Euphoria will be hosting its fifth annual music, camping and community festival at Carson Creek Ranch in Austin, Texas from Apr. 7-10, 2016. Founded by Mitch Morales, the 2016 line-up includes Bassnectar, Above & Beyond, Dillon Francis, STS9, Eric Prydz, Juicy J, Griz, Tycho, Cherub and many other artists. Euphoria Music Festival has also revealed that it will present its first-ever Silent Disco at the fifth anniversary in an effort to keep the party going well after the main stages end. Created exclusively for Euphoria’s overnight campers, the stage will be presented by San Francisco’s famed HUSHconcerts, formerly Silent Frisco. Additionally, Euphoria also features art workshops, yoga, movie night and food trucks.Tickets to Euphoria are still available for online purchase. And to view a 5th anniversary line-up video on YouTube, click here.

“In addition to these activation’s, Euphoria has handpicked sponsor-partners to bring their own style to Austin’s home-built festival. Selfeo, a cutting-edge app that provides users with the ability to transform a single device into a customized, multi-screen viewing environment, will be hosting electronic charging and water stations. Coca-Cola, brings an interactive “Share A Coke” station- a great place to chill out and beat the heat. Mike’s Hard Lemonade will be bringing their “Mike’s Harder” Tasting Station, for 21+ patrons, featuring an intensely refreshing and boldly flavorful alcohol experience. In a phrase: it’s kick ass. Euphoria is also excited to announce its healthcare partner, ORIG3N. Encouraging fans to participate in the future of medicine, you can contribute a small sample of blood to support future medical research and sign up for a new genetic test granting you access to information in your personal code- allowing you to make choices about your lifestyle, fitness, and skin care choices. Euphoria is also making getting to-and-from the festival a breeze by teaming-up with Lyft, for premium drop-off points and cool swag at their tent inside the festival. Also don’t forget to take advantage of $20 free rides for first time users. Other 2016 sponsors include: Dos Equis, Red Bull, and Chaco Footwear. Finally, Euphoria is broadened its efforts to give back and build a community that goes beyond the music including a partnership with Keep Austin Beautiful. Formed to provide resources and education to engage citizens in building more beautiful communities, the two-year alliance will kick off in April and will include the adoption of Carson Creek that runs along the Ranch, five river cleanups to be held throughout the year, and additional participation and support for Keep Austin Beautiful events. The first of these events will be held April 2nd, when Euphoria will call upon its local family to join in a pre-festival river cleanup at Carson Creek Ranch. Additionally, Euphoria will be active in the organization’s Clean Sweep event on the morning of April 9th, inviting campers to take part in leaving Austin in better shape than when they first arrived.”

To find out a little more regarding the formation of Euphoria music festival, Founder Mitch Morales took a moment for a phone interview with local Austin Examiner, Nicolette Mallow, during SXSW 2016 this March.

Nicolette Mallow: What compelled you to launch the Euphoria festival in ATX?

Mitch Morales: Worldwide, my girlfriend and I have attended other festivals in Europe and abroad. We loved it so much that I wanted to bring it back to Texas, specifically Austin (ATX). Each experience at every music festival was so unique: the music, the people, the location and the energy. So that’s how Euphoria came to be. And the reason I wanted to integrate camping overnight as an alternative for attendees is because it prolongs the meaningful time spent at the festival. Camping gives people time to leave their worldly problems behind and immerse themselves in music and connect with others. Creating an even stronger sense of community and continuity among the crowd. Euphoria is equally focused on sharing music with other, as much as it is about giving back to the community and sustainability.

NM: What exactly is a silent disco? I’m familiar with discos and I adore a colored, retro disco dance floor all lit up at night. But I am not familiar with the term ‘silent disco’.

MM: A silent disco means that one or more DJ’s (disc jockeys) is spinning music that streamlines silently through radio channels rather than booming out the speakers for all to hear, one DJ at-a-time. This year we have a generous list of DJ’s that will be live on set, simultaneously, and guests can tap in and choose a radio station. Alternating between stations if they like—playing the music into their headphones. Silently listening to the music in their headphones as loud as they like, switching from DJ to DJ or staying on one channel.

NM: I like the symmetrical and symbolic branding y’all have set in place for the Euphoria festival, particularly the pyramid. But I also noticed that nature holds a prominent place amongst the symbols. What inspired the branding process?

MM: I wanted Euphoria’s branding to be something synonymous. I wanted to utilize symbols that have the ability to be universally recognized by people. That way we could share it locally. The pyramid is center stage because of its symbolism and in this case, it somewhat resembles a tent. On a higher level, in Egyptology the pyramid means much more and we can all recognize that and its importance. In regards Euphoria, it symbolizes the pyramid and it represents the festival tents and how Euphoria brings light, sound and energy in one place, together, and everybody coming together as one for the love of music.

NM: Speaking of coming together for the sake of music, I was informed that Euphoria is booked for an event during the Music portion of SXSW 2016. Is this the first year that Euphoria has participated in The SXSW Music, Film and Interactive Conferences out of the thirty years they’ve been in operation?

MM: Yes, this will be Euphoria’s first ever-official showcase for the SXSW festival. I am really excited about it! Being able to partake in SXSW Music 2016—it’s such a great opportunity and it also legitimated the work my team and I are doing for Euphoria. SXSW is another local festival on a much greater scale, and we are happy to be part of it. This showcase is like a sneak preview of Euphoria.

For more information about tickets, the schedule, camping and other inquiries: please visit Euphoria’s website at www.euphoriafest.com.

Euphoria music festival’s Manifesto: “We’re curious creatures, constantly seeking better ways to connect with people; constantly seeking better ways to add value to their lives and give back. We think about how people devour music, information, and new ideas and then go out into the world and plant the seeds of change. We are fans. Pure and simple. We’re deeply enriched by the transformative effects of music and community. We belong to and live in the musical moment. We belong to a community who, through music, seek a deeper, richer, more inspired experience. We belong to Austin, to its freedom and vibe. We belong to those who doubt the conventional and create the exceptional. We belong to each other, one family camping and laughing and loving and sharing in the joy of music. We belong here, in this place, which is far more than a music venue; far more than a festival, it’s a completely immersive experience, a place where you listen, create, feel and literally — live in the moment. Find Your Euphoria.”

Note: This article was originally published on Examiner.com in March 2016.