This year’s Lightning in a Bottle (LIB) festival in California’s Central Valley featured a stunning lineup of artists, including the rising electronic music sensation, Qrion. Born and raised in Sapporo, Japan, and now residing in Austin, Texas, Qrion has captivated the electronic music scene with her unique sound. Her signature style, which incorporates the noises of the world around her into energetic beats and lush synth textures, has garnered her international acclaim and a spot on Forbes Japan’s 30 Under 30 list.
Qrion’s journey from making music on her phone in high school to performing at major festivals is nothing short of inspiring. Her debut full-length record, "I Hope It Lasts Forever," released via Anjunadeep, marked a significant milestone in her career, earning her recognition as DJ Mag’s 2021 Future Star and a place in Billboard’s 20 Best Dance Albums of 2021.
We had the opportunity to catch up with Qrion right before her two-hour set at the lakeside Woogie stage on Saturday, where she had the crowd buzzing right into the sunset. Here’s what she had to say about her experience at LIB, her music, and her future plans.
When asked about her first impressions upon arriving at the festival, Qrion mentioned how the beautiful landscape of California always strikes her. Now residing in Austin, where “everything is super flat”, she really appreciated the mountains, rivers, and greenery that surrounded Lightning in A Bottle’s festival venue. The natural scenery added a special touch to her experience.
It was Qrion’s first time opening for Nora En Pure, and she admitted to feeling nervous but excited about the opportunity. Qrion had something special planned for her LIB set: she played an unreleased ID from her upcoming album. Though the track was not even announced yet, she gave the audience a thrilling sneak peek into her new work, enhancing the excitement of her performance. Her new single, Ice Palace, is being released by record label, Anjunadeep on July 9th.
Comparing LIB to other festivals she has played, such as EDC, Qrion remarked upon the vastly different atmospheres. While EDC and other Insomniac festivals are “more like a wild party”, LIB offers a more relaxed and outdoor-oriented experience. She enjoyed the wholesome activities available at LIB, including yoga and art workshops, which provided a nice contrast to the intense party vibes of other festivals.
Despite enjoying the outdoors at LIB, Qrion confessed that she isn't a fan of camping due to her dislike of insects so she booked a hotel for her stay. However, she did remark that she was pleasantly surprised that the Buena Vista Lake venue was much more bug-free than anticipated. Since Qrion was enjoying the comforts of a hotel for the weekend, she loved that the DoLab made it fairly easy to get in and out of the venue, allowing her to come back the next day to see other artists and enjoy the countless activities. She was particularly excited about Sunday’s lineup this year.
Qrion also expressed interest in collaborating with other artists who were playing at the festival. She mentioned her admiration for UK artist Jasper Tygner, whose music she finds amazing. She pointed out that Jasper Tygner has a specific way of cutting vocals that makes them sound like they are floating. She described his melodies as mellow yet explained how he combined a sensible percussion, making his tracks both danceable and emotional. Qrion admires the effort and emotion Jasper Tygner puts into his music, and she hopes to have one of her songs off her next album remixed by him. She finds his style deeply resonant and believes that his touch would bring a unique dimension to her own work.
Qrion’s performance at LIB was a testament to her unique artistry and the emotional depth she brings to her music. As she continues to rise in the electronic music scene, fans can look forward to more innovative sounds and heartfelt performances from this talented artist.
Qrion expressed how meaningful it was to have the DoLab place a “Qrion” record in her green room as Qrion's debut full-length album, "I Hope It Lasts Forever," released via Anjunadeep, was made available on viny in 2021. Qrion mentioned how it made her reminiscent of how achieving this milestone was a dream come true for her, as while growing up, she alwaysadmired artists who had their records on vinyl.
Photographs by Ariya Behjat
