Music Is the Drug: A Deep Dive Into Substance-Free Raving With "The Sober Raver"
From non-alcoholic cocktail bars to substance-free music festivals, there has by no means been an period for sober raving fairly like this one.
To most individuals, ecstasy, LSD and vodka Pink Bulls are virtually synonymous with the “EDM” acronym. However over the previous couple of years, a cohort of sober concert-goers have slowly introduced their way of life to the mainstream, just like the organizers of a “detox” music pageant in Colorado and Electrical Forest’s Camp Traction Sober Group Camp, which caters to those that wish to get excessive off the music alone.
Chelsie Cahoon has partied arduous—and sober—since her late teenagers. Now she owns a clothes model known as Music Is The Drug and hopes to proceed bringing consciousness and acceptance to all corners of dance music tradition, one t-shirt at a time.
“When girls or males put on my merchandise I would like them to really feel empowered. I would like them to really feel as if they’re a daring assertion simply by being who they’re,” Cahoon, who goes by “The Sober Raver,” tells EDM.com. “Collectively we will present the world that medicine are by no means a necessity, solely a need, and that music is the true star of each present. Rave on.”
Take a look at our full Q&A with Cahoon beneath, overlaying her dedication to sober dwelling, the origins of her nickname and her favourite assist teams and apps for individuals who wish to be substance-free however have not fairly figured it out but.
EDM.com: What’s your story? Why did you determine to stay this way of life as a sober raver?
Chelsie Cahoon: From a really younger age I all the time knew that I by no means wished to partake in utilizing substances. The considered placing one thing in my physique that would probably be dangerous to it and trigger me to behave in another way was not one thing that ever sounded engaging to me.
I bear in mind getting provided my first drink at 16 and saying, “No thanks,” and I knew that that was going to be how I lived my life perpetually. Folks thought I used to be joking after I’d inform them I’m sober and I nonetheless get that to today. Skilled DD who likes to “get together” arduous… Most individuals all through highschool and faculty revered my choice however I all the time had these few insignificant those that have been going to evaluate and belittle my decisions. I giggle about it now.
Music has all the time been an enormous a part of my life. I began going to exhibits nonstop in my late teenagers and early twenties and loved getting excessive off of the music alone. Once I went to my first music pageant it modified my entire world.
Throughout Firefly 2017 I used to be strolling alone and a few man got here as much as me and requested, “Yo what are you excessive on?” I stated, “I’m not excessive. I’m truly a sober raver.” That caught with me. I had by no means stated that time period earlier than and I sat down at a picnic desk and instantly modified my identify on Instagram to @thesoberraver. It simply made sense. I used to be a raver who selected to be sober for all times and I wished to indicate the world that it’s so very doable to stay this way of life. A brand new mission was set in place for me and I used to be past stoked for what was to return of it.
EDM.com: Sobriety is not precisely a preferred customized at EDM festivals. Are you able to stroll us via the advantages?
Chelsie Cahoon: There are such a lot of advantages to a sober way of life. First, you’re often extra conscious whenever you’re sober. Many substances may cause you to be disoriented or disassociated and being sober offers you with a acutely aware thoughts. Personally, I wouldn’t really feel protected utilizing substances. I’m already a “daydreamer” kind and I imagine if I ever used something in a excessive dosage I might be much more lackadaisical.
The well being advantages are additionally nice. Alcohol may cause weight acquire and ageing. Most of it may trigger harm to your insides and mind. I battle with acid reflux disorder illness and ingesting alcohol would make it a lot worse. I get informed I look so younger for my age all the time. I chalk it as much as sober dwelling!
One other factor is when going to exhibits and festivals you don’t have to fret about safety. It’s nice. Drug check for work? Certain! You may drive your self dwelling? Yep! Really feel extra energized? Completely. There are actually so many advantages that I might speak all day about it.
EDM.com: It is a pipe dream to assume your fellow ravers will merely cease utilizing medicine out of the blue. It is a course of. So what are some steps folks can take to attempt to bridge the hole?
Chelsie Cahoon: When folks come to me about desirous to cease utilizing medicine, I often inform them just a few various things. I first inform them how completely wonderful I believe it’s and the way honored I’m that they approached me about it. I additionally point out although that as a result of I’ve by no means used something, my story is totally different.
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I’m not an addict and can by no means declare to be, nor will I declare to be in restoration. Sober doesn’t must imply that you simply turned sober. I simply am. I inform those that wish to stop that I all the time checked out medicine and alcohol as “poison.” Take into consideration placing one thing in your physique that isn’t speculated to be there. The physique rejects it.
