High On Life

After interviewing my Parisian friend Nab, I gained insight on tecktonik from a point of view that is more likely to understand it, that of a teenager. The essence of this culture is something completely unique, at least when it’s put into the context of the United States. As a subculture, they don’t judge people. For this reason, the queer community is attracted to tecktonik. It serves as a scene in which they can be themselves and not be judged. As well as being sexually open, the style of dance is the same way. Why isn’t this even an option in the United States? Why is it as Americans, we are so quick to judge others and shun them for their differences? It seems the reason this subculture is so open-minded lies in their love of the music. Being at a tecktonik club is not about looking at others and cutting them down about what they are not, it’s not about other people at all, it’s ABOUT the music and ABOUT the dance. It's the personal connection people form when they dance and get lost in the music; the music is what you make out of it, it's the individual experience attached. People go for their love of techno and their love of dancing to it. Being in this kind of environment allows everyone to release his or her inhibitions about dance or dress or sexual orientation and to just let go. The reason this came about was Parisians’ need to release and this open-minded subculture is what resulted. According to Nab, tecktonik is an “excuse to do whatever the fuck you want”. The surprising thing is that no one takes it too far, and even more surprising is the fact that as a movement, they shun the use of alcohol or drugs to achieve this free-ness. I can’t get over how open this scene is and the lack of judgment between tckers. Because of the focus on the music, it truly allows people to let go and be free, even if it’s only for a night.


High On Life by DJ Encore