The stage first appeared at Bass Coast in 2019. Since then, it has grown into an integral part of the festival’s programming. Nestled near the festival’s entrance and the cold water river, it’s become a cozy spot for festivalgoers to unwind and explore more spacious sounds.

“We like to describe Slowtempo as a warm embrace,” says Max Ulis, Bass Coast’s artist curator and talent buyer. “There may be moments of dancing, but the primary objective of this stage environment is to provide a space where people feel safe, relaxed, and where artists can explore the deeper and more gentle sounds in their library.”

It’s this opportunity—this open space to explore without the pressure of keeping a dance floor packed—that draws in artists with diverse sonic palettes. “We hear feedback that artists have really enjoyed their Slowtempo set,” Ulis continues. “And the listeners have really enjoyed hearing another side to their favourite artist.” 

That’s certainly true for Michelle La, aka Ephemeral Objects, who has long felt drawn to slower, textured music. 

“Growing up in the ’90s, I would listen to Vietnamese covers of Western music and that put me on a journey of finding out who the original artists were,” she says. “Sometimes this would be slower tempo music like the new age banger “Sadeness” by Enigma. My music taste as a child was largely influenced by my mother who exposed me to classical, easy listening/adult contemporary, and instrumental music. Slowtempo music has always been part of my musical DNA.” 

Michelle La, aka Ephemeral Objects (Photo: Reylinn McGrath)

A resident of Acceleration Radio on Vancouver Co-op Radio since 2023, La tells the story of how that platform helped lay the foundation for her DJ career. Her debut set was a mix featuring Vietnamese ambient and experimental producers. You can expect something similar from her upcoming Bass Coast set.

“Slowtempo stage is for the heads! It’s for the people who have a genuine sonic curiosity and allow music to take them into deep introspective journeys,” she says. “It’s for people who want a reprieve from the ‘four on the floor’ and faster BPMS. It allows space for more creativity, as ‘Slowtempo’ is interpreted differently by each performer – you will hear genres that you likely won’t hear anywhere else at Bass Coast.”

For Alex Moon, the Slowtempo Stage holds a similar draw—both creatively and emotionally. She and her partner, Barisone, are bringing their collaborative project Listen to Love Songs, a series focused on the push and pull of romance, lust, and heartbreak, to the stage this year. “Slowtempo is the reason I began returning to Bass Coast a few years ago,” she says. “It inspired me to see some of my favourite artists lean into the slowness and still keep people locked in.”

Originally from the East Coast, Moon found her footing as a DJ after moving to the Kootenays, where she was often given the final set slot at smaller raves—intimate closers that lent themselves naturally to downtempo selections. Her set at this year’s Bass Coast will blend R&B, hip-hop, and sultry soul into something both lush and grounding. “It provides such a beautiful temperance to the rest of the festival,” she says. “A lot of people go there to restore themselves after dancing all day and night.”

Vancouver-based artist Mada Phiri, aka ADAM, will also be taking to the Slowtempo Stage to make their Bass Coast debut. Recalling that their ambient set last year at Vancouver Island’s Pachena Bay Festival was a fulfilling reciprocal experience with the crowd, they say that ambient and downtempo music has gradually worked its essence into their sets.

“A lot of EPs have ambient interludes, intros, outros,” they say. “I get a lot of my songs from exploring the inner tracks of my favourite albums.” They cite early grime records from Novelist and soundtracks from anime and films like Millennium Actress, Tekken 4, and Madoka Magica as key inspirations. “There’s a lot of dynamic, creative soundtracking there—things you wouldn’t expect.”

Mada Phiri, aka ADAM (photo: Selina Koops)

But don’t mistake slow for soft. “Since it’s Bass Coast, I couldn’t fathom coming without playing some sub-focused tunes,” Phiri adds. “When I think of Slowtempo and bass, the first thing I think of is heavy dub, old-school dubstep, and reggae music. Duppy Gun is one of my favourite future-thinking dancehall/dub labels—they call it ‘outer-orbit digital dancehall,’ and that’s all I need to say about them.”

It’s these wide-ranging interpretations—from ambient to dub to romantic soul—that make the Slowtempo Stage such a vital part of the Bass Coast experience. In a festival environment that constantly pushes the boundaries of sound and self-expression, it offers something rare: space to slow down, reflect, and truly listen.

So whether you come to chill, restore, or dive deep into uncharted sounds, the Slowtempo Stage will be waiting by the river to promise a sonic journey like no other. 

Bass Coast returns July 11 to 14 in Mission, British Columbia. Secure your spot—visit basscoast.ca today