A tourist destination nowadays is not made attractive solely by the sun, sea or historical sites. In the era of globalism, music has become one of the key reasons why tourists visit certain destinations. Today, this segment is dominated by electronic music scene, where DJs are becoming real ambassadors of the cities and countries they perform in.
Music festivals as new symbols of the cities
DJ-ing nowadays means a lot more than just a music style. It is more and more linked to tourism and to the way in which people experience destinations. Electronic music creates a unique sense of space – dance floor on the beach, in a fortress or in a mountain valley; it becomes an experience by which a destination gets remembered equally as some landscape or local food. It is exactly for this reason that more and more cities and countries recognize key role of DJ culture in their tourist development.
Some of the best-known destinations in the world have built their brand thanks exactlz to festivals and club scene. The world best-known festival of electronic music, Belgian Tomorrowland which gathers as many as 400.000 people made the little town of Boom a globally recognized place, while Ibiza has become a synonym of DJ culture, where some of the most popular clubs are nowadays equally important tourist symbols as its beaches.
On the other hand, even this region does not lag behind global trends, since during the last decade the South Eastern Europe has become a magnet for electronic music lovers. So, for example, the Croatian Sonus Festival on the island of Pag attracts the audience from the entire world and prolongs the summer season on the Adriatic coast.
In Serbia, at the Petrovaradin Fortress in Novi Sad, the Exit festival has shown how music can breathe a new life into cultural-historical monuments. This event has long exceeded the limits of an ordinary music festival and has become an internationally acclaimed project.
Montenegro more and more present in electronic world
With its landscapes, surrounded by the sea and the mountains, Montenegro lends itself naturally to the DJ scene. Let us mention the Southern Soul Festival on the Big Beach of Ulcinj, which gathers the lovers of house, techno and soul music from the entire world, and then the Synthesis Festival in Tivat, on the most spectacular cliffs of Boka Bay are among the best-known festivals in this country. The one that stands out is the Get Lost Montenegro, a project developed by the famous Damian Lazaraus at Kanli Tower in Herceg Novi, which puts Montenegro onto the map of global electronic events. These festivals, together with local clubs and bars along the coast shape ever so strongly the image of the country as an attractive destination for the new generation of tourists.
DJ Laris and electronic sounds putting Montenegro onto the global map
Montenegro has also been promoted on its path towards the global electronic scene by the young DJ Sandra Vukašinović, better known as DJ Laris. This summer, she performed in one of the world’s best clubs - Hi Ibiza. Within the framework of the “Metamorfosi”, the project of one of the biggest names of the global techno scene, Joseph Capriati, Laris shared the stage with some of the biggest names of electronic music, presenting not only her talent, but also her country.
She had her first performance in her native city, Podgorica, when she performed alongside a German melodic techno DJ - Stereo Express, following the years of discovering music, practicing and mixing.
“Today, my music work has been recognized by some of the biggest names of electronic music - Indira Paganotto and Joseph Capriati, as well as by the Exit Festival. I was invited to perform at the Metamorfosi in the Hi Ibiza Club and at the Exit Dance Arena, being the first Montenegrin DJ to perform at these international stages.”
We were particularly curious in hearing her impressions from the “Metamorfosi”.
“Recognition of my work by the big names of electronic music, as one of the youngest Montenegrin DJs, meant an inspiration but also a big responsibility. After the invitation for the Metamorfosi, my first thoughts were directed on justifying the trust placed in me and on performing the best I can. I am happy to have succeeded in that. Nevertheless, it is my desire not to forget creative potentials we have in Montenegro”, she said.
With her performances on the global scene, DJ Laris endeavours to promote the country of her origin.
“In my work, I try to give my contribution to the development of dj-ing in Montenegro and to its visibility in Europe. Often, through my music I emphasize and promote tourism, natural beauties of our country and I give my support to Montenegrin artists. All these are important components of my individual work, which contribute to social progress”, says DJ Laris.
She thinks that Montenegro could have huge potential for high-quality festivals and parties, because, as she says, we have great local DJs, sites and growing interest in electronic music, but that the audience enjoying this music in Montenegro is still quite small.
“The number of big names who perform in Montenegro is constantly growing, but for the development of Montenegrin electronic scene, local DJs need stronger support. In this way, we would show that both Montenegrin and international DJs can be successful in Montenegro and internationally, we would promote electronic music as a part of our culture and contribute to our tourism. This is why I would like to see more support from the state institutions coupled with the mutual support of the artists”, concludes DJ Laris.
