‘Designed to destroy us’: Italian ravers plan more nationwide protests against new ‘anti-rave’ law
Free-party crews from across Italy and France are planning more collective action against Italy’s newly enshrined “anti-rave” law. Read more
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âI F*ckn Hate Social Media,â Says Alan Fitzpatrick
Techno titan Alan Fitzpatrick took to Instagram recently to express his convictions about the downsides of social media. Coincidence or not, the UK producer, dj, and label boss‘ message somewhat synchronizes with May being “Mental Health Awareness” month in the United States. As many producers, and people in general feel the added pressure that social media can bring, Fitzpatrick strongly protests its influence on the music community.
Ukrainian DJ, Nastia Continues to Call Out Nina Kraviz
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine many artists have stepped up and voiced their protest against the war. However, Nina Kraviz posted a very not well received Instagram post and has been silent on social media since. Many have critiqued the Russian artist for her lack of protest but Ukrainian artist Nastia, took to social media over the weekend and continued the criticism of Kraviz.
While In Ukraine, Artbat Protests The Russian Invasion
For Ukrainian duo Artur and Batish, better known as ARTBAT, playing shows as festival season approaches is probably the last thing on their minds. The melodic house and techno stars are in their home country, whichRussian President Vladimir Putin has chosen to invade in an unprovoked war opposed by most of Europe, the US and the world.
Op Ed: Sonic Resistance, The Power of Music in Protest
When I was a kid my mom introduced me to The Prodigy. I really loved them, and I still do, but how do you explain The Prodigy to another third-grader who is a die-hard Hillary Duff fan? Throughout elementary school and beyond Iâve always considered music to be a form of personal protest. Itâs been my sounding board, always challenging me to question what feels accepted, conventional, or expected. This isnât an unusual sentiment. In fact, I hope itâs widespread. Consider moments when that one song can explain everything and everyone. When you connect to that one song because it is a testament to your reality, and no one elseâs reality. Music is more than mere vibrations: sounds amplify worlds that you cannot see.
Pepsi’s Controversial Ad Featuring Kendall Jenner is a Rip-Off of a ’99 Chemical Brothers Video
In case you missed it, Pepsi made a 2-minute 39-second ad featuring Kendall Jenner giving a can of Pepsi to a policeman during a protest rally. In the commercial, the policeman accepts the can to the cheers of the protesters and the “fighting/protest” ends.
Since its release, the video has since been dragged and tarred through social media: Wired.com says, âThe message is clear: All those Womenâs Marches, Black Lives Matter protests, and demonstrations outside Trump Tower would be much more effervescentâand effective!âif someone had just brought some soda.â Slate.com, on the other hand, posed an interesting question: âIs it Pepsiâs view that the act of handing an armed police officer a can of soda should be the millennial generationâs version of putting a daisy in a rifle barrel?â NBC News on the other hand reported that “Pepsi was trying to project a global message of unity, peace, and understanding.”
But what caught the attention of dance music fans such as ourselves, was how similar this Pepsi ad was to a Chemical Brothers video from 1999.
Moogfest Will Host a Protest Stage, a Space Dedicated to Resistance
Moogfest, based in North Carolina, is joining the resistance.
The festival has announced that one of its central themes in 2017 will be Protest, featuring a Protest Stage, workshops, conversations, art installations and even classes to discuss and address the issue that is so important in today’s America.
The current political climate is underscoring a nation that is as divided as we have seen it in the last few generations, with newly-elected President Trump causing controversy with each Executive Order he signs. While we already explored what this all means to the dance music scene in the United States, Moogfest is the first festival to take an actual stance against the “discriminatory politics” that have negatively affected its home state of North Carolina since House Bill 2 was passed there, a piece of controversial legislation that allows for discrimination across gender, sexual orientation, and class.
In an official statement, Moogfest explained why it has chosen Protest as a central theme for this year’s edition, underscoring the pivotal role of the recent women’s march as well as Martin Luther King Jr. in inspiring this initiative, âWe are inspired by this movement and the spirit of those that came before it. The fight against inequality echoes our own mission to design radical instruments for change and reflects the legacy of Bob Moog, the inspiration behind Moog who believed that true innovation comes through collaboration, not exclusion. Moogfest is transformed, by the urgency of our times, and we invite you to keep marching with us into the future.â
Information on who will be involved with the Protest Stage in May 18-21 during Moogfest will be shared via the festival’s social channels in the coming months.
