This year’s lineup for Decadence blew away my expectations as it contains a wide variety of EDM genres and has some of the biggest names in the industry, headlining the event. Artists like Chris Lake and Porter Robinson will bring a blast of euphoric house to make everyone groove and smile, while artists Zeds Dead and Zomboy will hypnotize fans into a bass-filled trance, while Big Wild and Griz will bring the groove. Check out the lineup below:

Aside from a plethora of exquisite live music sets, Decadence also includes other activities to fill your New Years with joy. The 18+ festival has bars available for those who are 21 and up throughout the venue. The highly requested return of the silent disco has also been implemented and festival-goers will have the option to put on headphones and jam out with their friends to a station of their choice.  Beautiful interactive art exhibits and colorful lights have been a super cool part of Decadence in the past as well, as there is always something new to explore throughout the venue. 

Raves and music festivals are my favorite things in the world because I get to meet countless beautiful people, create new connections with friends, and make memories that will last a lifetime. New Year’s is also something that I thoroughly enjoy, as it is a time to be with people you love and celebrate a new beginning of positivity. Combining these wonderful events in my life into one celebration at Decadence is thrilling and I can not wait to hit the dance floor with everyone’s happy faces. If you do not have any New Year’s plans and would like to join me in spreading PLUR into 2023, Decadance still has single and two-day passes available. VIP tickets are also available and include separate and quicker entrances to the festival, elevated decks for viewing, as well as lounges and private bars throughout the venue. Get tickets here.

Decadence is going to be COLD. Luckily, there are some brand new warm pieces to shop from at homegameauction. I recommend a jacket, joggers or long chaps to keep you warm in the cold weather but still able to hit the dancefloor and heat things up without overdoing it.

The return of music festivals after the pandemic has been beautiful, and seeing people reconnect with the music they love makes me so happy. I am so excited to be back at Decadence and I hope everyone has a happy holiday season and a safe New Year's whether you are at Decadence or watching the ball drop from home.

Held at the Convention Center, this festival is no joke. Featuring two huge stages and a silent disco stage, this festival is truly a playground of PLUR. Oh, and there's a huge blue bear outside that makes for great Denver-landmark-esque photos.

I'm not going to lie, I've been attending raves and festivals for 9 years and it truly takes a lot to get me out of the house these days. However, after I attended a record-low in shows this year and after a heart-breaking Day 2 at Global Dance, I knew I had to end the year with a bang. When the Decadence lineup dropped back in September, I was 100% sold. I couldn't remember the last time I was so excited for BOTH days of a lineup which truly never seems to happen anymore. 

Around New Year's, it seems like there's a lot of talk about whether the rave community is "dying", "sold out" or "too mainstream." Although I went into the event with these thoughts lingering in the back of my mind, I told myself I was going to go into this event with an open mind and no expectations. And, I am happy to say, that this is not what I experienced whatsoever. Yes, there were some attendees that were too drunk and obnoxious, but for the most part, the vibes were great for me all night! 

Opposite of attending with a large squad like we normally do, I did Day 1 with just my husband. It was really fun going to an event where we didn't have to make a ton of plans with inevitable set conflicts - it was just us and the music.

Of course, Bassnectar did not disappoint and shook my soul, literally. I had a feeling that would be my favorite set of the night and I'm so happy it was. No matter how many times I've seen Lorin, it never gets old. Coming in hot second was Tiesto. We were really close to the stage with a ton of room to dance and it was great to hear some of my favorite, classic EDM tunes. 

On Day 2, we still kept our squad small and just went with one of our good friends. It's tough to pick a favorite set from that night because there were so many sets that I was excited to see. From Steve Aoki's fun energy that hyped up the crowd early in the night, to getting my soul snatched by Space Mom, getting all the feels at Slander, and grooving to Don Diablo, the music aspect was absolutely great!

