Bolivia

From Psychedelic Traveller

Bolivia, officially The Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country in central South America. It is bordered by Brazil to the north and east, Paraguay and Argentina to the south, and Chile and Peru to the west. Prior to European colonization, the Bolivian territory was a part of the Inca Empire, which was the largest state in Pre-Columbian America. After declaring independence in 1809, 16 years of war followed before the establishment of the republic, named for Simón Bolívar, on August 6, 1825. Bolivia has struggled through periods of political instability, dictatorships and economic woes.

Bolivia is a democratic republic, divided into nine departments. Its geography is varied from the peaks of the Andes in the west, to the eastern lowlands, situated within the Amazon Basin. The Bolivian population, estimated at 9 million, is multiethnic, including Amerindians, Mestizos, Europeans and to a lesser extent Asians and Africans. The main language spoken is Spanish, although the Aymara and Quechua languages are also common. The large number of different cultures within Bolivia has contributed greatly to a wide diversity in fields such as art, cuisine, literature and music. The word Bolivia is derived from Bolívar, the last name of the famous American Libertador Simón Bolívar.

History

The psy-trance scene in Bolivia started in 1996 with some memorable parties produced by Ultraflecha Productions. Many new producers appear on the scene within the next two years like Boltek, Psyworks, Moonchild and Neurotrance. Later in 1998, The Earthdance arrived to stay as the most important psy-trance event for the community. Organized in the year 2000 was the first rave parade, named Lapazparade that attracted about 2000 people. Some important artist played in festivals around Bolivia; there were names like Vibrasphere and X-Dream during 2002 and 2003.

Andean Tribe Records

Psytrance makes its first move in the Bolivian Andes at the end of the 90’s. Andean DJ (Jimmy Luksić) takes part in the underground trance movement in 2001 with the Amanda’s Dreamscape Crew organizing open air festivals in the mountain forests of the Andes. At the end of 2007 begins a new era with the creation of Andean Tribe which includes a great variety of members coming from all over the world and cultures. Full-on is the tribe’s specialty. Through a certain amount of festivals and events which have already been held, Andean Tribe is proposing a new musical, psychedelic art and open space atmosphere for all kinds of creative forms and essences.

[2010] The new perspective ... but the same trance in BOLIVIA

written by Micropunto

Being a long term stablished psy tribe, Bolivian psy scene, as the whole electronic music scene in the South America’s heart, had experienced a significant growth since 2009. The new Bolivian projects released by Bolivian labels and the quality of the parties and acts that visited the Bolivian cities during the whole year made a lot of difference between yesterday and today. This generated the addition of new parties around the “troncal axis” cities: Western (Mountains) La Paz- El alto conglomerate, Central (Valleys) Cochabamba – Quillacollo conglomertate, and the biggest and most populated of the three; Eastern (Plains) Santa Cruz conglomerate.

Andean Tribe Collective and Neuro Trance Records are the most active producers an promoters right now in the Government Center and also main center of the culture, technology and millenarian legacy of the Andine-Amazonic Plurinational State of Bolivia, the city of La Paz.

The new government’s intends to demystify the old stereotyped view of a corrupt and oligarchic Bolivia of the 1980’s in which drug master’s and a DEA fought in an open war for the control of the coca plant fields and it’s subsequent cocaine production. The Bolivian governments during the 80’s and 90’s were sold to US’s interests of domination and drug production control in Bolivia, as it had the control in many other strategically resources of the South American nation at that time all ready, but the geopolitics’ stuff is something that we are not discussing in this stance, any way this information is important to understand this country’s twenty last year history.

Those old stories lead the actual plurinational state to be stricter in substance control matters than the older governments. About the existence of parties and activities; the activity calendar is absolutely normal as all the rest of things and facets of life. You can find one in the major cities twice or three times a month generally. Hanging parties is normal in practically all the “troncal axis” cities. The best way to engage one is by internet. All things you look for about parties, hotels, tourism into national reservations at different prices and with different activities can be found at any city of Bolivian, West to the East, “troncal axis” and all the other intermediate cities: Oruro, Tarija, Sucre (The official and historical but not politically executing capital of Bolivia), Potosí, Trinidad, Cobija, Uyuni and others.

Because of the newer social control the underground activities became more usual, stronger, much more creative and very attractive. Anyway police is not concerned that much in our tribe matters unless you taunt them clearly. And they will be much more severe if they find in you some “specific substances”. Better if you maintain your distance from the police unless you need their help. Recently the Bolivian psytrance community organized a “drug free electronic music” mega festival in the heart of San Miguel district in southern La Paz city, which was a total success, gaining a lot of covering by the media and a new generation of partiers . This festival’s intention was to remember the people that you don’t need drugs to enjoy trance.

The mystic rituality is being rediscovered for the instances in which Bolivia is at now concerned, always looking forward to the times of the Tiahuanacotan and Incan wisdom. The rituals could last for days and so a party. A party in the Cities hardly cost you more than 15 $US but some travels and expeditions thru natural reservations can cost you hundreds of dollars, when you arrive to Bolivia check your activity agenda. Best time to come is at mid February when the “Carnaval” festivities are beginning. A lot to see at the “ Carnaval de Oruro“ a good time to enjoy in a real but surreal situation at the city of Oruro, three hours from La Paz heading to the south through the “Altiplano” an highland plain where Aymaras and Quechuas mixed with Spaniard influences .

Erofex, Abstract Microdot (ABS:MIC), Lattus Daft Noise, Jash, Airffect, Deep South, Metzanima, Blizzard and some others are the main Bolivian psy trance acts and probably you’ll find them playing around the cities of Bolivia. Check about them in Bolivian trance dedicated internet pages or in usual music communities.