Events are back. On Saturday, June 19th we returned to the dancefloor at COMPOUND. It was a movie we played in our heads almost every day for the last 15 months, and suddenly it was real. It was happening, and we were right there, on the dance floor, a part of it.
It’s hard to describe the collective cathartic and joyous feelings we shared together this weekend, but it was healing, it was powerful and it was lasting.
The rush of buying tickets, and seeing “sold out!” on event flyers. The world is slowly regaining normalcy and returning with a healthy appetite to party. To many, it’s a welcome return to the everyday flow after a grueling year for everyone, particularly those in the music industry. The flu pandemic of 1918 saw its final moments in 1920 after the particularly deadly strain of influenza finally died out. Many scholars believe the depression of the pandemic is partially responsible for the “Roaring 20s;” a moment in history remembered for its hedonism, decadence, and speakeasies. Is the world preparing for another Roaring 20s? Is history repeating itself exactly 100 years later? Will the 2020s be yet another decade where people come together to celebrate after a dark time in their lives? If so, how can the music community promote safety and inclusion so everyone feels safe to party?
What will happen when we return to the dance floor?Â
Itâs been a full year now since global lockdowns closed clubs and warehouses the world over. Safe to say, weâre all pining to reunite under the strobes and let a good sound system do its thing at releasing some of the tension weâve all been under these last twelve months.
When that time will happen is still yet to be determined. Nightclubs in New York are slated to reopen at 33% capacity on April 3, but guest limitations and social distancing restrictions still have many event promoters waiting to open doors until they can offer a more enjoyable dance experience. If cases continue to drop as vaccinations increase, we will likely start to see small venue outdoor gatherings in most places in the US toward the end of the summer.
Meanwhile, with rapid testing and vaccinations moving along successfully in the UK and Europe, nightclubs in the UK are expected to open with no restrictions beginning June 21, and festivals like Dimensions and ADE are being planned for the fall.
While no doubt itâll be a bummer to watch the rest of the world get back to raving while the US gets its act together, event promoters will have the opportunity to observe what works and bring those practices to their local scene when itâs time to reopen.
And when those doors do reopen, there are definitely some promising opportunities for positive change that we can look forward to
In 2020 the voices of women in the electronic music industry reached critical mass. In the post-COVID era, ainât no room for sexual harassment on the dance floor, period. Envision a place where you can let your freak flag fly, surrounded by Techno Vikings. Sounds like paradise to me.
The racial reckoning of last year expanded our collective awareness of the Black artists and communities that created this scene. The Black Lives Matter movement also brought into focus where inequities still exist in both the music industry and our cultural landscape. A more mature understanding of how we can act as better allies of the Black community ushers us towards more investment in Black DJâs and producers and more liberating spaces to get down.
The record wildfires last summer also made us more acutely aware of the climate crisis, and greater emphasis on sustainability has made its way to the electronic dance scene. As clubs and parties reopen, ravers and organizers alike have a chance to advocate for more eco-friendly parties. Following the momentum of campaigns like Blond:ishâs Bye Bye Plastic or DGTL’s innovative green efforts, the rave of the future is plastic-free and earth-happy.
Weâre at the beginning of a whole new era in electronic music. Artists all over the world have been deep in the studio for the past year, with lots going on in the world sure to be reflected back in the sounds they create. Whatâs more, plenty of DJâs and producers for the first time ever, have been available in a virtual mentorship capacity. With knowledge-sharing platforms, expanded software, and a rise in DIY analog hardware, electronic music has reached a far wider set of talented new creators. Weâre in for nonstop live sonic novelty when we get back out there, so get ready.
A year of physical distancing puts into perspective what we miss about raving: the energy of a live crowd, the bass face sideways glances at your friends, late-night outside chats with strangers, going home at sunrise. We wonât easily take for granted any of those small moments again. So when we return, maybe we wonât feel like reaching for our phone at all. Maybe weâll close our eyes more and get lost in the sound. Maybe weâll be nowhere else than this place weâve waited to return to for so long, fully inside the present moment with the people beside us.
Guest post by Lydia McDowell
Cover photo: @nightmovesme
Speak to The Independent, Belfast-born duo Bicep made their thoughts clear when it comes to DJs playing plague raves during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
The duo stated that DJs playing the parties that are colloquially referred to as âplague ravesâ are âabsolutely disgustingâ and doubled down when it comes to the ramifications their decisions have on the electronic music world, stating that their actions âpaints the whole industry in a bad light.â
Dr. Fauci has ignited hope for the live entertainment industry in the United States, predicting that we could be opening theaters and live music venues in Fall of 2021.
Uncertainty permeates the United States, politically and financially. The COVID-19 pandemic is still here. Parties and festivals are still suspended until who knows when. Travel has come to a halt.
But what if, years down the line, we come out of all of this living in a better world?
In a recent interview with Mixmag, the mighty Carl Cox opened up about redimensioned life under lockdown while also sending a clear message that partying during a pandemic is irresponsible.
A superstar DJ in his own right, Cox has been missing the DJ booth and connection with partygoers world over. This, he says, doesn’t make it morally right to party when lives are at risk during a pandemic such as the one the world is living through right now.
Electronic music artists have been struggling to stay afloat this year because of COVID-19. There’s been a lack of government help within the music industry, and at times, administrations have suggested artists find new jobs. What about the places musical artists would play each weekend? Whatâs going on with them? Without additional financial help throughout the end of the year, music venues and nightclubs are at risk of closing permanently, and some already have. While some have found ways to keep the lights, for how much longer can they serve as art galleries or as a dining option?
