Have you ever thought about the massive carbon footprint concerts and electronic music events leave on the environment? The people at the GOBI Project and SolarBeatz have. SolarBeatz was started in 2010 by the GOBI Project team, which is a Chicago based public charity dedicated to educating the community on sustainability and transforming the current paradigm of global energy resources. The team took an old delivery truck and equipped it with concert quality sound and lighting, all powered by the sun. It\’s been utilized at festivals, community events, private parties, and schools to promote environmental sustainability. You might\’ve seen it at Wavefront Music Festival, Chicago Pride Parade, and Burning Man.
After four years, the truck has been used heavily and is need of repairs. Learn more about their crowdfunding campaign in the video below, where founder and engineer Tad Snyder tells us how SolarBeatz and the GOBI project are \”seeking a higher level of sustainability and to keep you dancing through 2015.\”
https://vimeo.com/131438841
I sat down with Chicago DJ GoodSex, who introduced me to SolarBeatz and will be DJing on the truck at Burning Man later this year.
Tell me more about how SolarBeatz and how you got started with them.
It all started when we met Tad and Bianca at Electric Forest last year. It\’s funny actually. They were walking past us, and looked like some people that could be our friends. Colin (my roommate) and I really hit it off with them, and we\’ve been linked up ever since. SolarBeatz got started a couple years ago when Tad wanted to challenge the energy paradigm in today\’s world. Him and his friends used their knowledge to build an amazing solar powered truck. It\’s an old delivery truck. They cut the side off to make a stage opening, added a hydraulic door, lighting, and concert quality speakers and subs. Each person kinda had their own input and was called into action to help create this thing. That\’s one of the reasons I think it\’s so magical. It\’s gone to Burning Man the last few years and was at Wavefront on Montrose Beach too.
Have you been involved with any SolarBeatz events before?
Yeah, I actually played on the truck at Tad and Bianca\’s wedding last year. And I recently played their Farm Fest a few weeks ago. Amazing food and amazing people. I think I DJed for about two days straight at that festival and played every song on my USBs. Everyone was getting down! I had a great time.
Tell me more about your plans for Burning Man this year.
Well, this will be my first year so I don\’t know what\’s in store. But we bring a bin of personal belongings, a bike, some water, and basically all of the food and supplies you need for over a week. We\’re gonna fly into Reno and take a bus to the desert. It\’s a city erected out of nothing, and when it\’s done, it vanishes without a single trace. I think it\’s gonna be a really moving and awesome experience. It\’s SolarBeatz\’s fifth year at Burning Man.
Why does SolarBeatz need our help and how can we get involved?
The money wouldn\’t go towards any of our personal trips. We\’re still paying what we would pay. It\’s going directly towards those energy banks, the new solar panel, and to make the truck more functional. We need that $10,000 worth of repairs for the truck to be 100% non fuel dependent. It will run completely on solar power. It\’s worn out and old right now, and losing its efficiency. Once we get it fully up and running, we can spread the message even more. This project is really about educating people. It\’s not just a DJ vehicle – through the GOBI Project, money is raised so that the truck can be used for educational purposes at schools and other community events.
Learn more about SolarBeatz on their website and contribute to their campaign here. You can also read more about SolarBeatz, the GOBI Project, and exactly how your money will be utilized on the crowdfunding page.
