Sojourn: From Seascape to Soundstage
Sojourn was dreamed up on the sun-drenched deck of my whānaus home in Pauanui, or the little tropical oasis we call "The Nui Hut". The Coromandel has forever been my inner-adventurer's retreat, where I can escape the hurried reprise of everyday routine and find solace in a slow and simple lifestyle, away from a frenzy of digital distractions. Removing social media from the mix unlocks a massive sense of freedom and an urge to explore beyond the bounds of our daily default, and from a pretty hefty stack of research it's obvious that an ocean of Millennials and Gen Z'ers also share this heightened sense of wanderlust when techs off the table.
So with a love for the local indie rock music scene in play, I present SOJOURN - a traveling music and adventure festival which journeys the eastern coastline of the Coromandel Peninsula. Each sustainably-crafted item tucked inside the Sojourn Roadie Kit aims to encourage festie-goers to become utterly immersed in the present moment, the music, our moana and surrounding whenua, and their connection to each-other. With my hand-drawn illustrations being influenced by the playful, organic and free analogue style reminiscent of the 1960s/70s, it only seemed fitting that 'Vienna' by Billy Joel (1977) sparked this train of thought from onset. Even 45 years on the lyrics, “slow down you crazy child, take the phone off the hook and disappear for a while,” couldn’t be more relevant!
Welcome to Sojourn, the ultimate coastal adventure and music festival! From seascape to soundstage, Sojourn will guide festival-goers through a mystical, melodic camping expedition to 6 picturesque pockets of paradise on the Coromandel Peninsula. The Sojourn Roadie Kit contains a collection of on-the-go supplies to unlock adventure; whether it be cranking up the car CD player, rocking the groovy new garms, slapping on some reef-safe sunscreen, or putting pen to postcard and simply reflecting. In creating this box of goodies, I've ensured minimal waste and have opted for sustainable single-use plastic alternatives where possible.
Sojourn features a 100% organic lineup of bands and musicians from across Aotearoa and Australia, presenting a moreish mix of psychedelic garage grooves, 60s surf-rock nostalgia, dancable disco funk, lofi-folk melodies, and a splash of indie-dream pop. The organic nature of both the materials and musical lineup radiates the Sojourn kaupapa; encouraging attendees to treat the 12-day escape as a digital detox — to focus on themselves, their connection with the earth, and their affinity to those around them. So go on, dive in, and immerse yourself in the eclectic spirit of this euphonious escapade I call, Sojourn. From seascape to soundstage, enjoy!
