primavera sound 2025 | pop fantasies, club catharsis, and the cupra pulse
Primavera Sound 2025 brought its usual mix of chaos and catharsis to the Parc del Fòrum, in Barcelona, with a lineup spanning the extremes of experimental electronics, millennial pop melodrama, and gritty live performance. With the Mediterranean sun as a backdrop and a crowd ready to sweat, scream, and self-reflect, Schön! was there to witness it all — and capture all the standout moments.
At the opening night, FKA twigs needed little more than minimal scenography to conjure an entire cosmos. Her Thursday night set on the Estrella Damm stage bent pop performance into something sinewy and spellbinding — and she only needed a pole, a sword, and some scaffolding. Across contortions (yes, including pole dance) and sparse-but-precise costume changes, FKA twigs danced her way through EUSEXUA, then dialled the energy down to deliver liquid intimacy with Home With You, Two Weeks, and a devastating Cellophane rendition. Her set followed lively and fun openers with Japanese duo YOASOBI and emerging star BEABADOOBEE, who initiated the day of music celebration.
On Friday, queer icons Charli XCX and Troye Sivan brought the heat with SWEAT, their only European joint show. A relentless club sprint through their respective eras, BRAT and Something to Give Each Other, with Sivan leaning into twink villainy as he marked his 30th birthday, and Charli XCX tearing through the brat club canon like a woman possessed. The set, however, hit its peak fan-fuelled delirium when Chappell Roan appeared on screen mid-routine, delivering her “Apple Girl choreo” in full drag-pageant mode. Camp? Of course.
Sabrina Carpenter followed, bringing her new-age Barbie energy and extra heat to the festival. On a stage somewhere between a TV studio and an oversized dollhouse, she leaned into ’80s tropes and bubblegum bravado, teasing the audience with one-liners and hits, from Espresso to the just-dropped Manchild.
But if anyone came to claim the crown, it was Chappell Roan. Dressed like a prom queen from a gothic fever dream, she turned the Estrella Damm stage into her own neon-lit fortress. She opened with Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl, read out text messages from exes (for public shaming, naturally), paid tribute to the trailblazing women before her with a belting cover of Barracuda, and closed with the queer anthem Pink Pony Club.
And through all of this pop chaos and sonic euphoria, CUPRA returned as festival partner for the fourth year, bringing with it a new highlight: CUPRA Pulse. The mirrored installation became a hub for rave realness and sonic experimentation, with sets from Crystallmess, Lolahol, and LSDXOXO transforming the space into a chrome-lit playground. The CUPRA Stage hosted influential artists like Amelie Lens, TV On The Radio, and Amaia, while the brand’s digital platform, CUPRA Music Hub, streamed the action globally.
“Music has been a part of CUPRA since our foundation. It inspires us and enables us to convey the values we stand for: boldness, creativity, and celebrating the talent of the future,” said Patrick Sievers, CUPRA’s Global Head of Marketing. “We have designed the space to amplify the connection with the audience and turn each performance into something more immersive.”
From scaffold to strobe light, from mascara tears to euphoric drops, Primavera Sound 2025 was a fantasy you could dance inside. And this year, it had a heartbeat of chrome.
In his Milanese studio, where tradition and technology seem to collide, Felipe Fiallo is holding up a sneaker that looks as if it’s been plucked from the future: a crystalline structure glinting under the lights tinted in a vibrant red, the kind of shoe that demands a double take to fully understand its design. Next, the Co-Founder & Creative Director shows me a pair covered in different layers of breathable meshes, adorned with colourful regenerative plastic that hug the feet. These are only a few examples of the many innovative pieces from the Italian-Ecuadorian footwear brand, and the beginning of his market revolution.
“The beautiful thing about fashion is that it’s a cultural element,” says Fiallo. “Footwear is the perfect match between engineering and art. It has to be extremely performative, but also an element of identity. After so many years in a saturated market, identity is more important than ever.”
Fiallo’s journey has been anything but linear so far. Born in Ecuador, trained as an industrial designer and architect, he designed the Luxury Train of Ecuador before turning his attention to fashion. “I’ve always worked through material innovation and technical projects,” he recalls. “But in 2018, I switched to fashion to build, not just to understand that the product has to be functional, but that it can transform behaviours in the consumer and the human. Footwear, for me, is the thing that lets you walk into the future.”
Now, Fiallo’s approach is a perfect blend of science and style. His collaborations with Adidas MakerLab and MIT, and his early adoption of 3D printing in footwear, set him apart. “In 2019, I proposed a fully 3D-printed shoe. Now everybody’s doing it, but back then, people would say, ‘What is that?’ I was creating 3D renders and people told me, ‘That’s not fashion.’ But I knew people needed to see it first, and then they’d start appreciating it.”
