There is one place where you’d be excused for having some banging music pumping from your hotel suite – in fact, I found that it is actively encouraged at the W Bali in Seminyak. Last week, the upbeat luxury getaway on the paradise island unveiled their W Sound Suite, in partnership with Coca-Cola – the first of a global roll-out this year to W Hollywood, W Barcelona and W Seattle. The launch in Bali celebrates the island, known in music circles as ‘the alternative Ibiza’ – after all, it is the perfect place to find inspiration – we did spend a while out in Bali to bring you our Beautiful Bali Issue, so if you’re thinking of heading out, grab or download a back-issue today.
The private music studio and writer’s room will be the place for professional recording artists, studio musicians and producers, in addition to hotel guests, to record in style while on the road. Since the chain, owned by Starwood Hotels is infamous for its more hip vibe and has a long history of musicians staying and playing at its worldwide locations – it seems to us like a good idea.
W Sound Suites are in part the brainchild of the W brand’s North American Music Director, DJ White Shadow, the Chicago-based producer best known for his work with Lady Gaga. He has been working with W to identify the best sound equipment and studio layout to ensure the suites are optimal for professional use – creating an environment for musicians to create in a stylish, convenient and functional way.
For those who want to buy into the action while on vacation, it’s the perfect experiential way to combine your love for music with some island-style r&r.
In Bali, the stylishly sound-proofed space featured a lounge for my entourage and a mixing room with professional equipment from industry favourites Native Instruments, Pioneer and Moog, as well as a private vocal booth overlooking a tropical garden – not like I knew what to do with it, but luckily I had W Bali’s music curator, Damian Saint to show me the ropes. And to further build on the theme, there’s a tongue in cheek room-service menu poking fun at celebrity musicians and their infamous riders – being the diva that I am, I was sent Lanson Brut, a lobster salad dressed with caviar and of course Lemonade – ready for the release of my visual album.
