Who is responsible for creating the inhabitants of this fantasy world? Who turns dancers and performers into pieces of human magic?

For the deep sea wonderland of Imagine Music Festival (IMF), one of those magicians is Colleen Naughton; the Director of Team EZ. 

Photo Courtesy of Facebook

Team EZ is a performing arts collective filled with a talented team professional dancers, eclectic costuming, circus arts, models, stilt-ers, airbrush artistry, choreographers, fire performers, themes, aerialists, clowns, burlesque, hair and makeup stylists, walkabouts, sideshow acts, and more. With their unique talents and fantastical energy, they are the entertainment crew responsible for turning Imagine from a music festival into an underwater fairytale. 

I had the honor of chatting with the creative mastermind herself, Colleen Naughton, to discover just how she turns human beings into mythical creatures, and all of the magic we can look forward to at Imagine this year. 

Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background? 

The first time I attended an event was when I was 17. I was so enamored by the whole experience that I started performing at the EDM nightclub and events with a small team in Seattle, Washington. As a result, I got the opportunity to audition for a well-known team out of Denver, Colorado—Team EZ. I was excited to make the cut and joined the team to perform all over the country at some of the biggest festivals in the world. I was thrilled and excited to be part of this team. More importantly, through my association with the team, I found an incredible mentor in Team EZ’s creator, Ms. Easy. She took me under her wing and encouraged me to take on more and more of a leadership role in the team. She taught me the ins and outs of festival performing including festival management and pushed me to learn how to design and create costumes. As fate would have it, she took over the Entertainment Department at Insomniac Event and handed Team EZ off to me. Without Ms Easy’s guidance and support, I would not be where I am today. I will be forever grateful that she saw something in me that I didn’t see necessarily see in myself at the time, and trust me to not only carry on her legacy but to make it my own. Team EZ has been my family for 10 years now and it will always be in my heart. 

Photo Courtesy of Facebook

How long have you been a part of the performing/music festival industry? 

I’ve been [a]part of this scene for about 16 years now. 

How did you get involved working with Imagine Music Festival? 

I was recommended by some of the existing IMF staff with whom I had worked for many years. They were familiar with my work and when an opportunity came up, they put my name forward. 

What's it like being part of a nationally-recognized music festival?

Humbling. I am grateful every day for all the opportunities I've had to bring my team and my vision to events like IMF.

What aspects of dance and performer design are you most proud of with Imagine Music Festival? 

Watching dancers/performers get on stage and do what they love in my costumes is a pretty amazing feeling. It makes all the long hours, frustrations, late nights, and yes, blood, sweat and tears, so worth it to see the performers and costumes come to life on stage. I'll never get sick of that feeling. 

Where do you get your inspiration for costumes for Imagine Music Festival?

It always starts with the theme of the festival. I'm lucky enough to work with a team that trusts me to give me some basic ideas of what they would like to see, and then lets me run with it. I would say the thing that inspires me the most is spending time looking for just the right fabric, or the right materials. Once I see a fabric or a trim that catches my attention, the design quickly falls into place. 

What do you think makes the performers and dancers at Imagine Music Festival unique from other festivals? 

I think the commitment to the characters is what makes them unique. Performers are not just there to look pretty in a costume. They really throw themselves into their character. They give them life by giving their characters names and coming up with elaborate backstories so that when they're interacting with the guests, it’s a fully immersive experience. 

Take me through a day in the life as a performer at Imagine. What is their routine from when they wake up to when their head hits the pillow? 

Our days are really long. Performers usually show up 3-4 hours before doors open at an event, at which point they start the long process of getting into hair/makeup/costumes. Once everyone is fully in costume and ready to launch, they separate into their teams and hit the stage/grounds of the festival. Once they are on the clock, not only are they required to dance/perform on stage, they also spend hours on the grounds taking pictures and interacting with attendees while never breaking character, to create an immersive experience for them. Each team will perform [for] a total of about 8-10 hours per day, aside from lunch/dinner/rest breaks. Once the show is over, performers must turn in their costumes, take off their makeup, and head home for as much sleep as they can get before they wake up and do it all over again. I will always be so proud of how committed my performers are to creating special moments for the attendees, even when they're dealing with uncomfortable costumes and blistered feet, crazy weather, and long hours on very little sleep. Festival performers are the toughest in the business. 