The new SS26 collection, Victory, is a love letter to motorsport and the golden age of Formula 1. “Victory is a collection of optimism, of travelling, of moving,” Fiallo says. “After so much chaos and uncertainty, I think there’s a new time. This is a collection for the full day — for the journey, for the celebration, for hope.”
The shoes themselves are technical marvels: a hidden 1.2cm heel, exoskeleton structures, and a silhouette inspired by the original 1963 Car Shoe. Originally invented by Gianni Mostile for motorsport elites and the jet set, this classic model is reimagined for a new era. “We wanted to create a new silhouette, inspired by the traditional car shoe, but fully flat with a hidden heel for comfort and posture. The outsole and insole are engineered to support the arch and cushion the heel — so you can drive, walk, and celebrate.”
What sets Fiallo’s relationship with the automotive world apart is its depth. SS26 also marks the brand’s official entry into motorsport, debuting with a capsule collection in collaboration with Double TT Racing Ferrari. “We’re not following trends, but detecting what’s only just being made,” he explains. “We’ve signed a collaboration with Ferrari, and each pilot will have the chance to customise their own tag, to bring their message, their pain, their victory.” The collection is as much about storytelling as it is about speed: “It’s about bringing back the time of celebration and travel, the hope that comes with movement.”
Fiallo embraces the retro-futuristic aspect of his shoes wholeheartedly. “It’s about the perfect match between past and future: classic silhouettes with innovative materials and techniques. We combine calf leather with technical fabrics, transparent materials, and even crystals that grow directly onto the sneaker. No glue, no stitching — just biology and human ingenuity.”
When it comes to sustainability, Fiallo doesn’t treat it as a buzzword. For him, it’s a non-negotiable part of how things should be made: honest, regenerative, and future-focused. “We don’t pray for sustainability. We create for us, for the planet. The concept is not recycling, but regenerative design,” he says. “Our TPU is fully regenerative; the digital print is 97% water-based. This shoe can be recycled in a year, three months — again and again. That’s the real regenerative material.” Every pair also comes embedded with a digital passport, ensuring full traceability from raw material to final stitch.
His Ecuadorian heritage feels intertwined into every pair. “I’m lucky enough to come from one of the richest places in the world — Ecuador. My DNA is nature. My family built railways, my grandfather was mayor of Quito. Engineering is in my heritage, and I bring that spirit to fashion. Fiallo is about combining the Latin American spirit with Made in Italy craftsmanship.”
That hybrid perspective quickly made waves. Before he’d even launched a full collection, Fiallo won the Ferragamo Prize for Most Innovative Designer back in 2020. “It was a super honour. I was working in front of 15,000 shoes built by Salvatore Ferragamo. I saw a big gap in the luxury industry to create something that combined performance and elevated style.”
Although he’s not keeping that knowledge to himself. Education is a key part of Fiallo’s mission. “It’s fundamental to inspire others, to show that it’s possible to do things differently. There’s a lot of jealousy and borders in the industry, but not everything is bad. My commitment is to spread the good news: fashion has a lot of space for renovation. Creativity has the power to change the rules.”
So, where does he see luxury footwear heading? “We’re not here for a season. We’re building a heritage. We want to become the first company to reduce 1% of the planet’s damage through regeneration. Our consumers receive an NFT tag — a keyholder to the community and to planet regeneration. For us, it’s about biology, digitalisation, couture — a new standard we call ‘bio-digital couture.’”
And while the future of luxury may still be evolving, Fiallo has a clear vision for what Made in Italy can become. “We call it Made in Italy 2.0 — a combination of traditional craftsmanship and new technologies,” he says. True to that ethos, the brand’s production spans the country, with factories in Florence handling manufacturing and partners in the south producing the packaging. “Factories told me, ‘Felipe, you’re crazy, you can’t do this in Italy.’ But we did. We’re pushing the boundaries, keeping the heritage, and giving the new generation a reason to desire, to walk into the future.”
As the conversation wraps, Fiallo’s optimism is infectious. “This is how we celebrate self — the real victory. To bring this to a new generation, to our community, is our biggest win.”
jacket + skirt. Huishan Zhang
jewellery. Lady Grey
For many, ‘Lilo & Stitch’ is more than a movie, it’s a cultural touchstone. It’s a story about belonging, loss, and unconditional love for family, wrapped in the spirit of Hawaii. It is arguably one of the most successful and celebrated Disney animated films of all time, so when the live-action remake was announced, expectations were high. Enter Sydney Agudong, the Kauai-born actor who took on the role of Nani, Lilo’s older sister and guardian, with a depth that’s felt throughout the entirety of the film.
