Deep Culture Deepens Social Impact in Nashville and Beyond
Nashville is frequented for its honky tonks and cowgirl-clad bachelorette parties, but soon enough, it may be a destination for eco-warriors too. That’s because Deep Tropics, a two-day gathering produced by Full Circle Presents, brings environmental visibility to Music City with the help of their parent 501c3, Deep Culture. What used to be a dream for the social impact organization is quickly materializing, and its leaders couldn’t be happier.
“Deep Culture started in 2019, originally as a vehicle to support the festival’s sustainability initiatives,” explains Joel Atchison, Deep Tropics’ co-founder and head of regenerative design. “Now we’re trying to map out what we’re doing so we can share that information with other organizers and festivals.”
Joel and his twin brother Blake Atchison are responsible for the nonprofit and its critically acclaimed electronic event, which in 2022 attracted over 5,000 attendees and featured high-energy sets from international acts like Tchami, Chris Lake, Vintage Culture, Wax Motif, and LSDream.
The colorful stage designs and art installations made from hempcrete and aircrete that cover Deep Tropics’ Bicentennial Park home each August are impressive on their own, but it’s the behind-the-scenes magic that makes this green-friendly party stand out in a sea of summer music attractions.
Deep Tropics
Deep Tropics | Casey Mabry
Among the most distinguishing factors are Deep Tropics’ green activities, which drive positive change on a global scale. In the past, the team has created rainwater catchment systems and produced biochar to promote soil health for local grounds, and that doesn’t even touch on what happens during the main event.
In 2022, Deep Tropics captured 2,819 pounds of post-consumer materials from the festival (including 650 pounds of compost). In total, they diverted a stunning 93.01% percent of the festival’s waste from the landfill — an effort made partly by their reusable “infinity cup” program and “Earth Guardian” volunteers who work on-site while bass rumbles in the backdrop.
Attendees also had the option to purchase "Green Disco Eco-bands” — bracelets made from organic, all-natural materials — the proceeds from which are now being used to plant a total of 23,150 fruit-bearing trees in Kenya later this year. An additional local donation of more than $2,000 went to Root Nashville and Tennessee Environmental Council. The agencies will plant 1,000 trees locally, including inside the municipal park where Deep Tropics takes place. The carbon sequestered, or offset, by these trees is expected to reach some 407 metric tons — a number that has positive implications for air quality far beyond the downtown metro area.
Deep Tropics
Deep Tropics | Casey Mabry
That said, Deep Tropics and its aforementioned outcomes wouldn’t exist without Full Circle Presents — the leading independent promoter of house, bass, and dance music events in Nashville. With more than 100 shows on its rosters annually, Joel sees an opportunity to leverage that existing infrastructure to build more mindful programming within the flourishing tourist spot.
“We’ll be curating events that are more in the health and wellness lane — we’re bringing epic sound baths and thought leaders and conferences to our city,” he shares excitedly with Gray Area of what’s still to come. “It’s all about exposing people to the righteous ideas of self, community, and planet. We want to encourage personal development and growth, while obviously taking care of the Earth, too.”
Joel is feeling particularly optimistic, and with good reason — he’s all in these days. After working for years as a partner for a local cannabis company, he recently decided to redirect his attention entirely to Deep Culture.
“I’m still a partner but I have officially moved out of my operational role,” he adds happily. “I’ll be doing a little consulting in September and then my plate’s all cleared.” Regarding the evolution of the nonprofit, he says there’s no better time than now to expand.
“We’re trying to do events all year around and find different ways to activate people,” he explains. “All of my favorite podcasters — I’m booking them, along with great teachers, doctors and philanthropists. We’re aligning with like-minded organizations, like-minded people and creating community, which is just desperately needed here.”
Deep Tropics
Deep Tropics | Casey Mabry
Full Circle Presents’ regular Decompress party is already a fixture of Nashville’s dance music ecosystem. Joel hopes to soon unveil sister events backed by the Deep Culture mission. Eventually, he wants to create a multi-day hybrid celebration that blends educational programming with shows and wellness activities.
“I see us having a night of partying, maybe some ecstatic dance with fun, festive components to it, but I really want the main focus to be on healing,” he elaborates.
While the ultimate look of Deep Culture and its forthcoming schedule is still taking shape, Joel is putting his money where his mouth is. “Since we established the 501c3, I just haven’t known exactly what exactly I was going to do with it,” he continues. “Now that I’ve decided that is what I’m going to be doing full time, I’ll be spending the rest of the year working on pitch decks and reaching performers. We plan to raise a half million dollars to make it happen.”
While a fat stack of cash is sure to bring the goal within reach, we’re betting it’s Joel’s passion that will push Deep Culture and its mindful vision over the finish line.
