
ViYarte Presents: The Sound Series Vol. III
A DJ Production, Music Industry & Ableton Immersive
February 13 - 20*, 2027 | ViYarte, Boutique Hotel | Playa Marsella, Nicaragua
*with optional add on 3-day extension with a DJ catamaran trip

Where Sound Meets The Surf
Get Ready To Dive In:
Music is one of the most essential foundations of our shared human experience. It lifts us up, connects us, brings celebration to ordinary moments and becomes the ultimate soundtrack to our life.
We are so thrilled to bring our infamous week long Ableton Production and DJing immersive retreat to ViYarte with our headlining teachers and DJs : Fort Knox 5 (@fortknoxfive) and Spanda (@spanda_808).
Why?
We love electronic music and value the importance of it as an art form and genre of music. Production can sometimes be isolating, so this event is for you to come together, meet artistic peers, spend time on your own tracks, and collectively produce an original song/remix with the crew.
Annnd we get to do it all in a tropical paradise, a 5 min walk from the beach :)
We designed this program with the questions - “If I were to launch/accelerate my DJ career how could I get the technical tips and software experience, the most in depth and accessible information, and learn in real time from industry professionals?” at the forefront.
Is This For Me?
We understand that in a market where there are so many possible ways to begin your career, it can be overwhelming to know where to start.
This retreat experience is designed for you to gain clarity on how to move forward on a successful path built from your passion.
This retreat is for you if:
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You have a strong love for making electronic music
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You have some Ableton experience at a beginner or intermediate level
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You want to be a DJ or currently are a DJ and want to refine some of your technique in track creation or performance
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You want to gain access to industry knowledge from touring professionals
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You are seeking artistic inspiration and new connections
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You want to be able to live with and learn from accomplished Djs
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You want to create an original song/remix with the pros while in retreat
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You want to better understand how to market and brand yourself online
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You are ready for additional 1 on 1 mentorship from our teachers
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You'd love a chance to DJ at an epic showcase and on a catamaran
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You want a core community of rad artist homies to support your lifelong artist journey
If you want to know more, we would love to answer your questions.

Meet Your Teachers:
Fort Knox 5


In the beginning, there was the one — the funk.
At the heart of Fort Knox Five is producer, remixer, DJ, and Fort Knox Recordings founder Steve Raskin, a lifelong funk fanatic with one mission: to turn every dance floor into an unforgettable party. Drawing from decades of digging, producing, and touring, Steve blends funk, hip-hop, breaks, house, bass, disco, and unexpected classics into explosive, high-energy productions and DJ sets that are as unpredictable as they are irresistible.
As the principal writer and producer behind Fort Knox Five and Thunderball, Steve has created music featured in high-profile films, television shows, advertising campaigns, and video games. His work has appeared in acclaimed productions including Fringe, the Oscar-winning documentary The Cove, and the feature film Stand Up Guys. Fort Knox Five’s music has also been featured in dozens of video games, including Need for Speed, Tiger Woods PGA Tour, and Fantasia: Music Evolved, where Steve was commissioned to remix music by Bruno Mars, Peter Gabriel, Queen, and The Cure.
For more than two decades, Fort Knox Five has built a reputation for bending genres and combining live instrumentation with electronic production to create a sound entirely their own. Moving effortlessly between funk, hip-hop, breaks, house, reggae, bass, and glitchy beats, FK5 helped pioneer the modern funk and breaks movement while continuing to push the sound forward today.
That genre-defying approach has taken Fort Knox Five around the world, sharing stages with artists and icons including Gwen Stefani, Jurassic 5, Z-Trip, and Krafty Kuts. Whether in the studio or behind the decks, Steve Raskin and Fort Knox Five remain driven by the same goal: delivering big grooves, unexpected moments, and the kind of high-energy party that keeps a dance floor moving from start to finish.
www.fortknox5.com
>>> Fort Knox 5 on Spotify HERE
Spanda
Spanda = pulse, movement, motion, radiating energy that comes from the absolute. Personal energy that manifests itself in every single thing one does, joyful impulse to create harmony.
Allie Bruni brings 25 years of experience in television, film, and large-scale event production to everything she creates. As a production manager, she worked on hit television shows including Jackass, Viva La Bam, Flavor of Love with Flava Flav, and Reno 911 and more, mastering end-to-end logistics and the art of keeping high-energy, high-stakes productions running with precision under pressure. As an event producer, she has created and led some of North America's most dynamic outdoor and experiential events, including the Freeride Flow Music and Yoga Festival, Thule Big Mountain Ski Series, Teva Mountain Games, the Revelstoke Winter Carnival, Clif Bar Skramble - overseeing every phase of production from talent booking, venue scouting, sound and lighting logistics, budget management, brand management and partnership development, team leadership, post-event analytics and more.
Under the name Spānda, Allie is also a DJ and music producer from Northern California, known for a sound rooted in breakbeats, breakhop, drum & bass, and Afro rhythms. On the decks and in the studio, she delivers hard-hitting drum & bass and vibrant, groove-driven energy shaped by a deep love for old school bass. As an Ableton producer she has a special interest in arrangement, shaping tracks with intention so they hit hard while holding onto depth and soul. Her latest release, "Warrior Mouse," dropped in August 2026 on Gorilla Warfare Records, marking her continued evolution as a producer with a distinct voice across the drum and bass spectrum.
Spānda has performed at Shambhala, Electric Love, Wicked Woods, Paradise, Valhalla and Lightning in a Bottle, sharing stages with artists including Woofax, Krafty Kuts, A. Skillz, The Gaff, Deekline, and Stickybuds, artists who have helped shape the sound she continues to push forward.
Allie's ear for music extends well beyond her own productions. As a promoter, talent buyer, and booker, she has built a reputation for staying ahead of shifting sounds and trends, constantly seeking out emerging artists and unexplored corners of the scene. She approaches booking as a form of curation, matching talent not just to a lineup but to the environment, energy, and sound culture of the event itself, ensuring every artist she brings in strengthens the experience as a whole. This deep industry insight, paired with years of relationship-building across the music world, allows her to anticipate what's next and shape lineups that feel both current and intentional.
Allie is also an 850-hour E-RYT certified yoga teacher, with a special focus on weaving Ayurveda, yogic philosophy, sacred sound, and mantra into her approach to asana. This depth of study brings a grounded, embodied dimension to her work, rooting movement in breath, intention, and sound.
This rare combination, decades of large-scale production mastery, a musician's and curator's instinct for sound and arrangement, and a teacher's depth in yoga and sacred sound, is what Allie now brings to co-leading retreats where sound, song, and movement come together as one experience.
>>> Spanda on SoundCloud HERE

