I love EDM because it is more than just music; it is a diverse culture. We are all different, yet the beat brings us together. EDM and my rave family is the light that has guided me through the darkest times in my life and made me a more positive person.
I stumbled upon the rave culture in high school.
I guess I should start by admitting that was in 2001… My friends and I were the only ones in our school that made kandi, played with glowsticks, and listened to techno.
We didn’t care if we were considered the “outsiders” or the “weirdos”, we just did what we enjoyed. On the weekends, we went to raves. We would go out to the middle of the desert, or a rented out building, or even peoples houses.
We never knew exactly where we were going until we got there, that was half the fun. I got my rave name “Glowie” from them. I guess it was my borderline obsession with anything glowing. I always had glowsticks or micros on me.
Fast forward, life happened and I spent many years away from the scene. I came back across it during a darker time in my life. In 2012, I went to Beyond Wonderland. I will be the first to admit I was a bit terrified with what I saw. When did the music and culture I had always loved, but been made fun of for, become popular? Even though it was intimidating at first, as I explored more I found that the values and amazing people were still there. I had found it again, and when I needed it most.
My favorite moment at an event was at Escape from Wonderland 2013. My entire rave family holding hands during a set. If unity has a feeling, that was it for me.
It seems impossible to pick just one favorite song. I think I would have to go with DJ Mangoo- Eurodancer. A classic, got to keep it old school.
