Beads and Beats: Meet 10 Hardcore Kandi Kids

Hometown: Statham, GA
Wide Awake Since: 2013
How and why did you get started making kandi?
I started making kandi after my first few raves, and I was instantly hooked. I started off making singles, simple cuffs, and a bikini top, and then moved on to bigger items like backpacks, wallets and bags (my favorite). Kandi is just so fun to make; all I can think about is how exciting it will be when I get to trade it or give it away. I love bonding with people. I’ve also had people come up to me outside of the rave scene when I’m wearing my kandi, and they ask me what it is and ask if they can have some for themselves or their family members, and that makes me really happy.
What’s your favorite kandi-trading experience?
I remember almost every trade I’ve ever done, but I’d have to say my favorite trading experience would be trading at EDC Las Vegas 2013; it was on a whole new level. Trading with people from all over the country and hearing about where they had come from was so interesting. The vibes were amazing there, and I feel like I’ve brought a piece of that back home with every kandi. I can look at all of my pieces and remember which ones came from Vegas.
What do you want people to know about kandi culture?
I would like people to know that kandi culture is far more than just beads. It’s a positive movement that uses kandi as a vessel. We just want to make people smile.
What’s your favorite piece of kandi you’ve made?
My favorite piece of kandi that I’ve made would have to be the single that I made for my son.
Rename PLUR: Pushing Love Until Revolution

Sebastian

Hometown: San Diego, CA
Rave name: SugarRush
How and why did you first get started making kandi?
I saw these super cool kids at my first rave, full of kandi and glitter and fun pants! I thought it was the coolest thing and got to know them, and then started expressing my fun, hyperactive personality through beading.
What’s your favorite kandi-trading experience? 
I took Snare (who is now my husband) to Because We Love You 2, an underground in an abandoned water dam in Los Angeles. I took him to the top of the dam, looked down at the rave, and traded him a bracelet! The bracelet said “Kiss me now,” and we kissed. It was not only our first kiss, but his first kiss ever! I treasured that bracelet, and after Snare went into boot camp, I wore it nonstop as a symbol of our love!

One day, it went missing. I remember putting it on the bathroom sink before showering but couldn’t find it afterward. I was devastated for months. After we were reunited, we went to a rave and I made a replica. This woman saw my kandi and said, “Wow, I have totally seen that piece of kandi before,” and two other people agreed. I asked them who they saw it on, and finally we tracked it down.

I found the lady with the bracelet and asked how she came across it. She pulled me aside and told me my brother had a party at my house one night; she saw it in the bathroom, not knowing it was so special, and she took it! She apologized and offered it to me, and I said, “Thanks for being so honest.” I was so happy to see the kandi again, that I traded the replica with her. To this day, I have my husband and my first kiss on a bracelet on my wall!
What do you want people to know about kandi culture?
Kandi isn’t evil; it’s love and happiness, something not everyone understands. The smallest and biggest memories are stored in these simple bracelets. I carry my memories, my love and my friends on my arms!
What’s your favorite piece of kandi you’ve made?
My SugarRush ball cuff, of course; it took me the longest and is my largest piece. At 4,800 beads, it took more than two sets to make.
Rename PLUR: Pretty Little Unique Ravers.
Where can people find your creations?
Tumblr | SoundCloud

Scott

Hometown: Tacoma, WA
Wide Awake Since: EDC Las Vegas 2015 was my first Insomniac event, and Freaknight 2010 was the first event I ever went to.
Rave name: Sharmander. It’s a combination of my last name and my favorite Pokémon, Charmander.
How and why did you get started making kandi? 
I started back in 2012, when I was getting into the rave scene more. I saw so much amazing kandi and some of the most amazing kandi kids, and one of them gave me a bracelet. At the time, I didn’t have any kandi, and they said, “That’s okay; I want you to have it.” I’ll never forget what it looked like: It was a pink piece with hearts on both sides of the word “love.” I told my friends about it, and we all agreed, “Let’s start making kandi!” With all the money we had (which wasn’t much, because none of us had jobs), we went to a craft store close to my house and got as many beads as we could. We didn’t look online for any help to make kandi; we just went for it.

