ID Spotlight: Sarah Maxwell

Name: Sarah Maxwell

Age: 24

Hometown/Current Location: Placerville, CA but living in San Diego, CA

Occupation: New Grad with a BS in Mechanical Engineering/Uber & Lyft Driver

Rave Name: None

What was your first electronic music event?

Madeon at Surrender in Las Vegas

2nd was Zedd at Soma San Diego

What/who influenced you to attend your first event?

My boyfriend at the time. He introduced me to a lot of EDM artists and events.

I’ve always had a passion for music, as I’ve been in band and play multiple instruments, but I guess I never met the “right people.” If I could turn back time, I would have been going to these events way before 2013, I was just never exposed to the world of EDM. Call me a loser, but everyone starts somewhere right?

What is one moment from an event that was special and why?

EDC LV 2014, the very end of day 1 at BassPod, Pegboard Nerds were playing, the sun was rising, and there were maybe 30 to 50 people watching, more or less (compared to earlier in the night, this stage was nearly empty). There was so much room to dance, and THE SUN WAS RISING it was so beautiful, and this was my first time seeing Pegboard Nerds, they really got down, they had so much energy for 4 o’clock in the AM. Even though we had all been dancing hard all night, we somehow had the energy to keep going. Everyone who was watching was so friendly, there were so few of us, we were all just having a blast with these 30 to 50 strangers around us, getting along like we’d known each other for years. Words don’t do justice to this moment, but it’s one of my top 10 memories from an event.

What is your favorite festival or event?

Either EDC Las Vegas, or CRSSD Fest in San Diego

EDC is the only one that’s at night. In my experience, everyone gets grumpy easily at daytime events, cause it’s hot and bright and all. But something about the nighttime darkness, everyone seems so much more comfortable and worry-free.

CRSSD Fest is in the perfect location and has had the best lineup. It starts in the middle of the day, the sun is shining, the grass is green, I love watching planes fly directly above us in and out of the San Diego airport, and then the sun sets and the lights get bright, poi and hoops come out. It’s just a beautifully perfect event.

What is your favorite electronic song and why?

Peace of Mind by Above & Beyond
“if you’ve ever lost every part of yourself, if you’ve left your heart on a lonely avenue, it will be only a matter of time before your life comes through for you”
This song has given me the strength to make it through some dark times. Death of family members, breakups, existential crisis, you name it. This song gives me hope and reminds me that this too shall pass

Who are your favorite artists?

Above & Beyond, Madeon, Zedd, Pegboard Nerds, Seven Lions, Slow Magic, Tchami, Wave Racer, Dada Life, Chromeo, Cashmere Cat

Is there a limit here?

What are your favorite genres?

I’ll space out to some trance, or get down with some trap

What do you feel your “identity” is in the electronic music community?

Well, anywhere I go, I’ll always be Sarah Maxwell. Electronic music makes up one piece of me. Just like playing flute and saxophone in band makes up another piece of me, so does mechanical engineering (what I went to school for), and the town where I grew up, and my love for rock climbing, and snowboarding, and my desire to swim in every lake and river I come accross, my friends and family, etc… you see where I’m going with this.

I love good music, I love dancing without worrying about what people are thinking, I love meeting people, I love having a reason to dress up in a way that expresses my vibrant personality. I also believe that the EDM community is so big, and it’ll only keep growing, that we’re the future, the EDM community is made up of SO MANY PEOPLE, DIFFERENT AGES, DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, DIFFERENT WAYS OF THINKING, from ALL OVER THIS PLANET… there is strength in numbers, and I feel that EDM brings us all together in peace.

We’re all different, but we’re all human, and we all have this one thing in common: music. Music brings us together. I enjoy seeing that.

Is there anything else you would like to add about yourself for the readers?

Recently graduated from San Diego State University with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. Wouldn’t it be great if someone reading this were looking to hire an entry-level engineer? I’m your gal!