First article published in Raver's Digest, "A Walk in the Park", EDC 2001

I present my first massive, first guest list, first Raver's Digest article: Electric Daisy Carnival, June 30th, 2001 (Hansen Dam, SoCali son!).  Re-reading this for the first time in years, I sound kind of smug (and this was before I was an Angry Junglist!), and certain aspects of the author's mindset are so foreign to me now it almost seems like a different person wrote it. But I was young, and very proud of the underground...
and I guess in many ways I still am.
Here it is, in all of its unedited glory.
Enjoy.

16 years old and kandi beaded up!

Note: I was known as NadaClu, hence the nickname, and this was when we had pagers, before cell phones got big, so each Raver's Digest staff member had a designated pager code ID number, mine was 31. 


I've been going to small parties ever since I went to my first rave in '99. The biggest party I'd ever been to had around 6000 capacity. I'd tried many times to make it to a massive, but failed due to problems thrown my way by daily life (money, work, drama, etc.). So you can imagine how excited I was when Mark told me that he wanted me to go with him, Sam, and Lila to E.D.C.

How was my experience at my first massive? I would have to say that it was interesting. I was able to talk my good friends/promotions partners Aaron and James into coming with us, even though they didn't have money for tickets. They figured that if they couldn't get into the party one way or another, they could always just stand outside and pass out flyers. The six of us got to the party at around 2 p.m. After wishing James and Aaron the best of luck, Mark, Sam, Lila and I went through the usual bullshit with guest list, got our tickets, went through more bullshit with security, who stripped me of all but my clothes and my rights, and then finally got inside.



The heat was oppressive, but the venue was beautiful. Hansem Dam Park is filled with rolling hills covered with lush green grass and huge, shady trees, making it a very barefoot friendly location. The Jungle, Drum and Bass, and Ambiant areas were placed alongside eachother underneath thick groves of trees. The House and Hardcore areas were located adjacent to the other rooms so that they were facing away from eachother. The Trance room was placed all by itself since it had the largest crowd expectancy. Vendors lined one end of the park, selling everything from glow sticks and water to records and specially formulated forms of oxygen. The carnival rides lined the other end of the park. Giant water slides and slip'n'slides were placed somwhere in the middle of all this organized chaos.

After figuring out that it was way to hot to dance, Mark bought a frozen lemonade (which cost $5!) and we headed over to the Drum and Bass area to chill with all the Junglists in the shade. The next thing I knew, Aaron and James were jumping on top of me, babbling excitedly about crawling under two fences and cleverly evading security. It hadn't even taken them an hour to sneak in! They make me so proud.
 
Mark and Aaron eventually went their separate ways to go be socialites, but James and I stuck together (after all, that's what sidekicks do). We spent the rest of the afternoon traveling from shady spot to shady spot and running into people we knew. I would have died from the heat, which hit my entire being like a brick wall, had it not been for the water slides.

The party didn't start going off until around 6 p.m. when it began to reach full capacity and Bad Boy Bill mixed his House set. As the refreshing, lovely darkness of night set in and lasers and lights began to turn on, the energy of the party grew and I was able to get my much needed therapy of dancing my aggresions away. Since we both love every style of electronic music except gabbercore, James and I made an effort to check out every room. The Trance room, though overly crowded, had good music and props such as giant paper daisies crawled up the stage and speakers. The House room went OFF, of course, as did the two Drum and Bass areas where we were lucky to have two very talented MC's. I especially liked the Ambiant room, which I was in mostly for Eli Star's set.



I don't normally leave parties early, but by 11 p.m. I was sore everywhere, exhausted, and famished. James and I decided to go be the good promoters that we are and pass out flyers in front of the venue for "In the Dark" (since security wouldn't let us bring them into the event). Aaron joined us after a while, and when we ran out of flyers we got into Aaron's car, inched our way through the traffic, and drove from that little realm of magic back into reality.



All in all, I would have to say I had fun, but I didn't have the time of my life. The whole thing was too hot, too dirty (I've been to many a desert party and never gotten as dirty as I did at E.D.C.), too expensive ($2/3 for water? Fuck that). Basically...too legal. I guess I'm just a small party head and spoiled because of it. I mean, why would you wanna go to a dirty, expensive massive with anal security and pigs (oops, i mean cops) every three feet when you could go to a cheap, good old fashoned underground with drunk security and no pigs (oops, i mean cops) But, I can't bitch, because E.D.C. had an awesome vibe and an awesome lineup, and I must say I'm glad I went.

