General thoughts....

Techno is incredible, it's so obscure and enrapturing. Techno is full of extasis sounds. For those who doesn't know what extasis means: Ex- for "outside" and stasis- for "standing". Sounds that leave you standing outside yourself. Techno has got sounds whose potency lies beyond pleasure and even beyond beauty, it's utterly intense and yet empowering. I mean, how is it that music takes hold of us, rattles us to the core, & somehow speaks to us in a way that words cannot? If you're still reading this and find yourself bewildered yet captivated then...You should reply, and let me know. There's a lot more i'd like to share with you all, I'd like to find someone who can relate their love of music with mine. I'd greatly appreciate it, if anyone responded. There is a lot more where that came from.

- Skdmzl27@aol.com

Bass lines, now thats what really turns me on. Anything with a bass line that makes your chest rumble and your shoulder shake. Take for instance jungle music. Dark old skool jungle from back in the days of 1993/4 when i was just a mere school girl in London, tuning into the pirate's on a friday and saturday nights, dancing infront of the mirror before going to Dalston, in the borough of Hackney and dancing my heart out in the back room of Labarynth. Now that was Jungle at it's best, when the walls and floor vibrated and it felt like the hundred year old building would collapse around my ears. And eventually it did, but it was bulldozers not basslines that caused it. Bass lines are like heart beats, so deep and intense that moving to them is as natural as breathing, walking and talking. They make you skank, wind your waist and your shoulders, stomp your feet raise your hands in the air and feel alive. Without music, life would be boring. Music is an expression of life. each tune you hear is someone elses interpretation. You may think that this is a load of bullshit, but it's my opinion so respect it. And if you've read this far, you might actually agree...all replys gratefully received.

- MCCSNATH@livjm.ac.uk

Music is a language that all cultures understand. No matter where you go in the world you will find people tapping there fingers in unision. There is all color in music. Since the beginning of time it has been our nature to follow the rythem that flows from every living thing. we all sing and dance, if it is alive then it is part of our rythem. Dolphins ,trees, people. Earth, sun and the moon. We all co- exist in unison. we find pleasure, in movement, dance is an expression of who we are. Djs set the stage and tap there fingers so the rhythm can be heard by all.

We are all different, so the way we hear the music will be also. There are those that fear change. Also there are those that fear people when they gather. No outher music scene holds a more versatile culture variation. Those that do not understand, do not hear the music as you or I will. This is shown by the way they react when you say who you are and what you do. I will not judge them as they have judged us. I choose to let them have there way of life, I understand without their opinions there may be an unbalance, and that is as needed as good and bad, both in themselves are a sun and moon.

Once you are in this scene, you never leave. It becomes a way of life. No matter where you go in the world, you will always know one of your kind. There is an acceptance no matter your age, race, or way of life. If someone is tapping a finger you will move, and tap your foot.

- Lindie

like you, I find myself in flight of thought when I trip on electronic music. it is not just a "standing outside of myself" but an internal flight.

I feel myself exploring the things I want to say
feel
experience
express
in a language not entrapped in words.

sometimes a thought is so large and looming in my head but gets reduced when I try to express it in words. the ideas that music encompass go beyond this. I've tripped on electronic music with and without a buzz.

when we were inside our mother's womb we were soothed by the sound of her heartbeat. that ancient rhythm that takes us back to the time when we were pure, untainted, unadulterated by the trappings of this world and it's constant demolition of our egos. when I trip on the sound, I am taken back back back back into that peaceful amniotic world of liquid sound and rhythm. peaceful. no resistance. no corners. no jerky movements. no creaks. all flowing and floating and bliss.

There is a Christian belief that 'he who sings prays twice as much,' that probably says a lot about melody. Even the majestic King David of Biblical Times was known to play the harp and the lute and was said to have "danced till his vestments gave and fell on the ground" such is the throes of bliss and ecstasy music can give to even the most dignified sort.

there must be some truth to the higher need of man to drown in the sea of sound. perhaps someday, words will be the least meaningful of all means of communication. because there will be the language of touch. and the language of sound.
- Therese

I remember a time when I thought there was little more to electronic music than cheesy dance music. Tunes from C&C music factory, Ace of Base and Bobby Brown; the kind of stuff that was all over the radio in the early '90s. I used to preach hatred of the music and opted instead for other mainstream music, more specifically 'alternative', and then came my first taste of what I called 'real' techno at the time. :) During a family vacation in Mexico I met a boy about my age from London, England. It was 1994, both of us were 14, and the only thing that really set us apart were our conflicting musical tastes-- my Pearl Jam CD's vs. his Prodigy mix tapes. At the time I'd never heard anything like the stuff; I found the activity in the music completely overwhelming and amazing. The memory of the music stayed with me long after I returned home and within months I had begun collecting vinyl. The now defunct Odyssey Imports on Seymour St. was my place, serving me up the wild goa trance tunes of the time: Infinity Project, Akasha, Ominus, and others.. none of my friends could understand. Techno to them was still the latest Snap tune on Z95.3FM.. they were all learning how to play guitars and I was dreaming of tb303s and 909s. It obviously created a rift between us but they were not so narrow-minded as to shun me for it.

