ZERØBPM is an event platform and collective of artists that believes in the primal consumption of music — the listening of music for the sake of just being. They prove that the commercial overconsumption of music can rob the listener of the pleasure of immersing themselves in a melody. ZERØBPM strips away the traditional clubbing environment and maintains, as a personal philosophy, that in a fast-paced world more multisensory events are needed. This collective prides itself on the curation and construction of communal meditative experiences by intertwining light, art, soundscapes and ambient music.
This last November 30th, they hosted a 17.5-hour non-stop ambient meditation in Amsterdam, guided by Varvara Fisher. The event took place in the dome of De Koepelkerk, a centerpiece of a church whose architecture provides fantastic acoustics that resonate and penetrate into the mind, turning this location into a true temple of sound.
The fifteen artists that performed were both international and local, displaying a variety of styles like dreamy techno, house music, techno-experimental, vinyl-only sets and many more, mainly low-tempo beats in order to maintain the slow, relaxed environment. The guidelines of the event consisted of the basic tasks of showing up on time, not using a mobile device and absolutely no alcohol. Out of all the unique aspects of this event, it may seem most surprising to have a strict no-alcohol rule, considering how used we have become to mixing words like raving, techno and partying with a drink or two. Yet ZERØBPM insists on this rule to truthfully cherish the music and the artistic, almost therapeutic setting in a clear state of body and mind.
The lighting, the architecture, the music, the company and the everlasting silent devotion to sound turned the event into an environment of peace, coexistence and sublime energy. Accompanied by visual and artistic effects from Vincent Rang, it is easy to describe the event as beautiful, sacred and ritualistic — a true love letter to music. Pictures and wide documentation are scarce considering the no-phones-allowed rule, which also gave the experience a sense of exclusivity and the feeling that you simply had to be there in order to fully appreciate it, further incentivizing music and ambiance lovers everywhere.
