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The Electronic Dance Music scene

Kathryn Koebel

Florida State University

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The rapid expansion of the Electronic Dance Music scene has made an enormous impact

on modern day society and the industry world. From music festivals taking place in countries all

over the world to underground rave shows in local cities, EDM is everywhere all the time.

(Rubinstein), As of May 2016, it has been reported that the Electronic Dance Music industry is

worth about $7.1 billion (2016). For something that just started as a new social trend over the

last decade, it is quite impressive how popular it has become. There are large amount of people

who take part in this phenomena and it is not only teens; there are plenty of adults too (and by

that, I mean all of those who want to relive

their years from the 1970s and Woodstock).

A wide variety of unusual positive things

comes from the EDM world. According to

Packer and Ballantyne 2010, the music

festival experience contributes to a state of

well- being and part of a way a person

defines themselves.

Marisa Miro May 31, 2016

www.theodysseyonline.com

As you meet new people at these festivals, you find new friends and grow with them. The music

scene has always been a way for people to express themselves in a different way. However, this

rave scene is often frowned upon and notoriously known for one thing that poses as a serious

problem in our society: drugs. It is the ultimate downfall of this music scene and the rave

culture, along with what our government strives to keep out of our country. Despite all of the
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warnings about a Zero tolerance drug zone in these festivals, law enforcement, arrests, deaths,

etc., people still bring drugs around and it all still happens.

A deeper look into EDM

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A better way to understand the correlation between drug use and the music festival scene

is to look at why it is happening. What is causing this increased drug use with the EDM culture?

A research study done by Professors Tammy L. Anderson and Philip Kavanaugh from the

University of Delaware, Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, explores the relation

between solidarity and drug use in the Electronic Dance Music scene. They mention that raves

are a place where anyone can experience life a different way, dance, take drugs, meet new

people, and escape reality, making this lifestyle so addicting. With all of these great aspects,

everyone wants to join and be a part of the trend. In the U.S., where it is predominately present,

EDM followers practice a code called PLUR, short for Peace Love Unity Respect. This helps

show a secret source of acceptance in this scene. Imagine being able to go to huge music

festivals with thousands of people wearing the weirdest outfits ever, but it is totally acceptable

and everyone you are with and around you are doing the same thing The promotion that music

festivals make for wearing costumes and whatever you want to the events has increased self-

confidence amongst people. In a place where anything is possible, and with all members of real

life participating, it is pretty cool. Kavanaugh and Anderson also mention that drug use can be an

important part of social identity formation in youth. In this case, peer pressure is real and proves

exactly what someone should never do just to fit in or because their friend is doing it. If a

friend introduces someone to the music, they are going to follow everything he or she is doing

and if that includes drugs, then they will do drugs. Karan Pherwani October 19, 2014

www.festivalsherpa.com
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There have been many assertions on the various positive psychological health benefits

coming

from

music

festivals and the rave scene. An article written by Jan Packer and Julie Ballantyne from the

University of Queensland, Australia department in the Psychology of Music supports this claim.

The bright and cheeriness music festivals imply bring out nothing but joy and happiness in the

attendees. Music festivals are a way to entertain, so anyone going is already going to have fun

and enjoy himself or herself. Packer and Ballantyne preformed a group interview and found

what the four facets of the music festival experience are. The music experience, the social

experience, the festival experience, and the separation experience. Positive aspects really show

from the categories. The music experience is the most important part and is what people are

celebrating. Participants reported a sense of connection with other festival-goers and even the

artists themselves. Seeing the music live seems to add an extra dimension. The social experience

plays a big role as well. Everybody else there is there for the same reason. There is so much you

have in common with these people. This social integration creates a sense of belonging. On the

other hand, the festival experience is the whole hype. Participants reported that the event is seen

to start weeks, even months before the actual festival because the anticipation is just too high.

The actual experience at the festival is what they crave. Packer and Ballantyne claim it can be a

way people define themselves. For the final part, the separation experience is a way to get away

to a completely different environment. The setting of it all is a big factor for some of these
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people for a reason to attend. One participant stated, I think it takes you so far out of your

normal routine of life that it gives you different perspectives when you come back to it.