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Meet The Full Crew
Our full team roster to help curate an incredible experience

John Early
Author, Singer Songwriter, founder of ViYarte & cofounder of Momentom Collective
@johntearly

Brenna Bote
Yoga Teacher, Personal Development Coach & founder of Pure Living Yoga
@purelivingyogayxe
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Troy Story III
Vocalist, Yoga, Sound Healing, Massage & Movement Artist
@the_troy_story3

Nobre Sou
Photographer. Videographer. Singer Songwriter & Performer.
@nobre.sou
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Sahara Halford
ViYarte Hotel Manager and lead on local operations.
@halfordsahara
What Will I Learn?
Ableton Production
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A 5 class /12+ hour progressive series
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A start to finish original track/remix co-creation in Ableton with the group
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Navigating Ableton as a DAW
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Using plugins to achieve a desired sound
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Advanced mixing techniques
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Understanding the basics of Mastering
Remixing Original Music
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Fort Know 5 & Spanda to guide you through their process of making a killer remix for another artist
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Integrating and refining samples
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How to implement live instrumentation into Ableton
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Live DJ mixing pro tips
Event Production and Talent Buying
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The checklist for creating a big event or festival
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Budgeting for event curation
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How to get booked for big gigs
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How and when to get an agent and manager
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Industry insight for the secret tips and unconventional hacks how to succeed
Artistic Performance and Set Curation
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Craft the perfect set: pacing, flow, and reading the crowd
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Custom edits for a unique performance and on-brand sound (Ableton)
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Build your stage persona
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Styling to align with your artist brand
Marketing and DJ Financing
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Create a marketing strategy
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Define your artist brand to reflect your unique self
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Build your online presence across all platforms
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Partnerships and collaborations for wider reach
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Money $$$ talk. Develop an artist marketing budget
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Optimizing your gig offers
Creative Process and Panel Discussion
Q and A's with the teachers about the realities of being a professional artist and the tools that one can use once working in the industry to stay relevant, balanced and overcome the pressures.
Plus private mentorship services are available
In addition we will have morning yoga and meditation, surf lessons, performance jams, a blindfold 6 course dinner with headphone sound journey, pool parties with DJ sets from the curation team and a chance to DJ yourself and so much more…
Sample Schedule

Rooms and Pricing
*Earlybird is on now for $200 off
Valid until October 30th!
Use Code EARLYBIRD at Checkout
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Shared Room
$2750 USD*
Stay in a shared room (for 3 - 4 people) with AC, hot water and private WC. Join us for 7 nights/ 8 days with 3 meals a day and full Sound Series program and training.
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Twin Share
$3050 USD
Stay in a room for 2 people with AC, hot water and private WC. Join us for 7 nights/ 8 days with 3 meals a day and full Sound Series program and training.
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Private Room
$3500 USD
Enjoy your own private room (for 1 person) with AC, hot water and private WC. Join us for 7 nights/ 8 days with 3 meals a day and full Sound Series program and training.
3 Night Exension
Extend your stay in paradise for only $555 inc meals and a catamaran trip!
Ask us about our extension to stay at ViYarte with your favourite artists and friends through until March 18th.
Join us on a catamaran trip, work on your music, get one on one coaching, record in a professional music studio and more.
Airport Options
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Managua - is the capitol of Nicaragua and 2.5 hours from ViYarte. It's the easiest flight but not often the cheapest
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Liberia, Costa Rica - is only 1 hour from the Nicaraguan border, and ViYarte is only 1 hour from there! Liberia often has the cheapest and best flights and is the most common airport to fly into
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San Jose, Costa Rica - is 4-5 hours from the Nicaraguan border but can have the cheapest international flights. Usually best if you're staying in Costa Rica before or after
*Please reach out to us about any travel or flight questions. We can also help with transport and shuttles :)