Can you tell me about the tryout process for the performers, please?

Because Team Ez is a national team with events all over the country, the best way to apply to be a part of it is to email me with your performer resume, up-to-date pictures of face and body, and a recent video of you performing. 

Can you describe the sense of community between the dancers and performers? 

Team Ez has been, and will always be a family. I’ve always wanted everyone involved with each show to feel that. It has always been a safe space for performers to come and work together to create our unique brand of magic, and because of that, the bonds that are created and the memories that are made, are unforgettable. 

What has been the biggest struggle you’ve faced as a woman working in the festival industry? 

It will always be a challenge to be a woman in a male-dominated industry and to feel like your voice is being heard and that you are getting the respect you deserve. Luckily, for the most part, I have been fortunate enough to work with some amazing men in the industry, that have always been open and welcoming of my contributions to these events. 

What are you looking forward to most at IMF 2019?

My favorite part of any festival, and I’m sure will apply to IMF 2019, is working with a team that really is truly supportive [of] me and and celebrates my vision for the performers. [That’s] always such a positive experience for me and everyone in the cast. 

Can you tell us any hints about what we can expect to see from dancers/performers? 

This year the costume design is focused on the creatures that live in the deep, dark sea; so expect an edgier vibe for this year. 

I am so excited to dive into this deep sea adventure, and I cannot wait to see all of the magic at Imagine come together this year! What lies deep at the bottom of the ocean? I’m not sure, but I can’t wait to find out. The countdown is on...see you in one week!

Imagine in itself is an absolutely killer fest, filled with soul-rejuvenating workshops, mind-blowing experiences, good vibes and of course, performances that will make you move like magic is running through your veins.

In addition to their mystic aquatic-themed fairytale, they are huge supporters of some of the industry’s most badass females. (Fun Fact: Imagine was founded by a queen herself! Keep your eyes peeled on our blog for more…)

Within the first 0.5 seconds of researching Imagine, I had already fallen in love with the fest and decided I needed to experience the Imaginarium more than I needed oxygen (September 20th, 2019 can’t come fast enough)! However, when I saw all the unreal female talent featured in the lineup, I could tell this fest was going to be truly special.

If there’s one person who I know will bring powerplant-level energy to the fest, it’s Leah Culver.

Taking place in Atlanta, Imagine has welcomed the city’s hometown-hero back to perform for multiple years in a row. Culver has been known to bring the underwater-house down and says her connection to the festival dives deep in the depths of her heart.

“It’s been an absolute honor for me to be asked back each year, and a privilege to do it again this time,” says Culver. “It’s also very cool to see the festival grow. Imagine is very close to my heart and their success brings me so much joy.”

Culver is an artist through and through, practicing and understanding the various sides of her craft. She is a producer, writer, singer, DJ and musician, most commonly known for her electro/hardstyle sound and electrifying performances.

While Culver’s professional career began as a DJ in 2011, she says music has been a part of her identity for as long as she can remember.

“I’ve been singing and making up songs my entire life, since I was five years old,” shares Culver. “Later picking up guitar, drums and producing as well. [Producing music] is what I love to do the most, I’m so grateful.”

Image Courtesy of Leah Culver's Facebook

Culver has been exploding in the EDM scene, gaining support from major artists such as Marshmello, Adventure Club, The Chainsmokers, Steve Aoki, Benny Benassi, Laidback Luke, Candyland, Big KRIT, Trinidad James, Breathe Carolina, The Glitch Mob, Firebeatz, Alvin Risk, Autoerotique, Dotcom, Marty Party, Figure, Cash Cash, Porter Robinson, Terravita, 3lau, Zomboy, Excision, Knife Party, Baggi Begovic, Seven Lions, Griz, Dada Life and Paris & Simo, just to name a few.