What makes Sydney’s version of Nani so resonant isn’t just her acting chops, but the profound personal connection she brings to the character. Raised in Hawaii, ‘Lilo & Stitch’ was the first film she ever fell in love with. As a toddler, she dressed up as Lilo for a local pageant, unknowingly planting the seed for a full-circle moment later. Her early love for storytelling and performing has followed her from small stages to the big screen, where her performance is now showcasing what sisterhood, love and Ohana look like on and off screen.
Now with the film out in the world and the recent announcement that Lilo & Stitch 2 is currently underway, Sydney’s full-circle moment is resonating far beyond the islands. After the film’s release, Schön! sat down with Sydney to chat about sisterhood, her favourite Disney songs, and her special connection to ‘Lilo and Stitch’.
First of all, congratulations on the massive success ‘Lilo and Stitch’ has been – holding the number one spot for the third week in a row…
It still is?! I actually didn’t know that, that’s so cool!
With filming having wrapped over a year ago, how does it feel to see the success now that it’s been out for a few weeks?
It feels very validating not just for myself and all the creatives – Maia, Dean, and everybody surrounding the project – but it’s also very validating to see so much support in Hawaii specifically. It’s been incredible. Knowing that I believed in Nani in a way that was kind of refreshing, and we were able to go deeper into Nani’s character because it wasn’t just an exact animation to live action. They wanted to take a little more of a spin on it and give way to Nani’s arc and the parenthood aspect of things, she was a caretaker, and I grasped onto that.
Seeing the amount of comments, reviews, and people coming up to me and DMing me and saying, “I don’t think you understand how much this means to me / I felt like I saw myself as a mom.” I’m getting moms coming up to me, and that’s been so huge because my parents have sacrificed so much for me. All of this just makes me feel like everything was worth it, beyond the fact that this is a dream role.
Before we get into Stitch, I want to go back a little bit. What was it like growing up in Hawaii? At what point did you decide you wanted to pursue acting?
The first time I was ever on stage was for a ‘healthy baby contest’ and it was at the Kauai County Fair on a little small island and I was like one and a half years old. I had just watched ‘Lilo and Stitch’ for the first time, so this is just a huge full-circle moment for me – that was the first time I had ever been on stage. I was in love with Lilo and I dressed up as her on stage, and she gave me this confidence.
There’s a picture of me from that night, kind of almost letting go of my mom’s hand, and it was the first time that my mom had ever realized that I wasn’t afraid of being on stage, and I genuinely loved it. I didn’t really realize what was going on, but there was some sort of connection there. Growing up we did pageants like that one and we also did sports during the day, and so there was always some type of stage. I think I was around 8 or 10 years old when I started pursuing acting and theatre, and I brought my sister along with that too.
cardigan. Dodiee
opposite
blazer + shirt. Anteprima
shoes. Dries Van Noten
jewellery. Christina Caruso
Do you remember your first ever audition?
Yeah, I do! I was in a dinner theatre show on Kauai as well, and it was for South Pacific. I was 7 years old when I first auditioned for it, and I think I ended up doing it when I was 8. I was one of the little French daughters. I had to go and figure out French, and I sang a song, and I would do that every Wednesday night. It was my first paid gig, and it was so much fun. I was surrounded by a bunch of people whom I looked up to, and they took me in like a little sister. I remember each night I would go return my mic and then look around at all the tables to see if there were any untouched desserts [laughs].
Oh my gosh, that’s adorable, and in a way kind of reminds me a bit of Lilo!
Oh my gosh, totally. You’re so right!
I read in another interview that Lilo and Stitch was the first film you ever fell in love with– what is your earliest memory of the film?
There are a few, but the one that always comes back to me for some reason is the moment that Lilo is leaving and waiting for Nani, and then Myrtle and her friends come up and make fun of her because they all of their dolls, and Lilo has Scrump and she loves it. She realizes Nani isn’t coming, and the next thing you know, the sequence is Nani running towards and realizes Lilo isn’t at school, and she ends up kicking Cobra Bubbles’ car.
I feel like that was the moment that I realized I really understood Lilo and I understood Lilo and Nani’s relationship then. I think, especially with the Myrtle moment, it was a very big moment for me in school when you get bullied, and feel that the things that you loved aren’t okay. Now I have my own Scrump that my sister made for me [laughs].
Can you talk to me about what you felt the moment you learned you’d be playing Nani in the live-action?
