Music is Empowering

Everyone has their own musical preference, something that takes them out of this world and into one of their own. For me that is edm, electronic dance music. It used to be called techno and I'm so used to calling it that but I guess that changed since I was younger... I started listening to edm when I was about 10, maybe a little older, but my cousins worked at bars and whenever I was at their house or in their cars they would have edm blasting and obviously, being European, I fell in love.

I got my first edm cd shortly after from a neighbor who was younger than I was, by Dj Markski, a local Dj in Chicago. Again, I fell in love and it was literally all I listened to. I loved it for how it made me feel. Obviously as a preteen I didn't know the culture surrounding edm and when I grew older I didn't care who listened to it and the stigma around the culture, I still loved it.

Long story short, I love edm and it makes me feel wonderful even when I'm at my worst. It got me through some tough stuff and unlike people who come and go, music is always there for you. I found solace in it and it empowered me. Even today I listen to some trance or house when I feel down and almost immediately I'm dancing around in my room with a smile from ear to ear. It's wonderful.

I definitely don't like the stigma around edm - the fact that apparently everyone has to be drunk and rolling when they go clubbing or go to festivals. Ha, not true. I certainly don't do that and never plan to. I like the MUSIC, not the people. I stress this because growing up, my parents never let me go to clubs or any events with my favorite Dj's for fear that I might grow up to be some drunk or druggie or something. I never got to be in my favorite environment, I never got to experience the one thing I loved and helped me get through my tough times. I could only sit back and watch my friends, who knew nothing about edm and made fun of me for listening to it before it got popular, go to these fun events and enjoy themselves doing whatever they did. I just wanted to go for the music.

I still love it and I'll always love it, even when I'm 60. It's what makes me me. If you're interested in edm, i suggest checking out Armin van Buuren (my love), Cosmic Gate, Dash Berlin, Avicii, Flux Pavillion, Nero, Krewella (I'm currently obsessed with them, and they're from Chicago!), Tiesto, Markus Schulz, Ferry Corsten (his and Armin's song Brute is amazing), Porter Robinson (also, a current obsession), oh the list goes on! Djmag.com is a great resource to check out new djs and who's popular. Also, Pandora or Spotify electronic, dance, or trance stations help a lot too. Oh, and if you're in the Chicago area, listen to Dance Factory! (: 

                     My dream is to go to EDC, Electric Daisy Festival, in Vegas. One day (:

Of course, explore and find what speaks to you. This is just my passion, and I certainly accept the fact that everyone has different tastes. One thing to keep in mind is never conform to what others are doing. Find you, not them.