Why Music Festivals Are Amazing: My EDC Experience

I'm back! 

All tanned and stumbling straight into Post Holiday Depression, so what better way to power through it than to tell you guys all about my adventure, right? 

The entertainment system on our fifteen hour flight back to Sydney wasn't working so I had plenty of time to mull over how best to write about everything. 

I think the best way is to split the trip up into separate posts. Essentially there were two parts to our holiday: The First Leg, which was EDC, my birthday and hanging out with all the people, and The Second Leg, ie, our honeymoon. So, that's how it's going to be! 

Also, I attempted to vlog on this trip despite the fact that I'm rubbish at speaking and even more awkward at being in front of the camera. And I will be trying my best to sort through whatever footage I have and stitching them together into some semblance of "vlogs" that will (hopefully) make sense to whoever watches them. (lux3lla YouTube ^_^)

(Disclaimer: Do expect tonnes of B-roll and scenic montages with cool, royalty free music in the background because, like I said, I'm absolute rubbish at speaking - lol). 

But guys, that's enough about my plans. Let's talk about EDC!!!

Can I just say that, every time I think that I'm done and I've experienced everything there is to experience when it comes to festivals, I'm always proven WRONG! 

All you people out there who are just thinking Surface Things when I say "festivals"...You. Don't. Know. 

(Surface Things: The very first layer of something/someone. It's what you encounter when you don't bother to dig deeper or aren't interested. It's the "I'm fine" answer, when you ask someone how they're doing but you both don't really want to get into it. 

Surface Things. 

It's that wrong first impression you form when you meet someone who's having a bad day. 

It's the fake smile you give someone when you're sick of people but you work in customer service (lol).)

Like, even now, as I'm writing this, I'm almost speechless. Like, my brain is fumbling the words because these experiences are so big in my heart that I don't feel like I could do it any justice trying to describe what it's like. Trying to blog about something that constantly changes me and affects me in the best way. 

I've had so many friends and family tell me that I should write about Defqon, or Qlimax...EDC...

believe me, they've been saying it for years. But I've held off because, like I said, I don't feel like my words could do my feelings justice. 

I still feel that way now, but here I am again, trying things and attempting things and all that jazz. And what's a diary if not something that you can spill your feelings to, right?

So. 

EDC. 

Let's start from the start.

That moment when you're on the bus and you see the lights in the distance and there's a tonne of other people buzzing behind you because they're feeling the exact same excitement you're feeling. You missed the sunset because of the ridiculously long lines for the shuttle, but that doesn't even matter now because it's (f***king) 10PM (g*ddamit) and you're finally here!

There's nothing like that Walk. 

That first moment of walking into EDC (or any festival, for that matter). When you reach the top of those stairs and see everything sprawled out in front of you in all its magical glory. That feeling of wanting to look everywhere all at once and like you're going to vibrate out of your skin. 

(And I guess I was feeling even more sentimental than usual because, hello! We were literally on the Other Side Of The World! All our planning and dreaming and planning was finally coming into fruition at that moment, and it's like, you still can't quite believe it, ya know? 

I was, legit, saying over and over as we walked in:

"This is crazy.")

I'm going to skip the part where I describe every single stage and rate the production and pyrotechnics or critique DJ sets, because 1.) I'm not an expert and 2.) those? Those are...kinda Surface Things. (Really awesome Surface Things that were so amazing that I can't even, but, yeah, Surface - lol.)

Instead, I'm going to talk about being under that Electric Sky.

See, the best thing about music is that it eliminates all boundaries. It doesn't have language barriers and it doesn't have prejudice or judgement. It doesn't discriminate.

That's why it does so well at bringing people together from all walks of life.

And when you're under that electric sky, and you look around you at the people you know and the people you've just met - it's with the knowledge that you're connected by your love of this one, amazing, thing.

That when your favourite song starts playing and your skin breaks out in goosebumps and the hairs on your arms rise up, you will look at the person beside you or the people around you; you will share a look, a smile, a bass face, and you will know that they are feeling the exact same thing. That feeling of happiness and absolute light. 

Instagram: @lux3lla

And after you've shared that with someone, experienced that experience together? 

Let's just say that there is nothing anyone can do that can replicate...

...Sitting beside each other as fireworks explode in the night sky above you
...The looks on people's faces when you tell them you're from Australia and making new friends
...Bringing in your birthday at the Wasteland stage, fireworks going off overhead
...Walking into Day 2 and getting mind blown coz it's still your birthday (ha!)

...Sharing fruity drinks and cups of ice with each other in the 40 degree heat (lol)

...Dancing at Kinetic Field as the sun begins to rise (on the morning of your birthday!)
...Visiting all the stages and marvelling at all the lights
...Walking through Daisy Lane because it leads directly back to Wasteland <3 and...
...Gallivanting through the festival grounds in broad daylight until security literally kicks you out (lol)

So earlier, when I said that every time I think I'm done with festivals, I'm proven wrong?

I meant it.

Because beyond the ridiculous shuttle lines, the 40 degree heat, the sweat and crush of tonnes of people, the crazy ticket prices that keep me broke and the occasional disapproval from the same people who think the Surface Things...

There is Peace.

And Love.

And Unity.

And Respect.

And what people don't know (or don't believe...), is that the PLUR? It doesn't just stay in the festival. It doesn't get left behind when you go home.

It bleeds into your every day life the way the music stays with you.

That feeling you get, of belonging to something bigger than yourself? It's addictive. It's what's going to keep bringing you back. Being welcomed by people you've never met like you've known each other for ever.
Being welcomed by old time friends who've been by your side for years.

I'm not speaking for everyone, but I think things like these...they don't always affect you, but when they do? It changes your life.
It changes the way you look at things, it shifts your perspective.
It reminds you to be thankful, to be grateful. It shows you beauty and magic, and it makes you feel.

The way your favourite song reaches into your soul and grabs you by the balls.
The way you can listen to it a hundred times a day and not get sick of it. Because of the feeling it brings out of you.

There is a community here.



And I know it probably doesn't include everyone, but if anything I described today resonated with you, then you probably know what I'm talking about.

Deeper than the Surface Things and bigger than the universe.

It reminds you that you're not as alone as you think.

Why else would we call walking into a festival "coming home"?

This is another one for the books!
 Thank you, EDC2017. You were amazing. <3

x

*Pic credits of stages and fireworks etc go to my husband because I was too busy videoing everything to snap any pics >.<