Steemians, listen and read along for a reflection on #Avicii, #DanceMusic, and #MusicFestivals.

I have been apart of this "dance/rave/edm culture" since 2010 and it has forever changed the way I look at life, how I spend my free time, and even how I reflect on my own feelings and personal experiences. If you haven't already, click play on the video above and continue reading below.

#Avicii

My love for dance music didn't start at my first rave nor the first time I listened to dance music. As corny as it sounds, it started with #Levels. Levels was a song that hyped me up, made me smile, and made me feel in unison with the thousands of other people chanting it at every DJ set possible up until 2013 (when the song was finally overplayed). It created a sense of belonging and is what caused me to be drawn so closely to Music Festivals, especially EDM Festivals like #EDC, #Tomorrowland, #Ultra, and the somewhat edm influenced #Coachella.

I have attended 7 #EDC festivals since the inaugural Las Vegas event in 2011. The video above is a recap of the first EDC in Las Vegas and I have watched it about 1,000 times reliving my first major festival experience to the tunes of #TimBerg, aka Avicii. Seek Bromance was one of many songs that humanized music and really got me thinking about life, relationships, experiences, and friends. Most of the EDM that I "grew up" with, whether it had lyrics or not, always gave me a #goodfeeling and built hope beyond any challenges. Today, when I listen to those first songs that got me hooked on EDM all I can think is about the journey that I have taken and all of the problems I overcame.

LIFE IS HARD...

#EDM #MusicFestivals

...and EDM and music festivals helped build hope and shined the light at the end of the tunnel. This culture has always been an escape. Many people see "escapes" as running away from your problems, but it was a complete opposite.

Somehow, most of the music festivals I attended always had great timing. There was always something going on and whatever event I had coming up was my escape from reality, worry, and anxiety. Once #raveday started it was all about friends, music, and vibes. A lot of people in my rave crew are some of my closest friends. There is this stigma that your party friends can't be your real friends, but the rave culture completely overrides that stigma. After years of going to raves and music festivals, most of my friends have turned into family. Yeah we escape for a night or three, but each festival is a journey on its own and we all leave with new shared memories. Those memories is what keeps me coming back, I know that each festival and rave I go to will create new memories. Even in the shittiest events and shows I know I can trust my friends to make the best of it.

The connection and memories you create with people you are close with and even people you only meet for one night is like an added block to the festival #blockchain. It will never change and the feelings you experienced will always be sparked up by the music you are screaming your lungs out to whether it be Levels or Living on a Prayer. There is always going to be that emotional and mental connection between happiness, music, and the people who were present. I believe that those memories and connections is what has led my group of friends to better each other, be there for each other, and help each other out during tough life situations over the past 8 years.

EDM gave me a solid group of amigos and awesome memories. Everything from celebrating birthdays and coping with the passing of our brother, Chi, music festivals have bonded the people around me and tightened everlasting friendships. I know we all eventually grow and up have to face grown up responsibilities, but nothing will ever take all of that away. That right there is the true value of #EDM #rave and #musicfestival culture.

Rave in Peace Avicii, I hope you continue to shine through your music. I can only imagine Chi dancing to your DJ sets up above. <3