nder the Radar is a weekly special series bringing you compelling, under–the–radar stories from around the world, one region at a time. This week in Europe, a festival in Barcelona brings together tech, music, and creativity in new ways. Other noteworthy under–the–radar stories from the region include London’s first–ever digital art awards, French scientists caution U.S. colleagues against fleeing to France, and a Ukrainian youth’s unlikely homecoming.
Barcelona is preparing to host the 2025 Sónar festival, continuing to blend technology, art, and music from 12–15 June. Since its inception in 1994, when the music festival was held in an art gallery, it has offered a space for musicians, artists, and tech innovators to challenge conventions and embrace innovation. The festival has proven a grand success each year, with the 2024 audience reaching 154,000 attendees across all the different events. Like many recent years, this year’s theme focuses heavily on AI, how humanity can find a balance between technology and creativity, and how society can combine the two for even better results.
This year’s Sónar lineup of performances, exhibits, discussions, and conferences centers around three pillars. The first pillar, “AI + Creativity,” highlights the potential for using AI in creative pursuits in unexpected ways. The second pillar, “Futuring the creative industries,” questions how AI and artistic fields will have developed by the year 2030. Finally, the third pillar, “Worlds to come,” explores fields like interstellar travel, non–binary futurism, and quantum computing. These themes will largely be discussed on the tech conference side of the festival, where visitors can attend lectures, workshops, conferences, and discussions.
The various performance pieces and art exhibitions at the festival space will also embrace the three pillars, exemplifying the intersection of technology and artistry. For instance, musical artist and scientific researcher Albert.DATA will perform “real–time neurohacking.” Artist Danielle Braithwaite–Shirley will use innovative digital storytelling to foster dialogue around Black trans history. And the dance company laSADCUM will collaborate with artist YESSi PERSE for a performance criticizing “big tech.” Similarly, in the Project Area, artist Rafa Roeder’s “Useless Device” exhibit challenges technological development outside of capitalism and purpose. Artist Simon Weckert will display t–shirts designed to combat AI surveillance technology. And Barcelona’s design and engineering school, ELISAVA, will also host an exhibit criticizing digital consumption.
Of course, the Sónar festival also has a more typical music festival, although the performing artists also embody the three pillars as innovative musical artists. One of the 2025 performing artists, Yaboi Hanoi, has developed his own AI program, purposely opposing Western–centric AI models to infuse his AI–generated music with his Thai culture. Hanoi believes AI will create “a new chapter in culture” by embracing cultural traditions and merging them with AI innovation. At the festival, like the other performers, Hanoi will play some of his AI–generated music.
Here are some other under–the–radar stories from across Europe:
- The first–ever digital art awards took place in London, with the winners blending art, AI, NFTs, and coding.
- U.S. scientists are fleeing to France, but French scientists are warning against it.
- A Ukrainian youth escaped back to Ukraine after his hometown was part of Russia’s 2014 annexation, despite Russian propaganda that his family had fallen for.
a global affairs media network
Barcelona blends creativity, tech, and music at annual festival
Sónar Festival 2007. Photo courtesy of David Domingo via Flickr. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
May 23, 2025
Diplomatic Courier’s Stephanie Gull brings you weekly under–the–radar stories from around the world. This week in Europe: Barcelona is preparing to host the annual Sónar festival, a part–tech conference, part–music festival, part–art exhibit that blends creativity with technology.
U
nder the Radar is a weekly special series bringing you compelling, under–the–radar stories from around the world, one region at a time. This week in Europe, a festival in Barcelona brings together tech, music, and creativity in new ways. Other noteworthy under–the–radar stories from the region include London’s first–ever digital art awards, French scientists caution U.S. colleagues against fleeing to France, and a Ukrainian youth’s unlikely homecoming.
Barcelona is preparing to host the 2025 Sónar festival, continuing to blend technology, art, and music from 12–15 June. Since its inception in 1994, when the music festival was held in an art gallery, it has offered a space for musicians, artists, and tech innovators to challenge conventions and embrace innovation. The festival has proven a grand success each year, with the 2024 audience reaching 154,000 attendees across all the different events. Like many recent years, this year’s theme focuses heavily on AI, how humanity can find a balance between technology and creativity, and how society can combine the two for even better results.
This year’s Sónar lineup of performances, exhibits, discussions, and conferences centers around three pillars. The first pillar, “AI + Creativity,” highlights the potential for using AI in creative pursuits in unexpected ways. The second pillar, “Futuring the creative industries,” questions how AI and artistic fields will have developed by the year 2030. Finally, the third pillar, “Worlds to come,” explores fields like interstellar travel, non–binary futurism, and quantum computing. These themes will largely be discussed on the tech conference side of the festival, where visitors can attend lectures, workshops, conferences, and discussions.
The various performance pieces and art exhibitions at the festival space will also embrace the three pillars, exemplifying the intersection of technology and artistry. For instance, musical artist and scientific researcher Albert.DATA will perform “real–time neurohacking.” Artist Danielle Braithwaite–Shirley will use innovative digital storytelling to foster dialogue around Black trans history. And the dance company laSADCUM will collaborate with artist YESSi PERSE for a performance criticizing “big tech.” Similarly, in the Project Area, artist Rafa Roeder’s “Useless Device” exhibit challenges technological development outside of capitalism and purpose. Artist Simon Weckert will display t–shirts designed to combat AI surveillance technology. And Barcelona’s design and engineering school, ELISAVA, will also host an exhibit criticizing digital consumption.
Of course, the Sónar festival also has a more typical music festival, although the performing artists also embody the three pillars as innovative musical artists. One of the 2025 performing artists, Yaboi Hanoi, has developed his own AI program, purposely opposing Western–centric AI models to infuse his AI–generated music with his Thai culture. Hanoi believes AI will create “a new chapter in culture” by embracing cultural traditions and merging them with AI innovation. At the festival, like the other performers, Hanoi will play some of his AI–generated music.
Here are some other under–the–radar stories from across Europe:
- The first–ever digital art awards took place in London, with the winners blending art, AI, NFTs, and coding.
- U.S. scientists are fleeing to France, but French scientists are warning against it.
- A Ukrainian youth escaped back to Ukraine after his hometown was part of Russia’s 2014 annexation, despite Russian propaganda that his family had fallen for.
