Kygo Teams Up with Snapchat for Augmented Reality (AR) Show Experience Enhancement

Norwegian DJ, music producer, and songwriter Kygo joined forces with Snapchat in April of this year to introduce a novel dimension to his festival performances.

The collaboration aimed to provide a fresh Snapchat Lens experience synchronized in real-time with Kygo’s performances, allowing fans to immerse themselves deeper into the live experience without detracting from the moment.

One of the prevalent challenges at contemporary events is the prevalence of people recording videos, potentially disrupting the overall experience. Snapchat and Kygo set out to address this issue by enhancing the concert atmosphere with special AR effects.

While the concept of integrating smartphones to display Augmented Reality (AR) elements during parties isn’t new, Kygo and Snapchat’s collaboration introduces a distinctive approach. Unlike previous attempts that featured static shapes or minimal changes between tracks, Kygo’s concerts incorporate AR lenses that dynamically respond to his entire setlist.

The inaugural showcase took place in front of a crowd of 22,000 at Gunnersbury Park in London on August 12th, followed by another performance at Ushuaïa Ibiza. Furthermore, the AR lenses will be employed in a significant show at the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt in October, featuring artists like Tiësto and Kungs. These lenses were developed by Plai, a UK-based studio.

Manny Adler, Snapchat’s Head of Music Strategy, praised Kygo as an artist who consistently pushes the boundaries of live DJ sets, making the decision to integrate Snap’s augmented reality into his shows an obvious choice.

In conclusion, while the use of phones at festivals may not please everyone, collaborations like this one contribute to technological advancements, provided they are used responsibly to preserve the enjoyment of all attendees.