EDC New York Day 2

www.insomniac.com

Listening to Electronic Dance Music

can affect the brain and body. In

general, music can boost your mood;

improve studying and learning,

exercise, and even meditation. Many

genres in EDM fill all these categories. Individuals listen to music for specific goals and

attaining those goals evokes positive emotions (Koelsch, 2006, p.3). When attending a music

festival or going out to see a DJ at a nightclub, the main goal is to have fun, let loose, and enjoy

life. EDM does exactly that. Ultimately, music is the reason for everyone coming together and

events happening. Music has singlehandedly created a sense of solidarity amongst listeners. The

social functions that take place in the EDM scene are outstanding, giving that strong bong

between each other. The appreciation others have for those who listen to EDM makes

friendships. According to Koelsch (2016), humans have a desire to belong and feel attached to a

group; the Electronic Dance Music scene is perfect candidate for that. A study was conducted to

investigate the effects of LSD and music on subjective experience and brain activity (Kaelen et

al. 2016). Twenty psychedelic-experienced participants were scanned on two separate occasions.

On the first occasion, some received intravenous saline (placebo) and 75 micrograms of

intravenous LSD on the other. Two different music tracks were played. The results revealed
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increased parahippocampus visual cortex, functional and effective connectivity in the music and

LSD combination. The patients experiences personality trait openness two weeks after LSD. This

experiment suggests a way in which LSD works with music to enhance certain experiences that

may be useful in therapeutic context (Kaelen et al. 2016).

This is your brain on EDM

https://8tracks.com/emilylogann/this-is-your-

brain-on-edm

Along with all of the general music studied

in school, Electronic Dance Music is, too,

important. There are numerous things to teach from

it. EDM can play a big role in the general music curriculum (PreK-12). This music means to

involve dancing, hence the word dance in Electronic Dance Music. All grade levels and

students can benefit from moving to EDM. In the process, students listen and respond to music

transitions, exercise, explore creative movement and internalize the beat (Halick, 2016, p. 2).

Through listening and analyzing EDM, it helps students to develop a musical ear. Music

teachers are working to help students develop skills through new styles and genres of music. The

wide variety of genres that EDM has provide a great amount of different techniques students can

learn from. Often containing catchy hooks that are easy to remember, EDM can be listen to by

anybody. Students can start by listening to basic tracks then advance to more complex tunes,

depending on grade level. Timbre and rhythm are often most important in EDM (Panteli, Rocha,
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Bogaards, & Honingh 2016). Timbre will usually consist of an instrument leaving or entering

the mix while rhythm is a repeating pattern of a particular instrument. Although this music is

mostly created with electronic instruments, there are also many traditional instruments such as

the guitar, piano, percussion and voice (Halick, 2016, p. 3). This style of music can be looked at

as having more of an advantage when being used for educational purposes. With a lack of song

lyrics, there is a less possible chance of profanity, sexual references, etc. In this case, making it a

safer choice.

The popular belief of Electronic Dance Music festivals is that it is all about drugs. Drugs

and only drugs. This industry has a horrible reputation for that and everyone associates

themselves with the EDM scene is involved with drugs. When drugs come into play, it does not

all seem so positive. An infinite number of deaths, arrests, and hospitalized individuals have

come from the Electronic Dance Music industry as a whole. The only reason any of it is

happening all boils down to drugs. Drugs are illegal and the law enforcement takes it very

seriously. Common drugs that are used in the EDM scene include LSD, ketamine, psychedelic

mushrooms, MDMA, cocaine, marijuana, and ecstasy. There is a great amount of health risks to

these drugs. People are often forgetful or ignorant to these

consequences only to make their experience at the festivals amazing. The many reported

deaths are concentrated in

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LA Times

intensifies

War against

EDM

http://www.lessthan3.com/news/la-times-intensifies-war-against-edm

the United States. In 2014 at Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas, Nevada, there were two

deaths at ages twenty-four and twenty-five. In 2014 Mad Decent Party in Baltimore, Maryland,

there were two deaths, one at twenty and the other at seventeen. All the way in Asia In 2014 at

Future Music Festival in Kuala Lamput, Malaysia, six people died all in their twenties (Lund &

Turris 2015, pg. 2). The highest reported number of deaths at any music festival in the U.S. is at

two. The gap between the numbers of deaths in the U.S. versus Malaysia might be the quality of

drugs and ability of care.

