Techno – music or lifestyle?

“Techno is music that precedes movement. It is dance music, solid enough to carry emotions through the dance floor and abstract enough to be a template for ever.” Petar Dundov

I was about 12 years old when I first decided that I had to go to the Berlin’s Love Parade. I remember seeing it on TV and wanting to be a part of that lovely movement promoting music, peace and love. I never did get the chance to attend the Love Parade itself but I have attended a lot of other magical parades of love.

The first time I saw Derrick May I realized that techno is not just music. I realized that while I listen to it and dance – I go through higher states of consciousness, learn about myself and actually become a better person (I know a lot of people think that’s cause everyone who listens to techno takes drugs – but that’s quite inaccurate – just because you are unable to reach a higher state of consciousness with music does not mean others can’t – moreover: music is the most powerful drug).

The first time Leda and I went to Berlin was like we got enlightened. We’ve found our place! We’ve found our home on the dance floors of Berlin. I did then and always will consider Berlin a culture/state of mind/music utopia. Tel Aviv is another place with this amazing kind of vibe, where I saw and hung out with my beloved Rone, where I danced to Josh Wink’s set with Marina, where music is more powerful than all the irrelevant crock people seem to be bothered with. Then there’s Paris, where I saw my darling Fritz, where you can find fabulous parties and wonderful producers popping out from every corner of the city. Frankfurt, even though not one of my favorite cities, I’ll always remember for the Dominik Eulberg’s and Alle Farben’s sets which I danced to. And after 2 months of living in KL I’ve finally discovered the techno here. And when I did, and when I danced, I felt as if I was finally found after being lost for the past 2 months.

But the true magic is in the fact that it’s not about the place, it’s not about a country, it’s not about nationalities, it’s not about religion or race… it’s simply about the music! When we’re on the dance floor we become a family, we become one. Even if we can’t speak the same language, even if we’re completely different – we have the love for this music in common. How we perceive these vibrations might differ but in the end we’re on the same dance floor dancing like we’re one. No borders, no limits, no restrictions!

So for me techno is more than just music, it’s a lifestyle – I have felt every single emotion with it – even the ones I did not know existed, I have lived a million situations with it and it still keeps surprising me and filling my heart with happiness. One of my school teachers once told me that techno is the music of movement and how nothing represents the rhythm of life, a city or the world better than techno. Techno is movement, life is constant movement, and hence techno is life.