"Reset" - Flow orig. written for Raver's Digest (January 2003)

reset flow so good you'll want to read it slowly
hand crafted for you by the one and the only
renata hernandez a.k.a. number thirty-one
(she braids werdz into poetry just for fun)

its been such a long day, am i ready for a long nite?
my mind's beginning to fray and body feels wound and tite
but i think i can rebound for the night
cuz 26c knows how to put the sound
and vibe together right
i round up the homies and we take flight
for the Orion and to my delight
there's no line at all, just the usual slight
gathering of promoters standing near the door
always handing out more and more
flyers to passerbyers by the score
we pass through security and enter: the first floor
where house pours through speakers, bass cabinets and onto the floor
leaving behind a muck that's crusty and unsure
a constant reminder of raves from before
i scrape it off my shoes as i walk upstairs
to check out the funky trance that blares
into people's faces it erases any traces of daily affairs,
which constantly ensnare me
and in the process impair me
magically, music repairs me,
mind, body and soul
once i start dancing i find i feel whole
but now it's time to go before the evil takes its toll
cuz if one more winged candy kid happens to stroll
by i fear i may pick them up and see if they can fly
they're getting on my nerves and i'm not sure why
i guess tonight my tolerance just isn't very high
so goodbye trance headz...hello drum n bass!
tonight the basement is the chosen place
for the jungle room, and what a great use of space
my eyes trace a set up that's very appealing
over my head cammo net hangs from the ceiling
the jungle is squealing from huge walls of speakers
causing mischief like midnight window peekers
the poppers and freakers get frantic like tweakers
trying to keep up with beats that bubble in thier ears like beakers
held over bunsen burners set at full blast
whether learners or those who have surpassed
vast amounts of battles, nobody stands at 1/2 mast
the jungle demands that everyone keep up with its fast
beats, or sit on the floor and get harassed
i join the cast of characters that make up this rave
in allowing the jungle to flow in and save
me from the fears that cause the tears that melt the brave
part of myself; i am jungle's slave
my body behaves all on its own
it disowns me as easily as a child who's outgrown
some beat up doll; patched up and re-sown
its like i've known how to do this dancing thing my whole life
each step i take chips away a little piece of strife
and as green lasers pierce the air around me like a knife
i smile because raving is the best life
as my body picks up timing and precision
i decide that the best decision
i ever made was enticing the collision
between myself and this scene
i don't mean to be obscene
but fuck anyone who can't handle this living dream
i hear the scream of the music inside my head
even as i crawl into my bed
and smile once again before sleep's grip spreads
i enjoy the places that my memory treads;
so many faces, so many fly threads
crazy hair like DBZ spikes and dreds
"so many different people", like 'no doubt' says
is what makes raves addictive, like LSD coated 'pez'

“My Addiction: City of Angels Review” – Article written for Ravers Digest, originally a Myspace exlusive circa 2008

March 3^rd 2008

City of Angels: Underground style jungle party in LA!!!!! 

Jungle jungle jungle!!!!  My heart races, thoughts pound, feet skip, as we near the brick building on the corner of Broadway and 38th in downtown.  My City of Angels.....its so good to be back!  Too long have I been chasing the mainstream scene in the Inland Empire and Hollywood, too long have I neglected my underground roots for big names and bottle service.  Now here we are, back on the streets where my love, my addiction to BASS all started.  I am excited to be back here, and the feeling only grows as I near the front entrance and suddenly hear barred windows shake and rattle with a bassdrop released from within.  My belly tingles, and I can't wait to be inside.  I already know in my head what it will look like.  We will enter thru the frontdoor (hurry up get inside, no standing in the street u will burn the venue!!!), and only guys will be searched, and even then probably just for weapons.  Then we will walk down a narrow corridor dotted with the occasional straggler, and we will turn a corner and walk right into the first room.  There will be no glowsticks or wings or big platform shoes tonite, it will be dark and red and and evil. 

It will intimidate those who are not true at heart.

And once we get inside, I find the picture painted in my head is not only matched by what meets the eye, but surpassed by it.  There were poppers galore (the majority of which were female!), sick breakers, a few props, and of course beautiful, loud, obnoxious, almost chaotic,  Jungle being spewed forth from many speakers.  Ahhhhhhh.................Just stepping inside jungle's warm embrace and catching my first breath of bass releases any stress or worries I had when I entered.  I soak it up like a lizard soaks up the sun when its trying to regulate its body temperature.  Music regulates my sanity.  As I take a look around this smaller area of sound, something about the DJ's turntable setup catches my eye....no way...was that???? Oh wow, they had the tables set on top of a huge snake tank, which held two giant snakes. 