I say this in other interviews, but I can’t come up with any other word other than surreal, and eternally grateful. It’s one of those things where you count your blessings. It’s such a full circle moment for me because I wanted to quit acting right before, and I got this audition in November of 2022, which is around my birthday. I was in a low place at the time and feeling lost. I had just gotten so many rejections, and then this came along and I just laughed, because I thought there was no way. It was just funny, the thought that this would be the audition that I would turn down and quit acting.
It was daunting. It’s such a huge role in a huge beloved movie, and I didn’t want to do it a disservice. I think the only thing that made me turn around and want to pursue the audition was the fact that I had been Lilo, and I understood that. I saw Lilo in my younger sister, and when I read the breakdown for Nani, I connected to it in a way that I couldn’t explain. I realized that she loved the same way that I did, and she wasn’t perfect. She needs things to get done in a certain way, but she does it with the utmost love and strength, and she’s so fearless. Those were the things that I’ve always strived to be as a sister, and I just wanted to do this audition for me. I didn’t expect to get anything out of it. I didn’t expect to get a callback, nothing.
Wait – sorry to derail the conversation for a minute, but you mentioned your birthday is in November – are you a Scorpio?
Yes!!!
I’m also a Scorpio!
Oh my gosh, I love that!
It’s funny because it’s obvious that Nani has a lot more depth in the live-action, but I was watching the film and I thought to myself at one point “Nani must be a Scorpio.”
Oh my gosh, I LOVE THAT! That’s so cool, wow. I mean, you saw something, right?
We know! Scorpios have a hard exterior but we’re so soft and emotional.
Totally, and there’s so much passion there and strength. They’re misunderstood, and sometimes they can be quiet, but at the same time, we want to share it. That’s so cool. I don’t think I ever thought about that with Nani, but I totally agree.
‘Lilo and Stitch’ is arguably one of the most iconic and successful Disney animated films of all time. Did you feel a lot of pressure taking on such an iconic character, especially since the film means a lot to you personally?
A lot of when I was filming felt like ‘art imitating life, life imitating art.’ And that was going through my head the entire time because I think that, had I not had the experience I had before filming, I wouldn’t be here. Or I wouldn’t have been able to get the roles that I have gotten, including this role. During the time that I was filming, there was a massive load of pressure, for sure. It was one of those things that just made me a better person, and it made me a better actor.
I think the reason I was able to overcome that was from the support that I had on set and off set – I was at home, in Hawaii. All of my fears were stemming from my childhood and being bullied, or the internet. As soon as I let go of that and looked around, I realized I was home and had everything that I needed. I ran with that. And Nani taught me a lot too, and that was a really big thing. I think just being able to pour myself into the relationship itself and hang onto my relationship with my sister Siena throughout the whole film. To be able to focus her character on her relationship with Lilo, and the relationship that Maia and I created is its sister bond that I will forever hold, it made everything just blissful.
Disney made the right choice casting you and Maia together– your chemistry is undeniable.
I know, I am so grateful. Thank you.
Do you remember the first time you met her? Did the two of you connect right away?
Yeah, we did! I remember the first time I saw her I thought to myself, “Oh my gosh, she looks just like her [Lilo].” Recently, our chemistry read photo resurfaced, and I had no idea how young she was! I always said I was so afraid to see her again because a lot of time had passed, and I thought I was going to cry or vomit [laughs]. I was just not ready to see her so grown up. But she’s still got the same type of spirit and energy and love and joy in her heart, it’s just been so nice to see her again.
I remember when we walked into the chemistry read together, I think one of the first things I noticed was that she was just so goofy and confident. I remember her leading her mom around, she was the one that was owning the show. Dean and I were in the chemistry read, and Dean said, “Okay we’re going to do a little bit of Improv,” and she said, “What’s that?” Dean said, “It’s like make believe, and we’re going to create this experience together and you’re going to play with Stitch, and this is your sister.” She was endless in her imagination. There was never a moment where she said “Okay that’s all I have…” No. That, for a kid, is incredible. That taught me a lot, I was so immediately blown away by her. And then we’re in the green room, and she gets bored and asks her mom to turn on her Tahitian music and starts dancing Hula in the green room [laughs]. I was like, “This girl is the best, I love her.” And her hips do not lie [laughs]. She’s insane.
dress. Dolce & Gabbana
jewellery. Lady Grey
opposite
blazer, shirt + shoes. Ralph Lauren
denim shirt. Jean Paul Gaultier
shorts. AKNVAS
jewellery. Ritique Jewelry
You have grown up with a younger sister, and this story means so much to those of us who have grown up with such a special bond with our sisters. What was it like bringing this story to life in a new way with Maia, and what do you hope people take away from this film?