The raving experience was still a ways away for me but the vocal samples of tracks like "acid connection" led me to experiment with LSD. One of my closer friends at the time and still today had been won over to the trance side upon hearing my records. Entire days the two of us would spend in parks hallucinating and then retire to my home for sessions of "Psychedelic Krembo". By this time I was listening to more experimental music like Ovalsys and some Skylab 2000 but my feelings had not changed from those of my first encounter. Together the two of us would talk about how so few people (our age) knew this kind of music existed. We took an immense pleasure in knowing we were the only people in our school grade that listened to this music. We writhed in it-- that silly, immature underground pleasure. :) We used to play "Ace of Wands" for trance-virgins and watch that look of surprise and excitement creep across their faces as the track would build. As part of this lust for what I then thought was so 'underground' I had also developed a longing to discover the rave concept that lurked beneath the music.

In 1996 a casual friend of mine told me of how he was going to a rave with some of his friends and asked if I'd like to come. I immediately accepted and brought with me one of my closer friends today. The group of us took off to the party, a pill was put in my hand, and the most memorable experience of my life began. The first hour I spent slouched against a wall in disbelief at the effects of the ecstasy. People were coming up to me and talking to me, asking if I was all right; I could hardly believe their kindness. And then I mustered my strength and made my way to the dance floor, having never really 'danced' before. Four hours later, close to collapse from exhaustion, a person approached me and forced me to sit down for a water break. I had never experienced anything so amazing in my life, those prior hours of dancing! If I hadn't been completely convinced of the power of electronic music before then I certainly was now.

It took me until this year to buy another CD. Vinyl was all I cared for and I didn't even spin (or have any intentions of starting). I hadn't bought anything but goa trance in years with a few electronic exceptions. I simply did not care for anything else (with the excuse of a few older classics). Sometimes my not-so-technofied friends would ask me how I could listen tirelessly to the music non-stop, how I could go to these all-night rave parties over and over and not get bored. The only answer I can give them is that I love it, I can't think of anything I'd rather listen to, nor a party I'd rather go to. No doubt this has cost me friends in past but it has brought me so many more..

It is in this way that electronic music and the affiliated culture has indeed come to guide a great portion of my life. It is has been responsible for some bad times but also for many more good times. It dictates which nightspots I go to, the people I meet, the people I see most of, the quality of the lifestyle I lead, even the clothes I wear, but always to a point. Still there are things that it shall never control. I still have many friends that cannot stand trance or much other electronic music for that matter and they have stood by me throughout my voyage of the past few years. My family too have seen me through drug abuse and other problems that can come of the culture. I would never let the music or the culture be responsible for the deterioration of the bonds I have with these people; they were here first, and they are extremely important to me. It is not impossible to have two great intertwined loves, even two great dichotomous lives, and today I think I've succeeded in integrating them together to make my life quite satisfying.

I believe the whole experience has left me far more open-minded and generally positive than I would be otherwise. I think it has empowered me with a confidence and faith in the common hope and good intentions of mankind. I guess what it boils down to is that I am deeply satisfied by seeing so many people working hard to bring people together in happiness and acceptance-- whether the goal is achieved or not, the ambitions are truly noble. I was cynical and bitter before I discovered this scene we share and still there were many embittering hardships after, however I think all of them have been healthy and that they have left me today a grounded person.

- Richard Rauser.

As Steve entered his 10th grade year at his high school in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, he was a shy boy...really, in truth had no friends, he stayed to himself. The reason was as simple as breathing, he had no "style", he was like every other person at that school didn't stand out, made no impact on the social circuit at Barnstable High School. Until one day i heard what was the most beautiful sound i had ever heard, what i heard changed me...i heard Second Toughst in the infants by Underworld and that's when i heard my calling i heard something that would break me free of the "chain" that was holding me back in high school.

