Dimitri D'ippolito
Fashion
Music
2.3 Crack Magazine
>> Editorial for Crack Magazine of Ortigia Sound System Festival 2023
WELCOME TO ORTIGIA SOUND SYSTEM – ONE OF THE MOST PICTURESQUE AND WELL-CURATED MUSIC FESTIVALS ON THE PLANET
Now in its 10th year, OSS takes place on the tiny historic island of Ortigia, a small freckle off the beaming coast of Siracuse on Sicily’s southeastern corner. Fewer than 5,000 residents live on Ortigia year-round – but for a few days every summer the population grows temporarily with an influx of keen, omnivorous music fans congregating from across Europe and beyond. The appeal is simple: an impeccably curated selection of the most exciting artists and crews working in contemporary electronic music – think Hyperdub; Nick León and Bitter Babe; DJ Danifox – set against an impossibly beautiful backdrop of secluded beaches, ancient churches, seafood markets and backstreet bars.
During the day, you could find NTS broadcaster Zakia playing at the beachfront lido stage, or Stroboscopic Artefacts head Lucy moving through sun-bleached minimal techno as hungry lunchers dig into foot-long sandwiches at the town’s best-loved panini shop. As the day progressed you could board one of the boat parties, where you would catch DJ Plead, Toumba or Ehua playing down the setting sun – or else head to one of the standalone concerts that take place at a variety of scattered stages (Marina Herlop at the Teatro Comunale di Siracusa was a particular highlight this year). Then, when everything in town shuts up shop, the stamina crew could head to the alfresco afterparty stage outside of town where DJs like Kode9, Ikonika, Scratchclart and Buttechno would play way into the following morning.
On the final night of the festival, Crack Magazine was invited to host the festival’s main stage: an expansive outdoor dance floor sheltered against the parameter wall of a 13th-century castle overlooking the Mediterranean sea. We brought together a global squad of the most exciting names in contemporary electronic music – from Colombian musician Lucrecia Dalt to the ever-excellent power duo Eris Drew and Octo Octa via men-of-the-moment DJ Plead and Nikki Nair.
Italian photographer and visual artist Dimitri D’ippolito was on the ground documenting the event for us in vivid and intimate detail. Check out some snaps below.