Many people have chimed in on the subject of drug usage within our beloved community and while we agree that this discourse is paramount to our survival, we also realize that this needs to be addressed by the dance music community.
This is not a post about drugs or death or sadness.
A shadow is cast upon the dance music community and we feel obligated to shine some light on what makes electronic music so absolutely incredible.
We view the world through the lens of music and oftentimes it happens to be electronic. While many genres are rampant with bravado, misogyny, grandeur and bling, electronic music’s universal symbol is making a heart with one’s hands and holding it up as high as possible for the world to see. We love that.
In our humble opinion, Made Events, the promotion and production company behind Electric Zoo, handled the recent unfortunate events with the utmost class and consideration. Electric Zoo promptly, in consultation with the New York City Parks Department, cancelled the third and final day of the event and is issuing refunds to all those who paid for a Sunday ticket. Not only were they not obligated to do either of these admirable gestures they also would have been in the majority had they in fact done nothing at all.
This marks the first time in the last three years, during which electronic music has exploded, that a major festival has been shut down due to “drug concerns”. This is hardly the first time that there have been “drug concerns” in the music concert world.
So, what now, you say? People should use the attention this brought to what goes on at concerts to help make them a safer place for everyone.
Electronic music has endured some dark events in the past. The actions taken by Electric Zoo were most certainly steps towards a better future. The electronic music scene is growing. With the right focus on having a good time, and the music, I believe there is a bright future ahead.