Shortly after i heard second toughest, i moved to Virginia and i slowly met kids who were interested in the same music i was, my friend lori and jaimie, though were the 1st to take me to a club. I was so excited i knew that if i got to hear this music, with other people who got the same energy out of it than i did, i knew it would be something to remember and it was.

Being in the electronic community is really great thing, just on my own little moral issues it's helped me be more outgoing, and in a way has built up my self confidence. But most importantly it's about the love for music that i have and that i always will have.

- Steve

How do you feel your life has changed as a result of being involved in the electronic music community?

Well, let me start off by saying that this is not as much to win tickets, but more a chance to be able to express my experiences as a direct result of "electronic culture", as it were.

I would much like to start off by saying that I cannot easily explain to anyone in words how much, and what "techno" or "electronic culture" means to me. It is way more than just a style of music. Techno encompasses a whole culture, a whole way of life, and to a point, almost a system of beliefs.

To me, techno and electronic culture are a way of life. I live for them. Not exclusively going to raves, nor listening to the music itself, but the air surrounding the people, the mindset of those people, and the freedom begat by them. The mentality, (whatever it may be brought on by,) transcends more than the eight hours that they may be at any certain party, at any given time; ultimatly (I feel) bettering the attitude of those social circles which may surround them. It goes along with the old cliche, "If he/she jumped off a bridge, would you do it too?" Well, if he/she spreads a positive mental attitude, would you do it too? Of course.

Electronic culture is about randomness, breaking rules, originality, personality, individuality . . . its all about being who you want to be when you want to be them. Its about doing things that haven't been done before; reaching higher states of conciousness, where no racial, cultural, or socio-economic boundaries exist. In essence it is about a theoretical utopian community that will someday hopefully be. As a direct result of being engulfed within that culture, my whole life has changed. The values by which I live my life have slowly began to become more positive. In not-so-many words, electronic culture is more than just music, drugs and raving. Electronic culture to me is about the people, the experiences and the lessons from which I learn.

- aaron

The electronic music scene has given me hope in the human race. The electronic music scene has made my realize I'm not the only one that doesn't buy what society tells me i should do and who i should be. The electronic music scene has given me a positive and constructive outlet to express my joys and frustrations. The electronic music scene has given me confidence in my beliefs and opinions.

For the last three years. E Music has changed my view. Here is my story...I was in a life crises and needed a "lift". I loved dancing but HATED clubs, hated "club men". I just wanted to go out and dance and express myself, with out being hit on by idiot testosterone ridden individuals. A couple of my (underage) friends told me that they wanted to take me dancing. So we went dancing. I had NO idea how wonderful (or what) a Rave could be like. It was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. I love the music & freedom, & I love and understand the culture! My best times have been dancing all night at Raves. And I am not your "typical" Raver. I am a 35 YO (still get carded, probably why my friends are so young!) professional, single parent of a blossoming family. I have had the joy of taking my 15 YO to his first Rave. Now we are both hooked! Whether or not we "win" tickets, we will be supportive of Dreamone Summer, and hope to see you there!

now that my keyboard is up in position, i am gonna write this lyrical composition...

the electronic community, what can i say but thank you to everyone who has ever had anything to do with it. who would have thought a bunch of dorky looking teenagers could organize such a massive collective. i can still vividly remember the first time i felt the 'vibe'. you hear people talking about it... but nothing can accurately describe it. for the first time i knew what it was like to be 'high'. of course i had enjoyed many 'mind expanding' substances, but never did i realize that the greatest highs are often when we are sober. pathetic really, but i didt know...

i have loved techno since i can remember. the first tape i ever owned was a copy of kronos titan out of norway i suppose. this 'electric body music', or so it was dubbed was the most thoughtful arrangement of sounds i had ever heard. i knew then, i wanted to compose.

the more music i collected, the more i had become interested in those 'rave' things i had been hearing about. i finally got up the nerve with a couple of friends and had one of the most memorable nights i had ever had. i knew that from then on, it would be my mission to go every weekend, funds permitting of course.

it wasnt until maybe the 4th rave i had gone to that i had acctually caught this 'vibe'. it was the most amazing sensation i had ever felt. i was just minding my own business, and it just invited itself into my body. no longer did i care about what was going on outside of this event, because it seemed that everything i needed was inside of this musty, dark, smokey, warehouse.

some of the major changes in my life...

i judge time by either cigarettes or by the number of songs played in a night.
i have found out that their are acctually people from marysville in the scene.. dj's even...
it doesnt strike me as odd to drive 80 miles to dance one night, only to drive back at 4 to go to sleep for work.
and i have lost over 50% of my hearing...
- Andy

What do you think some of the biggest problems are within this culture, and what can we do to overcome them?

