Pixel Perfect

MANILA, Philippines — It was a scene straight out of a tech-savvy millennial’s dream: an outdoor playground as the perfect Insta-ready backdrop; interactive booths with games and prizes; art installations that would spruce up any influencer’s feed; and live music airdropped from a Spotify playlist.

Now in its sixth year, Wanderland has become the country’s premier music and arts festival, drawing hordes of festival-goers, most of them young, as it showcased the hottest acts in the indie music scene alongside an experiential treat for the senses and the social media page.

Just as the sun set, there was a special kind of magic as Daniel Caesar finally took the stage, arguably the most anticipated act of the night.

As with most successful events, this year’s Wanderland proved to be bigger and better: fans were not left disappointed with international headliners such as Daniel Caesar, Jhené Aiko and festival favorite Kodaline onstage. The theme “Wanderland Pixels” also seemingly played homage to Karpos Multimedia’s biggest partner, Globe, featuring adorable 8-bit references decked out in blue and purple. All impeccably curated, if not a little lacking in the rawness that made previous Wanderland festivals so special. Still, a well-organized event trumps any illusion of intimacy, and Wanderland 2018 succeeds in that aspect despite the huge turnout.

Music remains the biggest draw, and it was again the festival’s highlight this year; there were no carousels or climbing walls in sight, as had previously characterized the festival. Still, fans’ interests were piqued by an arcade booth where attendees could play with retro arcade games we once loved (hello, Mario Kart!), as well as an art market that peddled fresh pieces by independent artists and entrepreneurs.

Jhené Aiko, was an ethereal vision as she hit the stage ,mesmerizing fans with a captivating presence.

The fun emerged from clouds by noon, which was good news for early birds (the weather doesn’t always cooperate at outdoor Wanderland). The overcast kept festival-goers from scorching as they frolicked in the grass, crochet tops and all. The music picked up strong with local acts Basically Saturday Night, Carousel Casualties, Ben & Ben, Asch, Quest and Jess Connelly serving up some smooth sets in the afternoon.

Excitement was in the air as LAUV stepped onstage, the first in a lineup of international acts; they had listeners rioting within the first few seconds of their hit, I Like Me Better. Then, just as the sun set, there was a special kind of magic as Daniel Caesar finally took the stage, arguably the most anticipated act of the night. The crowd swooned through tracks such as Best Part and Get You, and there was something poetic about multi-colored balloons bouncing in mid-air as kids sang along to the lyric: “Yes, I’m a mess but I’m blessed to be stuck with you.”

First time to perform with a band,  Jess Connelly didn’t turnWanderers down with her smooth set.

Electronic duo Bag Raiders had listeners bobbing to their popular hit Shooting Stars. Well into the night, Jhené Aiko, another memorable performer, was an ethereal vision as she hit the stage, mesmerizing fans with confessional songs like The Worst and a captivating stage presence. “All these songs I write are true stories,” she shared with the crowd. “So when I come to sing them, they’re extensions of me.” And the audience roared.

FKJ, known for his smooth music that merges electronic beats with real instrumental sounds, brought the house down, delivering his sweet signature sax sound in Tadow live and, so flawlessly, you could have closed your eyes and sworn you were listening to a recording. And as was fitting for his Manila show, the French producer brought out Filipina artist and frequent collaborator June Marieezy (also a Wanderland alum) to sing Fly live, a love song of sorts for the Philippines. Kodaline aptly closed the show with soaring folk tunes, leaving fans in a breathless state of euphoria just before the lights went out.

LA UV had listeners rioting within the first few seconds when he performed his hit, I Like Me Better.

Wanderland 2018 undoubtedly featured some strong acts, arguably the best lineup the festival has seen.

One of Wanderland’s best moments, though, wasn’t during a band set, but in a completely personal moment for the public to witness. It couldn’t have been orchestrated any better: IV of Spades called a guy onstage to propose to his girlfriend, just as the introductory guitar licks to the band’s song Mundo came alive. “I’ve been waiting for the right moment, but I guess I just have to make the right moment na lang and I guess this is it,” the guy says on the mic as he got down on one knee. Taking out the ring, he asked, “How about it? Will you marry me?” and then the crowd erupted into a wild chorus.

This highlights something noteworthy: the crowds may have swelled, the pace may have changed, but one thing stays the same: Wanderland is still the place for making memories. Pretty, perfect pictures captured within the frame of a smartphone.

The crowd erupts into chorus as IV of Spades perform their hit, Mundo.