While Culver is an electric force to be reckoned with, her success as a female artist hasn’t come without a fight.

“I’ve experienced people who doubt women as producers,” explains Culver. “It’s a really silly assumption across the board that women can’t engineer or produce music, because not only am I an engineer and a producer, but I have learned so much from working with other producers...”

Image Courtesy of Leah Culver's Facebook

Culver says she also attributes much of her knowledge and growth as a producer and engineer from Icon Collective - the production school that launched talents such as Jauz, Nghtmre, Slander and Yultron.

“To discredit me...you’d have to also discredit them,” she adds.

Culver boldy responds to sexist skepticism through her undeniable talent, success and support for fellow females.

“It’s so cool working with other women in the industry. I am constantly surrounded by talented and powerful women in the industry and I couldn't be more grateful to see us all thriving,” she shares.

Culver states that some of her biggest industry influences are Paramore’s powerhouse lead singer, Hayley Williams, pop-princess Ariana Grande and music icon, Joan Jett.

The boss-babe continues to break any barrier that stands in her path, challenging musical norms and destroying gendered stigmatizations.

Image Courtesy of Leah Culver's Facebook

She adds that her dedication and strong belief of self is something she’s carried with her throughout her entire life, stating that she believed she would achieve her goals as an artist ever since she was a child.

“To be honest, I never really doubted myself because I’ve always known this is what I wanted to do,” says Culver. “I believe if you want something bad enough you can obtain it with hard work and passion.”

Culver is one act not to miss at Imagine this year. Her killer beats mixed with her genuine love for her work, fans and the fest are sure to bring an insane amount of energy to the crowd.

“The thing I like best about performing [at Imagine] is looking out there and seeing ten-times the number of people from where we started...being able to bring my music to that many music lovers in incredible,” shares Culver. “[It’s] something I won’t ever take for granted because ultimately I was to touch people in a positive way.”

I am completely stoked to dive into the mythical beats and an enchanting underwater world at Imagine this year. Sharing my excitement, Culver adds, “...having the theme be the Underwater Mystical Aquatic World is really cool because I haven’t seen that done before. They nail it every year.”

I will be jamming out to all things Leah Culver from now until IMF (and admittedly, long after the fest is over).

Right now, I am vibing extra hard to her banging singles Fly with Marshmello, and Get Going.

You can rock to both songs here: 

Get Going

Fly with Marshmello:

To keep up with all things Leah Culver, follow her on Soundcloud link, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, and be sure to check out her website for more rad updates and details.

Don’t have your tickets yet for Imagine? Click here, so we can party hard as hell together during Leah Culver’s set. For updates on the fest, follow Imagine Music Festival on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

@bridgiebridgiebridgie and @ummitsozzy soaking up the sun at Imagine Music Festival

Over 30,000 attendees entered the gates of Imagine each day for their fifth anniversary last year, and this year Imagine is gearing up to be one of the hottest events in the southeast. Imagine is known for its expansive variety of EDM acts, mind-blowing stages, and heart-stopping performances. But the fun doesn’t stop there!

At Imagine, the party never stops! During the day, they offer a variety of workshops like yoga and guided meditation. Ping pong, pool, foosball, and a variety of field day events take place each day in the campgrounds. If you’re feeling the heat, take a break in the huge splash pool- this was a popular spot for my group and many other attendees.

Photo via @bk_raves

If you’ve got time between sets- make sure to check out the Ferris wheel! It’s not only a great photo location but also gives you prime viewing areas of the entire speedway. I’d definitely recommend going during the day and again at night to check out the whole show.

Photo via @bk_raves

After the festival grounds close each night, the party continues in the campgrounds! All campers will be able to dance late into the night with your friends (new and old) at the silent disco. With a full production stage, this silent disco is one of the largest in the country.

