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 yoga instructors, others are attorneys, chemical engineers, emergency medical technicians and boxers, 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: Cortney
Profession: Dance studio owner
Why do you love dance music culture?
As a member of the Insomniac Consciousness Group, not only do I get to dance my heart out to all of my favorite DJs, allowing the music to fill my soul, but I also get to spread that love to all the beautiful people I meet. I love that we can enjoy the music and atmosphere without drugs or alcohol. The music and the experience have become my drug!
How does the culture influence your daily life?
Love, love and more love! That’s what my life and rave culture are all about: spreading love and positivity to everyone I meet, both in and out of festivals. I also share the tradition of kandi with my students and make them bracelets for good luck for their upcoming competitions and performances.
Headliner: Jad
Profession: Emergency medical technician
Why do you love dance music culture?
This culture is what I consider to be my home away from home. I walk through the front gates of a festival and leave all my everyday problems behind. I get to spend a night with a group of positive, loving, and like-minded people. It’s a whole other world where you get to spend time listening to the music you love in a carefree atmosphere.
How does the culture influence your daily life?
It influences my life in a tremendously positive way. Whether or not I’m at an event, I always possess a raver mentality. I’m much more open and social than I ever was before. I’m also constantly spreading good vibes to the many people I come in contact with, hopefully being able to apply a little bit of PLUR in everyone’s lives.
Headliner: Michelle
Profession: Buti yoga instructor
Why do you love dance music culture?
I am 42 years old, but I have loved dance music culture since I was 19, especially going to underground raves back in the day! I always loved that you could express yourself through dress and dance, and that you could get lost in the music with everyone else. No judgment.
How does the culture influence your daily life?
EDM culture is always a part of my daily life! In every Buti mix I make for class, there is always dance music throughout! My daughters and I also have EDM jam sessions in my car wherever we go!
Headliner: Steven
Profession: Personal injury attorney
Why do you love dance music culture?
I love dance music culture because there isn’t any judgment from anybody. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you’re from, or what color your skin is. Everybody is there to be free and to be who they really are deep down inside. It’s all about the music and great vibes.
How does the culture influence your daily life?
It helps me stay positive and reminds me to love, help and respect those around me. Showing people peace, love, unity and respect outside of the dance music scene makes me the happy and humble person I am today. Be happy, and be good to others!
Headliner: Alicia
Profession: Floral manager at Stater Brothers
Why do you love dance music culture?
I love EDM because it makes me feel free. It’s like a natural therapy to me, especially since I’m a sober raver. The music and the people make me feel alive. They make me feel at home. There are no worries because everyone is there for the same reasons: the music and the positive energy.
How does the culture influence your daily life?
I can’t go a day without playing some of my favorite EDM songs, whether it’s in my room, in the car or somewhere else. I live by PLUR. It is truly my religion, and when talking to people who don’t know what it is or what it stands for, I can go on for hours. Some say it’s only music, but to me, it’s life.
Headliner: Reichen
Profession: Nuclear chemical engineer
Why do you love dance music culture?
This culture has really changed my life for the better—the people, attitudes and energy, all brought together by the music. It gives me an uplifting, positive feeling unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in my life.
How does the culture influence your daily life?
The EDM culture has influenced almost every part of my life. Life is about being happy. Everything I do, I try to make myself and others around me happy. PLUR is something that I spread as much as possible, wearing kandi occasionally and giving them to people for different reasons.
Headliner: Cesar
Profession: Community organizer/LGBTQ activist
Why do you love dance music culture?
This culture brings people together and connects them in so many ways, no matter who or what you are. Dance music is just so amazing that it’s hard to describe! The energy and the music give me life and make me feel like I’m floating in a sea of positive vibes—something that I’ll cherish forever.
How does the culture influence your daily life?
The culture has really shaped my life. Being a kandi kid helped me share my art with others. Overall, it keeps my life balanced with positive vibes. Meeting new strangers never felt so dope and awesome, and I definitely carry that into my work.
Headliner: Enrique
Profession: Amateur boxer/Olympic contender
Why do you love dance music culture?
You will never meet a more generous group of people until you go to a festival. With all the problems in the world today, you take a look around in the crowd and say to yourself, “You know, the world isn’t so bad after all.” It truly is captivating to take it all in at once as thousands of others share that same amazing experience.
How does the culture influence your daily life?
Music truly is everything and makes the world go ’round. There’s nothing like throwing your earphones in and getting lost in a high-intensity training session with some high BPMs.
Headliner: Jasmine
Profession: Pediatric medical assistant
Why do you love dance music culture?
The music and culture make me feel alive, especially at the events I’ve gone to lately. I am so glad to have become a member of this awesome new family!
How does the culture influence your daily life?
It has inspired me to instill the idea of PLUR in my own life and to spread the love experienced at these events to other people and back to our Mother Nature!
Headliner: Sean
Profession: Soldier in the Army National Guard
Why do you love dance music culture?
I love this culture because it is a manifestation of the energy that’s within. It goes both ways. Music can alter me. I picked up DJing because of it and should be getting bookings before the end of the year at local raves. It’s something that I love!
How does the culture influence your daily life?
I make it a point to be open-minded about everything, especially being in such a conservative line of work. It also influences me to be more considerate of other people.
If you would like the chance to celebrate Transformation Tuesday with Insomniac, please email your best transformation photos to [email protected].
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