Awesome People We Met on Day 1 of EDC Las Vegas 2017

Another year around the sun. Another year Under the Electric Sky.

We’re back at EDC Las Vegas, and it feels so great to be home once again. The first day of EDC is always a fun adventure. The energy is high. The music is bumping. And the people are freakin’ awesome. Each year, we look forward to the hundreds of thousands of smiling Headliners who make the annual trek to the Speedway, and this weekend, you really brought the magic.

Get to know some of the awesome people we met on day one of EDC Las Vegas 2017.

Name: James
Age: 42
Hometown: England
Occupation: Actor and stuntman
Wide Awake Since: 2012
What was your journey to EDC Las Vegas like? It was easy. We took the 215 and went around the back way and missed most of the traffic, because I know what a clusterfuck this can be. Listening to music the entire time.
Other than the music, what do you love most about the electronic music scene? Everyone is friendly; there’s no bullshit. No one has their defenses up; you can go up to people and say, “Hey, what’s up?” and everyone is super friendly. It’s almost like you are here at EDC with your people. It feels like you don’t really even need to introduce yourself. That’s what I love most about the scene.
Who’s the one person you wish you could have brought to EDC, and why? My girlfriend and me just broke up. It would have been nice to be here with her, but she already met someone else, so forget her. But yeah, it would have been her if she would have just… oh, I don’t know. Forget her.

Name: Joseph “The Techno Witch”
Age: 19—I’m turning 20 and celebrating my birthday this weekend at EDC!
Hometown: Calexico, CA
Occupation: I live; I go through life making the best of every moment and ride the wave of life and do what feels right.
Wide Awake Since: 2017
What was your journey to EDC Las Vegas like? I was driven out by some awesome friends, and we were listening to music the entire time out and just feeling really excited, uplifted, young, and free and looking forward to this weekend. We’re ready to tear shit up.
Other than the music, what do you love most about the electronic music scene? I love connecting with people—and dancing. Well, I guess you can’t really dance without music. Wait a minute, I take that back. Like Friedrich Nietzsche said, “Those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.”
Who’s the one person you wish you could have brought to EDC, and why? My friend Jasmine. We both worked here for EDC 2016, and she’s back this year working security, so we’re not able to hang out. But while I’m over here partying, I’ll be thinking of her the whole time and will definitely be keeping an eye out for her. I know that one day she’ll be back here with me.

Name: Aaron
Age: 35
Hometown: Mesa, AZ
Occupation: Fabricator, electrician, jack of all trades.
Wide Awake Since: 2017
What was your journey to EDC Las Vegas like? I got here early because I had to help set up. I’m with Camp Walter and the Kalliope. I travel around with them every now and then. I came from Mesa, missed my flight, and had to drive up here. It took about 4.5 hours.
Other than the music, what do you love most about the electronic music scene? I like the overall PLUR principles—taking care of each other, and looking out for each other, and the self-expression.
Who’s the one person you wish you could have brought to EDC, and why? My girlfriend didn’t get to come; she’s busy with school. It would be nice to have her here.

Name: Benjamin, Joe, Damien
Age: 27 (Benjamin), 22 (Joe), 23 (Damien)
Hometown: Tamuning, Guam
Occupation: Marketing (Benjamin), venture capitalist (Joe), DJ (Damien)
Wide Awake Since: 2012 (Benjamin), 2017 (Joe), 2011 (Damien)
What was your journey to EDC Las Vegas like?
There’s actually 11 of us that came out! It took us over 48 hours to get here, if you include the layovers. We shuttled in, and we have an Airbnb. It’s a lot, but Insomniac makes it all worth it.
Other than the music, what do you love most about the electronic music scene? I love how the culture spreads complete positivity. There’s nothing better than a bunch of people celebrating life together.
Who’s the one person you wish you could have brought to EDC, and why?
DJ Supagi. He’s the best male DJ to come out of Guam.

