Baby’s First Rave: A Personal Take on EDM Culture
Image Courtesy: FactoryTown
From an outside perspective, going to a rave can be viewed as an overwhelming experience full of blinding lights and eccentric sounds. This was my outlook before actually being encompassed in the true nature of what makes up EDM (Electronic Dance Music) culture. The true essence behind attending my first rave drastically shifted my understanding of the EDM scene. Stepping into this tight-knit community, I saw first-hand how this shared experience of listening to the sheer rawness of the beats that the DJs were curating in real time generated this sense of genuine synergy between the individuals surrounding us. Even without knowing each other, there was this feeling of an underlying bond. With its colorful history that began in the 1980s, EDM isn’t just electronic beats, but a global genre that is able to connect a wide range of individuals into a community.
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Originally evolving from house music, EDM began in Chicago and started to blossom internationally in the 1990s. The culture at the time was completely underground, embracing the punk collective as raves were held in illegal warehouses. This grungy atmosphere represents this new age of music that has departed from the usual pop music genre, which is heavily centered around lyricism. The emergence of EDM embodied this trigger in mainstream society, with the popularity of an underground genre developing into a full-blown entertainment industry, with festivals catering to many aspects of the modern party scene, from clubs to bars.
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EDM has a broad spectrum of genres that each have their own subculture, including dubstep, techno, progressive house, and trance. Each of these specific genres has its own aesthetic and ambiance that the crowd feeds into, specifically, how the beat or rhythm is compiled in a specific manner. The combination of explicit beats and harmonies that DJs utilize to create nuanced undertones for the audience impacts their emotions. Specifically, in dubstep, there is this use of heavy bass and beats that fall in sudden placements, which makes the listener feel tension and anticipation for the next drop in the music. Having these captivating ways of manipulating sound gives the listeners ways to relate to each other as they are going on this listening experience together.
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Personally, my first chance at getting to go to a rave was an impulsive and wild rollercoaster. I picked up a phone call from a friend, and the next thing I knew, we were driving from Tallahassee to Miami to go to my first festival, Factory Town, on the same day. After shortly arriving in Miami at 1 am, we went straight to Factory Town, staying awake from straight adrenaline coursing through our veins. Coming into my first EDM festival with almost no knowledge of the culture, I expected flashing lights and a lot of sweaty bodies pushing to see the artists. The reality completely blew those expectations away; I felt a sense of unity. As someone who was completely sober coming into this unfamiliar space, I still recognized the synergy with the individuals surrounding me. It was natural that everyone was in their own zones, and there was this freedom to dance in an ambiance that gave me comfort in movement. This lack of judgment made these moments feel natural because everyone appreciated the same sound together. This freedom of expression truly embraces what EDM comprises. The most distinct set that I heard was from the artist Mochakk, with whom I felt a personal connection as we are both Brazilian. Encountering techno, my initial thoughts were about how he mixed the music in a way that stirred a sense of excitement with a repetitive tempo that has started to creep its way into modern pop music today. With everyone dancing to the same set under these pulsing lights, there was this belonging that transcended the differences between us in culture or language; EDM in itself is a type of unspoken communication that harnesses music and employs a way of belonging.
My journey into the EDM scene highlighted the transformation in my own perception of the genre. Garnering this raw experience where I felt the freedom to completely let loose and be one with the music represents the unspoken language. What began as an impulsive decision turned into a night of connection and freedom of expression. It is essentially not just about the music but how EDM has become this space where people can have this sense of belonging regardless of the distinction in background or language. Having these collective moments that individuals share and can look back on is what the culture encompasses: unity and community.
Strike Out,
Author: Emily Montarroyos
Editor: Isabel Wilder
Tallahassee