PLUR: Understanding the Rave About EDM
Image Courtesy: Strike Magazine Tallahassee
PLUR is the epitome of rave culture. This four-letter acronym stands for ‘peace, love, unity, and respect’. If you have ever had the opportunity to experience the mystical phenomenon that occurs when attending a rave, then you know that ethereal experiences transcend you to an entirely different world. Whenever I attended my first rave, I instantly became hooked by the electronic dance music (EDM) scene because of the one-of-a-kind music, fashion, community, and culture that all ensued. Moreover, I was captivated by the welcoming and inclusive vibes of the overall experience.
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EDM has a variety of genres and subgenres that make the music itself more distinctive than what my mom and others may refer to as ‘robot music’. For instance, there is house music, techno, trance, and dubstep. House music, which has been popular since the 1980s, has a very repetitive rhythm that is influenced by a Latin or soul feel. Some popular artists who are representative of this genre of music are Fisher, Chris Lake, Walker & Royce, and Tchami. Moving on, Techno music, while also having a more repetitive beat is more visionary with its sound and is often otherworldly. Notable artists from this genre include Carl Cox and Jeff Mills. Another EDM genre is Trance music which is meant to put the listener into a trance-like state of consciousness and has both house and techno influences. Moreover, trance music is distinguishable due to its production style which often has a faster tempo, is built around a single chord, and has an array of different sound effects. The final EDM genre is dubstep which happens to be my personal favorite. Dubstep music is darker and is recognizable for its heavy bassline. Some of the biggest artists in this genre are Skrillex, Subtronics, and Excision.
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The fashion at raves is highly creative and allows for the purest form of self-expression. At raves, you can wear absolutely whatever you want. It is truly the ultimate personal fashion show. However, some of the more common items to include in your rave attire are pashminas and Kandi. A pashmina is a silky-smooth scarf that music-goers often wear to raves. They are also extremely versatile and come in a variety of patterns. On the other hand, Kandi are accessories made specifically for a rave to be traded with other rave-goers. The exchange of Kandi helps support the welcoming environment at raves because you often give Kandi to strangers.
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The community at raves is the best. I personally have made so many friends and met so many cool people from all sorts of different walks of life. The one thing that truly connects us all is our shared experience of listening to and enjoying EDM. You could go to a rave solo and still have a great time and feel extremely welcome. For instance, one of my favorite memories from going to the EDM festival, Forbidden Kingdom, was just standing in the crowd and making new friends.
The culture surrounding raves and EDM music as a whole is a community of inclusion. It could be your first rave or your millionth and you will always feel welcomed by others. Going to a rave is truly a special experience because you genuinely can feel the PLUR from others. I honestly feel that raves will always be my safe haven for letting loose and living in the moment.
Strike Out,
Writer: Kyrsten Schneider
Editor: Raquel Gluckstern
Graphic Designer: Laura Pellini
Tallahassee