Aside from the music, there were tons of cool art installations to check out. My personal favorite was this really cool, big dome that had visuals on the inside, complete with a carpet underneath so you could sit down and look up. It definitely was a good place to take a break from dancing and stare off into space, literally. 

Photo Courtesy of Jaybird Photography & Decadence

I loved all the other art installations, too! There was a 'futuristic' vibe going on with a lot of the art that was cool to look at.

Photo Courtesy of Jaybird Photography & Decadence

There were also lights on these trees that looked like a lit-up, enchanted forest - it was so pretty!

Overall, I'm really happy I decided to attend Decadence this year. From the stage production, to the performers, and art installations, this year's event was unmatched. It was a great way to start 2020 and end nearly a decade of raving for me. You can definitely bet I'll be back next year. 

Next up: Catch me at Global Dance Festival in July, ready to rock!

It’s time to end this decade with a BANG! What better way to do that than to go to Decadence Arizona? The lineup is killer. Every year this event gets bigger and more lit. The excitement is real! With that in mind, there’s a lot of information to go over to help you maximize your New Year’s Eve experience. 

BEFORE THE EVENT

How to prepare for all the amazing music:

First, take a look at this lineup. Bangers, right? That’s not all though. There’s going to be over 25 local artists playing as well. This year there will be three different stages. With so many artists playing and three different stages, it’s always a good idea to make a plan ahead of time. Which stage(s) do you picture yourself spending the most time at? (But don’t be bummed if your plans change while they’re in motion. Just live in the moment!) 

Do you know where all the stages are? I like to take a screenshot from my phone of a map of Rawhide. You should soon be able to see where all the stages will be set up on the event’s Facebook page or on instagram. Then once set times are out, I like to take screenshots of that. Making the schedule(s) your lock screen can be super helpful.

I love to look up all the artists on the lineup and listen to at least four to five of their songs or even maybe a few of their sets on SoundCloud. If you look up like “Decadence AZ 2019 playlists” on Spotify and Soundcloud, you should be able to find samples of what’s to come!

Sets I’m keeping an eye out for: 

There are some sets I wouldn’t want to miss out on seeing.

Illenium: Ascend live set - It’s a live set so you know there are going to be some crazy magical things happening. Also, this is a great album Illenium released this year. 

Blossom – she is a local artist who has risen to great heights. Her music has been released under Night Bass Records. Her sets have a lot of range and always bring the beat that makes you want to shuffle and groove. 

Dab the Sky (B2B), Tchami x Malaa: No Redemption (B2B) and Griztronics (B2B) – These are very talked about B2Bs. I love when artists collab on stage, their energy is unreal.

How to dress:

When it comes to your outfit there are three factors that should come to mind – your preference on style, the weather and the venue layout. The best thing you could ever put on is something you feel your most authentic self in. There’s tons of stuff in the homegameauction Icced Out collection that I absolutely adore! Layers are essential. So, when you’re picking out your outfit I highly suggest building upon it as much as you can. The temperature can change a lot for you. It can be very chilly when you’re outside. But the sets themselves may be a lot warmer inside the tents. You can stay warm without sacrificing your cute outfit by adding gloves, a scarf, wool socks with shoes (that should go at least past the ankle,) tights, stockings, a hat or earmuffs, etc. (These are places where a lot of your body heat escapes from.) Check out this blog article if you need some inspiration!

Be sure to check the weather a few days in advance and especially on day of to be sure that your outfits will make the cut on keeping you warm!  

If you plan on bringing a coat or big jacket. I love to tuck mine horizontally in my bottom of my backpack straps (if it doesn’t fit in your backpack.) It keeps my jacket from touching the ground when I take it off. 

No matter what you wear, be sure to bring a face mask or bandana. Rawhide mixed with a lot of foot traffic kicks up large amounts of dust into the air. Plus, the mask or bandana can also add extra warmth to your neck. Heads-up: last year it rained and the muddiness was real. That could potentially be the case this year as well. It all depends on the weather mixed with the venue layout. 

Pro tip: Pack hand warmers! You can put them in your bra, in your pockets, in your gloves, etc. Instant warmth! 

Transportation:

Do you know how you’re getting to and from the venue? That’s an important thing to have locked down. With Decadence being the largest New Year’s Eve event in the state, there will be a decent amount of traffic. It can get congested too. Although using ride-sharing apps are the best way to ensure you have a safe and responsible person driving you to and from the venue, it can be hard to land a ride at peak times. If you have a large group, see if you can coordinate a party bus situation or be a part of one. Party busses usually arrive before the event ends so you don’t end up waiting around too long to go home or to the next party spot. 

WHEN YOU’RE AT THE EVENT

How to keep groovin’ comfortably all night long:

If paper schedules with a map are being handed out, grab a few. They’re perfect if you don’t want to use your phone too much. Grab extras in case you lose the first one or if other people around you need them too! 

Put insoles in your shoes. This is a huge life-saver. The extra cushion will help keep your feet feeling happy after hours of dancing and walking. 

Bring a fully charged portable charger for your phone. 

Bring earplugs! Chances are, the medical tents will have some too. But just in case, bring a pair or two. Especially if you want to get up to the front at certain sets. Your hearing will thank you! Like I mentioned before, ear muffs work great too! They’re super cute and add to an outfit while keeping your ears safe and warm.

Drink lots of water! I love to drink an Emergen-C or Pedialyte on my way to Rawhide. When I’m there I make sure to fill up my water pouch in my hydration pack or a reusable bottle as much as possible. Then I drink the heck out of it! Also, there’s lots of yummy food vendors! My go-to is cheesy fries or french fries. You’d be surprised how much of a pick-me-up a warm meal or snack can be. Even if you’re not that hungry or thirsty, remember to nurture yourself! 

How to avoid getting your stuff stolen:

Ahh yes. I wish I didn’t need to cover this topic but unfortunately, there actually are non-PLUR people out there (if you can believe it.) Some people go to this event just to have the opportunity to steal thousands of people’s valuable items like phones, money, flow toys and so much more. But there are steps you can take to make it harder on these people.

First of all, luckily your wristband is connected to your debit or credit card. Anything that you need to buy inside of the venue can be done so through your wristband! So, you don’t technically need to bring your wallet. Bring your ID for sure though! You need that to get in.

If you do feel the need to bring money, bring cash. Pro tip: don’t put all your cash in one place. In the case that someone finds your cash, it won’t all be stolen from you. I pick two designated spots that are discrete and safe for my cash. I put a few bills together in a hidden pocket of my backpack and then another few all together in a zipper pocket in my jacket or something.

Also, it might help to use little coin purses for your bills so they don’t get loosely scattered in your stuff. Another good way to avoid getting your stuff stolen is by having designated spots for all of your valuable belongings. If you keep putting them away in various places, you’re going to be more likely to lose track of them. You most likely will be putting your stuff away complacently so you can’t really put your finger on where you last saw your items. (I’ve been there.) The key is to be mindful. Put things away mindfully. A way to make sure your bag, as a whole doesn’t get stolen is by putting something distinguishable on it. If it’s a fanny pack, backpack, purse or whatever, you can put vibrant scarves, ribbons, pins, lights etc. on your stuff.

How to maximize your experience mentally:

There are so many magical things happening all around you, and it goes by fast. Remember to take a second every little while and soak it all in. 

Dance like how you do when you’re all alone. Just let go and do your thing without a care in the world. That’s how music should make you feel, right? It’s the last big event of the decade so end it in style- YOUR style.

Photo Credit: Decadence Arizona

Be as open-minded as possible. No matter how much you plan at the venue, things may not go as you pictured. A deep breath and a change of perspective does the trick. Lost your friends? Time to find yourself. Not how you pictured that set going? Time to practice not setting expectations and just enjoying things for what they are. Plus, when you don’t set expectations, that’s when you have the BEST time. Every moment you’re at Decadence is a chance to melt your cares away and get lost in the music. Every set is going to hit differently. Every crowd you’re in will have a different vibe. Don’t be afraid to go off and explore in order to find the vibe that feels right to you. Don’t stress about things you can’t control like lines or other people. Just remember, all that you see and all that you hear – it’s all for YOU! Decadence is all about peace, love, unity and respect. You just have to find it and spread it! 

My final guide tip for you:

Pick up after your trash!

I hope you have the best New Year’s Eve ever. Stay safe. Stay hydrated. Stay spreading peace, love, unity and respect!

-Polly

If you're reading this, chances are that you've probably made the decision to send it Decadence Colorado. First off, congratulations - there's no better place to ring in the new DECADE with your rave fame (at least in my humble opinion ;) And, if you're still on the fence, hopefully, this articles gives you major FOMO and you make the right decision on where to ring in the new year.  

With a stacked lineup like this, it's no problem finding artists that you want to see. 

Although we wish we could see them all, it's inevitable that there will probably be some set conflicts for you. While it was a hard decision to make, here are the top 5 artists that I CANNOT miss at Decadence NYE. 

1. Rezz - 

Okay, this is a superrrr obvious choice, but for good reason - how could you attend Decadence and NOT see space mom, ESPECIALLY because she'll be playing into the next decade, literally. I could not be more excited to spend the ball drop with Rezz!

This EP came out over the summer, but it's still one of my most favorite things to listen to, especially 'Falling" featuring Underoath (which makes the former, emo kid inside me cry for joy).

2. Zed's Dead

It's Zed's Dead, baby! This dynamic duo has NEVER disappointed me live and I truly cannot wait to see them again for the first time in 2019. Make sure you pace yourself because they'll be playing the last set until 3am.

This single, a collab with Dion Timmer is one of my favorite songs of all time. 

3. Big Gigantic

I love Big Gigantic for many reasons, but mostly because the sound is so unique. I love getting down to these funky beats and groovin' all night long. If you're looking for some fresh new music, grab a cup of [spiked] hot chocolate, and check out this chill, Winter Mix they just dropped. 

4. Steve Aoki

We've hit tubulance...I know there are a lot of mixed opinions about Steve Aoki, but to be honest, I really love him. Also - this was my first raver ever back in 2012, so Steve will also hold a place in my heart. I'm looking forward to dancing all night long to his crazy, upbeat style. It's also been so long since I've seen him live that I'm really looking forward to this set! 

 5. Bassnectar

Because....it's Bassnectar. Although I've seen the kind countless times, his sets never get old. Unfortunately, you won't be able to ring in 2020 at this set, but I think it's just what I'll need to get in full NYE mode the night before! This classic song is a pre-game ritual before any Bassnectar show. 

Who are YOU most excited to see at Decadence Colorado?

Fortunately, this year I'm living in Denver so this will be my first time attending Decadence without having to travel!  If you're traveling from out of town, here are some tips from a Veteran Decadence Traveler to make your adventure to Decadence Colorado a magical, yet efficient trip!

First things first, if you've been living under a rock - check out the Decadence lineup to know WHY Decadadence Colorado is THE place to be this New Year's eve!

Lineup By Day: 

Day 1, Dec. 30th: Bassnectar, Boys Noize, Cash Cash, Clozee, Feed Me, Ganja White Night, Jai Wolf, Mersiv, Oliver Heldens, Softest Hard, Tchami & Malaa, Tiësto, Whethan

Day 2, Dec. 31st: Cosmic Gate, Diesel, Don Diablo, Fisher, Gareth Emery, Graves, Louis the Child, Rezz, San Holo, Slander, Steve Aoki, Zeds Dead

Where to Stay

If you're looking for hotels at Decadence, there are tons of places to stay nearby the Colorado Convention Center which is conveniently located right near downtown Denver. Fortunately for you, Global Dance has put together this handy guide to finding the perfect hotel: Check it out here.

How to Get to Downtown Denver

DIA is the only major airport hub, and because it is such a major hub, flights from other major cities are usually fare-ly affordable (see what I did there)? Also, the RTD Light Rail station goes straight from DIA straight downtown to Union Station, which is where you'll likely be staying since it's so close to the Convention Center! The ride is only $10 and takes about 40 minutes. 

What to Pack

In addition to the standard rave packing, remember - it will be freezing! Check out iHeart's faux fur selection so you can be fashionable and warm! On the flip side, it can also be sunny and 60 degrees in the middle of winter. Bottom line? I recommend layers. Also pro tip: on the nights of the event: if it's freezing cold, consider wearing sweats over your rave outfit to the show, then stuffing them in your backpack or locker once inside. Trust me, you'll thank me later!)

Where to Eat

I LOVE that there are so many options to eat in Denver, especially downtown! From sandwiches to ramen to Italian, Denver has it all. 303 Magazine typically puts together a monthly food guide for hidden gems - I highly recommend checking it out!

Have you ever traveled to Decadence? What are your number one tips for travelers?

P.s. If you're already experiencing FOMO, check out this sneak peek video! 

See you in the 303 in December!

However, while the lineup is obviously important, there are tons of other factors when choosing the New Year's Eve fest that's right for you!

Luckily for me, there's one of the best New Year's Eve festivals that's right in my own city - Decadence Colorado. If you're not fortunate enough to live in colorful coloRADo, trust me when I say this is one event that's worth traveling to! In fact, this will be my third year attending Decadence and the first time I don't have to travel to Denver to attend (thanks to a move earlier this year).

Here are four fabulous reasons not to miss out!

 

1. The Lineup

Global Dance dropped THE most fire lineup earlier this week. The Decadence 2019 lineup features HUGE names like Rezz, Bassnectar, Tiesto, Zeds Dead, and more. This is definitely one lineup that's well-worth the money, especially since it's New Year's Eve!

 

 

Lineup By Day: 

Day 1, Dec. 30th: Bassnectar, Boys Noize, Cash Cash, Clozee, Feed Me, Ganja White Night, Jai Wolf, Mersiv, Oliver Heldens, Softest Hard, Tchami & Malaa, Tiësto, Whethan

Day 2, Dec. 31st: Cosmic Gate, Diesel, Don Diablo, Fisher, Gareth Emery, Graves, Louis the Child, Rezz, San Holo, Slander, Steve Aoki, Zeds Dead

The Sweet Venue

Some people are excited to embrace the outdoors for NYE, which is totally cool if that’s your thing. However, I do not get along well with the cold, so I’m looking forward to being toasty indoors. Plus, this means I can rock my super cute NYE rave outfit, which does not involve having to layer. The Colorado Convention Center proudly boasts three stages with plenty of room to dance and plenty of room in between stages to eliminate noise competition. Pro tip: I highly recommend wearing sweatpants to the venue and stashing them in your backpack for the walk home. Last year it was 5 degrees outside, which made our 10-minute walk feel like an hour!

  Image Courtesy of Decadence

 

Because it's in Denver!

In addition to two days of stacked music, this location of this event freakin' rocks (I may be biased since I live here, but I don't care - it's the truth!). Downtown Denver boasts good food, great craft beers, and guarantees good times. I love that there's so much to do in this city. If you have the option to extend your trip to do some exploring, I would highly recommend it. Another great thing about Decadence - there are many hotels within walking to the Convention Center. Many of them are pretty affordable, especially compared to other New Year’s Events (as long as you plan ahead and book relatively early!) Last year, we stayed at the Sheraton downtown which was a quick 10-minute walk to the venue! I recommend checking out the "Find Hotels" feature on the Decadence website - it’s super convenient and easy to use!

The Colorado Convention Center boasts 2,200,000 square feet for dancing all night long. And yes, it also contains a larger-than-life statue of a Blue Bear outside the front of the building. (Image Courtesy of Decadence/Badastronaut)

 

The Performers and Production

Performers always make my day at events, but NYE is one of my favorite holidays (next to Halloween), so I’m extra stoked to see the performers at Decadence. They always do a great job with the styling and outfits - I can’t wait to see what they do this year! Last year the production was insane at Decadence and I can't wait to see what's in store this year!

 

 Image Courtesy of Decadence

 

Decadence Tickets are moving FAST for this event, so get yours while you can! If you can't afford a ticket, I definitely recommend hopping on the payment plan option!

 

See you in Denver!

 

I think one thing that makes Arizona festivals unique is that Arizona is a large, diverse college town. I lived there for about 4 years for school and everyone attending is from all over the world which creates a pretty unique rave culture. Needless to say, I was excited to return back to my old stomping grounds to ring in 2019. 

Here are 4 reasons why I would recommend putting Decadence on your radar for this year’s New Year’s Eve Events:

The Location

The location at the Rawhide Events Center in Chandler, Arizona was much bigger and spread out than previous years I’ve attended. This was a genius way to spread out the crowds of people. There were added rides and carnival games that made the experience a lot more enjoyable. Because Decadence AZ is outdoors, one tip I would give to a first-timer is to check the weather! There is nothing worse than being unprepared for the cold and not having enough layers to stay warm or the correct kind of shoes to keep your feet dry. New Years festivals are always cold. Be prepared and think ahead, always!

The Vibes

It being New Years weekend I think created an excitement in the air that was incredibly contagious. Everyone seemed genuinely happy to be there. There were tons of nice gestures and compliments being thrown around left and right from groups which I thought was super PLUR.   

The Lineup

The lineup was AMAZING! Definitely, the main reason why I chose Decadence over any other New Year's Event. Which is odd for me because I usually go for the vibes and experience rather than chasing a lineup. Relentless Beats always has the hottest and most stacked lineups I’ve seen to date.  Above and Beyond and Anti-Up were my absolute favorites of the weekend. Chris Lake & Chris Lorezno created this duo and it is seriously the perfect combination of house and techno. I could not stop dancing the entire time every minute just kept getting better and better. 

The Food

The food was super good! I had some garlic cheese fries from a food truck and was incredibly surprised. Festival food is always a hit or miss but these fries were a HIT! I loved them so much I  had them two days in a row, haha!

To say that I had an unforgettable time at Decadence AZ would be an understatement - I even got a special surprise from my boyfriend that he told me was attending the 2nd day of the festival so that we can spend our first New Year's together! I highly recommend checking this event out next New Year's Eve.

Be sure to check out the official after movie! 

This festival is "America’s Biggest New Year’s Celebration" and you don’t want to miss out. Decadence will be two full days of some of the best artists. Not sure who to check out? Here are some sets you should definitely check out at Decadence!

Skrillex

Skrillex is finally back again! After taking a break from playing live for a few years, Skrillex is finally making a comeback and playing at festivals. He is luckily one of the artists that will be at Decadence to ring in the New Year. Throughout the years he took a break, he released some songs with many different artists. His most recent release was with JOYRYDE, and this song has been a hit, playing at so many sets at different festivals!

Eric Prydz

One of my absolute favorite artists is Eric Prydz. His live sets are always unique and so full of energy. He is also known for his use of many lasers that are in perfect sync with his music. His style is progressive house and he often plays under his two other aliases, Cirez D and Pryda, which feature more dark house and techno music. He’s also known for featuring many unreleased tracks in his sets, so there’s always this mysterious aspect about his sets. I definitely recommend everyone to check out his set, he’s played some of my favorite sets I’ve seen live. Check out his Ultra Miami 2018 set! This one was one of the best ones I saw live.

Above & Beyond

For all trance lovers, this set is perfect for you! And for those who haven’t seen Above & Beyond live or trance sets much, I recommend you check them out! Above & Beyond bring a set that is a completely different experience than any other set that I’ve ever seen. The crowd never fails, and is always so energetic and alive, especially with the huge fan base that they have. One thing that I love about their sets is that they type and display words and phrases up on the screen. It’s always fun to read along and see that they type out during their sets.  They recently released a new track with another trance artist, Spencer Brown. It’s one of my new favorite tracks! Listen to it here:

Bassnectar

Bassnectar is one of the most well-known bass and dubstep artists out there. He is popular for creating sets that takes over your senses, both auditory and visual. Bassnectar often throws his own events and festivals, such as Spring Gathering and Freestyle Sessions. He’s even has a festival in Mexico, called Deja Voom that is an all-inclusive festival right on the beach. His sets are never-the-less filled with tons of bass and nasty drops, combined with the breathtaking visuals that will leave you in awe. He came out with an album called Reflective Part 3 that has many amazing tracks, so check it out!

1788-L

1788-L is an up and rising new artist that rose into fame this year, especially for their remix and collabs with some of the best artists, such as Rezz and Illenium. Their style is one that uses heavy bass sounds that will keep you headbanging all night long. 1788-L has turned so many songs into amazing remixes, as well as produced some great tracks as well. I definitely recommend checking some of it out! Here’s one that they did with Rezz. This would be such a dope song to hear live.

Griz

Griz is one artist that features a really unique sound! His style can be described as “future funk” with a mix of dubstep. He is well known for playing the saxophone live during his sets. Some of his hit songs include “Good Times Roll” and “Rather Be Free” with Muzzy Bearr. He recently released two songs “It Gets Better” and “Can’t Get Enough”. His set is one that you need to check out! It’s such a unique experience and he plays the saxophone so well, you wouldn’t believe he’s playing live. Check out his two recent songs here:

2018 was a year filled with amazing new songs and artists, festivals and tours. I can’t wait to ring in the New Year at Decadence CO and see what 2019 will bring! Tickets are still on sale, but get them before they sell out here. And, if you haven't already, be sure to check out the official 2018 Decadence Trailer to get pumped up for the event!

What are you waiting for? Grab your outfit from homegameauction’ new Winter Line, Midnight Radiance and join your rave fam and experience the most magical night of the year!

Check out this year's insane preview:

Click here for more information and tickets: https://www.homegameauction.com/co/.

I spent the next day with my Aunt and Uncle and one of my friends that I went to the show with. While most people spend New Year's Day hungover in bed, I was still buzzing from the magical world I'd stepped in the night before. If my uncle understood one thing about me, he knew my love and appreciation for music (when I was 12, I got a drum set and wanted to be a rock star. He encouraged my dreams by nicknaming me LDG, little drummer girl. And yes, he still called me that long after my rock star dreams were crushed). That being said, he was a good sport about my dramatic retelling of my first festival experience. He even got down to some Pretty Lights and we spent the rest of the day listening to good music and drinking Budweiser (the only beer I ever saw him drinking). Little did I know that would be one of the last days I ever spent with him.

A few months ago, I got a horrible phone call and learned that my Uncle had passed. It was one of the worst nights of my life. For weeks after, I felt like I was living a bad dream and felt like a real-life zombie. In the midst of my sadness the other day (and approximately my 100th Budweiser in his honor), a Pretty Lights song came on and I felt like that was a sign. I dug up the playlist I made from that magical weekend and now I can't stop listening. I know listening to Pretty Lights can't actually fix a heartbreak, but it seems like a good place to start. Looking back, I'm so glad that my love for EDM and festivals is so closely associated with that New Years Eve and time spent with great friends and the best family.

In my experience, EDM has only been associated with happy moments but now I understand why people say it's healing. Every song on that playlist is pure magic and when I listen to it, I'm transported to happier times. Some say that memories fade over time but I'm convinced that with that playlist, I'll always feel like every magical moment of that New Years weekend will be preserved forever.