The Intro to the Electric Sky
This week I want to talk about the genisis of the “Electric Sky”. Where does it come from? What does it mean? What was before it? I know your mind is racing with these questions but let me try and give you some context.
Now, I’m not sure if this is just a younger generational thing or not? But if you could see the places raves used to be held,*yuck* you'd probably rethink giving it a try. Myself included. The genesis of the raves actually originated in secret underground clubs, warehouses, and or abandoned homes. This was done in complete secrecy and you wouldn’t hear about a rave until the day before or even in some cases the day of! So much for planning right!? When raves were held in places like this, it was done in secrecy to avoid the authorities from catching whiff of these events. And guess why they didn’t want the police to know. DRUGS…
As bad as this sounds the answer always seems to be drugs in these blogs. Sorry kids. But because of the illicit drug use at these underground raves, the promoters needed a safe space from outsider disruption to ensure these raves could go from dusk to dawn with no interruptions.
You’re probably thinking “I don’t think any raves are like that anymore” or maybe even the opposite, I don’t know. But what I CAN tell you is that over the years of regulation and commercialization that HAS changed. Now, for the best? I don’t know you tell me.
OK, So big whoop the cats out of the bag on raving, whatever. This leads to big time commercialization which starts to tweak every little aspect of the rave culture. Specifically, in this blogs case, the venues and locations. Now you see a transformation of small time warehouse parties turn to huge grandiose extravagant “festivals”. Meaning multiple neon-radiant stages equipped with state of the art lasers for lightshows for each DJ respectively. And almost all of these festivals are held entirely outside! Which is amazing. Fresh air, room to move and dance, and the feeling of actually being free. This commercialization, for the best, has coined the fairly new term electric sky. Which is used across the promotion of almost all festivals. Get it? The neon lights and lasers light up the sky giving a new twist on dusk to dawn.
Another way to think of this deeper than just the change of location is to think how commercialization has redefined the identity of raving in the minds of millions. If there were to be a conversation between a raver from the 50s and a raver now, they would depict to you two totally different scenes. The reshaping of the space plays a huge role in altering the aura rave goers are so familiar with. The literal space you escape reality from. It allows you to even change who YOU are when you escape. It allows you to freely mold into an environment that helps you open up and enjoy the full benefits of raving.
These grand outdoor festivals do on the other hand mean you have to consider weather when planning but guess what nullifies all of that… ;) I’ll let you guess.
P.S. its drugs!
