If you’re looking for a new musical experience, this event might interest you. The Transform showcase by New Forms Festival is back in Vancouver for its second year, launching on November 13 with an even more immersive and exciting lineup, bringing us four days packed with artistic energy. This unique event offers a diverse program of live performances, DJ sets, immersive audiovisual installations, and panels. All centered around themes of art and resistance. Transform is also a celebration of community and heritage, uplifting voices that often go unheard in mainstream spaces.
The lineup, curated in partnership with local artists Lionessa, Adam, and Sierra Lima, takes things to new heights this year. From augmented reality art pieces and mesmerizing soundscapes to visuals created by artists from QTBIPOC and SWANA (Southwest Asian and North African) communities, the showcase offers an art experience like no other. Importantly, Transform also features influential figures from global community radio, creating a cultural dialogue that extends far beyond the festival’s four walls.
Cracks form in our chrysalis; on the other side: transformation.
Our lineup is live—complete with DJ sets, live music, A/V spectacle, VJs to reimagine the world, and panellists to vocalize our ideas.
Come with all your feelings, leave with your senses full—or fully depleted. pic.twitter.com/FFd5m0IqFe
— New Forms (@NewFormsFest) October 22, 2024
The festival kicks off in the Woodward’s Building with i+eo’s captivating multimedia installation. Following this, audiences will dive into the surreal works of Stefana Fratila and Diana Lynn VanderMeulen. Evidence Doll will bring a jolt of hardcore energy, while DJs Mikubat and Nanoos take us on a musical journey that fuses sounds from Tehran to Chicago, all interwoven with local influences. Making their Vancouver debut, Tati au Miel and Piu will fill the space with sensory landscapes and ambient percussion, adding another layer of depth to the experience.
A weekend highlight is the “Artists Against Apartheid” panel, where Rawan Hassan, Jada Pape, and others will discuss how art can serve as a powerful form of resistance—a message that feels especially relevant in today’s world. Co-curator Adam, whose curatorial vision centers on pushing electronic music boundaries, explained the thoughtful selection process: “I’ve selected artists who challenge expectations of electronic music, with a heavy focus on driving percussions and rhythmic entropy. Using intricate sound design and world-building skills, these artists pull from their respective heritages to build rich cultural soundscapes that encourage futurism, transcendence, and the deconstruction of oppressive realities.”
Behind this extraordinary festival is New Forms Media Society, a non-profit founded i 2000 to unite creative communities and push artistic boundaries. New Forms isn’t just about putting on a show; it’s about making new media art, electronic music, film, technology-based installations, and performance accessible to everyone. Their goal is to amplify marginalized and underground art practices, supporting Canadian media artists and bringing their work to global audiences.