The biggest problem with the world is selfishness. Everyone is keeping their noses down and looking out for themselves. "Who cares what's happening to those guys over there?" they ask. "It doesn't affect me." But that attitude does. Directly or indirectly, everything affects you. When asked what I think what caused the Littleton incident, I am inclined to say that it was years and years of parents looking out for themselves and their children, and not paying attention to what was happening down the street in the homes of those two kids. In a community, we all need to look out for eachother. We can't just blame the parents of the children for what happened there. We must cast shame on the entire community for ignoring these students cries for attention and help. There cries were instead answered by aryan skinheads who trained them and eventually armed them towards a small massacre in a high school.

That's one small example of not taking an interest outside of ourselves and watching as it bit us back. The solution is easy. Practice love. Find somebody and give them a hug. Take an interest in other people's lives. Be supportive and helpful. You must first love yourself, but don't dwindle there. Keep searching for people to love, and they will love you back. Spread the feeling, and people won't want to be violent. A happy man never picks up a gun, only the scared and angry. So keep your head up and look for those who need the message, and give them a hug.

- James Stanard

Lack of education about what the rave scene was intended for. Kim, a while back you wrote a post comparing the rave scene with learing Japanese writing do you remember? well if you do what if the last person to learn was taught by the the first person how distorted to you think the lettering would be then? People are so eager to bitch about new people coming in and ruining "their" scene but yet they are not willing to teach others about what they could be experiencing. It's almost as if theve already gone through it so why give a fuck about people who are just starting out. Instead of trying to keep the scene true (of course there is always exceptions =) they grow up and begin to capitalise on something that was part of them lacking the consideration for people that are still going through it or just starting out. Money is the equivelnt to fear and fear is the root of all evil. Greed , Power , Social status all products of fear.

I think people need to really look and see who is operating solely for themselves and who is operating for the good of the scene. I think more experienced partiers should at least try to teach others.

- John Fritz

I think some of the problems, (this has been a part of my life (physically) for 6 years, mentally.. for a life time!) in the scene now, are the fact that a lot of lost souls are finding their way to the scene to fill voids. I feel that it works at first, then because they didnt solve their problems right the first time, it comes back. Most kids discover the missuse of drugs, deepening their troubles. I think that the "scene" has been around forever, even before electronica, it was just in differnet forms, and now more and more people are joining together... but at the same time, lots are falling. The promotion of the word.. phrase PLUR is getting misused, a lot of kids are seeing this as a bandwagon to jump on... and are still bashing themselves and others.. I feel that this can be fixed tho, but it really does start with the individual first. They have to realize that its easy to fit in the "scene".. its easy for it to fill your voids, to meet loving people, but that only lasts so long. They have to learn to love themselves first, and give love to other people, not worry about fast ways to make a buck on selling a few 10 packs of pills or whatever... Maybe if they remember the feeling that they first got when they arrived, and they hold that in their minds.. and develope it more themselves, they can over come the bad things. If you think about it, the scene isnt bad.. its the lost souls that bring their dark energy so to say.. in.. and then it escalates... Kids need to learn first and formost, the scene can aid your heart, it can help you out, but it doesnt take all your problems away.. it can help you grow if you let it.. but it cant do the whole job...

- Nanci

The greatest problem this culture faces begins with very familiar mainstream problem. Conformity. Conformity is a social design to keep people from rocking the boat. Its absence was what made this scene so desirable to begin with, but growth is so much easier to manage if rules and a sort of etiquette is established (to stop the boat from rocking). This is contradictory to what I feel is very fundamental to this scene: the ability to express yourself freely (in music, dance, sex, politics, drugs, spirituality, clothing...whatever). i.e. The ONLY thing you have to bring to a rave is an open mind. That's why it's so important to be considerate and collectively use our heads. Smart people need less rules. In summary: more smarts = less rules = less conformity = more freedom = bliss

- Keith Christall

I feel that there are many problems, not within the culture but on the outside. People do not understand what raving is. They see us as dancing, irresponsible druggies. When in fact, we are all very responsible and just want to have fun. And, if we choose to do drugs, are very responsible about it. I think that the outside community needs to realize that our intentions are not to cause trouble, but to just have a good time, listening to some great music with people of our kind, who share the same interests. A way to stop these false accusations would be to educate more people on the culture. Maybe, news paper and magazine articles, more web sites, or t.v documentaries. We are the only ones who can stop the way these people think we are, and the way to do that is speak out !!

