Here’s What 10 Headliners Look Like When They’re Not at Festivals

We all journey down different paths in our daily lives. Some of us are football players, others are lab technicians, professional rodeo competitors, quality managers and students, to name a few. When we venture to a festival, however, we remove our costumes and transform into truer versions of ourselves, meeting in a world that allows us to leave all our worries (and boring-ass clothes) behind.

Insomniac celebrates #TransformationTuesday by asking 10 unique Headliners to discuss their lives in and out of uniform.

Headliner: Monica
Profession: Horse trainer/professional rodeo competitor

Why do you love dance music culture?
Being part of this culture has been an absolute blessing. The positive atmosphere is so overwhelming that you have no choice but to free yourself of all worries and leave your troubles behind. Nothing compares to this judgment-free environment, where everyone around you is there for the same reasons: to enjoy the music and, most of all, to be the real you!

How does the culture influence your daily life?
I’m able to recall the experiences I’ve had, the people I’ve met, and the overwhelming sense of love and friendship that I’ve received. These memories help me stay focused on what really matters in an oftentimes demanding life and sport. I strongly feel that it has changed my life for the better in many ways and will continue to do so.

Headliner: Jammell
Profession: Professional arena football player

Why do you love dance music culture?
The culture is amazing because it shows that no one is different and we’re all here together for one reason: to express our true selves through our costumes, dancing, and love for the music.

How does the culture influence your daily life?
It has inspired me to start my own rave family called PLUR Republic. I started it two years ago with complete strangers, and over time we’ve been able to build a bond of friendships and love that will never go away.

Headliner: Jomi
Profession: Professional cake decorator

Why do you love dance music culture?
I love dance music because it makes me feel free! A four-minute song can take me out of an entirely bad day. It’s beautiful, uplifting music that conquers emotion and can inspire you to keep going.

How does the culture influence your daily life?
The culture has taught me to open my mind and think positively about others and myself. I was always pretty self-conscious and afraid of taking risks, and I always worried about what others would say or think. Since I’ve adopted this lifestyle, I’ve had nothing but friends who keep pushing me forward and the confidence to do anything! Always spread the PLUR!

Headliner: Sean
Profession: Technology sales rep for an IT engineering firm

Why do you love dance music culture?
I live to dance and dance to live. My first interest came in ninth grade when I first witnessed breakdancing. At UC Berkeley, I helped teach a breakdancing class. I feel that dance is always about expressing oneself. Today, I’m a freestyle shuffler, and my love for dancing is inspired by the community, love and acceptance that the electronic dance scene has developed.

How does the culture influence your daily life?
I was overcoming a very challenging time period in my life when I discovered this scene. Thanks to this culture and the special individuals that I’ve met, my understanding of love developed in ways I could not fathom, my acceptance of others increased, and I got back into mankind’s oldest pleasurable activity: dancing! I’ll always have a special place in my heart for Level3 Rave Crew. Around here, we think “YOLO” just rhymes with yo-yo. We’re all about YADA (you always dance, always)!

Headliner: Andrea R.
Profession: Lab technician

Why do you love dance music culture?
Dance has been part of my life since I was five years old. Dance music has not only transformed my style of dancing, but it also gave it meaning. I love dance music because it enables me to express my love of dance, leave all the negative things behind, and spread good vibes to each and everyone.

How does the culture influence your daily life?
This culture, as everyone knows, is all about finding peace, giving love, bringing unity, and showing respect. This type of positivity is infectious. The good vibes you give off can make a person’s day or give them a better outlook on life. It’s always my daily goal to spread PLUR.

Headliner: Austin
Profession: U.S. Army soldier

Why do you love dance music culture?
To me, this culture is like my version of going to church. I listen to the music, and it allows me to escape from everything that’s happened during the day/week. Plus, I’ve met some of the best friends I’ve ever had through this common passion for dance music.

How does the culture influence your daily life?
I don’t believe for one second that PLUR is dead. If I can do my best to follow that concept in everyday life, then maybe my vibes will rub off on someone else, and they can pay it forward!

Headliner: Angela
Profession: Nursing student

Why do you love dance music culture?
Dance music connects me with my most authentic self. It recharges my soul and reminds me of what is really important in life: the connections between us all and our common consciousness. It takes me to church.

How does the culture influence your daily life?
Being part of this culture has made me more open-minded and patient in my career. My passion is helping people. I take the universal love that I’m gifted with at every event and give it back to my residents.

Headliner: Jeremiah
Profession: Quality manager for a methanol/ammonia plant

Why do you love dance music culture?
I love everything about our culture. I have been part of this scene since 1996. It’s a place where we can be ourselves and be with others that share the same love. We can tune out the rest of the world—the politics, the news, and the negative things that bring us down. There’s nothing like walking into an event and feeling that vibe. I remember my first event and still get that positive feeling every time.

How does the culture influence your daily life?
It makes me more open-minded and keeps me from getting trapped in the daily troubles of life and work. When life stresses me out, I just turn the music up and drown everything else out. Dance music is my therapy. My three kids—ages four, seven and nine—love this music. They even have their favorite songs and producers.

Headliner: Andrea P.
Profession: Level 6 store associate at In-N-Out Burger

Why do you love dance music culture?
When you get to experience being in the middle of thousands of people singing in sync to one of your favorite songs, that is when you truly feel free and at peace. It’s amazing how music and complete strangers can make you feel.

How does the culture influence your daily life?
It has allowed me to connect with others on a completely different level, and it’s also influenced me to view everyday life through a more positive and conscious lens. Showing love and respect to others is just part of what my rave family has taught me!

Headliner: Kyle
Profession: Compliance technician at a Boeing air base paint facility

Why do you love dance music culture?
I love this culture because it lets everyone shed normal life problems and unite as one to enjoy something we all love and have a passion for. EDM makes me feel like I’m flying as high as an eagle.

How does the culture influence your daily life?
Anyone who knows me knows that I’m such a positive guy. I’m always smiling and relating EDM culture to normal life. If everyone could treat each other the way they treat people at events, the world would be a much better place.

If you would like the chance to celebrate Transformation Tuesday with Insomniac, please email your best transformation photos to [email protected].

---

Share

---

Tags