Each year, the Patagonica Tour brings music, art, and environmental action to the forefront across Chile. Curated by Parties4Peace and founded by Emilie McGlone, the initiative connects artists and communities around shared values of peace, sustainability, and collective responsibility, moving through cities like Valparaíso, Santiago, Concepción, and deep into Patagonia.
Photo by March Hall
This year, the tour welcomed Lauren Ritter, whose involvement goes far beyond performance. Following her appearance at Piknic Electronik Santiago this past weekend, Ritter joined Parties4Peace on the ground to engage with local initiatives, environmental advocacy, and creative collaborations rooted in place and purpose.
We sat down with Lauren in Chile to talk about the Patagonica Tour, her long-standing relationship with Parties4Peace, the role artists can play in sustainability, and how these experiences are shaping her creative path moving forward.
EG: Hi Lauren, welcome to Electronic Groove. Before we begin, where are you today, and what kind of energy are you arriving with?
Lauren Ritter: Everything! This is my first time in Chile, and I’m trying to experience as much as possible in ten days. I’ve been soaking up the nightlife, meeting producers and artists, exploring the landscapes and glaciers, and eating incredible food. Empanadas especially. My mom is Argentine, so they are close to my heart. I also brought my field recorder with me and spent time gathering sounds in the national parks. After this trip, Parties4Peace and I will collaborate on a post-tour album centered around sustainability, so capturing the sonic identity of Chile feels essential.
EG: The Patagonica Tour moves through very different cities and environments. What does it mean for you to be part of a project that connects music, geography, and activism so directly?
Lauren Ritter: It feels grounding. Music often exists in clubs or digital spaces, but this tour brings it back into the physical world. Being surrounded by nature and communities that are actively protecting it changes how you listen and how you play. It makes the experience feel shared and purposeful rather than isolated.
EG: Piknic Electronik in Santiago wrapped up this past weekend and is considered one of Chile’s most loved summer gatherings. How did that experience feel for you, and what did you want to share with the crowd there?
Lauren Ritter: I had heard legendary stories about Piknic Electronik, and it absolutely lived up to them. I played a lot of my own music, including unreleased tracks I have been testing recently. I wanted the set to feel like a journey, starting with the lighter, dreamier side of my sound during the daytime and slowly moving toward deeper, more stripped-back grooves as the energy shifted. The connection with the crowd felt very natural.
“I believe artists do not exist in a vacuum. Nightlife is a shared ecosystem. We support each other, and when you have a platform, using it for something meaningful feels like a responsibility rather than a choice”
EG: You have worked with Parties4Peace for many years. How did that relationship begin, and why does giving back feel important to you as an artist?
Lauren Ritter: I’ve known Emilie McGlone for over a decade through the New York nightlife scene. She has always been an inspiring force, constantly giving her energy to others and building community. I believe artists do not exist in a vacuum. Nightlife is a shared ecosystem. We support each other, and when you have a platform, using it for something meaningful feels like a responsibility rather than a choice.
EG: You recently played aboard the Peace Boat in New York City. What stayed with you most from those events focused on ocean and climate action?
Lauren Ritter: The Youth for the SDGs scholars onboard really moved me. Hearing directly from young leaders about how climate inaction affects small island states made everything feel immediate and human. Being on the ship sparked the idea of using field recordings from Patagonia in a future album with Parties4Peace, as a way to translate those experiences into sound.
EG: You are currently in a very active creative phase. What are you working on right now, and where is your focus heading next?
Lauren Ritter: I am in the middle of reshaping my production approach, working with new tools like the Elektron Analog Rytm and Digitakt. I have four EPs in progress and plans to relaunch my label, Rift Vision. I am also preparing a new album with spoken word artist Tenesha The Wordsmith. The goal with the label relaunch is not just to release my own music, but also to spotlight other talented artists from New York.
EG: Sustainability is a topic you speak about with honesty and nuance. Why do you feel it is critical for artists to engage with it right now?
Lauren Ritter: We are at a tipping point. The culture of constant newness pushes us to consume without reflection. As artists, especially those who travel and rely on technology, we have to be honest about our footprint. For me, sustainability shows up in small but intentional choices, using pre-owned gear, keeping equipment in rotation for many years, and resisting unnecessary upgrades. There is no perfect answer, but patience and conscious decision-making feel like forms of resistance. Even within a system designed to divide us, I believe collective choices still hold power.
EG: When things feel overwhelming, what keeps you grounded and moving forward?
Lauren Ritter: Remembering that none of this happens alone. Community, collaboration, and shared values keep me centered. Even questioning my own choices is part of that process.
EG: Finally, any last words you would like to share with the Electronic Groove community?
Lauren Ritter: Thank you to Parties4Peace for years of inspiration and collaboration, and to everyone involved on this tour. From Piknic Electronik to the DJ School, from Valparaíso to Patagonia, I feel deeply grateful for the opportunity to share the music I love. Vamos con todo.
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