Rave Spirituality

So I’ve been thinking a lot about dj shamanism and rave spirituality lately. One of the main questions that come to mind whenever I begin to ponder those two ideas is…What occurrences need to happen for an existential experience on the dance floor? I’ve only had a few of those elusive moments. The feeling of connectedness and unity with those around me and the world. The complete loss of ego. Letting the music carry me away into a trance state. Dancing to a beat that feels like that of my own heart. That experience is what keeps me searching for new electronic music, connecting with others who have had similar experiences, going to shows, even driving hundreds of miles to find a rave or see a dj. That is why I started Wait for the Drop.

            To create such an experience, there is definitely a formula to nurture that experience. Sure, not everyone at a rave has the same night. There are many factors that go into every individual’s experience, many of which are within the person themselves. One must me open to being taken away by the music for it to occur. However, measures can me taken to foster that experience in people who are open to it.

            A few weeks ago I was thinking about this, and I came to the conclusion that one of the main elements of fostering shamanistic, tribal experiences through electronic music is the non-stop playing of the music. If the songs were broken up, there would be a clear beginning and end to each song. That goes against one of the main elements of the rave culture, the idea of unity, being all one. Spiritually speaking, there is no beginning or end to life. Life is a cycle, and by playing music that meshes together seamlessly with ebbs and flows, the sound closely mimics what people feel in life. The music is like a mirror for the emotions and feelings of the life cycle.

            I had a conversation with a close friend a few months ago about how we feel a lot of living happens in a shortened time span at raves. Reflecting during the morning drive back from a rave, I sometimes feel like I’ve gone through emotions, experiences and realizations that usually take months to occur in other circumstances. Now, I realize that the music played a cataclysmic part in that growth to happen. The fluid, non stop music is what helps create that trance state, the loss of ego and the life mirror.

            Raves have the ability to be very spiritual experiences. I truly believe that raves are the tribal rituals of my generation.

-Mama Bass

We're Having a Party!

Wait for the Drop is having a party January 6th in Arcata at Mama Bass' place. Here's the facebook link....https://www.facebook.com/events/269752296412553/

A Glimpse into the Essence of Rave Culture

http://www.catalystmagazine.net/component/k2/item/1818-dancing-to-the-digital-shamans

I found this article online through PLUR Alliance's facebook page. This article is an interview of electronic music promoter Julian Reyes. I had not heard of this man until I read this article. He really sums up what electronic music and the scene surrounding it is supposed to be. I share a very similar, if not the same, vision as he does for what should evolve from electronic music, raves and the culture surrounding it. A rave or an electronic music song transcend just the music itself. It is an experience and a facilitator for personal discovery and growth. That is what I have gotten from my personal experiences with electronic music when I began listening to it around age 15. Every time I read an article like this, where people are doing, being and creating such a loving vision for the world, it gives me hope. Please read the article. I am sure you will be enlightened. PLUR as always.

-Mama Bass

Eoto Show November 19, 2011

On Saturday night November 19, 2011 I attended Eoto, an electronic duo by the names of Michael Travis and Jason Hann, at the Arcata Theatre and Lounge. It was to date one of the best electronic music shows I have ever been to. There are a myriad of reasons for that night being such a wonderful experience, some influences being outside the music itself. Following are bits and pieces of my experience that night to the soundtrack of Eoto.

The main draw for Eoto, and what had me buying my ticket pre-sale with no set plans or knowledge of friends going, is the fact they play their sets live. No prerecorded music. Yes, in a world where electronic music revolves around the latest dubstep remix, it is very refreshing to see an electronic music band (not deejay) taking listeners minds to another level. During the show not only were my ears titillated, but so were my eyes. It was so cool to see them making the music and interacting with each other.

Audio wise, my favorite parts of the show involved drumming and vocals. There were some marked tribal influences throughout the show, and although the keyboard did tie the music together, it was the primal sounds that really were the driving force of the music. The vocals were reminiscent of chanting and there were moments when the drumming was going on that I found myself stomping ritualistically.

Travis and Hann also had a great grasp for the experiences and feelings that are so influential in electronic music. Flowing songs together seamlessly, having great crescendos followed by stillness only to be built back up again are the bread and butter of electro and any show missing those elements will be one that falls flat. Eoto did not fall flat, but soared. Every sound was spot on.

My only gripe? Well, two actually. There was some sort of technical difficulty in the middle of the night. It was resolved quickly, but for five or so minutes I was sad there was no music. And the for reals gripe…the encore was a bit underwhelming. They ended their set so epically, it made me run down to the stage just to shake their hands. Then the crowd up front (including me) chanted for and encore, and they did it, but the song was just too slow, too ethereal after the banger right before I felt like I was coming down too quickly from an upper and just wanted to grasp on to every last second of the song before.

In a world where most electronic music artists could be my brother, these guys could be my dad. The music that night had a maturity of sound that is becoming scarcer in this electro age. A true feast for the senses, I would go out of my way to see those two again.

-Mama Bass