Trance parties, musical festivals, call them what you want, but one thing is certain when these events go down, memories are made.

Leland Edwards, our party guru lets off some steam and shares his latest observations with us…
So I have been attending festivals for something close to four or five years. Yes I know I am still a little one.

Every single time I go, time stands still and heaven and earth reaches out.

But like life goes, there are those who are jealous and sceptical of what I call a party and a damn good time.

I always get negative comments like, “that is a white boy’s party”, “trance fests are for people who are not normal” and stuff like, “People just go there to catch on the world’s crap.”

I am here to tell those naysayers, those green-eyed jealous monsters, those not-so-intelligent people, just how wrong they are.

Now listen carefully as I explain what me and the rest of my trance family call a JOL is better than your backyard braai or Long Street high.

And why our parties rock and yours just can’t keep up with our FIRE!!!

LOCATION

When it comes to a party, it’s all about location.

I always want to know where am I getting completely smashed, where will I be passing out and waking up thinking, “Where the hell are you, son?”

Most common location for those who prefer anything else but psychedelics, your main location is Long Street and various places within Cape Town.

Basically you will always be in Cape Town and you won’t even see the beauty that is the Western Cape.

Your location is situated inside a small building listening to music and socialising.

You could have played music on your phone at home, invite the lads and the lasses over and just go psycho.

People, when I say location, as I am referring to a T.P, you must believe it is a getaway.

We drive out as far as Robertson, Riviersonderend, Villiersdorp and Greyton.

Our locations are the gateway dreams most people can only have.

What is sweeter is, we in the middle of basically nowhere, a forest, farm or even huge mountain terrains.

I don’t even want speak about the beach parties we enjoy.

So it doesn’t matter if you jealous monsters keep your party in your granny’s backyard, Michael Jackson’s Neverland or even right here in the heart of Cape Town, Long Street.

You still couldn’t beat our MAGICAL RETREATS.

THE SET UP

There is nothing more disappointing than arriving and noting that the place looks as dry as the peanut butter sandwich you had before arriving.

Yes, clubs have their strobe lights, disco ball, smoke machine and some lighting that can pass as okay.

The balcony is a good thing, because you would possibly overheat on that jam-packed mini stage you call a Dancefloor (D.F.)

Then there is the bar.

The only thing I give 10 out of 10 in clubs or house parties.

OUR setup, wow, talk about a sight that will melt your heart.

It’s simply beauty personified, from the 3D visuals, yes, we have 3D visuals, to the lighting and my favourite, the decor.

It’s like the organisers were expecting an arrival of kings and queens.

Sometimes people spend hours at festivals, just taking in all of the beauty they are surrounded by.

It is truly heaven-like.

THE MAGICAL DECOR AND COMPETE SETUP, WILL BLOW YOUR MIND AT NIGHT.

via GIPHY

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The vibes

We all go out to let loose, to be surrounded by positive people and just to generally have a good time like only we millennials know how too.

I have been out clubbing a few times to know what the vibes are like.

Well I always say that the vibes of the party depend on who is with you at that party.

So to me when it comes to clubbing, the vibes are okay.

But you always have someone looking at you strangely, you can’t just dance with people, especially females.

Which to me is pretty sad actually.

Then there are those people who come there to throw up gang signs and generally look for trouble.

YOUR GENERAL VIBE IN A CLUB.

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HOW CLUB VIBES COMPARE TO FESTIVAL VIBES.

Vibes at the festivals are out of this world.

HUMANITY IS OUR RACE.
LOVE IS OUR RELIGION.
PEACE IS OUR CHOICE.

It is something I find not even words can describe, the vibes at festivals in SA, it is beyond your wildest dreams.

It is so moving, that I promise you, you will view people in a different light after experiencing this gift.

THAT IS WHAT FESTIVALS ARE ALL ABOUT: THE LOVE.

The music

This is the most crucial part of any party or gathering.

It is the heart and soul of the party.

I have been to most of the clubs in Long Street. The music is good, like okay to dance to I suppose.

This is how I see it, club dj’s are cool to a certain point. Yes, they make their own music.

But most of the music they play to their crowds are words we already know, they maybe add a different beat or mash up to their mix.

The music that is played in clubs is music that I could have played on Trace or MTV, simple.

I respect house dj’s, but they still don’t make the cut.

THIS IS GOOD, JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

MY KIND OF MUSIC.

You can all go take a cold shower and sleep, if you think the music I listen to sucks.

Talk about real life magicians. The way psy dj’s mash their mixes, the way they drop their beats, even the build up to the drop.

It can become to much to take in.

Like do you know what it feels like to see and feel your feet move against your own will?

No, because you guys don’t have magicians.

Listening to it is like going on the Cobra at Ratanga Junction.

The build up is slow and calm, when you reach the top there is this halt and what happens afterwards is an absolute rush of excitement and blissfulness.

That is what listening to PSYtrance is like.

You guys can’t beat that even if Doctor Jules was in the house.

PERFECTION IN THE EXECUTION.

The actual PARTY.

Okay, so we all actually know that the party actually starts before the party.

And the ladies and gents that go clubbing know for a fact, pre-drinks are vital.

This is how I experienced it.

So first we get the important pre-drinks in order, followed by a journey to close by location and then it’s down to the dj to rock our bodies.

Now clubs only start boosting close to 10 pm side.

Then you can call it a party, as everyone is rocking from side to side, grinding nice and tight.

At 4am in the morning, it’s all over. Like I literally just put on my best shirt and jeans only to be told hours later it’s all over?

What are you freaking playing with my feelings?

To me the party vibes at festivals really kick in after sundown, but it doesn’t mean we haven’t BEEN partying already.

The gates open in the morning or by the late afternoon side.

The time people get to clubs in town, we already smashed at the festival, skitting our biscuits.

When they get in their party mode, our party is going into overdrive already.

Then at 4 when you leave the clubs, drunk and looking for a bed, our party RESTARTS.

The time you awake from the previous night’s clubbing, with a drumming headache, looking for the nearest toilet?

WE KEEP IT GOING.

I think what makes our events better than a club, house party or any other party, is that it is truly life changing and not everyone can do what we do.

WE ARE A SPECIAL BREED OF HUMAN.

[The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of Independent Media and TYI]

Categories: Entertainment