Name: Abraham
Age: 18
Hometown: Irvine, CA
Occupation: Student
Wide Awake Since: 2017
What was your journey to EDC Las Vegas like? Long and hot. My graduation is today. Literally, the ceremony started when the doors to EDC opened.
Other than the music, what do you love most about the electronic music scene? I love the artwork and designs that go with it. It’s futuristic and a little cyberpunk. It makes everything come alive.
Who’s the one person you wish you could have brought to EDC, and why? One of my best friends, Brandon. His birthday is today!

Name: Travis
Age: 27
Hometown: Kansas City, KS
Occupation: I’m a mechanical engineer for the last five years.
What was your journey to EDC Las Vegas like? We got in last night and worked all day yesterday, with zero focus at all. I came with my rave fam, people from Washington, California, North Dakota, Missouri, kinda all over. I’ve been preparing for this since August of last year.
Other than the music, what do you love most about the electronic music scene? Just the love and acceptance. It’s everything you want the world to be.
Who’s the one person you wish you could have brought to EDC, and why? I think anyone should come to EDC and learn something, whether that’s to love more or be more accepting, more open to different walks of life.

Name: Ballpark and Minnie
Age: 30 (Ballpark) and 21 (Minnie)
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Occupation: Poke chef (Ballpark) and student (Minnie)
Wide Awake Since:
Ballpark: 2012
Minnie: 2015
What was your journey to EDC Las Vegas like?
Ballpark: It was so hectic! We had to rent a car because her car broke down. The last month has been all hustle to get a place and a ride and the tickets. Feels amazing to be here now!
Other than the music, what do you love most about the electronic music scene?
Ballpark: I love the people! I’m socially anxious normally, but here you don’t need to feel like that!
Minnie: I really love all the kandi and the outfits! I love seeing everyone step it up and be as weird as possible.
Who’s the one person you wish you could have brought to EDC, and why?
Ballpark: My sister Amanda! It was her birthday on the 13th, and she was the person that turned me back onto electronic music.
Minnie: My best friend, Ellie. She lives like 6,000 miles away, and I haven’t seen her in a very long time.

Name: Dez
Age: 36 or 37—lost count after 30
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Occupation: I’m a manager at GAMeBoi SF, and I work for Macy’s. You have to have multiple jobs to live in San Francisco.
Wide Awake Since: The ‘90s.
What was your journey to EDC Las Vegas like? Easy. This my fifth EDC. We’ve got everything down to a science.
Other than the music, what do you love most about the electronic music scene? The people. That’s the biggest reason I come to these parties. I love meeting different people, and that’s the reason we keep coming back here particularly.
Who’s the one person you wish you could have brought to EDC, and why? All my other friends that couldn’t make it this year.

Name: Nicholas
Age: 24
Hometown: Las Vegas
Occupation: I’m a plumber
Wide Awake Since: 2015
What was your journey to EDC Las Vegas like? Pretty short, actually, although my car overheated on the way here. We had to go back to my house and get a different car, so we got here later than expected.
Other than the music, what do you love most about the electronic music scene? PLUR. I just love that everyone’s open and we can all be friends. There’s no hate anywhere. That’s what I love most about here.
Who’s the one person you wish you could have brought to EDC, and why? My aunt died earlier this year, but I know she’s looking down and keeping an eye on me. She always laughed at all the crazy shit I did. I mean, I’m dressed in a toga. Last EDC, I dyed my hair pink.

Name: Acacia and Keenan
Age: 21 (Acacia) and 24 (Keenan)
Hometown: San Diego (Acacia) and Washington state (Keenan)
Wide Awake Since:
Acacia: 2017
Keenan: 2017
What was your journey to EDC Las Vegas like?
Acacia: I drove here from San Diego. Everyone told me it would take six hours, but I got here in four, so I was super happy.
Keenan: I was doing some work in Japan before this, so I flew over here from there earlier this week. It’s around 4am there right now, but I had time enough to recover.
Other than the music, what do you love most about the electronic music scene?
Acacia: I just love the people and the general atmosphere. We’ve already met a bunch of people here and there are no people like them anywhere else.
Keenan: This is my first EDC, so I’m looking forward to everything!
Who’s the one person you wish you could have brought to EDC, and why?
Acacia: So many friends!
Keenan: I want to bring all my friends next year. We’ll see if I can convince them!