Let’s make something clear: even though I love a good DJ set, I go to festivals for the people. I love fucking around with strangers, meeting new archetypes, peeking in the mind of all sorts of humans. As a group, we ended up picking Elements festival because it is a music and art festival, which made me think it would be an older, artsier crowd, but I was very wrong. People over 30 must have represented less than 5% of the 6800 attendees. I already struggle in general with my sentiment of belonging, so the visible signs of age on my face feel to me like a beacon screaming “I’m not one of you”. I did what I could to switch my mindset, let go of expectations and remain curious, however, the diminished possibilities of being truly seen made me feel somewhat unsafe and when I’m unsafe, I analyze.
I saw a youth that craves connection, but they have not yet learned to just be. They exchange kandi and sprouts because they need to address a purpose and a time frame to their connection, they don’t know how to just be, alone, so they don’t know to just be, together. The trinket becomes a shield to vulnerability and quiets their fear of rejection. And I feel for them, they live in a world where their own importance is quantified at every turn in number of likes or followers. How can they understand that their worth is inherent to the fact that they are here, breathing and alive, when they are trapped in a world of hierarchies and super stars?
Their desire to be seen is reflected in their adornment, but the intentions are lost in the need to fit in. They wear cheap clothes from Temu or Shein, giving no thoughts to the hands of the child that made the clothes or the mountains of pollution these companies dump in Ghana. The DIY of my time has all but faded in the background with the exception of a few handmade crochet pieces that brought a smile to my face.
Alas, even front stage at Chase & Status I did not find what I was looking for. I looked around me and all eyes were riveted to the stage, the purpose of coming together completely lost in the sensationalism of a laser shooting 40 feet stage.
I ended up wondering to the Fun Factory, a corner of clowns and DIY masters, which was the only place I felt really at home. I tried to soak in the creative juices of Lazer and Tyler Nacho so I could leave with something.
If you’re reading this and thinking I’m complaining, you’re wrong. This weekend I did make some incredible musical discoveries under the care of Villager and Nimino, but I also heard a lot of music that can only be described as cathartic, and it makes me wonder what is going on with an entire generation holding so much pent up aggression? I’m not judging these kids, I found myself in many a mosh pit in my days, yelling my pain at the top of my lungs, I just wonder how could someone have touched my soul then? If and how the older people in the scene could have taught me to be present in a crowd and feel like I belong? Because I saw a lot of people having fun this weekend, but I didn’t see a lot of coming together.
Another drop in the ocean 
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