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 Red Bulls are virtually synonymous with the “EDM” acronym. But over the previous few 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 Electric Forest’s Camp Traction Sober Group Camp, which caters to those that wish to get excessive off the music alone.
Chelsie Cahoon has partied exhausting—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 need them to really feel empowered. I need 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. “Together we are able to 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.”
Check out our full Q&A with Cahoon under, overlaying her dedication to sober residing, the origins of her nickname and her favourite help teams and apps for individuals who wish to be substance-free however have not fairly figured it out but.
c/o Chelsie Cahoon
EDM.com: What’s your story? Why did you resolve to dwell 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 attractive to me.
I keep 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 endlessly. People thought I used to be joking once I’d inform them I’m sober and I nonetheless get that to at the present time. Professional DD who likes to “party” exhausting… Most individuals all through highschool and school revered my choice however I all the time had these few insignificant those who had been going to evaluate and belittle my decisions. I chuckle 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. When I went to my first music pageant it modified my complete world.
During Firefly 2017 I used to be strolling alone and a few man got here as much as me and requested, “Yo what are you high on?” I mentioned, “I’m not high. I’m actually a sober raver.” That caught with me. I had by no means mentioned that time period earlier than and I sat down at a picnic desk and instantly modified my title 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 potential to dwell 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 well-liked customized at EDM festivals. Can you stroll us by the advantages?
Chelsie Cahoon: There are so many advantages to a sober way of life. First, you’re normally extra conscious once you’re sober. Many substances may cause you to be disoriented or disassociated and being sober offers you with a aware thoughts. Personally, I wouldn’t really feel secure 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 achieve and ageing. Most of it may possibly trigger injury to your insides and mind. I battle with acid reflux disease 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 residing!
Another factor is when going to exhibits and festivals you don’t have to fret about safety. It’s nice. Drug take a look at for work? Sure! You can drive your self dwelling? Yep! Feel extra energized? Absolutely. There are actually so many advantages that I might discuss all day about it.
EDM.com: It’s a pipe dream to suppose your fellow ravers will merely cease utilizing medicine out of the blue. It’s a course of. So what are some steps individuals can take to attempt to bridge the hole?
Chelsie Cahoon: When individuals come to me about desirous to cease utilizing medicine, I normally inform them a couple of 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 completely 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 should imply that you simply turned sober. I simply am. I inform those that wish to give up that I all the time checked out medicine and alcohol as “poison.” Think about putting something in your body that is not supposed to be there. The body rejects it.
I also tell them to reach out to someone when they feel as though they might slip up, as well as to have an accountability partner. I always try to direct people to sober groups on social media. One group in particular that people can join on Facebook is Rave Sober, which was created by my friend Sarah Noleto. It is a great resource for people who want to become sober and are sober in the rave community. There are also amazing apps that are helpful such as Your Sober Buddy, Pocket Rehab, Reframe, and a sober dating app called Clean And Sober Love. Each one is helpful and I highly recommend them.
Some people shouldn’t go straight back into festivals once they’ve gotten clean and that’s okay. Sometimes it will probably take some time. There are sober groups and tents at many festivals for those who want to feel a sense of belonging, which is wonderful. What is most important before and after getting clean is having a good support system that is going to help and encourage you the entire way through. Support is key and you deserve to be around caring and supportive people.
If you do use substances, check out DanceSafe, a health-conscious nonprofit that offers drug-testing kits, counseling and harm reduction information.
EDM.com: Unfortunately, EDM and drug use are inextricably linked in pop culture. How can the dance music community shake this stigma? Is sobriety the only way?
Chelsie Cahoon: Drugs have been involved with pop culture for ages. You see it on TV. You see it on social media. There are t-shirts for women that say “Wine o’clock” and shirts for guys that say “Check out my six pack” with six beer cans on it. Although I might imagine these varieties 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 woman who judges and tries to inform others how you can dwell their lives. I simply wish to be a constructive affect and encourage others. There will most likely all the time be a stigma round medicine being within the music scene however that’s why us sober ravers, artists and DJs should proceed displaying the world that it’s simply not true and music might be loved sober.
Sobriety isn’t the one means. People are allowed to bask in no matter means they need. But I believe with extra individuals changing into sober and speaking about it within the scene, it’s serving to create a constructive ripple and it’s actually cool to see.
EDM.com: Tell us about Music Is The Drug. What’s the mission behind the model?
Chelsie Cahoon: Music Is The Drug is my delight 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 function on this planet. I used to be simply so misplaced and in a really darkish place. My religion, household and music obtained me by.
I knew I all the time wished to create a model of my very own however didn’t know what it could be. I lastly determined that I wished to create a model to spotlight the pure bliss that music is. My Instagram bio had endlessly learn “Music is my drug,” and someday I had the thought to alter “my” to “the” and create my model. It was excellent. Many suppose that I obtained my firm’s title from Bassnectar however I truly had no concept that he had a music with that title once I created it. The two aren’t associated in any means.
After creating it, I noticed that the time period was truly coined within the 90’s by straight-edge ravers and I believed that was superior! I made a decision to create a clothes firm with merchandise and equipment that merely mentioned the model’s title. I wished it to talk for itself and be an announcement when individuals would put on it out. The mission of the model is to indicate the world that whether or not you utilize substances or not, music is the final word drug that unites us all.
Many of my buddies partake in substances and I really like all of them the identical. We are linked by music, and it is sufficient fully 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 individuals to narrate to. I merely wish to be a lightweight in a neighborhood that may typically be a darkish place. Know that there’s by no means judgment from me—solely love and care. You are all so worthy.
EDM.com: What’s the message you hope your rave suits ship when individuals put on them?
Chelsie Cahoon: When girls or males put on my merchandise, I need them to really feel empowered. I need them to really feel as if they’re a daring assertion simply by being who they’re. I are not looking for them to really feel ashamed for sporting it however I need them to really feel assured. Music is the drug and I imagine that when individuals put on this message, it’s going to ship a constructive vibe wherever they could go.
There will all the time be somebody who says “Drugs are the drug.” Those persons are clearly hurting from inside in the event that they can’t be supportive of a mission that doesn’t choose others for partaking in medicine.
You can not let unfavorable individuals get you down. That’s one thing that I needed to be taught a very long time in the past. You simply have to remain true to you and by no means apologize for being the superior particular person that you’re. Keep rocking it, babes. Be your self. Be daring. Be you. Together we are able to 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.