If you didn’t make it to Imagine Music Festival in 2018 or want to relive all the magic that took place, check out their official festival after movie. The after movie features tracks “Follow Me (featuring Adventure Club & Sara Diamond” by Snails and  “Starlight (feat. Mr Gabriel)” by Jai Wolf and all the nostalgic vibes from the past year. Seriously, watching this video gave me the chills- and made me even more hyped for this year's event (if that’s even possible)!

Tickets are already on sale for Imagine 2019 - so what are you waiting for? If you’re short on funds, don’t worry, Imagine has your back- payment plans are available for a downpayment as low as $57 (thank the rave gods)!

PS… a little birdy told me that the lineup will be announced soon! Make sure to follow Imagine’s Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to stay up to date with all the exciting announcements they’ll be making this month. Can’t wait to dance with all of you guys at Imagine in September!

I attended Imagine for the first time back in 2017. Being from Florida, going to this festival seemed like a no-brainer (since it was so close and hosted a wide variety of artists). However, last year the festival faced some organizational problems, including long will call/box office lines and even longer lines going into the venue. Although I still had a good time at the Festival last year, the kinks made me hesitant to return to the festival this year. Eventually, the lineup and Imagine’s promise to fix out all the kinks from last year persuaded me to go.

Driving into the campgrounds, I knew I had made the right decision. The cars filed in smoothly with assistance from staff everywhere. The whole process took less than an hour, and getting into the venue took no more than 10 minutes each day.

The campgrounds vastly improved from last year, with more activities to do during the day and tons of vendors to buy food, drinks, and merchandise. There was even a juice stand giving out free cups of juice to keep everyone hydrated in the hot sun!

And I’m not kidding when I say it was hot. With averages around 80-90 degrees each day, this is one festival I highly recommend you bring a hydration pack to. Thankfully, the lines were decent and getting water was a breeze.

The stages were also a vast refinement from last year. The main stage looked like it came straight out of an aquatic fairytale!

Photo Credit: @senior_gringo1

And there were tons of lasers when the sun went down.

Photo Credit: @senior_gringo1

If I had to pick a favorite set from the weekend, it would hands-down be Zeds Dead. They never disappoint, and Imagine Music Festival was no exception. Other honorable mentions include Bassnectar, RL Grime, and Liquid Stranger.

If you weren’t too busy catching the sets, there were tons of activities to explore inside the speedway. The wading pool was a popular spot and kept all of us cooled off during the hot sun, and was personally my favorite. There was also a water slide, a ferris wheel, and countless art exhibits. Another amazing part of IMF? The food! If you’re a foodie like me, you NEED to go to this festival. The vendors had a great selection of food, ranging from noodles to southern BBQ.

Aside from the amazing food and the activities, my favorite part of the entire festival had to be the vibes. For many, Imagine is the end of the summer festival season, and everyone is out to have a good time. From laying in the grass at the Oceania stage to boogieing all night at the disco inferno stage, there was never a dull moment.

All in all, I was impressed with all the improvements the festival managed to make. I would highly recommend Imagine to anyone interested in attending. It’s not only the perfect finale to the summer festival season, but the festival shows Atlanta’s southern hospitality with good vibes and amazing attendees.  

1. It’s The Fifth Anniversary

It’s no secret that festivals typically go all-out on their monumental anniversaries. The fifth anniversary is usually the first of these, and Imagine has made a point that this will be their best year yet. Though we can’t know exactly what they mean just yet, we can be sure this year will be chalked full of surprises. There’s only one way to find out what these surprises will be!

2. The Lineup Is Always Incredible

Imagine has alluded to its “massive” lineup for this year’s event. I can guarantee they’re not exaggerating, too – past lineups have included the incredible talents such as Above & Beyond, Excision, Claude VonStroke, Deadmau5, and so many more. This festival is known for providing a little something for everyone in terms of genres, and we know this year will be no exception.

