Meet the Winners of Pyramid Festival’s 2024 Lineup Contest: Nventorium & Tippstrip

Last year, Pyramid Festival launched an exciting contest to shape the lineup for both the KOLO and TOK stages. Producers from around the world submitted their tracks, and through a mix of community voting and jury selection, two standout artists were chosen—one to bring powerful psytrance energy to the KOLO Stage, and the other to represent the alternative, genre-blending sound of the TOK Stage. In this blog post, we highlight both winners and revisit the creative energy that set the tone for an unforgettable festival experience.

KOLO Stage Winner: Nventorium 

Kolo Stage, known for its vibrant atmosphere, is the perfect home for Nventorium, the stage name of Zharko, a rising talent from Ohrid, Macedonia. At just 26 years old, Zharko has already made a significant mark in the world of psychedelic music, blending deep, atmospheric sounds with energetic beats. His first steps into the scene began with his project Morphera and continued with his solo work under the name Nventorium. Over the years, his style has evolved into what he calls the “Morning Forest” genre, a unique blend of melodies that draw listeners into a captivating, psychedelic experience.

See what the winner had to say about his experience at the festival and the contest:

How did you feel when you found out you were one of the winners of the Pyramid Festival lineup contest?

• I was excited from the whole journey, it was my first time doing a contest, a very fun experience!

What motivated you to apply for the contest, and what were your expectations when you entered?

• The motivation is always the expression of my work, showing the unique, distinguishing the basic moments..

How did the opportunity to perform at the Pyramid Festival impact your music career or creative journey?

• Pyramid Festival made me feel like I was at a top-notch festival party full-time. I can’t say I wasn’t expecting that, but it was mind-blowing at many moments. Like every great moment, it makes a huge impact, and there come various synchronicities with my story of making creations for my projects.

What was the most memorable part of your performance at Pyramid Festival 2024?

• The constant feeling of euphoria at the mainstage, humble vibes. The decorations were out of this world, and also the lovely smiles 🙂

How did the experience at the festival influence your work as a producer and performer afterward?

• It reminded me how doing, creating, and being myself could be beautiful. Giving you fuel for the ride!

Would you apply for the contest again? If so, why, and if not, what would hold you back?

• Yes, I’m always open to share my work! It inspires me to listen to new music 🙂

What advice would you give to other producers considering applying for the lineup contest next year?

• Keep it creative and inspiring, new and unheard. Enjoy the journey!

How important do you think festivals like Pyramid are for emerging artists in the electronic music scene?

• Very important and hard to find! Pyramid Festival is very humble, professional, and mind-blowing! Especially for newcomers! A true festival experience!

Was there anything unexpected about the festival or the contest that stood out to you?

• No.

How has your perception of the Pyramid Festival changed since you first applied, and would you recommend it to others?

• Pyramid Festival proved what a psytrance festival means, a true eco-system of functionality. Definitely recommend it to every psyhead to experience this festival! 
• The festival offers plenty of things to do, to taste, to touch, and visually enhance your perception throughout your journey out in the forests of Rtanj mountain. 
• The place is indescribable, only to find out for yourself! I can’t wait to gather again next year! 🙂

CLICK HERE to listen to Nventorium’s full set from Pyramid Festival 2024 on SoundCloud.

We’re excited to welcome Nventorium back to the KOLO Stage for Tribal Days at Pyramid Festival 2025.

TOK Stage Winner: Tippstrip

Tippstrip, the Serbian progressive techno project by Sinisha Mladenovick, was chosen as the winner for the Tok Stage. With a sound influenced by cinematic music, uplifting breaks, and dark beats, Tippstrip has made a name for himself in the electronic music scene. His discography includes two full-length albums, several EPs, and a notable collaboration with Nevalis that reached #40 on Beatport’s Psy-Trance chart. In this interview, Tippstrip shares his thoughts on winning the contest, performing at Pyramid Festival, and how it has impacted his music career.

See what he had to say:

How did you feel when you found out you were one of the winners of the Pyramid Festival lineup contest?

• To be honest, I completely forgot about the announcement date for the Pyramid Festival contest winner. When I got the call and was told that I had won first place, along with the opportunity to close the alternative stage at the Pyramid Festival, I was extremely happy and motivated to deliver one of the best sets of my career.

What motivated you to apply for the contest, and what were your expectations when you entered?

• What motivated me to apply for the contest was my love for being part of inaugural festivals. Also, I had a lot of new music that I had never played before. This gave me an excellent opportunity to debut a set with 90% unreleased tracks, some of which will be featured on my upcoming EPs and albums.

How did the opportunity to perform at the Pyramid Festival impact your music career or creative journey?

• My performance at the Pyramid Festival had a positive impact on my music career. Since the festival is already well-known in our region and beyond, I believe it opened doors to new opportunities, including other clubs and festivals. Additionally, being the contest winner and closing the alternative stage was a bonus and a great highlight of my experience.

How did the experience at the festival influence your work as a producer and performer afterward?

• As a producer and audio engineer, I can say that every performance is a valuable technical experience, especially when you bring your own production to the stage. At Pyramid, specifically on the Tok Stage, the sound system was exceptionally good, and all the tracks I played sounded perfect. For me, as a producer performing my own music, it was a significant step forward to hear my tracks on such a high-quality system and realize how well they translated.

Would you apply for the contest again? If so, why, and if not, what would hold you back?

• Since I’ve already had the opportunity to enter the contest and win, I wouldn’t apply again. I believe the chance should go to new producers and DJs. However, I would definitely accept an invitation from the organizers to perform again as part of the regular lineup, outside of the contest.

What advice would you give to other producers considering applying for the lineup contest next year?

• My advice to fellow producers is to choose their best track that fits the vibe of Pyramid Festival and submit it. After that, it’s in the hands of the audience to vote. Once they’ve applied, they should share the track and encourage people to vote, but I believe the audience will recognize what best suits the festival and vote for the right sound.

How important do you think festivals like Pyramid are for emerging artists in the electronic music scene?

• I believe festivals like Pyramid are extremely important for emerging artists in the electronic music scene. Pyramid had exceptionally strong and effective marketing. In my opinion, it was one of the best marketing campaigns for an electronic music festival in Serbia, especially for a debut edition. Every new artist should consider participating in contests like this, or at least give it a try.

How did you prepare for your performance at Pyramid Festival?

• Every set I perform requires extensive preparation. Each track needs to be at a specific BPM, which means I have to export and remaster everything beforehand. Most of the tracks I create don’t have cymbals, percussion, or other rhythmic elements that you hear in the studio versions. I like to add those elements live, depending on the vibe at the moment. Preparing a set takes a lot of effort, especially the time it takes to get everything just right.

How do you feel about the idea that the Pyramid Festival was held at Rtanj?

• I truly believe that Rtanj is a sacred place in Serbia. There’s something about that mountain, and it’s a complete mystery. Once you visit Rtanj, you definitely won’t come back the same! I guarantee it. The place feels enchanted, but in a completely positive way. The organizers of Pyramid Festival did an amazing thing by allowing people from all over Europe to visit this beautiful place and add the magic of music to everything that already exists there.

How has your perception of the Pyramid Festival changed since you first applied, and would you recommend it to others?

• My perception of Pyramid Festival has definitely evolved since I first applied. Initially, I was excited just to be a part of such a new event, but after performing, I gained a deeper understanding of the festival’s atmosphere and how it connects with the artists. It’s a unique experience, I can say.
  As for whether I’d recommend it—each artist has to decide what kind of environment suits their style and vibe.

Tippstrip returns this year with a special set during the Healing Days, bringing his unique sound back to the Pyramid grounds.