, New York and even Tokyo. “I would love to see it develop into a festival or maybe a couple of all nighters”, he adds.
A breath of knowledge and diversity
For him, Amsterdam becomes the epicenter of Europe’s electronic music scene during ADE, offering a unique energy that unites artists, DJs, and fans. “There’s just this energy”, he explains, highlighting the rare opportunity to witness so many performers in one place. With its unparalleled variety, he adds, “You can catch three different parties in one night.” ADE’s blend of community, diversity, and innovation makes it, in his words, “really special.”
Diversity is also central to the Outlier concept. Bonobo resists confining it to a single genre. “The idea is to create an energy throughout the night, shaped by the people playing and the records being spun”, he says. The artists he has invited bring “a breath of knowledge and diversity to what they play”. He mentions inviting artists like John Talabot, Young Marco, and DJ Tennis. Coming back together with the latter is like a full circle for him. After last year’s eight-hour set together at The Loft they played a lot of sets together. Bonobo is excited to reunite with DJ Tennis at ADE. “We push each other to try something different, and that’s definitely in the spirit of this party.”
Exploring new things
His role as a curator requires a different approach compared to performing as a DJ. “It’s about finding where I am and then exploring what’s to either side of me: the harder, the darker, the lighter. It’s about balancing those shades.” He explains it as finding a thread through the whole process. When asked how he hopes people will experience the Outlier show he answers: “Come with an open mind and expect anything, it’s going to be a really fun party.”
We can’t wait to dance together and celebrate with you. If you haven’t grabbed your tickets yet, be sure to get them now and join us for an unforgettable experience! Be sure to get them here http://shop.dgtl.nl/dgtl-ade-outlier-by-bonobo