Those of you who have known me for a while may have seen a random post or two of me dressed in neon-colored vests and sparkling leg wraps and wondered just what I was up to. Others have seen the posts labeled “new costume pieces” way too late for it to be Halloween related and have probably just thought I was too invested in the spooky holiday. But truth be told, there’s a little more to it than just being an extremely eager trick or treater. I rave.

        Raves are basically concerts featuring any part of the Electronic Dance Music spectrum. And trust me, it really is a spectrum. If you have heard one Martin Garrix song or Skrillex track and decided “Techno Dubstep EDM isn’t for me” then sadly you’ve judged an entire series by just the cover of only one book. EDM includes one of the widest varieties of styles in music that I’ve ever found included in a single genre. And that is what raves are about at their very core, the essence of inclusivity despite one of the widest varieties of audiences in the world. You can be eighteen and headbanging to hardstyle, twenty-three and flowing to psy-trance, forty and shuffling to house, or sixty and jamming to a techno beat, and no one will take a second look. Raves allow people of every shape, size, color, and background to come together and really just embrace the music while in an all-welcoming environment.

        It isn’t just a venue hosting a ton of delinquents, which is sadly what I’ve heard some people say. When you take out the presence of yes some illicit substances, there is so much more to explore, especially at festivals. Take EDC, the Electric Daisy Carnival, for example, arguably one of the biggest festivals in the country. There are multiple stages featuring a crazy range of artists, art exhibits, carnival rides, midway games, interactive exhibits, food trucks, merch tents, camping, Kandi accessory making and trading, and so much more. There are so many things about this community that pulled me in, but once you’re a part of it, you feel at home no matter how many people are in that crowd. And honestly, I am barely scratching the surface of what makes raves so unbelievable.

Don’t believe me? Here’s a very small sneak peek into my world…

        The pulsing stage lights, air-piercing lasers, and glittering streams of LEDs surround you as the whole crowd moves in synch to the music. Above you fireworks burst, sending sparks like shooting stars across the sky. The bassline of the song pulses in your chest like a universal heartbeat. You’re jumping up and down with the beat of the music, but so is everyone else around you, creating a sea of figures all screaming the lyrics as a DJ dances on the platformed stage in front of you.

        Sure it’s hot, and yeah your feet hurt a little bit. It is almost 3 am after all, but no one is showing any sign of stopping any time soon and you’re okay with that. As the set dies down to an intermission, you follow the flow of the crowd to the water station and someone fills your bottle for you. Feathers and sequins, glitter and paint walk past you adorning all manner of people.

        No one is weird, no one is out of place, no one is a little too crazy for this. A stranger walks up complimenting the costume you’ve worked months on and offers to trade Kandi. You share the universal handshake signaling peace, love, unity, and respect, as you trade Kandi bracelets and admire each others’ newest treasure. You smile as you move the souvenir to your other arm with the countless pieces you’ve collected and continue back to the stage for another set. And as the DJ begins to play your favorite song, you start to sing along with everyone else, someone pulls you up onto their shoulders and suddenly you’re on top of the world.

For just a few hours no one is telling you to grow up and focus on reality.

For just a few sets you don’t have to worry about bills, insurance, or work.

For just a few songs you can escape the pressure to contribute to society on a grander scale.

As you sing the last lines and the song comes to a close, for just a few seconds you are happier than you’ve ever been. And THAT is why I rave.

        This barely skims the surface and I’d love to do more individual posts specifically exploring different aspects like the Kandi, flow arts, costume making, etc. So if you’d like to hear more about the Rave Culture from an insider, drop a like below or comment a topic you’re curious about!

Love always, Me