- angelfire

If you were given $100,000 and told to organize an event with it, what would you do differently from what is being done now? What sort of flyer design, music, concept, art, etc would be presented?Who would you want to perform and why? How would you promote it?

First of all id pick a really unique outdoor location that isn't the easiest to get to. Somewhere where there is natural hot springs would be cool (what a way to end a party). That way the experinece would start even before the people got to the party. As for music with a $100,000 Jungle headliners would be a must perhaps DJ Rap vs Dj Hype , Groovrider . It wouldn't be just a Jungle party , Id want to offer different types of high quality music that was apart from all the hype. Id spend a portion of the money on searching for fresh , new, high quality DJs and performers from many different places around the world with many different types of music( from Detroit to India kinda make it an outdoor global electronic music gathering). Instead of the traditional time slots (local,no name , headliner , headliner. local, no name or big names on one stage no name on another) id put the Dj's that i thought deservrd more recognition right after the big names that played the same or similar genre of music. It wouldn't be just Djs and electronic music either live P.A's , vocalist, Native American drumers, African drummer, Asain Drummers and maby even a jam session with the drummers and live electronic preformers. Im really interested the concept of merging music with visuals so anyone doing that would definately get booked. There would be no set time for the event to end it would end when the music ended. Time should not be a factor, it would last as long as the people and performers wanted it to last. I think the true "rave" experience is when people of many differences come together for music, understanding,expression,acceptance,and simple existance. therefore promotion would be worldwide and exclude no one. (people would have to care about the music to travel somewhere far from civilization) If the money was given to me no strings attached i would make the event by donation only (music should have no price) proceeds would be given to some type of legitimate and practical world help organization and if there werent any legitimate and practical world help organizations i'd use the money to start my own.

- John Fritz

If I were given $100,000 and told to organize a rave, the first thing that I would do is find a location that is on private property so that this party wouldn't be spoiled by interference from the cops. i would try to keep tickets prices as low as possible so that as more people could afford to come. One thing that I would do that many people wouldn't agree with is the fact that this would not be an all-ages party. It would be strictly 17 and older for the simple fact that I hate it when I see 14 year olds at parties tripping and rolling their faces off. Many kids today simply get into drugs too early. Sometimes it's hard to realize, but when you are that young you are just starting to learn who you are and it's really best to find out what reality really is before you ingest chemicals to change your perception of it.

- Jerome Gaines

First let me say that is an amount of money to be respected. So spending it on a party would take careful planning. Ok, I believe a list is in order.

1. Space. 2. sound. 3. Advertsisement. 4. Talent, 5. Bizzy corner. Lights

Ok locating a space is not easy, there are limits to where and what you will be allowed to do in any given space. There are alot of places that will rent to you on a month to month. Find a space where you can make as much noise as you would like. If you can not locate a space like this then it is time to move outside. Find a friend that lives in the country. Go there, and see if it is feasable to have a drove of people on there land. Me I choose the outdoors. So I now have a space, that people can find go to and dance cofortably.

2.Get pa sound, from other I know or rent it. Making sure that I have a genorator, and plenty of gas, to keep it going all night. Set up and loading by the ones that will be paid to run it. Check all for history befor the check is passed over to them. Talk to outher promotors about how they did it.

3.Addvertising. Flyers, teasers, Word of mouth. the net. Between you and your friends you can cover this fast. Make the flyer colorful. make the teasers just that. Place in variouse record stores and put them into the hands of people that are leaving the partys that you will have to be at to get the word out.

4. Talent. Mark farina, gotta have him. Donald Glaude, Local Djs. Get two big names a least. Talk to people and see what they would want to hear. That is the easy part.

5. Lights, gotta see where you are stepping. Lasers are not a must, but if you can find some that would be cost effective then it would be nice to have.

People like to see that you put effort into a show, twenty bucks is alot to most and they want to feel they are getting there moneys worth. Find people to dress up, do art, maybe even live art. Put a busy corner in with hands on stuff to do, beading, coloring, ect. Make sure there is a place for people to go and chill, away from the beats. Have a friend giving water and attention to those that look like they are in need.

Each party is different, make sure your stays on that path, remembering that you can not do it alone you will need people that you trust helping all the way through it. don't lose touch with the reasons you started with. Understand, It is all for one night, and when the partys over you will still have your friends. IT ALL STARTS WITH A TAP OF YOUR FINGER.....

- Lindie