A day in Paradise

When first promised paradise sometime last year by the newest kid on the festival block, music fans were wary. But last Saturday, April 9, the gates to the Promised Land were opened at Aseana City, and those same fans found themselves at Paradise International Music Festival.

The summer heat coupled with dust galore made for an unforgiving desert-like environment, but that didn’t stop festival-goers from flocking by the hundreds.

The freshman festival’s main criticism was its lack of a curated line-up. In an attempt to shed light on various genres, other performers risked becoming mere appetizers to the main course of a “musical salad.” In defense of their seemingly arbitrary slew of performers, founder Vian Serranilla told GMA News Online, “You have Good Vybes [and] Wanderland, which are more for indie bands. [Paradise IMF] is really to create a community for a multi-genre festival.” Thankfully, each artist received due appreciation during their sets.

Worthy of praise is the quality assistance and the hassle-free food and beverage booths. Seasoned concert-goers know that conquering long lines, even if it means having to miss a set or two, is part of festival survival 101. Luckily, this proved not to be a problem, because watching your favorite band from the line would have been far from paradise. Punctuality – a rare art form in the local live music industry – was another strong feat, as schedule was significantly on the dot. Well, save for Mr. West. But who’s complaining?

The considerably massive line-up composed of twenty local and international artists made sure to cater to every musical palate. Fans of indie rock and OPM enjoyed afternoon sets by Cheats, Hale, and Itchyworms, while DJ sets by Jessica Milner, and a dance number by 4^th Impact provided mid-day energy for early birds. The evening was welcomed with the ever soulful crowd favorite Up Dharma Down, as a precursor to teen pop sensation Austin Mahone, while the rest of the affair was dedicated to major international acts such as Rudimental, Wiz Khalifa, and the main Paradise behemoth – Kanye West.

First, it was Wiz Khalifa who waltzed onto the stage with undeniable panache emanating from his unbuttoned floral polo and perpetually beaming face. Hitting the audience with the ultimate throwback as he performed his 2010 hits, Wiz had everyone feeling young, wild, and free. The rapper’s powerful performance and rapport was no doubt a nostalgic delight.

But the next beginning was bravura, as the man named Kanye Omari West descended from the darkness and into the electrifying light of thousands who came for the blessing of Yeezus. He came preaching his Nietzschian hook of “Now that don’t kill me can only make me stronger,” and from there, you wouldn’t know what hit you. What followed next was nothing the biggest ‘Ye disciple could ever prepare for. His Paradise IMF performance was the first since officially releasing his latest magnum opus, The Life of Pablo. As such, people were on their toes not knowing what to expect. But Yeezus took the audience on a pilgrimage from different eras of his artistic journey – from his exhilarating live debut of Famous, which came with an equally emotive speech, and the evocative Jesus Walks spurring from a time before Kanye became a brand name, to the chilling Blood on the Leaves, to the dramatic Runaway that felt strangely intimate despite being sung to legions of fans. It only took 90 minutes to convert everyone to the church of Yeezus because he didn’t just come down in flickers of greatness, but a blaze of glory.

However, the celebration didn’t stop with Mr. West. The after party continued with EDM veterans Afrojack and DJ Rivero. By the end of the night, everyone felt like miners lifted out of a collapsed shaft – completely drained, exhausted, and covered in dust – but reborn, and oh so happy to be alive.