As time went on, my friends didn’t make kandi much anymore. It went from them coming over all the time to make kandi to maybe once a month, but I kept at it. I kept going back to the art store for more and more supplies and eventually got to the point where I was doing stuff with kandi I didn’t think was possible. I started making 3D cuffs bigger then my own head, and it was just so relaxing, and it got my mind off of problems in my life. I am now to the point where it’s such a big part of my life, I don’t find myself slowing down anytime soon. Plus I have a job now, which helps fuel my kandi-making.
What’s your favorite kandi-trading experience? 
My favorite memory was trading with one of my best friends in the whole world, Enchantd. We met and first traded at an event called Love 2013. It wasn’t anything huge—just a single with a small Altoids tin attached to it. She gave it to me, and I don’t know why, but the love and energy of that piece has stuck with me ever since. She is now one of the greatest people in my life. I have worn that piece to every single event I have ever been to since I got it two years ago. Just one piece of kandi can make you a lifelong friend, and that’s why it was one of the greatest trading experiences of my life.
What do you want people to know about kandi culture?
That anyone can be a part of it. You don’t need to be a certain type of person, and it doesn’t matter what you make; you can have a couple of singles, or you can have a full kandi suit on. It also doesn’t matter what you look like, how you act, the clothes your wear, the color of your skin, or how big or skinny you are! Kandi is universal. It’s made with love. It’s made with emotion. A part of you is being put into this kandi, and when you pass it on to another person, you will always be with them—no matter what. You may or may not know the person you are trading with, but that doesn’t matter; you become a part of someone else’s life, and that’s an impact that can’t be explained.
What’s your favorite piece of kandi you’ve made?
My favorite piece is my LED epic clear cuff. It was the first time I ever put lights in my cuffs. I was in Canada at the time and went to a dollar store just to take a look at what they had. I found this little strand of Christmas lights with a little battery pack about three feet long. I wanted to try something different, and all I had with me were a few colors and a ton of clear beads. So I got the lights and made the base out of the colors of the lights and melted little holes in the bottom of the battery pack to put string though. The cuff was five Xs high, and after I made it 3D, I strung the lights throughout the cuff under all the clear 3D parts. In the dark, the colors glowed thought the clear. The beautiful, bright colors are just amazing, and I was so proud of it because I had never done anything like it before. It turned out perfectly, and I couldn’t have been happier with it.
Rename PLUR: 
Positivity: Even when things look dark and you think it couldn’t get worse, there’s always the light at the end of the tunnel to guide us.
Living: We all must live life to the fullest and know that there are so many people that are in our lives to love us.
United: We are together as one and shall never lose our way. We will never be alone.
Revival: If something knocks us down, we have so many around us to pick us back up and lend a hand in times of need.
Where can people find your creations?
Tumblr | Instagram

Bekka

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Wide Awake Since: While I haven’t been to an Insomniac event yet, I’ve been raving for three years.
Rave name: Schrodinger’s Kandi Amazon
How and why did you get started making kandi?
I started making kandi at 15, but the idea was rejected by my family; I wasn’t raving yet, so I put it down until three years ago, when I got reintroduced by my friend who brought me to my first rave.
What do you want people to know about kandi culture?
Kandi culture is a brilliant form of self-expression, as well as a way to brighten up someone else’s day and show camaraderie.
What’s your favorite kandi-trading experience?
After distributing a 200+-piece trade belt at an event and feeling a bit overwhelmed, a person came up to me asking to trade. I explained I really didn’t have anything left, which disappointed me. They said they had seen me trading all night and how happy I’d made people, and that they wanted me to have a 3D piece they had made. It instantly saved my night.
What’s your favorite piece of kandi you’ve made?
My favorite piece I made is the PLUR squid I made for a friend of mine from NYC. Even though it went missing, it was a very personal piece from me to this person, and I thought it came out brilliantly.
Rename PLUR: People Living Unrestrained Responsibly.
Where can people find your creations?
Facebook

