The music industry is one of the most diverse and widely contested market spaces in the world. Its widespread umbrella consists of many avenues, however in recent years, streaming has undoubtedly dominated the industry, and the impact of this shifting market on artists and live shows is frequently debated. Cercle take a completely unique approach to this fast paced, ‘shuffle playlist’, anti-gig music industry of the 21st Century. Finding ways in which to accommodate the changing consumer patterns, Cercle choose to live stream all of their sets via Facebook. However, perhaps more important than their accommodations is their commitment to bring together artists and music lovers, in the most interesting and peculiar locations.
Founder, Derek Barbolla, began Cercle without any real intention. It started as nothing more than simply wanting to share his friends DJ sets on Facebook. Cercle’s development was forced into escalation when his neighbours began to file noise complaints. He and his friends began to look for other venues around his hometown of Paris, and then to more abnormal sites, such as Parisian caves and a boat on the Siene River.
It was not long after this that they decided to send an email to the Eiffel Tower, proposing to host a set by Mome on one of the most iconic landmarks of the western world, 906ft above the ground. This moment marked the birth of Cercle, with an objective to showcase cultural heritage and landmarks through the prism of electronic music and video. Since this objective was cemented in 2016, Cercle has come on leaps and bounds, hosting a collection of mesmerising events that truly push the boundaries of possibility for both live events and streaming.
Since its affirmation within the music scene, Cercle has been able to attract some of the biggest names in electronic music, including Carl Cox, Peggy Gou and Charlotte De Witte. Although Cercle’s contemporaries are able to boast similar resumes, what really sets them apart from the pack is their ability to obtain some of the most beautiful buildings and landscapes to host their sets. Their daring ambition in delivering electronic music really seeks new bounds, and it’s hard to believe the consistency of their high quality production. Whether it be FKJ’s wonderous performance in the stunning Salar de Uyuni, Stephan Bodzin’s intensely mindboggling techno symphony upon the Piz Gloria, or ARTBAT playing to the sunset overlooked by Christ the Redeemer in Rio, there is no shortage of beauty in their work.
Another reason to put Cercle at the top of your streaming desires is that they really care about music. Since their launch, they have continued to remain focused on pushing the boundaries of consumer experience, whilst continually champion the very best talent within the electronic music industry. This may be demonstrated through their panoramic drone shots or their premium sound quality, but it is best demonstrated by Cercles desire to delicately pair together artist and location, to achieve the most extraordinary results. They often say that it is important to who and where you are playing. Cercle remove this consideration for the artist, as they carefully select the artist that best suits the result they wish to achieve from a location.
Cercle consistently achieve the unimaginable, and it seems there are no limits for what they will achieve next. When asked about his dream places to host an event, Barbolla answered “Achievable, the Egyptian Pyramids. Unachievable the moon.” So, to the moon and back, I guess.
For their next event, Cercle invites Adam Beyer to the Ancient Theater of Lugdunum. Follow the Facebook link below to find the event and watch the full live stream on Monday 9th September.
