EDC & The Reggae Rave Connection

[Kayla Kuhn]

EDC & The Reggae Rave Connection 
By Kayla K. 

As you all know, Resin Music has traditionally focused on covering the wide variety of reggae music out there from traditional island beats to the very popular reggae-rock genre that is taking over. Many of the reasons that people enjoy reggae are due to the positive vibes, and the extremely energetic, passionate fan base. Now on seemingly the opposite end of the musical spectrum lie the womp filled electronic, trance and dubstep genres. While many would say that these genres are polar opposites, after attending the Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) in Las Vegas, I beg to differ.

 

Sure the music has a different tempo and the artist “plays” a complicated set of electronics rather than a guitar, but the product is a song with a very distinctive and edgy beat. This unique sound is what drives such passionate fans to their shows. 

Both reggae and electronic fans seem to be the happiest, whether that happiness is a product of a substance or the music is beside the point because apart from costumes, the behavior of the fan bases are quite similar. Hundreds of thousands of “ravers” packed into Las Vegas’ Motor Speedway to bond with one another and be captivated by their favorite sounds. On a smaller scale, the same is true of reggae fans as seen at West Beach Music Festival, RaggaeFest, and many other shows that attract large quantities of dedicated fans. 

 

Both of these genres are also rapidly growing in popularity as they used to be much more underground. With their fresh spin on traditional reggae music, reggae-rock sub genre bands such as Slightly Stoopid, Sublime, and the Dirty Heads have brought reggae music to a much more “mainstream” audience. The same can be said of DJs like Avicci, Steve Aoki, and Skrillex who have taken popular songs and remixed them beyond recognition making great dance and party music. Fans are looking for something new and fresh, and both surf-roots reggae and dubstep genres allow their sounds to constantly transform. 

 

As a newcomer to the rave scene I was unsure of what to expect, but I fell in love. While packed in the front row of Swedish House Mafia’s first set I could literally feel the excitement and pure joy of those surrounding me. This is a similar feeling to the genuine smiles I have seen on the faces as those that pack into the front row of Slightly Stoopid, as they sway back and fourth singing along to their favorite songs. This just shows that music is meant to bring people together, and regardless of your musical taste, if open to trying new things you may be pleasantly surprised.