Joseph

Hometown: I’m originally from La Puente, California, but now live in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Wide Awake Since: EDC LA 2009! It was my first event ever, and even though I got sick the first day and had to leave, it got me hooked. I had never experienced anything like it before!
Rave name: Dianexis is my rave name. It’s a nickname that’s stuck with me since high school.
How and why did you get started making kandi?
At my first Insomniac event, people were so nice and gave me kandi, since I didn’t have any or even know what it was. Afterward, I decided I wanted to do the same. I still remember the person who gave me my first piece of kandi, and I still have it!
What’s your favorite kandi-trading experience?
My favorite experience was trading my 3D deadmau5 kandi head necklace at EDC Las Vegas 2014 with someone who made another mau5 head on a cuff! I’ve met a few people who’ve watched my kandi tutorials, but never someone who made a mau5 head from them. I was so happy.
What do you want people to know about kandi culture?
Kandi isn’t just kids playing with beads. Some put their heart and soul into making anything from a simple piece to a complex piece like the top hats I’ve made. Some turn beads into works of art! To me, nothing makes one piece more special than another; all kandi is great, and I’ll trade and give out kandi with anyone. Kandi kids are people from all different backgrounds who all have lives outside of festivals and raves. They’re parents, teachers, office workers and more.

Kandi kids are people from all different backgrounds who all have lives outside of festivals and raves. They’re parents, teachers, office workers and more.

What’s your favorite piece of kandi you’ve made?
I’d have to say either my Mad Hatter top hat or my LED deadmau5 kandi head. It’s all see-through, and you can change the colors of the lights.
Rename PLUR: Passion, Life, Untamable and Reality!
Where can people find your creations?
Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

Regina

Hometown: Tucson, AZ
Wide Awake Since: I have not been to an Insomniac event (yet), but my first event was KandiLand 2011 in Arizona.
Rave name: The DJs here lovingly call me KandiQueen.
How and why did you get started making kandi?
I got into the kandi game when I met my ex here in Tucson. He showed me some of his beautiful creations and started teaching me. From there, I taught myself how to make the larger and more complicated creations that I am known for. I started making kandi as a form of stress relief and depression management. Kandi allows me to express my creativity, and I enjoy seeing people’s expressions when they get a piece of kandi from me.
What’s your favorite kandi-trading experience?
The faces! I love the gratitude and amazing rush I get from trading something that I love with someone who may be new to the rave scene.
What do you want people to know about kandi culture?
The kandi culture is full of creativity and so very welcoming!
What’s your favorite piece of kandi you’ve made?
My favorite piece that I’ve made would have to be my Attack on Titan cuff that is signed by S3RL.
Rename PLUR: For me, PLUR isn’t a set of words; it’s a sense of belonging. You can come from all corners of the world, and people who are involved in the rave and kandi scene are going to welcome you as part of a unified family. Standing by our brothers and sisters in the rave scene and making sure that we spread the love and wisdom to those that don’t fully understand what PLUR means is what the acronym means to me.
Where can people find your creations?
Instagram | Facebook

Lauren

Hometown: Miami, FL
Wide Awake Since: EDC Orlando 2013
Rave name: ‘Squeebles or Pikachu
How and why did you get started making kandi? I grew up around the South Florida EDM scene, so the culture always had a big influence on me. My parents took me to my first rave at 15. After I was given my first piece of kandi and introduced to PLUR, I was instantly hooked.
What’s your favorite kandi-trading experience?
Initially, I would say my favorite kandi-trading experience is giving someone their first kandi. But ultimately, I think there’s nothing better than the feeling when someone with armfuls of kandi comes up to you with a smile and thanks you for their first piece.

“The positive energy behind our culture is something we take with us outside of festivals. I’ve seen it change lives, mine included.”

What do you want people to know about kandi culture?
I want people to realize that kandi culture is deeper than what you see on the outside. It’s more than plastic beads and techno; PLUR is a movement and a way of life. The positive energy behind our culture is something we take with us outside of festivals. I’ve seen it change lives, mine included.
What’s your favorite piece of kandi you’ve made?
My Pokéball 3D cuff! I’m a huge Pokémon fan.
Rename PLUR: My soul honors your soul.
Where can people find your creations?
Instagram

