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

There’s something special about belonging to a global community where PLUR isn’t just a buzzword, but a set of values to be upheld. Although we each journey down different paths in our daily lives, we can come together to escape reality, cherish humanity, and make lifelong memories. And while there are many of us who don’t mind venturing alone into the magical world we all know and love, it’s always nice to bring a special someone with you.

Insomniac celebrates a special Valentine’s Day edition of #TransformationTuesday by asking 10 unique couples to discuss their lives in and out of raves.

Couple: Cayla and Alec

How long have you been together, and where did you meet?
We have been together for about nine months now. We met [through] a mutual friend.

What song would best describe your relationship?
“All of Me” by John Legend.

How do you two incorporate dance music culture into your daily lives?
When we’re together, we always love to listen to music. It’s a great background sound for us when we’re doing homework or just hanging out. Dance music has always given us positive vibes and high energy, and it constantly keeps us in a good mood!

Couple: Mandy and Jim

How long have you been together, and where did you meet?
We met when we were both lifeguards. Our first date was at EDC 2004.

What song would best describe your relationship?
“Heaven” by DJ Sammy.

How do you two incorporate dance music culture into your daily lives?
After long days of work, we listen to music or plan our next costume theme. This year, our big trip is to Creamfields, UK. EDM is the soundtrack of our lives together. The only difference between now and then is that now, we spring for VIP tickets. We grow older, never duller. We keep that EDM shine, always.

Couple: Donna and Yves

How long have you been together, and where did you meet?
We first met in high school, but we didn’t get together until after we graduated. We’ve been together for about three years now!

What song would best describe your relationship?
“Wasted” by Tiësto.

How do you two incorporate dance music culture into your daily lives?
Being part of this culture has influenced us to be more honest with each other. We can always act freely and be ourselves when we’re together.

Couple: Liz and AJ

How long have you been together, and where did you meet?
We’ve been together for over two years and first crossed paths in medical school.

What song would best describe your relationship?
“I Could Be the One” by Avicii and Nicky Romero.

How do you two incorporate dance music culture into your daily lives?
Dance music culture brings positivity, unity and understanding into our daily lives. It gives us a release from the stressful reality we sometimes live in. Most of all, it brings out the individuality in us and makes us feel free to share our lives with others.

Couple: Kelly and Skooba Steev

How long have you been together, and where did you meet?
We met in Orlando—at a small underground rave called Blink a while back—and fell out of touch after that. About two years ago, I reached out to him over Facebook, and we’ve been together ever since! We actually have a one-year-old daughter now named Kortanna (from the game Halo, our favorite game to play together).

What song would best describe your relationship?
“Someone Like You” by Paul Oakenfold.

How do you two incorporate dance music culture into your daily lives?
We incorporate dance music culture in our daily lives by just living with the same mentality that we have at a huge electronic festival: be happy, creative, and always take care of each other. We love this scene and everything that comes along with it—the good, the bad and the fabulous! It will forever be part of what makes us, us.

Couple: Rachel and Amanda

How long have you been together, and where did you meet?
We met at Bubba Gump’s in Santa Monica. She was working there at the time, and I was instantly attracted to her. My sister told our waiter, who then passed it along to her. Luckily for me, she gave me her number, and we’ve been together ever since then. It’s been four happy years now.

What song would best describe your relationship?
“Thinking About You” by Calvin Harris.

How do you two incorporate dance music culture into your daily lives?
Dance music is our go-to for a pick-me-upper. We listen to it at work to get pumped up and energized. If we’re going out, we’ll put on Calvin Harris or any of our other favorite DJs and vogue along to the music.

Couple: Denisse and Zach

How long have you been together, and where did you meet?
We met through an EDC Facebook page on April 21, 2014. That was the day I messaged her and told her how breathtakingly beautiful she was. We agreed to meet up at EDC, and as soon as we saw each other, we immediately ran toward each other. We hugged, and it was the best hug of my entire life! The feeling was absolutely utopic, and we’ve been together ever since.

What song would best describe your relationship?
“Anchor” by Tritonal.

How do you two incorporate dance music culture into your daily lives?
It’s simple. We listen to dance music every single day. EDM brought us together, and when we listen to the songs we actually got to experience together in real life, it brings us back to these indescribable moments at EDC. It’s one of the many things we have in common, and it will be part of our relationship for all eternity.

Couple: Matthew and Shaina

How long have you been together, and where did you meet?
Surprisingly, we met on a dating website in September of 2013 while I was stationed in Boston on board the USS Constitution. I honestly thought she was a fake profile because you don’t see girls as beautiful as her on dating websites.

What song would best describe your relationship?
“Summer” by Calvin Harris.

How do you two incorporate dance music culture into your daily lives?
Since I’m now 3,000 miles away from Shaina, I listen to a lot of songs by our favorite artist that remind me of the good times we had when we lived closer together.

Couple: Brad and Amanda

How long have you been together, and where did you meet?
We’ve been together for seven months, though he technically asked me out at Nocturnal Wonderland this year! We met in San Diego through mutual friends in our rave family.

What song would best describe your relationship?
“Pompeii” by Bastille (Audien Remix).

How do you two incorporate dance music culture into your daily lives?
We incorporate this culture into our lives in many ways! One way is through poi and dance. Brad is a flow artist and loves to poi, and we are constantly playing music and dancing! We are also all about PLUR. We see it as something everyone should follow because it’s not just something in our culture—it’s part of life and the interactions we get from it.

Couple: Jenna and Tomás

How long have you been together, and where did you meet?
We have been together for a little over one year. We met in college. We are both athletes who got recruited to the same Florida State College from two different states—mind you, from across the country—Nevada and Jersey.

What song would best describe your relationship?
“Strangers” by Seven Lions.

How do you two incorporate dance music culture into your daily lives?
We both listen to EDM for motivation and focus while working out and training for our sports. All day, from the second we wake up to the time we go to sleep, we are listening to dance music and keeping up with our favorite artists. We also try to make it to as many shows and festivals as possible.

If you would like the chance to celebrate a special Valentine’s Day edition of Transformation Tuesday with Insomniac, please email your best “then” vs. “now” couple photos to [email protected].