My Love Letter To The Atlanta Rave Community

Atlanta’s digital dance music scene has flooded my life with unforgettable experiences, filling my tank as I embark on my subsequent chapter.

For the final decade, my life has been fairly the whirlwind. All of it started in 2012, when my husband and I made the choice to depart the tundra of Buffalo, NY, and make our means down south to take pleasure in a bit of enjoyable below the solar. We settled down in Gulf Shores, AL, and rapidly realized that we have been only a hop, skip, and a soar away from the bustling metropolis of Atlanta, GA. It didn’t take greater than some research to comprehend that Atlanta supplied up fairly a powerful digital dance music scene and being the hungry ravers that we’ve all the time been, we merely knew we needed to make our means as much as get a chew of the motion.

Our journey started at Opera Nightclub in Midtown. The second I first entered, I knew I had discovered my dwelling away from dwelling. For a few years, I witnessed elite artists like Hardwell, Markus Schulz, Ferry Corsten, Simon Patterson, Paul Van Dyk, and ATB, take club-goers on the experience of their lives. My love grew stronger and deeper with each thump of the bass and flash of the lights, and I started to make lasting friendships with the native trance household. I knew there was no place on earth I’d fairly be and fortunately, destiny smiled down upon us in 2019 and we formally moved to Atlanta.

Immediately, IT….WAS….ON!

With so many occasions to select from, my rave cup proceeded to overflow. I look again with pleasure, on the many venues that welcomed me in, together with District, Ravine, Consider Music Corridor, Loopy Atlanta, The Music Room, Tabernacle, The Jap, and plenty of extra! I can’t converse extremely sufficient in regards to the many nights I spent absorbing the heartbeat of my life, surrounded by a colourful sea of shifting our bodies, fingers held excessive as I transcended into an excellent state of euphoria. If I shut my eyes I can vividly recall a few of my favourite units.

There was Rafa Barrios who threw down one of many sexiest tech home units I’ve ever heard, and Nicole Moudaber who all the time knew what I wanted earlier than I even knew I wanted it! I’ll definitely always remember Paco Osuna who saved the chills working down my physique along with his divine mixing abilities or Inexperienced Velvet who took us by a clinic of underground types. In fact, I can’t go with out mentioning the hours I spent transcending below the steerage of the long-lasting, Eric Prydz, most notably when he stepped as much as the decks as Pryda.

Then there are the DJs that spun my world sideways like Gene Farris, Will Clarke, Camelphat, and Walker & Royce. I’ll always remember the explosion of power produced on these nights. There have been additionally emotional evenings that choked me up; I’m taking a look at you Nora En Pure and Cristoph. And after I was on the lookout for one thing a bit off the overwhelmed path, Nox Vahn and Dixon got here appropriate. However, above all, Claude VonStroke’s 360 expertise takes the successful spot, as a result of he confirmed me one other aspect of himself that left me shook!

Past the standard membership occasions, the Atlanta scene had a lot extra to supply me.

I get giddy after I recall candy reminiscences from TomorrowWorld, particularly Armin van Buuren’s closing set the primary 12 months. I can nonetheless see the fog rolling over the gang as we have been lifted to a better dimension. It was unimaginable to cease the tears from rolling down my face as I embraced with newfound buddies. Think about Music Competition 2016 was one other weekend to recollect. I recall being obsessive about the fire-orange sky throughout SNBRN’s sundown set and shedding my thoughts to the long-lasting soundwaves of Cosmic Gate, Steve Angello, and Benny Benassi.

There’s additionally the time I bought down and soiled with the native Dirtybird flock on the Refined Warehouse & Block Occasion. In actual fact, VNSSA threw down one among my favourite units I’ve ever heard her play and I keep in mind dancing so onerous that my knees began clicking in disobedience! At the moment that reminiscence makes me snort. One other evening that introduced out my pleased toes was the New Yr’s Eve rave again in 2019, that includes the futuristic Incendia stage. It’s so surreal that my husband and I ended up hanging out with Dateless as we partied till daybreak.

Shortly thereafter, when the pandemic stopped us in our tracks, the deadmau5 Drive-In saved the occasion going. I’ll always remember the jokes that Joel was cracking to maintain us all in good spirits when mom nature determined to misbehave. Talking of excellent spirits, I’ve to indicate some main like to Home In The Park. On that big day, the climate was good, the music was bumping, and the dancing was filled with pleasure as folks blended and mingled! However above all, there have been the occasions I spent at Sound Not Discovered – Silent Disco and Rebirth Competition, surrounded by acquainted faces and acquaintances turned buddies, who I now name household.

And that’s what will get me to the purpose of why I’m penning this as we speak.

I may actually go on and on about each occasion I’ve attended, a listing that simply stretches into the triple digits, however, on the finish of the day, what’s most urgent are the feelings that I’m feeling as I put together to maneuver on to the subsequent chapter of my life. I’m relocating to Rochester, NY, after which, fairly presumably the opposite aspect of the nation. The considered leaving has been consuming away at my soul. Not solely as a result of I’ll be lacking out on the huge array of top-notch occasions that I do know shall be rolling in however as a result of I do know that it is going to be onerous to seek out the identical sort of affection and acceptance that Atlanta has proven me all through the years.

So, earlier than I’m going, there are just a few promoters and occasion organizers that I need to thank from the underside of my coronary heart. Beware, UNITY, Iris, Liquified, Refined, Cult-ure Collective, Parallax, Alley Cat, and Undertaking B. You’ve brilliantly saved your finger on the heart beat of the business and in consequence, you’ve curated experiences which have actually modified the sport. Your unwavering dedication to the sanctity of the dancefloor has made my time right here price greater than gold, and for that, I’m eternally grateful.

Now I could also be biased, however I actually imagine that Atlanta has a few of the best native DJs and producers to ever stroll the earth. To the huge listing of artists that took me in and confirmed me what hospitality is all about, thanks one million occasions over. I’ve been blessed to get to know lots of you on a private degree and I’m so excited to see you stunning people take over the business on the worldwide degree. Irrespective of the place I find yourself in life, I promise to proceed to cheer you on!

To the Atlanta rave group, thanks for permitting me to be my loopy, quirky self, no questions requested. Y’all are the true MVP’s and I need you to know that you’ve got proven me the very best days of my life. I’m obsessive about the entire particular interactions I’ve had with you alongside the way in which, like being randomly adopted by teams on the dancefloor (I really like how this occurs so typically), partaking in humorous conversations over the booming sound system, and showering each other with compliments about outfits. Please proceed to maintain PLUR alive and don’t ever cease dancing.

Lastly, can I get a “woot woot” for the wonderful bartenders, safety, and occasion employees speckled all through the gorgeous metropolis of Atlanta?! Y’all are an integral piece of the puzzle and with out you, my late-night shenanigans merely wouldn’t have been as lit. I hope you understand how a lot I’ve appreciated your smiling faces and fantastic service.

Till we meet once more, thanks, and I really like you.