3. The Aquatic Theme Is Absolute Perfection

What better way to end your summer in the hot city of Atlanta than with a festival that is completely water-themed? Imagine boasts the theme of “An Aquatic Fairytale”, which is no exaggeration! This festival is known for taking its theme to the next level – from art installations to magnificently dressed go-go dancers, you’ll feel like you’re in an underwater utopia! What I’m personally the most excited for this year is the splash pool. Complete with complimentary floaties, this is the perfect way to enjoy your favorite music while getting a refreshing break from the heat. What could be better than that?

savormeditation has tons of mermaid inspired-items on their site! Check out their outfits section for some serious plurmaid inspiration. 

If all of this weren’t already enough, Imagine has tons more to offer. Previous years have included a silent disco, circus performances, yoga, art spaces, and more. I can’t wait to attend my first aquatic fairytale and experience it all for myself!

Each stage had a theme, all of which were executed perfectly based on the primary genre of electronic music showcased there. The Disco Inferno stage was nothing short of spectacular. Flames were coming from every direction, there were fire spinners and dancers with every performance, and some of the best house artists like Gorgon City, Shiba San, and Claude Vonstroke. The Oceania stage featured the filthiest dubstep of the weekend. Zomboy, Datsik, Flux Pavilion and of course Black Tiger Sex Machine taking all of Imagine to church. The Amazonia stage, which opened up on night two, was tucked away in the back and complete with hanging vines that whistled in the wind. The Amazonia stage supplied the funk for the weekend with artists like Pretty Lights, Big Gigantic, and The Floozies. The overall layout of the festival was also well executed, and transition from stage to stage was smooth.

One thing I must give the team at Imagine mad credit for was their ability to listen to the fans and address any issues from previous years. Although there were few to no complaints from those in attendance, every event has something that causes a little commotion (and personally, I’m always eager to see how gracefully it is handled by the event staff, whatever the problem may be). In the case of Imagine, it was entering the festival gates on Day 2. Long wait times, larger crowds, and some impatient festival attendees caused for minor issues with entering the speedway. Personally, the wait never really bothers me because I expect it on the busiest day of a festival (typically the Saturday). My advice to people is to always give yourself a two-hour window before you want to get in for two reasons: (1) you; realistically, will not start making your way there two hours before no matter what you tell yourself and (2) you never know what delays may come before you. Going into Day 3; however, Imagine organizers notified attendees (using the official IMF app) of an additional entrance being opened to help reduce wait times. Not only was it quickly handled, but extremely effective.

Imagine Music Festival embodied the theme of imagination by constantly surrounding attendees with unreal production and live circus acts. Upon entering the festival, you immediately come across artists lining the back of the Disco Inferno stage, creating works of art right before your eyes. I remember at one point while at the Oceania stage I was in awe of the high-quality production, but completely distracted by the two guys flipping around on a giant spinning seesaw. Meanwhile, there are girls doing aerial yoga from silks on the stage! Walking from stage to stage there were motorcyclists doing spins in a large sphere shaped cage. Can you just imagine trying to explain this to people who weren't there to see it? The live acts seemed to draw everyone’s attention and kept your adrenaline pumping. It was hard not to get lost in the magic all weekend long.

The area in which Imagine Music Festival deserves the most credit is the fact that over the course of four years they have always been able to stack the lineup with a wide variety of popular artists and artists on the rise. At the same time, they've expanded and moved to a much larger location, all while keeping to there Atlanta roots. Atlanta is a huge base for the electronic music culture, and high standards are always set for any event that calls ATL its home. Imagine not only sets the bar for future events but continues to exceed fans expectations with each passing year. As a fan and music lover (specifically from the south east area), I feel privileged to see the growth in an event like Imagine Music Festival. What started as a two-day event in the heart of Atlanta has developed into a three-day camping festival overflowing with creativity, thrill, and magic.

Until next year, Imagine!