Karina

Hometown: Lubbock, TX
Wide Awake Since: Nocturnal Wonderland Texas 2011
Rave name: Koneko (Japanese for “kitty”)
How and why did you get started making kandi?
When I began making kandi, it was just a way to show love toward my friends (I hadn’t been to a rave at that point).
What’s your favorite kandi-trading experience?
I recently made a cuff for my friend Kayla. She had no idea it was for her, so it was amazing being able to see her face light up when I gave it to her.
What do you want people to know about kandi culture?
I would love for people to know that it’s more than just beads and string, and it’s definitely not drug paraphernalia. Kandi is the beginning of a friendship or bond. Even if you never see the person you got that piece of kandi from, you will always have that moment you both shared, and that’s incredible.
What’s your favorite piece of kandi you’ve made?
My favorite piece of kandi I’ve made would have to be my Above & Beyond cuff. I’ve worn it five out of the eight times I’ve seen them. I miss it, but giving it to Tony McGuiness in Austin at the We Are All We Need tour felt right, especially with how much their music has helped me.
Rename PLUR: Friendships Family Togetherness Unconditional Acceptance.
Where can people find your kandi creations?
Instagram

Josh

Hometown: Santa Clarita, CA
Wide Awake Since: EDC Las Vegas 2013
Rave name: Casanova
How and why did you get started making kandi?
EDC LV 2013 was my first event. Aside from the music (which was incredible), I really enjoyed trading kandi. Each piece was like a small impression of the amazing people I met and the friends I ran into. I think it’s pretty amazing that I can still go through my bag of kandi and vividly remember the people I met at my first EDC and other events, just by a creative assortment of beads on a string. After that first EDC, I started sculpting and painting customized clay charms and stringing them onto kandi. It takes quite some time, but I really enjoy making them unique and special to trade with the cool people I meet at events.
What’s your favorite kandi trading experience?
There have been so many, but I would have to say the one that started it all: one of my first kandi trades with my best friend (he’s the one in the picture, with the really creepy white contacts). I still have the kandi with his name on it that he gave me before my first EDC.
What do you want people to know about kandi culture?
I’ve been really surprised by the amount of people at events who don’t really know about kandi culture. I’ve taught more people than I can remember how to trade. It seems like most people enjoy it; they just don’t know where to begin. For starters, head to the arts & crafts section of Wal-Mart! Just go buy some beads and string, and get creative! Not only is trading kandi a great way to interact with people on the dancefloor (because, let’s be honest, it’s pretty hard to have a conversation while the music is blaring), but it’s also perfect icebreaker for introducing yourself to someone you don’t know. Don’t knock it until you try it!
What’s your favorite piece of kandi you’ve made?
Definitely the “Night Owl” one pictured above, which is the first clay charm I ever made for kandi. I thought it would be awesome if I could somehow reproduce the EDC Las Vegas 2013 kineticFIELD owl and put it on a kandi. I still remember my first EDC as a new raver; I was bewildered and amazed at the huge kineticFIELD and its massive animatronic owl. I based the little “Night Owl” figure directly off of pictures from the stage. It’s definitely my favorite, and I don’t know if I’ll ever trade it. It would have to be traded for someone else’s truly unique piece, or perhaps with Pasquale Rotella himself!
Rename PLUR without using the usual words:
I don’t think I would rename it. As EDM hits the mainstream, there seems to be a backlash from older veterans on the entire culture. Many people say PLUR was a thing of the past, and talking about PLUR now seems to have an uncool and gimmicky stigma about it. The culture is changing, yes, but I think the original principles of Peace, Love, Unity and Respect are still values to live by. I’ve certainly felt them, and I think kandi-trading is a great way to keep PLUR alive.
Where can people find your creations?
Facebook | Instagram

Daniele

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Wide Awake Since: EDC Las Vegas 2012
Rave name: Thing 1
How and why did you get started making kandi? 
I started making kandi before my first event, just absolutely fell in love, and have never looked back! Perlers are definitely my specialty!
What’s your favorite kandi-trading experience?
My favorite trading experience was at Nocturnal Wonderland 2012. I traded this girl a cuff, and she started crying, saying it was her first event back to the scene in years, and she had never been given anything so amazing. Later that night, I saw her, and she was super upset because she had broken the cuff! My husband turned around and grabbed the biggest cuff he had and traded it with her. She had the biggest smile, and the memory still warms my heart to this day!
What do you want people to know about kandi culture?
I want people to understand they aren’t just beads. Each piece we make is crafted with time, energy, love, and a piece of our hearts. Even the most basic single isn’t basic at all!
What’s your favorite piece of kandi you’ve made?
My favorite piece I’ve ever made is my Above & Beyond chest-sized armor perler with their Group Therapy logo.
Rename PLUR: People Love U Right Here.
Where can people find your creations? 
Instagram

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