The last year or so has seen a lot of changes in my life and one of the more significant ones has been my introduction and pretty immediate patronage to the world of Electronica, House and Trance music. I find myself talking about it and listening to it incessantly, enough that I thought it warranted a post solely about what electronica is and why it must be regarded as highly as any other form of music excellence. Here is an ode to a genre of music that has blown me away!
When people think DJ, what comes to mind is a youngish tatooed fella, drink in one hand, half burnt cigarette in mouth, apparently spinning some sort of discs essentially playing some music. Though we all love them and won't be having the good time we do at clubs, parties and weddings, many don't regard dj'ing more than a hobby and definitely don't credit the 'hobby' to be a worthy source of music production. (It's just a guy/girl mixing tracks together). A singer or a composer, now that's music we'd say. It's time to challenge that notion and look a little further for what Electronica has to offer is a deeper and more surreal music experience. Let me explain..
Till a few years ago, my knowledge of House/Trance music was very rudimentary and was limited to some of the big name DJ's; Tiesto, Armin Van Buren,Benny Benassi and maybe David Guetta (He was just bursting onto the scene). These were the guys I knew, not necessarily liked. I went for a concert at a club here and there and happened to really enjoy the energy that these guys brought to an event. I was still an amateur, not knowing what I was getting into, not realizing I was in the midst of some great musicians. To the outside world, Electronica music is about raves and drugs and all that is wrong with society. That used to be rock and roll at one time right? How could someone enjoy music without any lyrics and just beats and tunes all night long, cynics would say. They have to be drugged they'd reason!
Oh how my world changed when I went to the Electric Zoo Festival in New York City, September 2010. A fellow enthusiast of this music, Akshay Goil, was the one who had hyped events like these and though I was keen on being part of the trance experience, I had a hidden interest of seeing my girlfriend who had just moved to New York. I bought the ticket. $270 poorer, I wasn't sure what this 2 day extravaganza in the open would have to offer. More so would I be able to take it for 12 hours a day.. Time would tell, that I would be left begging for more...
It's only fitting that I am writing this as I have a really great set playing on my Ipod to really get me into the zone of how I feel when I am consuming this music...
I arrived at Randall's Island, a little island between Manhattan and Queens, the venue of this Zoo thing and right away was impressed by the huge gathering of people. There were 3 big stages with one dj after the other continuously till 11pm. People came in all sorts of attire ready to have a great time. The more colorful and striking your outfit was the more at home you felt. Everything about this up till now suggested a big rave going out of control, kids with no purpose in life wasting their money, there only for the show and drugs than the 'music'. It didn't take more than one set (A dj on stage playing his music or 'set') for me to realize that this was something else! When the music came on, it did not matter who you were, what you were wearing or who was around you or how you felt or if you knew how to dance or not or if you cared for the music or not. All that mattered was that you were elevated into a realm of pure joy and pleasure and your body almost reacted in a natural way just like one learns how to walk. The body swayed, the hands flayed, the head bobbed; Jumps, kicks, squats, elaborate dance moves, gymnastics, dives, everything was fair game. There seemed to be a rhythm to the way the crowd moved, as drops in beat were followed by even crazier drops in beat. It was almost surreal to be just dancing and not giving even the slightest thought to what we all looked like.
The entire festival was back to back to back sets into the night that just blew the mind away. Some played up beat tracks and some played tracks that would suck you in, entrancing you in their hold and then suddenly releasing you when you least expected. Enjoying Electronic music requires losing your fear of being judged or laughed at. It's like a free fall, the more you are at ease the more you will enjoy it. The key is not to be impatient but to soak in the journey the 'artist' (dj) is trying to take you on. Many a time you can sense the artist trying to play the crowd, lulling them into a nice calm state with some melodic tunes and then when least expected, boom, into a different realm, a different tempo, a different feel.
It's a story that must be heard patiently and attentively.
Many a contemporary artist will play their brand of music, often composed by themselves (notable examples DeadMau5, Chemical Brothers, Tiesto, AVB etc.) but they will play a little more upbeat music at festivals as crowds are looking for a high energy event. Electronic Dance Music or EDM is what House Music is; Upbeat, fast paced, big highs and lows. Trance on the other hand can be a little more harder to enjoy as it really requires submitting yourself to the music. Not thinking, just letting your mind flow with the music. If one is able to do so successfully, not let the problems of the world wander into ones perception, there is nothing like getting lost in a trance track.
I am going to add links to some things EDM to get readers an idea of what I might be talking about.
Why I decided to write this was because I felt that it would be a good challenge to try and express the emotions I feel when I listen to this music. To be honest I don't feel I've done justice to it and it's one of those things you have to submit yourself to, let it affect you! For me the Electronica experience is a pure experience between me and the music. No adulteration, no distraction, just a connection between the mind, body and soul. I really do mean it when I say I thoroughly enjoy all the nuances and fine points of this genre. It's sometimes the unsaid that can say so much more than the said. That's what electronic music is in my opinion, an art form wherein the 'artist' expresses himself/herself through sounds and images that can be interpreted one way or the other. In it's pure form it's absolutely brilliant.
I hope that next time someone hears or thinks about this genre, they think twice before dismissing it. Yes there are a lot of wannabe, second rate dj's but there are some truly gifted musicians as well.
It's like when you first try a different cuisine and you're apprehensive. But one time you give it an honest shot and you fall for it entirely. That's what happened to me.
I heart ELECTRONICA!! And I mean it!
p.s. Did I mention that I don't use any drugs or alcohol while at these concerts. Pure 100% adrenalin!! Cheers
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment