To be a dreamer.  A romantic, who carries within their souls the greatest passion for life and its fruits.  The summer solstice of the year 2013 is nearly at hand, and it seems that EDM is reaching its cultural apex! This critical mass of synthesized art is being produced by a “new rave” generation, and I can’t help but notice that the same trends that drive this movement carry notable similarities with those that spawned the “New wave” movement of the 1980’s. 

            I've always seen my mother's spirit as harmonious with my own.  Perhaps it is because she raised me, and spoiled me to no end.  While my dad was off becoming a doctor, my mom treated me as one might treat a California Condor hatchling.  That is to say, she always coddled me, protected me. She endowed in me all of her hopes and dreams, her very soul’s code.  Seeing her smile contentedly is one of the most natural sights in the world. 

            Christina Marie loved, and still can be found losing herself within, the British synth-pop of her young adult years.  Duran Duran, A Flock of Seagulls, Eurythmics, it would appear that this anglo-electronic phenomenon sought to take the rebellious elements of punk rock, and fuse them with an embracement of modernity, technology, and a general optimism of the future’s potential.

            While the world continued to bask in a Bolshevik based paranoia, the New Wave generation sought to prove that, rather than fear the bomb, the world should look at technology as an extension of the human soul, which, being inherently good, would ultimately be used for the betterment of mankind.

            Throughout countless musical movements, love has been a theme most readily embraced by the masses; My mother’s music proved to be no different.  Among the most popular, and amazing songs of the time were, “Space Age Love Song”, and “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).” Both songs make heavy use of synthesized instruments and vocals, creating the feeling of being caressed by eternity’s blanket.  The lyrics, while simple, are by no means trivial.  The aforementioned, “Space Age Love Song,” speaks of love in a way which makes it seem so fleeting, perhaps even out of reach… But then, isn’t it this idealized love that’s most desirable? Her eyes are all the narrator sees; yet that is all he needs.  His love is not corporeal.  But he knows it’s out there, because he feels it from the very depth of his soul.

            My mom is a dreamer, these are her songs, and love is her theme. By using technology as a means of expression, the new wavers rid themselves of the fears of their predecessors, and dreamt of a time when humanity would reach a utopian state.  Perhaps this quote, by Rudi Dutschke, can best express the feelings of a generation. "Jesus is risen. The decisive revolution in world history has happened — a revolution of all-conquering love. If people would fully receive this revealed love into their own existence, into the reality of the 'now', then the logic of insanity could no longer continue."

            Fast forward to the 21^st century.  Politically, the conditions which coincided with New Wave’s rise bear a strong resemblance to those of EDM’s rise.  Ronald Regan was the Republican president from 1981-1989.  He promulgated the idea of the Evil Empire, which invoked fear in Americans, and stoked the flames that fed the Cold War.  George W. Bush was the Republican President from 2001-2009.  He threw around terms such as “Weapons of Mass Destruction”, to scare Americans into supporting his War on Terrorism.

            But my generation would not have it.  From my perspective, growing up in the 1990’s and 2000’s, the only people afflicted by the “terrorism” fever were high-strung conservatives and G.I.’s.  My peers and I just went on being kids.  In our day-to-day lives, we didn’t encounter terrorist plots or shady medio-oriental malefactors.  What we did see, however, was a resurgence of racism and general condemnation of those who were different.  Thankfully, the multiculturalism of the 1990’s had prepared us for this exact situation, and most of us passed the racism test with flying colors.  Flying colors indeed… LOL! My generation adopted the rave as a place where anyone could express themselves freely. The rave promised PLUR (Peace, Love, Unity, Respect).  It didn’t matter who you were or where you came from, whether you were black or white, straight or gay.  People would flock to raves, in order escape the overbearing western world, which rewarded conformity.

Us 90’s kids wanted nothing more than to be, well, kids! We had it better than any generation of kids before, or after.  We had Saturday morning cartoons, anime, video games, super soakers, and Pokémon.  How could one even give a damn about growing up in such an environment? Indeed, the rave scene bears strong affiliations with the ideal childhood.  The Kandy Kids dress up as animals, sporting innumerable bracelets and colours.  The music itself, most notably the happy hardcore and chiptune genres, makes one feel as though they are in a video game. A dream world, in which everything is perfect, cool, amazing! Indeed, we used this technology as it was intended, to have fun and to love one another.

EDM has matured over the years.  It has entered into the mainstream with producers such as Swedish House Mafia and Tiësto bringing raves to the masses.  With this newfound influence, we, the dreamers have broken down prejudices in a way our predecessors could only have imagined.  We are making true equality a reality.  Same sex marriage is rapidly becoming legalized across the nation, and women’s rights and opportunities have never been stronger. 

We are all people, capable of both happiness and sadness.  Dreamers such as my mom and me seem to feel emotions at their extremes, and are particularly impacted whenever we are awoken to the realities of life.  But we carry on, in a never-ending pursuit of self-actualization.  Children, in all of their innocence, are happy just being alive and exploring this beautiful world in which we live. We must never let our childhood essence wane. One of the most popular house tracks of this year, “Don’t You Worry Child,” speaks of this ideal time we might remember from our youth. It reminds us that, even though growing up might seem wrought with difficulty and worry, heaven has a plan for us.

“There was a time

I used to look into my father's eyes.

In a happy home

I was a king, I had a golden throne.

Those days are gone,

Now the memory's on the wall.

I hear the songs

From the places where I was born.

Upon a hill across a blue lake,

That's where I had my first heartbreak.

I still remember how it all changed.

My father said,

"Don't you worry, don't you worry, child.

See heaven's got a plan for you.

Don't you worry, don't you worry now."

Yeah!”