I am no expert but I think they are boas, and they are beautiful.  One of them is an albino, and they both lay complacent in their cell, observing the dance floor with a royal like calm.  What an interesting touch, I think to myself.  Nice and evil and dark.  I part the black curtains suspended in the doorway between this room and the rest of the party, and step out into the second area.  This one is much larger than the first, much louder, and contains the all important "bar", which is basically just a few tables set together, covered in a disorganized heap of plastic cups and jugs and beer bottles.  I scan the room and decide that this is a nice, airy venue, the walls of which were dotted with signs requesting people to "please not write on the walls".....

Damn junglists, you can't take us anywhere!!!!To my right, a giant disoriented clock hangs against a wall, suddenly giving me an Alice in Wonderland feeling.

 

 Hey did I just fall down the rabbit hole?  Anyone know where that bastard went?  I chase my mischief around a corner and find myself on the dance floor of the main room.  Its pleasantly crowded and there is a female emcee from the UK gracing us with her lovely presence.  And like I anticipated, the floor is relatively devoid of anything that glows or blinks or glitters.  Cammo netting and red lights are suspended from the ceiling, and the sweet smells of smoke drift lazily into the air. 

 All the usual suspects from all the sick crews are here, and we greet each other as we pass by.  We are in our element, and its so good to be here all together.  I smile, and dance, and dance, and dance.  I stop only to drink some water or watch the other poppers and try to learn new moves.  The never ending Exchange of Ideas and Skills, and there are some rare moments going on on this dance floor tonight.  People are actually taking the time to teach each other new moves.  This is very rare as popping is considered a self learned art and most will tell you to go fuck yourself if one asks hey man how did you do that thing?  I do it all the time.  But tonight was the exception, and every single one of us there knew it.  We junglists are a different breed, and special things happen when you stick us all together under one roof.  Friends are made, numbers exchanged, props are given out like candy on Halloween.  Its great and awesome and perfect and beyond all descriptive words and I want it to last forever but of course it doesn't and the time to leave comes all too quickly.  When the party ends we go back to being the redheaded step children of the rave scene, back to the genre that always gets booked inside the smallest room of any venue, back to everyday life.  But when we pass each other on the street or on the dance floor at the next sugar coated, glow stick wielding event, we nod and smile and know that we are different. 

And we wouldn't have it any other way.

Each One Teach One!  

Peace Love and BASS!!!!!

Mardi Gras 4 - Article for Ravers Digest (circa 2007, one of the last things I wrote for the publication)

I was trying to find this on the Ravers Digest archive but it is not there and that made me sad. So I decided to post it here so I can find it when I want. An oldie but a goodie, from a time in my life that I thought of for a few years as "closed". But I learned there is no such thing as a "semi-retired raver", and I find myself still going out when I can find a worthy enough event and my body allows me to indulge in such activities.
Enjoy the article!

The night of Mardi Gras 4 was perfect. It started with getting from north of LA to San Bernardino in a record time of one hour and ten minutes, and ended with getting a green and white piece of kande that reads "I love ganja" from an adorable little girl at her first rave. But I am getting ahead of myself.

I got off work that night earlier than expected, hyper and excited for Mardi Gras 4. I had been waiting all week for this evening to come, and now it was finally here! It felt like Christmas. I quickly transformed from mild-mannered, steakhouse hostess to aggressive, black and cammo junglist. After grabbing a naked juice and a double shot of espresso, I was ready for anything! I put Portishead into the CD player, and cruised from the mountainous retreat known as the Santa Clarita Valley down the 210 towards the industrial jugular of the Inland Empire. On the way, I got a phone call from Mark, letting me know that he, his wife, and Rob, would be rolling out from San Diego to come check out the debauchery. This news amped me up that much more, the whole Ravers' Digest crew would be united together for the first time since TAO! I felt absolutely electric and my car practically danced up the freeway.

some of the RD crew at their finest

When I pulled into the parking lot of the Hudson, I was shocked to see that it was already overfilled. Cars wandered aimlessly thru the packed aisles, praying to the lot gods for a spot to materialize. I followed suit, and happened upon a spot, far in a dark corner of the property. I wasn't comfortable parking that far, alone, with my camera and valuables, but I was more concerned with getting inside the party before DJ's  Rabbit & Mad Hatter started their set at 11pm. This gave me about 10 minutes to get going. So I muttered a prayer for good vibes and karma to the air surrounding my car, then proceeded to cross the dimly lit, brisk parking lot to the entrance of the venue. There were so many people in line! I was blown away by the turnout. I managed my way to the front, where my camera. press pass, and I were welcomed inside, thanks to DJ Rabbit's guest list (thanks again Rabbit, you and Hatter ROCK!).

