By Marie Hvingelby, volunteer journalist
You must have been living under a rock if your inner antenna hasn't already picked up on the pulsating signal from reggaeton sounds, which in a few years have transitioned from a distant concept in Latin American regions to an ingrained part of our shared culture and the festival's lineup.
Whether you've already twisted your body to the hot reggaeton rhythms or you're a reggaeton rookie, you're invited when Apollo transforms tonight into a spaceship that takes you to the Mexican ghetto.
From midnight and for four hours onward, you'll encounter three DJs, each playing an active role in spreading reggaeton up to our latitudes. At the top of the lineup is the Colombian-born, Mexico-based Rosa Pistola, who has curated the program and will wrap up the party, which doesn’t end before the sun starts to rise.
A few days before this special night, we met Rosa Pistola to hear what we can expect and her views on reggaeton's infiltration at, among other places, the Roskilde Festival.
But first, she introduces the two other names she has personally selected, Debit and Bclip:
“Bclip and Debit are people who understand what Latin American music is and who have a global perspective on music. They know how to approach these super diverse cultures of people, and they know how to engage with those who don't really know how to dance like we do. They make their sound more appealing to what's happening in the place we’re playing – they're very good at reading the crowd,” Rosa Pistola explains.
She has also noted that Roskilde Festival – and you and many others on site – have embraced reggaeton.
“I think it's well-seen that the Roskilde Festival strives to make room for new sounds. It's important to be able to go to a festival and find different rhythms and new impressions, and I also think it's important for the audience to find new ways to move their bodies.”
At Apollo, you'll be exposed to a world of rhythms, tempos, and subgenres. Rosa Pistola looks forward to playing music that reflects her culture and environment and pushes both your and her own boundaries as an artist.
And when your body has settled into these new rhythms, it all culminates in euphoria, guarantees Rosa Pistola:
“My DJ sets are like a story I tell. Throughout the night, you’ll feel happy, a little conflicted, and then end on a very high, joyful note. And because not everyone is used to hearing the kind of music I play, it will be very surprising for them to hear all these new rhythms they didn’t know existed. That's what will make this night special.”