I additionally inform them to succeed in out to somebody after they really feel as if they may slip up, in addition to to have an accountability companion. I all the time attempt to direct folks to sober teams on social media. One group specifically that individuals can be a part of on Fb is Rave Sober, which was created by my good friend Sarah Noleto. It’s a nice useful resource for individuals who wish to turn out to be sober and are sober within the rave neighborhood. There are additionally wonderful apps which are useful reminiscent of Your Sober Buddy, Pocket Rehab, Reframe, and a sober courting app known as Clean And Sober Love. Each is useful and I extremely advocate them.
Some folks shouldn’t go straight again into festivals as soon as they’ve gotten clear and that’s okay. Typically it can in all probability take a while. There are sober teams and tents at many festivals for many who wish to really feel a way of belonging, which is fantastic. What’s most necessary earlier than and after getting clear is having a superb assist system that’s going to assist and encourage you the complete manner via. Assist is essential and also you need to be round caring and supportive folks.
In case you do use substances, take a look at DanceSafe, a health-conscious nonprofit that provides drug-testing kits, counseling and hurt discount data.
EDM.com: Sadly, EDM and drug use are inextricably linked in popular culture. How can the dance music neighborhood shake this stigma? Is sobriety the one manner?
Chelsie Cahoon: Medication have been concerned with popular culture for ages. You see it on TV. You see it on social media. There are t-shirts for ladies that say “Wine o’clock” and shirts for guys that say “Take a look at my six pack” with six beer cans on it. Though I might imagine these sorts of merchandise are lower than interesting, I don’t belittle others for his or her decisions in life.
I by no means wish to be that sober lady who judges and tries to inform others the way to stay their lives. I simply wish to be a optimistic affect and encourage others. There’ll in all probability all the time be a stigma round medicine being within the music scene however that’s why us sober ravers, artists and DJs must proceed exhibiting the world that it’s simply not true and music could be loved sober.
Sobriety isn’t the one manner. Individuals are allowed to bask in no matter manner they need. However I believe with extra folks changing into sober and speaking about it within the scene, it’s serving to create a optimistic ripple and it’s actually cool to see.
EDM.com: Inform us about Music Is The Drug. What is the mission behind the model?
Chelsie Cahoon: Music Is The Drug is my pleasure and pleasure. In 2017, I used to be extra depressed than I had ever been in my whole life as a result of I felt as if I had no goal on this planet. I used to be simply so misplaced and in a really darkish place. My religion, household and music acquired me via.
I knew I all the time wished to create a model of my very own however didn’t know what it might be. I lastly determined that I wished to create a model to focus on the pure bliss that music is. My Instagram bio had perpetually learn “Music is my drug,” and at some point I had the thought to vary “my” to “the” and create my model. It was excellent. Many assume that I acquired my firm’s identify from Bassnectar however I truly had no concept that he had a track with that title after I created it. The 2 usually are not associated in any manner.
After creating it, I noticed that the time period was truly coined within the 90’s by straight-edge ravers and I assumed that was superior! I made a decision to create a clothes firm with merchandise and equipment that merely stated the model’s identify. I wished it to talk for itself and be an announcement when folks would put on it out. The mission of the model is to indicate the world that whether or not you employ substances or not, music is the last word drug that unites us all.
Lots of my associates partake in substances and I like all of them the identical. We’re linked via music, and it is sufficient utterly by itself. I actually get so excessive off of it, particularly Blink-182, Angels & Airwaves, ILLENIUM and Seven Lions. I wished to create a model for folks to narrate to. I merely wish to be a lightweight in a neighborhood that may generally be a darkish place. Know that there’s by no means judgment from me—solely love and care. You might be all so worthy.
EDM.com: What is the message you hope your rave matches ship when folks put on them?
Chelsie Cahoon: When girls or males put on my merchandise, I would like them to really feel empowered. I would like them to really feel as if they’re a daring assertion simply by being who they’re. I don’t need them to really feel ashamed for carrying it however I would like them to really feel assured. Music is the drug and I imagine that when folks put on this message, it’s going to ship a optimistic vibe wherever they could go.
There’ll all the time be somebody who says “Medication are the drug.” These persons are clearly hurting from inside in the event that they can’t be supportive of a mission that doesn’t decide others for partaking in medicine.
You can’t let destructive folks get you down. That’s one thing that I needed to study a very long time in the past. You simply have to remain true to you and by no means apologize for being the superior individual that you’re. Preserve rocking it, babes. Be your self. Be daring. Be you. Collectively we will present the world that medicine are by no means a necessity—solely a need—and that music is the true star of each present. Rave on.