I had never been on the "other" side or the "Hudson" side of the building before, so I decided to make a quick round of the facility before going on stage to photograph Rabbit and Hatter. I weaved my way thru the writhing crowd to the main stage on the Hudson half, and when I saw how large the dance floor and the stage were, and the glory of the laser/light display setup, I knew this would be an appropriate place for the likes of DJ Irene and Lenny V. to lay down their sets. A tingling anticipation swept thru me; I hadn't seen DJ Irene since the red carpet club in Hollywood now known as the Vangard used to be a dirty rave venue called Qtopia (hey who remembers that?).

After assessing the scene, which I found to be very visually appealing, I made my way back over toward the Hudson side, just in time to catch DJ Rabbit starting his set. I bounced upstairs towards the stage, which was a balcony set up, overlooking the multi-level dance floor below. At the top I found someone I had been looking forward to meeting, DJ Siesta Soul! We had been corresponding online, but had never met in person, so I was excited to make his acquaintance. He was a jolly fellow, but the poor bastard had the unpleasant job of herding bystanders away from the turntables. People, if you are gonna stand near the DJ, give him at least four feet of breathing room, okay? The last thing we need is for someone to bump the tables or the DJ and screw up the mix………
I had never heard Rabbit or Mad Hatter's music before, so I was curious as to their style and approach. Within a few minutes of Rabbit touching the stylus to the first record, I could tell I would enjoy the set. Hard, beautiful, trance music poured out of the speakers, embracing those below with its warm, loving embrace. The lasers seemed to feed off the energy produced by the bass; I felt almost hypnotized by the beat, inhaled, and smiled. I felt at one with the universe, and all my cares, worries and stresses from that other world, the one outside of the rave, seemed to melt away. Use of a microphone amped the crowd up that much more ("What up everyone!!! Who is having a good time??!"), and the whole room seemed to bounce in unison. Unfortunately, Mad Hatter wasn't able to join in due to some complications with the CD decks, but other than that, the set was flawless.

After Rabbit came one of my favorite trance DJ's of all time, DJ Samurai!!! Luckily the CD decks were up and running at this point so he could work his magic. I was so excited to be breathing the same air as the man while he was in action I could hardly contain myself. Samurai's set was at the same time slot as DJ Irene's (of course, damn I wish there were 2 of me so I could watch them both simultaneously!), so I reluctantly pulled myself away from his set so I could go catch the last half of hers.
The main room was in full swing. Mardi Gras themed masks, sexy lingerie, and colorful glow sticks were everywhere! It was indeed a glorious feast for the senses. The RD crew and I met up along the way to the front of the stage, where I showed security my press pass and business card. However, the security guard wouldn't let me onstage. I argued, begged, pleaded, but he wouldn't budge. I was frustrated. All I wanted to do was get some good close-ups of Irene! Then I noticed Siesta Soul onstage, watching Irene work the decks. I sent him psychic messages to turn his head and notice me, so I could accomplish my mission. After about 30 minutes, right when I was going to give up and go dance in the center of the crowd, Siesta Soul turned his head. I saw a look of recognition cross his face, and he pointed at me, then waved for me to come onstage. I pointed to the stubborn security guard, and Siesta walked over. "She's cool", he said. Just two words, that's all it took, and then I was within 5 feet of the goddess herself.

She remixed some of my favorite records ("They know what is what, but they don't know what is what…they just strut…what the fuck?"), and she played some mixes new to me also, including "Sweet Child of Mine". It was sick!
One of the things I love most about seeing Irene live is that she is always having such a damn good time. She was laughing, smiling, throwing her hands in the air, screaming at the crowd, taking pictures and video……she seemed to be having more fun that anyone on the dance floor. Quite a statement, considering the craziness that was going on out there; girls mounted on friends shoulders, lightshows galore, people dancing on tables and countertops, freakin' awesome, complete, madness.
As DJ Irene's set neared its end and Reza got ready to take over, AMS impressed me yet again with a gorgeous balloon drop. Hundreds of balloons dropped lazily down from the ceiling onto unsuspecting, pleasantly surprised ravers below, right as the house music built into a bass ridden frenzy. It was like New Year's, but without the whole new year thing. I love it when production companies do things like this. The little details make the event huge, and keep us loyal subjects wanting more.

