Johnny Leal (Ephimera Tulum): Reviving the Culture of the Warm-Up

From the FUTUREMAG archive. Originally published in FUTUREMAG #04 — Zamna Mexico City (November 2023).

Johnny Leal, founder of Ephimera Tulum, is a leading figure in the electronic music scene and a passionate advocate of the musical culture of the Mexican Caribbean. His project has achieved the perfect fusion of the region's paradisiacal landscapes and electronic music, offering a unique experience for music lovers from all over the world. Here, Johnny shares his perspective on the importance of warm-up culture.

The warm-up

With new technologies spreading through the DJ world, the tools of the trade have become more accessible, allowing more people to start DJing. This democratization has opened new opportunities, but it has also led to a phenomenon where the art of the warm-up has been lost on most dance floors, in parties, clubs, afters and festivals.

Nowadays everyone seems to want to be the headliner, which often means the first DJ on the lineup plays at a very high tempo or drops the hits of the moment while the dance floor is still almost empty.

The warm-up is as essential in electronic music as warming up before exercising. It means giving direction and meaning to the dance floor, letting people immerse themselves in the experience from the very first moment. Finding the balance between the rhythm of the music and the audience's response is an art perfected with time, preparation and a deep understanding of how to build a dance floor from scratch.

The goal of the warm-up is to deliver a mystical, exciting and energetic dance experience that sets the stage for the next DJ. Done right, it creates a magical atmosphere on the dance floor. Keeping this culture alive is essential as the electronic scene moves forward.

Follow @ephimeratulum and @johnnyleall.