The severity of the drug problem may not seem so large when looking at from a small

scale, but understanding the intricate details might. Taken place every Memorial Day weekend,

according to Axelbank 2016, last year at Sunset Music Festival 2016 in Tampa, Florida, there

were two deaths. Along with that, fifty-seven were hospitalized and twenty-five were charged

with felonies. 21-year-old Katie Bermudez of Kissimmee and 22-year-old Alex Haynes of
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Melbourne died at the festival. Mother of Bermudez told Axelbank, No parent at all should ever

experience this ever, ever, ever. The Mayor of Tampa, Bob Buckhorn addressed the issue being

interviewed by FOX 13 News, and said if it were up to him, the Sunset Music Festival would not

be held in Tampa the following year. At the nearest hospital where all of the ill were rushed, at

St. Josephs Hospital, an ER nurse who had forty of the patients stated, they saw back-to-back

dehydrated children, all on Molly.

http://www.fox13news.com/news/local-news/151287443-story

Evan Axelbank, FOX 13 News

The Tides Have Turned

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The drug problem has gotten so serious and many people have become aware that a

couple experts decided to create an all-natural MDMA.

Creators, biohacker and serial entrepreneur Mark

Effinger and human potential expert, Dolan Ramsay worked

together to create KATY. KATY is an all-natural, plant based, dopamine and serotonin

pumping, nootropic supplement pill, that gives a euphoric, love filled experience without the

possible risk. These men created this business called Limitless High. This pill is 98% organic.

The components of this pill include kava kava, grape seed extract, EGCG, theobromine, 5-HTP,

curcumin, guarana extract, and omniracetam. This is a great alternative to street drugs. There are

even testimonies and reviews on the website about the pill that prove its worth. One woman

testified, Wow, felt like I was floating on clouds feeling nothing but love. Had so many laughs

and even the best orgasm of my life! More please! One of the frequently asked questions on the

website include whether KATY will show up in a drug test. Creators respond you will not fail a

drug test since there are no illegal substances in it.

www.getlimitlesshere.com Limitless Life

This industry is not stopping now. Money is the driving factor in everything.

(Rubinstein), the value of the global Electronic Dance Music industry is 60% more than it was

three years ago, sitting at $7.1 Billion (2016). It has increased 59% since 2012. With dozens of

festivals occurring year round and weekend nightly DJs, there is no stopping this phenomena.

Money is always coming in. With all of these events happening all the time, it is creating jobs.

Security and event staff is needed for as long as the event takes place. At music festivals,

volunteering is a huge thing. Volunteering is an act in which individuals are engaged in helping
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or working for the benefit of a community. According to Clayton 2016, managing knowledge

within an organization improves skills and competencies, while increasing business expertise.

Her study, focusing on individuals experiences at United Kingdom music festivals, show many

positive outcome. Many individuals are

motivated to volunteer for the

experience, entertainment of social

aspects (Clayton, 2016, p. 9). With free

admission into most music festivals, the

volunteering spots fill up quickly. The

positive nature upheld by music festivals

makes it easy for social relations to take

place. Although volunteers are not assessed based on their professional skills, they are, of course,

required to conduct themselves efficiently. An easy mindset is all it takes to make friends and

good use of a time during the volunteering hours. It is something worth putting on a resume, as

the act of volunteering is always admired.

The Electronic Dance Music scene is one of the most exhilarating things to be taking

place right now. This time now is the limelight of EDM. The strong sense of solidarity and well-

being amongst human beings it is proving to provoke is the best thing to ever be created in

todays society. The amount of hidden talent that is arising from this music industry and money

stacking up along with the need for jobs and volunteers is invigorating. A way to incorporate

Electronic Dance Music into the general music curriculum has now proven its worth in all parts

of society. There is so much to discover within the realm of the EDM world. The drug-related

issues causing the downfall to EDM can easily be taken care of. In order to eliminate the
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problem correlated with this music scene, it has to start with the people who are going.

Nevertheless, it is not the first time we have seen drugs present in a new music culture.

(Kavanaugh & Anderson, 2010) In the 1930s, it was the Jazz scene with marijuana, and the

infamous Rock N Roll era in the 1960s through 1970s with LSD. Yet we have always gotten

through it and everything turns out just fine, so it will this time too.
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