Blog (All Entries) | Samantha Derrick

The Dance Floor is a Classroom: How Ultra is Shaping the Future of Sustainable Festivals

Ezra Peláez (ByeBye Plastic), Darleen Martinez & Samantha Derrick (Plant Futures) at Ultra Miami Main Stage 2026 In 2013, I walked into Ultra Music Festival for the first time and my life changed. I didn't know it then, but that weekend in Miami planted a seed that would grow into a meaningful part of my life's work. A few weeks ago, I walked back in for Ultra 2026 - this time as part of a collaboration between Plant Futures , Bye Bye Plastic Foundation , and Ultra's sustain

May 143 min read

What Bad Bunny taught me about Sustainability

Bad Bunny Puerto Rico Residency - DTMF, August 2025 The lights cut. The bass drops. Bad Bunny, who just reclaimed the world’s #1 artist spot , walks out on stage. Suddenly, hundreds of thousands of strangers become one collective: dancing, crying, screaming, alive. At Bad Bunny’s residency show in Puerto Rico earlier this year, I felt that moment land in my body before my mind caught up. The production was overwhelming: sound that vibrated through your body, lasers carving th

Dec 12, 20253 min read

Raving for a Better Future: Sustainability and Artist Voices at EDC

There aren’t many places in the world where you can watch some of the best production on the planet, feel the bass from one of the top dubstep DJs, and feel the energy of a crowd completely lit up. As someone who grew up in the dubstep era, seeing Subtronics play at main stage at EDC Orlando this year was unmatched. But for me, EDC went much deeper than the music this time. This year, Plant Futures came to the festival with one big question: What does a truly sustainable fest

Dec 12, 20254 min read

20 Lessons from 20 Years Eating Only Plants

I’ve been eating only plants for 20 years, and wow, has it taught me more than I ever expected. This isn’t just about what’s on my plate....

Jul 3, 20251 min read

Dancing for the Planet: My Sustainability Journey at EDC Las Vegas

This year marked my sixth EDC Las Vegas, and it was unlike any other -- because this time, I wasn’t just there to dance under the...

Jun 4, 20252 min read

Where Electronic Music Meets Plant-Based Food

I’m thrilled to share some very exciting news: this weekend, Plant Futures will be on the ground with the press at Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) Las Vegas - one of the world’s largest music festivals - to spotlight the rise of plant-based food and sustainability in the festival world. 🪩✨ This is a huge milestone for Plant Futures - and a deeply personal one for me! This will be my sixth EDC – which I’ve attended both in Vegas and Mexico City! For past 17 years, the elect

May 15, 20252 min read