From UPHF to the music scene
What if a class project turned into a must-see festival? That's what Rêves So Nord is all about
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For its 3rd edition, Abel Carrez, INSA student in Master 2 Audiovisual Production at UPHF, tells us about this unusual student adventure.
Born out of a university project at UPHF, the Rêves So Nord festival has quickly gone beyond the academic framework to establish itself as a genuine cultural highlight in the region.
Just a few days away from its third, even more ambitious edition, we caught up with Abel Carrez, co-founder of the festival, who looks back on the genesis of this adventure, its impact on the organizers' journey and the new features awaiting audiences this year.
1. How did the Rêves So Nord festival come about, and what motivated you to join the organization of an event of this scale?
Rêves So Nord was born out of a student project during our third year of audiovisual studies at UPHF. With my classmates Edgard Petoux, Clément Lauber, Emeric Iooss and myself, Abel Carrez. We thought it would be a one-off experience, a simple end-of-bachelor's degree exercise. But the public response and the success of this first edition far exceeded our expectations. Buoyed by this collective energy, we decided to found our own association to extend the adventure. And so a second edition was born, and today a third, even more ambitious, will be held on Friday, September 26, with its share of new features!
2. How does this adventure influence your study plans and professional ambitions?
This experience has had a profound impact on our career paths. We all share a strong link with music and events, and Rêves So Nord has enabled us to explore these worlds in concrete terms. For some, the future lies in production and programming; for others, in technical professions or project management. Putting on a festival of this scale has taught us to work as a team, to manage real constraints and to dialogue with artists and institutional partners alike. All in all, Rêves So Nord is already a formative project that is guiding our professional choices and nurturing our ambitions for our future.
3. What surprises are you planning for the next edition of the festival?
For this third edition, a new stage will see the light of day inside the university restaurant, transformed for the occasion into a veritable immersive space dedicated to techno in 360°! In keeping with our commitment to showcasing the emerging scene, we'll be welcoming a host of local artists to our 3 stages, which bring music to life in our region. The program will also feature the iconic French rap duo Caballero and JeanJass. At the same time, an associative and cultural village will bring together more than a dozen stands offering entertainment, discoveries and encounters, to enrich the audience's experience beyond the concerts.
4. What would you say to other students hesitating to get involved in an associative or cultural project of this scale?
When we launched Rêves So Nord, many thought our idea was too ambitious for a group of students. Yet it was by surrounding ourselves with the right people and seizing the right opportunities that the project came to fruition. Involvement in an association or collective that inspires you not only enables you to develop skills, but also to create solid links with people who share the same vision. It's this network and collective energy that make larger-scale projects possible.
RÊVES SO NORD 2024 - AFTERMOVIE
Association office
Edgard Petoux - Student in Master 2 Audiovisual Production, UPHF
Victor Petoux - Student in Master of Event Management
Émeric Iooss - Student in Master 2 Audiovisual Production, UPHF
Clément Lauber - Student in Master 2 Audiovisual Production, UPHF
Abel Carrez - Student, Master 2 Production Audiovisuelle, UPHF
With precious support
Lou-Salomé Martinez - Student in Master 2 Audiovisual Production, UPHF - Volunteer manager
Olga Le Pivert - Student in Master 2 Audiovisual Production, UPHF - Graphic designer
Samuel Desfontaines - Student in Master 2 Production Audiovisuelle, UPHF - Responsible for recording
Baptiste Monnehay - Student in Master 2 Production Audiovisuelle, UPHF - Video Editor
Romain Pinkert - Employee in the luxury events industry - Bar manager
Arnaud Defoort - Student at Sciences Po Lille - BDE Relations
