MIXED-REALITY MUSIC STARTUP VOLTA SECURES £400K / $500K GRANT FROM GOVERNMENT-BACKED INNOVATE UK

THE GRANT WILL DEVELOP THE NEXT GENERATION OF AUDIENCE INTERACTION AND CO-CREATION

Free, self-service XR creation platform Volta has received a £400k grant from Innovate UK, the government-backed agency which drives productivity and economic growth by supporting businesses to develop and realise the potential of new ideas. 

It is the latest huge development in a standout year for Volta which has begun to make its mark on the global entertainment industry. Its innovative technology  - which was highlighted as one of TIME Magazine's Best Inventions of 2021 - enables artists to turn their physical concerts or live streams into mixed-reality shows. It was recently seen in action at Glastonbury Festival during sets by Bonobo, Jamie Jones, TSHA, Grove and Fumez the Engineer which were all heightened by automated visual effects in real-time sync with their music.

“This money not only gives us Government funding but the opportunity to methodically learn how to translate the best parts of live events into hybridised ones,” says Volta CEO Alex Kane.

The grant will go towards researching and building audience interaction features that can bring global and local audiences together during live events. The aim is to enable both online and physical audiences to have an impact on the actual experience of a live event in real time, as well as creating a new revenue stream for artists that can deliver a meaningful income and helping artists engage with their fans far beyond emoji overlays and donations. Audience interaction not only brings fans together, but engagement drives brand awareness and with audience participation being a key feature, Volta gives fans a reason to watch and interact with the stream, rather than just listen to it.

The grant will also help Volta create the ability for audiences to interact in a way that benefits artists of all levels, incorporating gaming mechanics with in-app purchases and remote user interaction into live events with the aim of creating extra value in the music industry for the long tail of artists who historically haven’t been able to make a meaningful income from their art. 

There will also be an element of research undertaken: Volta plans on hiring behavioural scientists to discover the motivation of concert goers live and live streamed and the psychological implications of making experiences interactive. 

NERVO ANNOUNCES SUMMER RESIDENCY AT EDEN IBIZA FOR FANS OF EDM, HOUSE AND HIP-HOP

One of the most iconic parties in Ibiza, NERVO Nation is counting down the days until its long-awaited premiere at Eden. The titanic NERVO duo will fill the club with their infectious dance energy across eight Wednesdays this season. The Australian twins will be accompanied by a selection of prestigious guest DJs with varied sounds ranging from EDM and Trance to House and Hip-Hop.

NERVO have been leading the global EDM scene for over 10 years. Touring the world's leading clubs and festivals, from Tomorrowland to Ultra Music, they currently sit at #18 on DJMag's Top 100 and have collaborated with heavyweights like Kylie Minogue, Ke$ha, The Pussycat Dolls, Afrojack, Steve Aoki, Armin Van Buuren or Miley Cyrus. In 2010 they won a Grammy Award for having participated in the composition of the world super hit "When love takes over", by David Guetta and Kelly Rowland.

The NERVO Nation lineup showcases an eclectic mix of artists that includes trance and big room figures (W&W, Quintino, Sander van Doorn, Martin Jensen, Third Party, Tom Staar, Sigala), house classics (Roger Sanchez, Kryder, Offaiah, Lovely Laura & Ben Santiago), and rappers like Example and Tinie Tempah.

Sisters Mim and Liv, members of NERVO, stated: “After several years of forced hiatus due to Covid, we are more than excited to return to Ibiza. This summer is going to be very special on the island and we have prepared a line-up made up of 25 old and new friends from all over the dance music spectrum and packed with talent who are coming to Eden ready to make the audience lose. head. We are looking forward to having a great party with our fans in Ibiza on our return to the island”.

NERVO Nation had been a fixture at Ushuaïa Ibiza in the years before the pandemic, and this year the brand is moving to the lively west of the island – the epicentre of the British community – and just 15km from its former home. Wednesdays at Eden will be dedicated to the most mainstream and commercial sounds of electronic music, complementing a very balanced program that includes Drum & Bass (Louder Ibiza, Monday), Techno (Repopulate Mars, Tuesday), Trance (Shine, Thursday) and House (Defective, Friday).

Eden Ibiza, founded in 1999, changed owners and underwent a profound reform in 2013. In addition to its thriving program for this summer 2022, the jewel of the club is Void's Gold Incubus sound.

OPENING PARTY

29th June

NERVO

W&W

SANDER VAN DOORN

RYAN SPICER

6th July

NERVO

OFFAIAH

MARTIN JENSEN

D.O.D

VIZE

SARAH MAIN

13th July

NERVO

ROGER SANCHEZ

OFFAIAH

ALFIE GOLD

20th July

NERVO

SIGALA

MARTIN JENSEN

BLASTOYZ

SARAH MAIN

27th July

NERVO

TINIE TEMPAH

TOM STAAR

SKAZI

WOODY COOK

3rd August 

NERVO

QUINTINO

LOVELY LAURA & BEN SANTIAGO

THIRD PARTY

GIL GLAZE

13th July

NERVO

EXAMPLE

CAROLINE ROXY

RYAN SPICER

CLOSING PARTY

17th August 

NERVO

SIGALA

KRYDER

JACK WINS

PLASTIK FUNK

SASHA TO PLAY THREE SPECIAL SHOWS AT COVA SANTA THIS SUMMER

SASHA WILL FEATURE AT THE VENUE ON JULY 6TH, AUGUST 10TH, SEPTEMBER 14TH WITH THE LIKES OF DUBFIRE, PATRICE BAUMEL, HOSH, GEORGE FITZGERALD, LAU.RA, MILOU, WEVAL, FRANKY WAH, CICI, CERI, BEC, FELL REIS JOINING HIM

Global electronic music icon Sasha is to play three special and intimate dates at the magical Cova Santa in the heart of the Ibiza hills. Starting monthly from July 6th, these parties will see the Last Night on Earth label boss joined by international names Dubfire, Patrice Baumel, HOSH, George Fitzgerald, Lau.ra, Milou, Weval, Franky Wah, Cici, Ceri, BEC and Fell Reis. Buy your tickets and book your restaurant table for these exclusive nights now at covasanta.com

Sasha needs little introduction. He has been at the forefront of the electronic underground for decades, always pushing his own sound and the scene forward. Known as a technical innovator and someone always perfecting his craft, his meticulous synths and compelling drums make for the most immersive and escapist experience in all of electronic music.

For the last decade, he has been at the helm of his own Last Night On Earth label, serving up scintillating new sounds and recruiting the finest and freshest talents to release alongside him. He has recently echoed that mission with a series of ten collaborations with the likes of Alex Banks, Photek, Mr. Sosa, Pumarosa and more, and has just finished a run of ten global LNOE showcases that left crowds spellbound.

For these special SASHA+ dates, he will be joined by the best talents in the scene including the pioneering SCI+TEC boss Dubfire, Germany's melancholic master Patrice Baumel, Diynamic associate HOSH, UK innovator George Fitzgerald, pop-bass fusionist Lau.ra, plus Milou, Weval, Franky Wah, Cici, Ceri, BEC and Fell Reis. 

Cova Santa is a magical space in the heart of Ibiza, nestled between the green mountains of San José and built around a natural cave sculpted by water over thousands of years. It has a stylish and intimate indoor space with world class light and sound, and a gorgeous garden area with natural landscaping and an organic feel. 

These three dates will be special indeed so secure your limited tickets and book your restaurant table now at covasanta.com