I headed up to Houston, TX this past weekend for an event that promised to be one of the most unique and immersive out there. And deliver, it did.
Mesmerize took place Saturday February 12th, 2022. It was an event complete with immersive environments, interactive art, live painting, an artisan market and of course, music. Lots and lots of music. Two stages with a line up that consisted of Houston natives Alex Lauter and Dashr, headlining the event was Anjunadeep rising star, Nox Vahn.
How did it all start? Who is behind the curtain pulling all the levers making this event happen? Where is the event going? Dashr was kind enough to share some insight for Soundhaven.
What is Mesmerize about in your own words?
Mesmerize is about creating a multi sensory immersive experience. It’s about connecting people through art & music, dance & feeling. It’s about creating an environment we can all be ourselves in, meet like minded people. It’s about the community that builds it with us, and our collective dreams & visions.
How long has Mesmerize been going on for?
Mesmerize was born in Austin Texas four years ago as a pop-up party. It was founded at that time by Clayton Lilard and Mateo Gutierrez, and became known as a rad art party with cool interactive elements. During Covid it became a fixed installation at Native Hostel, which proved really successful as a concept. During that time Clay and Mateo called me in to DJ for a couple of events, which started our partnership. I thought it would be really cool to put my company Limitless Lights and Sound, behind it and produce the stage a bit heavier and pull in some headliners, while bridging the party over to houston for my crowd out there.
How are you involved and what other projects are you Involved in?
My main role with Mesmerize is in the Houston market, doing their talent booking and holding down the backbone of the stage production. I also coordinate all the local partnerships. I give them supplementary support and the Austin Market when they need it too.
I have a really wide range of other projects I focus on with my production companies, but one of my passion projects at Cirque Noir. I’ve been doing their production management for the better part of five years now. We seen some really epic moments and had a chance to work with some really talented artists across the country.
I’m working on a new party concept, which I can’t speak much on yet but just know it’s going to be a combination of a lot of what you see at Mesmerize, and drawing influence from a lot of the other high brow electronic music parties that I get to work on. It’s going to have its backbone in house music, immersive art, and top-tier production. Really excited for what’s coming in the next year!
This past weekend was so much fun! Grateful for being able to shoot and have met people that up to this point had only talked online with.
Check out the gallery and video from Mesmerize 2022:
