This is the beginning of a new series. I don’t know how long it will go for or how many posts it will consist of. I am starting this because it is important to me. I am all about people enjoying any kind of music they want to, and I respect anyone’s decision not to listen to EDM. However, I think a lot of people choose not to listen to EDM because they have a misunderstanding of the culture associated with it. I think the idea of a “rave” is misconstrued in the minds of those who haven’t experienced one. I think that deaths from drugs at shows and festivals have given EDM a bad image. I think it is time for that to change.
There is a certain generation associated with EDM. In my opinion, it is much like the generation of Woodstock: young adults with no desire to adhere to civil norms who love to party, get drunk and high, and listen to music. Well, I am here to tell you the EDM fan base is much wider than that.
I will be interviewing people who like EDM but don’t fit the profile of a “typical” EDM lover. My goal is to show that many types of people enjoy the musical talent embedded in electronic songs and the benefits this music provides. My first interviewee is my mother, Michele Trietley.
1. Can you provide a little of your background so as to give us some context about yourself? I am 49 and grew up in Allegany, NY, to Nancy and Jim Rouleau. I am the fourth of five children; four girls and one boy. I pursued an undergraduate degree at St. Bonaventure University where I also played basketball for the Lady Bonnies. I was captain my senior year and was awarded the Letterman of the Year Award in 1988. I was part of the team when we jumped from Division II to Division I for my last two years. I graduated cum laude with a BA in sociology in 1988. I met my future husband, Rick, at Bonas, and a year after graduation, I married him. We moved around the U.S. as he pursued a career as an Army officer. We have two great sons, Ricky, a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and Kyle [me], a jr/sr who is at St Bonaventure. I have been fortunate to have tried many different jobs in my life and also to have obtained a masters in adolescent education. My hobbies include exercise, gardening/yard work, house decorating, carpentry/crafts, travel, and spending time with family and friends. I have been a ‘mom’ to three great dogs; Pooker, Midnight, and Gracie. I love music, having grown up listening to 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and more all the time, dancing whenever possible and appreciating all forms of it.
2. What is your favorite genre of music? I would have to say I love all types of music, but if I have to pick just one, it would be pop/top 40.
3. When and how did you start listening to EDM? I began listening to EDM about three years ago when my son Kyle [me] introduced it to his father and I. He was DJing at his former university and came across this genre of music. When he brought it to my attention, I immediately liked it because of the great beats in the songs and the high energy it possessed.
4. Why do you think people are against giving EDM a try? I think if people are afraid to give EDM a try, it is more just due to misinformation as to what it really is about. Or maybe they are just not open to new genres of music. It could also be the unfamiliarity of this style of music as it has been popular abroad and is just seeming to make a move here in the last few years. I think the more exposure people have to it, the more they will like it.
5. What is your favorite moment involving EDM? My favorite moment with EDM? I have a few. One involved dancing with another Bona mom to some great music last year at family weekend. Another was being at the beach with my family and listening to EDM with my son [me]. I also love listening (or should I say dancing) to my son’s weekly EDM radio show at my home every week.
6. What is your favorite electronic song? It actually involves two: “Delirious” and “Five Hours” (to include the remake with lyrics by Chris Brown). Not only did I love their upbeat tempo from the start, but they are also two great songs that got me through my preparation and eventual marathon walk last year at the Mountain Man Memorial Marathon walk in Tennessee. When I needed the extra boost of energy to pound out the miles of pavement, I only needed to put the earbuds in and wham! I was motivated.
7. Do you see yourself going to an EDM show or festival? I’m not quite sure I can see myself at an EDM festival in the future as the energy of those shows and the amount of people dancing all over seems a bit overwhelming to me at my age. I prefer going crazy in my own house listening to EDM! But if my son [me] takes me and looks out for me and can talk his aunts into going, that is a possibility!
8. Do you think EDM will ever be the top genre in America? No, because the U.S. seems to me to be more of a rock and roll or country country. It is not to say there is not room for it to be popular here, though. I feel there is always room for all great forms of music.
9. If I was to promote EDM to non listeners and only had three words to say it what would I say? Energetic and Uplifting.
I hope this post served to show that EDM can be for anyone. If you are a person who doesn’t fit the typical EDM demographic or who has a unique story on how they got into EDM, feel free to let me know in the comments.