I love Reza and always enjoy his music, but he had the same time slot as another deejay I hadn't seen in many years; Mystre! So I left the main room and headed back to the balcony to bask in the glory of Mystre's trance. I still can't believe he was there. Back in the day it used to be "Mars and Mystre" and then things kinda fell off and so did some of the deejays from that time. And there he was, a legend just feet from me. Of course his set was fantastic and didn't disappoint in the slightest. There was so much talent at Mardi Gras 4 I almost felt dizzy.
At 3am, Mystre's set was coming to a close, and another legendary deejay was starting his set in the main room, so I migrated once more from the balcony to the stage. Lenny V. is an especially important deejay to me personally because my first rave, Cotton Mouth 2000, was thrown in honor of his birthday. I feel he is partially responsible for influencing my now 9 year addiction to raves. Like Mystre and Irene, I hadn't seen Lenny's name on a flier in a very long time.
On my way to the house room, I decided to pause for a moment and take a breath of fresh air, which in my language means going into the jungle room and getting a dose of some ¾ time beats. It was like stepping into another world, just the way I like jungle rooms to be; with green lights, no strobes, and plastic plants and shrubbery enshrouding the stage and speakers. I found the popping circle, but my legs were starting to punish me for being on them for more than 12 hours, so I just kind of hung out and soaked up the rough and tuff d'n'b being mixed up by APX-1.

DJ Dyloot, who also performed on the Balcony Stage

Feeling refreshed, I decided it was time to go see Lenny V. Security remembered me this time, so getting on stage was much easier than when I was trying to photograph Irene. The crowd was still going strong, and Lenny seemed to feel the loving vibe and return it to them ten fold. After about 20 minutes, someone came up to me and told me there were too many people on stage. Yeah, but I am a journalist trying to get some good pics of Lenny. Doesn't matter, off you go. Oh well, I was getting too tired to fight. I had gotten some decent pics, so I sauntered off to take pictures of the back of the main room, and then I went back to the balcony to check out X-Phactor's trance. I had been running around like a mad-man, taking hundreds of pictures and trying to hear as many deejays as possible. And since I drove myself into the Inland Empire from the Antelope Valley to cover this party, I was sober. Needless to say, I was starting to burn out. I enjoyed X-Phactor's set too, and as it neared its end, I decided to take the next half hour off and go disappear back in the Jungle room. At this point it was after 4am, so the crowd was starting to thin out a little. I found a corner in the back of the room where I could put down my camera and backpack for a few moments and just dance to the sound of Mikey B., nothing else. It felt nice, and I decided that it had been an excellent night. Then I remembered the long drive ahead of me, and how it was supposed to rain that morning, so I decided it was time for me to leave.
I went back to the corner where I had stowed my belongings, only to find that an entangled couple had planted themselves in the very same spot. I excused myself as I squeezed my way past them to grab my things. The girl looked up at me and said, "It's okay. It's my first rave! What's your name? Do you want a piece of candy?". Normally I would reject such a colorful offer, but something about the look in her eyes; the innocence, the purity, the perfect awe of being exposed to a world she didn't, until this night, knew even existed, melted my cold junglist heart. So I graciously accepted her offer, only to realize that I had nothing to offer in return. Once again, she said that was okay, and she looked at her bracelet laden wrists thoughtfully. After a moment, she interlocked her fingers with mine, and carefully slid the selected bracelet off her wrist and onto mine. This may have been her first rave, but someone taught her the old-skool style of trading candy beads. For the millionth time that night, I smiled, and felt that this interaction had somehow completed my adventure, and now it was appropriate for me to leave. I grabbed my things, and stepped out of the shelter of the Hudson/Gotham into the rainy streets of reality.
It wasn't until the next day that I actually looked at the bracelet that the little girl in the jungle room gave to me. If junglists were to wear candy, this would be it. I love green and white, and yes, I love ganja. Whoever you are, you read me like a book, and thank you very much for the bracelet. I haven't taken it or the smile off since Saturday……………

Thanks to AMS Entertainment for throwing a sick event! Thanks to DJ Rabbit for hooking it up with the guestlist! And mad thanks go out to Siesta Soul for helping me get pics of Irene! I love all you guys and look forward to my next bass fix………..