Awesome People We Met on Day 1 of EDC New York 2016

We’re back in the Big Apple for EDC New York 2016, and as they do every year, our NYC Headliners brought tons of amazing energy and creativity to the show. Day One saw tens of thousands of party people reveling throughout the grounds at Citi Field—many of them showing love for the venue by repping Mets gear—so we did what we always do at the rave: stuck our microphones and cameras in front of a few awesome people who caught our eye.

Name: Jordan
Age: 25
Hometown: Boston, MA
Occupation: Finance
Number of EDCs: One
What do you wish the world knew about the rave scene?
That everyone just wants to have fun. We overthink a lot of things, but this is as simple as we all can get together and dance and listen to music.
What are you most excited about this weekend?
The whole thing. It’s not even about any particular artist; I’m here for the experience.

Name: Shannon
Age: 19
Hometown: Iowa
Occupation: Student at University of Iowa
Number of EDCs: Two
What do you wish the world knew about the rave scene? I wish people knew it’s not just a bunch of kids doing drugs. We all love each other, and everybody is really accepting, and everyone’s here to have a great time.
What are you most excited about this weekend? I really want to see Marshmello; I’ve never seen him. And I’m excited about this weather, because it was supposed to be a thunderstorm, and here we are with perfect weather.

Name: Tian, Brian, Beto
Age: 23 (Tian), 31 (Brian), 27 (Beto)
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY (Tian & Brian), Valley Stream, NY (Beto)
Occupation: Infantryman (Tian), insurance salesman (Brian), mechanic (Beto)
Number of EDCs: One (Tian & Brian), two (Beto)
What do you wish the world knew about the rave scene?
Beto: I would tell them to get a ticket, come next year, and have fun, because this is a very open environment and welcomes everyone.
What are you most excited about this weekend?
Beto: Our shirts have pictures of both of our friends who were supposed to be here with us: Joey and Carlos. They were very excited to be here, but they passed away recently. We’re here representing for them. I know they would have wanted us here.

Name: Angela
Age: 34
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Occupation: Seamstress and photographer
Number of EDCs: One
What do you wish the world knew about the rave scene?
It’s my first EDC, so all of this is completely new to me! It’s cool to see everyone all dressed up and having a good time. It’s a unifying event.
What are you most excited about this weekend?
The outfits!

Name: Jeff, Olga
Age: 47 (Jeff), 32 (Olga)
Hometown: New York (Jeff), Russia (Olga)
Occupation: Fundraiser (Jeff), bartender (Olga)
Number of EDCs: Two (both)
What do you wish the world knew about the rave scene?
Jeff: There’s a lot you can say about that, but for me it’s the music—that’s why I come. I wish people would give it a chance.
What are you most excited about this weekend?
Jeff: All the music and dancing with my girl, and seeing other people in costumes.
Olga: I just want to feel the energy of the crowd, just dive into it again. That’s why I put my wings on: I’m gonna fly and feel the music.

Name: Francesca, Ola, Avalon, Kaitlin
Age: 19 (Francesca), 20 (Ola), 19 (Avalon), 20 (Kaitlin)
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA (Francesca and Kaitlin), Hamilton, PA (Avalon), Philly, PA (Ola)
Occupation: Full-time students (all)
Number of EDCs: One (Francesca and Kaitlin), two (Avalon and Ola)
What do you wish the world knew about the rave scene?
Francesca: That it’s a world of love and happiness.
Kaitlin: That it’s a whole different world from what people really think. Everyone is dressed up so fun, everyone is happy, the energy is great.
Avalon: I wish everyone knew that it’s not about drugs; we’re not all druggies. I’m here for the music.
Ola: That we’re just a bunch of kids having fun that love to dance.
What are you most excited about this weekend?
Francesca: To see Zedd tonight.
Kaitlin: I’m really looking forward to the closing performers.
Avalon: Zedd tonight, and DJ Snake.
Ola: Zedd.

Name: Zoilo, Berlin
Age: “I’d rather not say” (Zoilo), 28 (Berlin)
Hometown: Astoria, NY (both)
Occupation:
Zoilo: Drummer—I used to do a show in New York called Stomp. I was also in the video game Rock Band 2 as the animated drummer in the game.
Berlin: I’m a musician, a live performer, DJ and composer.
Number of EDCs: One (Zoilo), two (Berlin)
What do you wish the world knew about the rave scene?
Zoilo: This is a whole new experience for me, but from what I can tell, there’s a lot of money to be made in pasties.
Berlin: That it’s made up of smart and creative people. The future of music is electronic.
What are you most excited about this weekend?
Zoilo: Hearing new music, having a few drinks, taking in this whole experience, and hanging out with my beautiful girlfriend.
Berlin: Really looking forward to seeing David Guetta. I was suppose to see him a few years ago, but the party was canceled.

Name: Lucy, Sal
Age: 24 (Lucy), 25 (Sal)
Hometown: China originally, Philly currently (both)
Occupation: Unknown
Number of EDCs: One (both)
What do you wish the world knew about the rave scene?
Lucy: I’m just discovering this world for the first time. I love looking at all the people, their outfits, people dancing—I just love the atmosphere here.
Sal: Great music, great people.
What are you most excited about this weekend?
Lucy: There are so many DJs here I’m looking forward to seeing, but nothing really in particular. I’m just looking forward to experiencing EDC for the first time.
Sal: The music, all the DJs, and the overall experience.

Name: Chris
Age: 32
Hometown: Reno, NV, originally; Upper East Side currently
Occupation: I work in the aerospace industry; I help build satellites.
Number of EDCs: One
What do you wish the world knew about the rave scene? There’s good people here having a good time, just relaxing and enjoying themselves.
What are you most excited about this weekend? Paul Oakenfold. I’ve seen him out at Burning Man a few times, so it should be good.

Name: Jesus, Samantha
Age: 18 (Jesus), 19 (Samantha)
Hometown: Staten Island, NY (both)
Occupation: Students (both)
Number of EDCs: One (both)
What do you wish the world knew about the rave scene?
Jesus: It’s crazy! It brings everybody together. I just love it; I can’t get enough of it. I want to come next time.
What are you most excited about this weekend?
Jesus: Most likely sleeping, because there’s a lot of dancing and partying involved.
Samantha: Meeting new people and seeing everybody and how they react to the same thing I’m into.