From August 11-13, West Coast Weekender will join forces with Charivari Detroit to bring us the Charivari Detroit Music Festival at Historic Fort Wayne in Detroit. Today, we are fortunate to have an opportunity to connect with the legendary and prolific Oscar P!
Oscar, thank you so much for agreeing to share a few moments and thoughts with us.
Q: First of all, for the uninitiated, tell us about the West Coast Weekender, how it started, when and where it started, and how it has developed into a phenomenal brand.
A: West Coast Weekender is a travel destination company that specializes in travelers who like to attend festivals and travel together in large groups. Over the years it’s developed into different versions of itself with the most recent being what is now called West Coast Weekender.
Q: When did you first connect with Charivari Detroit? How did the collaboration come about? Has this connection been in the making for a long time?
A: This is our 2nd year working with Charivari. in 2022 we did an artist exchange, with them coming to San Diego and us heading to Detroit. Since they think along the same lines musically that we do, it’s great synergy.
Q: What makes this year’s Charivari Detroit Music Festival special?
A: Charivari Detroit welcomes new ideas and opportunities, which is why we love to work with them. If you have Detroit in your heart, this is the trip for you.
Q: What can a first-time attendee like me expect?
A: An outdoor festival area similar to festivals in Europe. After-parties at night, that run late into the morning. Attendees who enjoy quality house music of all styles underground.
Q: Your roster of DJs for this festival is amazing. How did you go about selecting and bringing together such a large group of talented artists?
A: The Charivari team made the final booking choices. They are as diverse as we are when we do Weekender in San Diego.
Q: Please tell me a bit about the layout of the festival. Will there be multiple stages?
A: 3 stages running from 2pm-12 midnight. Then Parties at night. There are also VIP areas where avoiding long bar or bathroom lines are essential.
Q: From personal experience, I can say that every West Coast Weekender event that I have attended felt like I was celebrating with family. The house community felt very tight and connected. Will you be carrying that vibe to Detroit?
A: We personally don’t have to carry anything but ourselves and our travelers. Charivari already has this energy, which is why we love to work with them.
Q: What challenges, if any, did you face during the planning phase of this festival?
A: Logistically for us this year we do more of the promotions and sales from the California area. Todd from Charivari and his staff take care of all the on site adventures.
Q: Are tickets still available?
A: Gen Pop and VIP are still available.
Q: If someone from out of town reads this interview and wants to go, what should they do first?
A: If you are looking for VIP tickets or Upgrades to VIP it’s best to visit – https://westcoastweekender.
Q: Looking beyond next week’s festival, what else does 2023 have in store for you? Plans for major events? Plans for travel?
A: Next big travel group after this will be MI CASA HOLIDAY in Playa Del Carmen for the 15 Year Anniversary.
Q: Thank you so much for your time – any final thoughts? What should we be looking for from Oscar P in the coming weeks, months?
A: It’s been a very busy year already, but up next is:
8/10 – SWIG, Chicago
8/12 – Weekender Detroit, Charivari Fest
8/12 – Shadow Gallery Afters, Detroit
9/24 – WCW, Quartyard w/Mark Farina, San Diego
10/4-9 – Mi Casa Holiday, Mexico
11/11 – Deep Tech / Chocolate Boat Ride
Raised in Williamsburg Brooklyn and Manhattan’s Washington Heights. Oscar P is as groundbreaking as they come. For the past 25 years, he’s been fusing Afro-Latino and deep house influences from NYC, Chicago, Detroit, & Africa to create a unique sound that defines his style today. Over the last 25 years, his discography has grown over a variety of labels including Strictly Rhythm, Tool Room, Yoruba, Kolour Recordings, Open Bar Music, MoBlack, Naughty Boy, and Balance Music. As a producer, he’s done remixes for Jamiroquai, Adele, Omar, Mark Farina, KiNK, Soul Minority, Todd Terry, & Physics.
A world traveler, he’s logged in set times at some of the world’s leading venues like The Works (Detroit), Output (Brooklyn), Cielo (NY), King King (Los Angeles), Norad & Beta (Denver), Supperclub (NL), La Santanera (Mexico), Area 22 (Italy), Cinema Club (Bogota), Spin Nightclub (San Diego), Stereo (Montreal), and The Grasshopper (MI).
With more than 50 releases cracking the top ten in the last three years, a who’s who of music industry pioneers support his productions. He’s been named one of the best-selling Afro House Music Artists yearly alongside Black Coffee, Osunlade, Atjazz, Hyenah, Louie Vega, and Manoo on Traxsource.
Oscar P operates two of the most respected underground house labels, Kolour Recordings, and Open Bar Music. He also co-produces West Coast Weekender, a boutique music conference, and festival that attracts people from all over the world to his home base in San Diego, California.
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