Oasis, Into The Wild 2023 Review: Dance Music Lovers Gather Inside The Worlds Largest Film Studios In Morocco
It's not every day that you find yourself in the exact spot where Russell Crowe was attacked by a tiger in Gladiator , but here I am at Oasis: Into the Wild, the electronic music festival in the largest park in the world World. They are organized. . The film studios are located in the so-called Gate of the Desert: Ouarzazate, Morocco.
Ouarzazate, a four-hour drive south of Marrakech, is a quiet town of pink brick buildings and orange skies. Think of an ancient Egyptian story you've seen, like The Mummy or Lawrence of Arabia , and there's a good chance it was filmed here at Atlas Studios.
There are three stations in the oasis: Agrabah, a type of ancient Egyptian court; For Cleopatra, the large arena with massive stone steps and ancient columns straight from the mummy ; and the Kasbah, a beautiful open-air medieval-style village with psychedelic scenes painted on the walls of surrounding buildings. As a British festival-goer, I'm used to wading through inches of mud or, worse, getting from point A to point B, but at Oasis I find myself squeezing between tiny stone walkways and old recordings. Along the way, I discovered cinematic treasures: fake Egyptian temples, Tibetan monasteries and reconstructed biblical cities. There is a Back to the Future mural near the portals.
On Saturday evening the festival is all about techno. German producer DJ KOZE plays low-key polyrhythmic beats throughout the Cleopatra stage, while local DJ AMVN switches from handmade Ibiza-style house music to heavy break and trip-hop. Sunday starts the day with a set from British DJ Yoti, which includes hip-hop, baile funk, British funk and garage. He entertains the audience and plays club bangers with a certain something. These include the Punjabi-inspired R&B classic and the Jersey Club version of Meghan T Stallion's "Thot S***."
After DJing the London opener of Madonna's world tour, American DJ Honey Dijon called it quits on Sunday night. Dijon, best known for his work producing Beyoncé's Renaissance album, closed the festival with a crisp and catchy warehouse-style techno house set.
However, Oasis isn't just about music. Downstairs, Maison Mbari offers Moroccan herbal tea as well as a range of wellness activities, including yoga, breathing classes and an “intuitive dance experience.” Grainy tagines are regularly served at the Moroccan square; An informal space decorated with teak-colored carpets and comfortable floor seating. On the other hand, festival participants, art lovers, can find various film screenings, art courses and a photography exhibition by the contemporary Moroccan artist Hassan Hajjaj.
Oasis has the experience of crossing Morocco; In the year since the first event in 2015, the organizers have never decided on a location. But this year the situation is different. With its unique lineup and eclipse venue, this special celebration seems to have finally found its home.
Oasis: Return to the Wild in 2024. Watch here .