I hope they see our real relationship on screen. I hope that they can see that, while I know it’s a movie, all of us on and off screen who were a part of this movie, not just Maia and I, really created a true family in the process. I think it shows. I hope people take away the fact that family is not perfect and it doesn’t have to look a specific way, and that you feel like you belong somewhere.
I think it shows in the arc that Maia and I have with Nani and Lilo – they aren’t perfect, but I hope that people find the little moments where it was just Sydney and Maia on screen and it was captured. I hope that people are able to see themselves in that, and maybe appreciate their family a little bit more and realize that nobody is perfect and that is okay.
The hammock scene where you sing to Lilo was so beautiful. I know you’re a musical person as well, and Disney has a way at pulling on heartstrings through music. Other than ‘Lilo and Stitch’, what are some of your favourite Disney songs or soundtracks?
Oh my gosh! Before I had gone through everything and before I had done any of the interviews, I had been saying ‘Mulan’ a lot. That is still true to this day. The song where she’s learning with bamboo – and then “Reflection” was a huge one for me growing up. I didn’t know who I was, and I still don’t, hence the whole Jane Doe thing with my music. I think there’s something to be said about opening up the truth in that sort of way and being authentic in that sort of fear. I think there are colours on the other side of the grey. Now, I think it was Courtney who reminded me of ‘Tangled’, it was “When Will My Life Begin,” so good! So bittersweet, so hopeful, pulling at your heartstring type of song. And Mandy Moore is incredible!
I know you have some other projects in the works, do you hope to take on more acting roles where you can sing as well?
Funny you say that, Yes! I just recently finished a project called “Ripple,” I was lucky enough to do it with some of the most beautiful and talented souls. We just finished this last fall/winter in Toronto, and it’s basically about these four strangers who live in New York City, and they all have their own struggles. The log line is basically how everyone is intertwined, and how you can create a ripple effect on someone else without even knowing that you’re doing it.
My character is Aria, she is a struggling twenty-something-year-old who is trying to pursue music, and has the utmost social anxiety and impostor syndrome. She is very self-sabotaging and it cripples her. At the same time, she has found her love for wanting to feel like she has a purpose in the world and feeling like she’s connected, and she thinks that she wants to be a mom. It’s a wonderful series that I hope we get to see soon on screen. Frankie Faison is in it. Ian Harding from ‘Pretty Little Liars’, Julia Chan – they play the other 3 of the core 4. It’s just a beautiful story of interconnectedness and feeling like you’re a piece of a puzzle, but still a big piece, and at the end of the day, you matter. I think it’s a needed series, and I got to bring in some of my original songs, and that’s been insane.
What are you most looking forward to this year and beyond?
One of the biggest things that this project has brought me is confidence, becoming a better person and having a wider scope on life. Feeling like I can take back my control and my place of belonging. I am excited to see where this sense of bliss and peace takes me. I feel like a new person in the way of re-gauging my ability to achieve, and I am excited to put fear down. I am excited to work on music, and put music out, which has been a huge dormant thing for years. I feel like I have opened my eyes up again, and I am excited to take gratitude with me everywhere I go, really, and be home while I’m doing it, which is kinda cool.
dress. MMK by Michael Kors
shoes. Sergio Rossi
jewellery. Ritique Jewelry
opposite
top. Versace
jewellery. Ritique Jewelr
The 75th anniversary of the Formula 1 British Grand Prix was the place to be from 3 – 6 July. Held at the iconic Silverstone Circuit, the grounds were also home to Silverstone festival, an unforgettable way to immerse yourself in the bustle of motorsport with a thrilling lineup of racing and live music. The VIP experience in particular gave guests an exciting glimpse of the paddock to see teams like Ferrari, Aston Martin and McLaren up close (and potentially catch a glimpse of legends like Lewis Hamilton if you’re lucky.)
The event truly captured the festival vibe with camping and a hotel on site, a live marching band and a Red Bull skate ramp. There was also a restaurant with a jacuzzi if that tickles your fancy. The staff at Silverstone were a particular highlight, making an effort to give a warm and friendly welcome to guests.
Taking place at the peak of British summer, Silverstone festival’s lineup featured some of the best of UK talent from Sam Fender and Mabel to Jade and Raye, who also features on the ‘F1’ film soundtrack. Raye gave a stunningly cinematic performance spanning across her entire discography. She showcased courageous vulnerability on songs like ‘Mary Jane’ and ‘Ice Cream Man,’ ignited the dance floor with her viral anthem ‘Prada’ and brought spellbinding drama with ‘Escapism.’ The combination of iconic performances and world class sport makes Silverstone festival a must-see for F1 fans keen to catch the live action surrounded by other enthusiasts.
