Watch Diplo Perform to an Empty Ocean in Antarctica: ‘It’s One of My Favorite Sets’
Written by djfrosty on January 23, 2024
Last month, Diplo played what was surely one of his coolest sets ever, both literally and figuratively — performing from the helipad of a ship in the Southern Ocean off the coast of Antarctica.
Today (Jan. 23), the producer shared the full 90-minute performance on YouTube, with the video using multiple cameras to capture the vast ocean and epic snow-covered landscapes of the world’s southernmost continent.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to DJ all over the world,” Diplo said of the performance in the video’s description. “Over the course of my career I’ve played on every continent except one, Antarctica. I think as an artist you should always be pushing the boundaries of what you can do and that’s when the most creativity sparks. I always talk in interviews that I want to do more.
The DJ continued, saying he wanted his set to help “raise awareness” around ongoing preservation efforts of “one of the most delicate and special ecosystems” in Antarctica. “We made sure to follow all strict land guidelines to bring a video to life that not only captures my set but the beautiful untouched landscape of the Antarctic,” he wrote. “It’s one of my favorite sets I’ve ever posted to YouTube (and I’m not just saying that).”
The performance happened during a six-day Antarctic cruise that featured performances by Diplo, Oliver Tree and Secular Sabbath, which calls itself “an alternative educational institution and intentional community” focused on ambient music experiences.
The video is meant to encourage donations to ocean conservation organization Oceana, with a disclaimer noting that “Diplo and his crew worked closely with the [International Association of Antarctic Tour Operations] to ensure the livestream capture was done in a safe and environmentally responsible manner in an effort to promote responsible tourism in Antarctica.”
Watch Diplo’s full Antarctic set below: