Jaeci Barber shares her favorite moments from past festivals, the first time she ever went to a rave, and how she fell in love with dance music!
Name: Jaeci Barber
Rave Name: LAPrincessBubblegum
Age: 25
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Current City: Los Angeles, California
Occupation: Promoter / Manager / Social Media
Facebook: Jaeci Marie
Twitter: @jaxxci
Instagram: @LAPrincessBubblegum
What was your first electronic music event?
My first event was Nocturnal Wonderland Texas in 2012, which was the last year the event was held. I fell in love with the scene whole-heartily. I never fit in at school or with ANYONE I knew from my small hometown on the outskirts of Austin.
People were just so nice to me at Nocturnal. I had never felt more at home in such an unfamiliar space. The music spoke to me on levels I didn’t know existed. In my past, I had always been too insecure to dance, but I didn’t care anymore and still love dancing to this day, I can’t help myself. I closed my eyes and just KNEW this is what I wanted forever.
Originally I was going to go to school for fashion, but then my mind changed, and I wanted to study the business behind this music festival. I had only purchased a one day ticket to the festival, then emptied my bank account the second day because I wanted another night of this new world. I had work at 8am, two hours away the next day. I left the event and drove straight to work, super giddy about the past two nights. On my drive back, I put on Tiesto in my car and since then, 90% of the music I listen to is dance music.
What/who influenced you to attend your first event?
My ex-boyfriend was going and all I knew about raves was that girls dress “slutty,” so I wanted to make sure none of them were up on him! [Laughs] I wasn’t sure yet about going- but then I went to the river in my hometown to tan. This guy came over to me and I was talking to him about how I was thinking of going. He had been the year prior to me and pretty music convinced me to go. I got drunk that night and bought my ticket.
What is one moment from an event that was special and why?
There are too many oh my goodness. As a promoter for so long, I’ve seen almost everyone. I think I would say seeing Above & Beyond on their “Group Therapy” tour. It was summer 2013 and it was my first time understanding what “trance family” is. My soul was opened that night and it was so special to share it with the friends I cared for the most. At the end, they played some OceanLab and Tony came and shook all of my friend’s hands. It was so magical, that I changed my name to “TranceKitty” on all my social media and started to work for clubs and promotion companies to go to as many free events as possible.
I have to mention a second special moment. It was the last set of TomorrowWorld USA 2014, and it was Kaskade. This was right after his Atmosphere album came out so he played a lot of recognizable tunes. I was standing on the hill above the whole crowd and was just watching everything in awe. I was amazed by all of the production, the talent, the family down below me. The stage that year was a volcano and it erupted fire every so often surrounded by fireworks. I don’t know why this moment still sticks to me, but it was one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen.
What is your favorite festival or event?
TomorrowWorld USA was my favorite festival, especially because of the campsite, Dreamville. However I just attended the all-trance 4-day Luminosity Festival in Amsterdam, and it was awesome!
But I think I have to stick to the current Nocturnal Wonderland as my favorite. I just love the set up of the festival and all the fun visual elements they add for it to really seem like a wonderland. It doesn’t feel too over-crowded to me and has so much to do besides standing and just watching the DJ. I think festivals should be a full experience – like Disneyland.
What is your favorite electronic song and why?
Are you serious right now? How am I supposed to decide this?
- “Super Human” by Andrew Bayer is a favorite because it really reminds us of what we are capable up.
- “4 AM” by Kaskade- For obvious reasons, all those nights staying up until sunrise.
- “In the Air” by Morgan Page (I have it tattooed on my collarbone). That song was played out in the set at Nocturnal that changed my world around- a curtain dropped in front of my eyes and I could see so clearly.
- The entire 100 Reasons to Live album by Gareth Emery helped me during the hardest time of my life.
- “Sound of Walking Away” and the entire Awake album by Illenium also meant so much to me during some really hard times.
There are so many more but I don’t want this list to go on forever ;)
Who are your favorite artists?
Gareth Emery, Kyau & Albert, Above & Beyond, Kaskade, Illenium, The Glitch Mob, Armin Van Buuren, Deadmau5, Avicii (RIP), Morgan Page, Sub Focus, Netsky, Rudimental, Skrillex, Dash Berlin, anyone using Emma Hewitt, and my newest loves: Ducky & Com3t (major girl crushes).
What are your favorite genres?
Trance, house, psytrance, techno, melodic dubstep, bass house, and future house.
What do you feel your “Identity” is in the electronic music community?
What I’m working on the most is a company called Baked Up, which just added management as well. Baked Up is a company out of Austin that has transferred to LA as well, and I am the LA contact. The idea is to bring in local DJ’s to give them a place to play in a world where it’s almost impossible to book gigs. While most of the companies in Texas are booking already-famous DJ’s, we look for true talent, with or without clout.
The entire theme is based around baked goods. The owner, Sydney Rogers, has a major love and talent for baking so she transferred that into her love for EDM and started “Baked Up.” Each event has scratch-made goodies made my Sydney or me, as well as fun inflatables that going along with the theme of sweets. In Austin, there are about two shows a week. But here in LA, we are at once a month. Our last show and collab with the Mother Duckerz (they bring in rubber duckies for everyone!) in LA was super packed, so we will probably have to find a new venue soon.
Along with this, we are now transferring into management as well. We have 12 artists which are called “The Original Dozen,” and are currently shopping their music to labels as well as booking them at different shows and festivals around the country.
Is there anything else you would like to add about yourself for the readers?
Thank you so much for reading all of this. I also want to give a special thanks to Universal Music in NYC and Dim Mak where I’ve been lucky to intern at as well. Follow me on Instagram and much PLUR to you all, and let’s trade kandi sometime. I’ll never be too old or too cool for that shit ;-)
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