Exploring Rave Culture at Lights All Night

January 14, 2018 57 15

KTSW has graced us with a variety of festival coverage over the years. We have seen the likes of psychedelic festivals like End It End Hip, indie/alternative/folk festivals like UTOPiA Fest, even a hip hop festival, Mala Luna. Something we have never see is coverage from an electronic dance music festival. With the help of Melodia, one of our speciality shows, electronic dance music, or EDM, is often played on our airwaves. It was only a matter of time we would get to experience what the culture of EDM is all about, from trading bracelets, or as they are called in the rave culture, kandi, to feeling absolutely welcomed by everyone — even when you are dressed in a head to toe get-up of your favorite animal complete with a tail.

I have been going to raves since I was 18 years old. I have been to Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) in Las Vegas twice, but getting to cover Lights All Night in Dallas, Texas for KTSW was a completely different experience. I was no longer one of the ravers in the crowd. With two cameras in hand, I was given access to backstage, photo pits, and some VIP areas. I wanted to dress practically and comfortably, so unlike many of the festival attendees, I was wearing jeans and a T-shirt. Even with all my past experiences at EDM festivals, I was able to experience this festival as an outsider. I observed a lot. I saw how the music would capture people and unite people. I saw kindness occur even when people were complete strangers. I was greeted with kindness myself repeatedly over this weekend. I was lifted up on shoulders to get a better angle for my pictures out of someone’s pure love for photography. I noticed the bond that this music creates as two head banging girls hugged it out after synchronizing their motions. EDM sometimes gets a bad reputation. It is tainted with article headlines reporting another death. It sometimes gets unrecognized as music or art and is just about partying and drugs.

I created this gallery to show the beauty of EDM and that raves and EDM festivals can be more than just partying. EDM is a music genre whether people agree with it or not, and it is going to give comfort to those who identity with the art that it creates. I had a lot of fun watching friendships grow and meeting new people who I won’t forget, all while dancing to some pretty catchy beats.

Three guys pose for a picture while they navigate the crowd. Their light up hats are a smart decision in a crowd of this size and poor cell service.

KTSW’s Alex Sereno attends Lights All Night to cover the festival over social media. Taking a break from her duties, Sereno has some fun trying on kaleidoscope goggles.

Cheyenne Elysian, a Houston based festival performer, strikes a pose backstage. Elysian’s dream came true when she performed for her favorite DJ, Seven Lions, later that night.

One of two art installations, a cluster of disco balls hangs above ravers’ heads as they cross over to the second building holding the Satellite Stage.

Houston-native Maxo Kream is the only performer to take to the mic on December 30, 2017.

Another California-native Seven Lions takes the stage on December 30, 2017 to a packed crowd inside the Dallas Market Hall in Dallas, Texas.

The dancers have fun with their poses as they hang out backstage. “Sometimes the DJ chooses whether they want dancers, or our manager chooses,” Elysian said.

Third California-native to perform at Lights All Night, Illenium gives a performance with colorful lasers and explosive beats.

No EDM festival is complete without lasers glowing high above the crowd.

This dancer takes a moment to look away from the crowd as she performs during Marshmello’s set, the last set of the 2-day festival.

Alex Sereno gets lifted up on a stranger’s shoulder for a better look at the performing DJ.

The crowd is all smiles during Illenium’s set on December 29, 2017.

The crowd in the front row always brings strong energy as they head bang to the DJs’ sets.

A dancer’s hands show the ironic duality of calm during a rave.

The crowd headbangs in the front row during NGHTMRE’s performance on December 30, 2017.

One of the biggest names in EDM right now, Marshmello plays to a pumped up crowd as the closing headliner of Lights All Night.

Whipped Cream plays on the Satellite stage on December 29, 2017.

A group of friends feel the music during Liquid Stranger’s set on December 29, 2017.

Marshmello ends his set with a confetti explosion as Lights All Night comes to a close at two a.m. on December 30, 2017.

Tyler Marenyi, or more famously known as NGHTMRE, performs on the Supernova Stage. NGHTMRE gained recognition when one of EDM’s biggest, Skrillex, played his song during one of his sets.

Dancers work the crowd toward the end of Marshmello’s set on the Supernova Stage.

Dancers fill the space between the crowd and the stage during Marshmello’s set on December 30, 2017.

Two friends exchange bracelets during Seven Lions’ set on December 30, 2017. The bracelet (kandi) exchange is a principle practice of the rave culture. It symbolizes the bond that the two participants have created.

After losing her ability to hear and make music due to two brain surgeries, Tokimonsta delivers her set on the Satellite Stage on December 30, 2017.

Jennifer Lee, also known as Tokimonsta, suffered a rare brain disease called Moyamoya in late 2015. After having surgery in January 2016, and having to reteach herself to compose music, Lee played Coachella three months later.

A fiery red-headed raver takes a break from dancing to Bassnectar on December 29, 2017.

Ookay tries to push boundaries and goes against putting a label on himself. Wanting to prove that he isn’t just a Trap DJ, Ookay produced a whole EP that was everything except Trap influenced.

North Carolina-native Porter Robinson takes a second to glance up at his visuals during his set on December 29, 2017. Robinson uses Japanese-inspired animation in the majority of his stage visuals.