Back from an epic musical getaway at Slightly Stoopid’s Closer to the Sun Festival in Riviera Maya, we’re riding that post-festival wave hard. The Pier crew is feeling the blues, but don’t worry—we’re keeping the vibes alive all year long until we’re back with our toes in the sand next December!
To keep the spirit going, we’ve got some fresh content in the works for you. Kicking things off is our Closer Debut Artist series, where we’ll spill all the festival tea with some first-time performers.
Up first? The reggae-rockin’, hip-hop-groovin’, funky-fresh frontman of Tropidelic: Matthew Roads. Let’s dive in!
The Pier: Tropidelic at Closer to the Sun! Finally! I’ve been putting your name on the follow-up survey for years, so seeing you on the lineup this year was a total fan dream come true. You guys looked like you were living your best life out there—smiles for days! So, tell me—did the experience blow your mind, or did it blow your mind?
Matthew Roads: It was stellar! It was so dope being amongst so many friends and legends in paradise for a few days.
TP: We need your help fighting off these post-festival blues! You played both the late-night stage and the beach stage—what went into curating those set lists? Did you switch things up for the vibe of each stage or just go with the flow?
MR: We wanted to make each set unique in some way. Without knowing the event well or which stage or slot might be better attended, we did our best to cater to each one differently.
TP: Speaking of the late-night stage—did you know that whole setup is built right on top of a giant fountain? Wild, right?
MR: That makes total sense now. It was elevated. The whole experience was.
TP: Even artists are fans at Closer, so spill: what were your favorite performances from the other acts?
MR: I made a point to catch as many sets as I could. I loved Stoopid, Stick, and Cypress Hill. Iration and The Elovaters’ sets were great. It was also dope to catch sets from our friends G. Love, Bumpin Uglies, and Eli Mac.
TP: Closer is all about those intimate fan moments, right? Whether it’s chilling at breakfast next to Stoopid or Andy Gelb tapping your shoulder every time you pass him (yep, that’s a thing for me), it’s these little interactions that make it special. One of those traditions is the hotel room jams—some invite-only, some open to whoever’s lucky enough to wander by. You jammed your first suite session this year—what was that like?
MR: We arrived with barely enough time to throw our bags down before we were scheduled to do an acoustic set in someone’s suite. After a whirlwind day of travel, it was incredible to step into that. The fans were super gracious and energetic. We were in this new place, ready for the experience. I won’t forget that short set in the suite anytime soon.
TP: Okay, so “Humble” is my favorite track off your new album. I was dying to hear it live, and you came through on the beach stage. But here’s the thing—halfway through, there was some rail drama, and I missed most of it. Was “Humble” a special pick for Closer, or is it going to be a regular in future set lists? (Please say yes!)
MR: We’ve been rocking that song at a lot of shows recently. It feels good, especially when The Palmer Squares are around.
TP: That Rage Against the Machine medley on the beach stage? Absolute fire. There were some weather issues that day, though, and your set time got bumped around. Did you have to cut anything from the set because of it, or was the Rage medley always part of the plan?
MR: We did have to cut some stuff, unfortunately, but with sideways rain and high winds around set time, we were just happy to pull anything off at all. The staff was super chill and helpful. It was great just to be able to perform on that beach stage. Rage was happening no matter what.
TP: Alright Matt, you’re officially a veteran now. What are your do’s and don’ts for Closer?
MR: I forgot sunscreen—you should probably bring that. I was able to do yoga sessions with Logan Rex as well as Rebel & Muse. Our team took runner-up in the 3-on-3 tournament. I caught a ton of dope sets. Closer did a great job of scheduling shows and activities so that you could realistically hit everything if you wanted. If you’re the type who likes to maximize, you can do it all at Closer to the Sun.
TP: Got any advice for the next wave of artists making their Closer debut?
MR: Life is short, man. Enjoy it.
