Kandi

Welcome back to another electric week. If Dillon Francis did not get you totally hyped I believe this is a slightly more playful post on one of the most colorful aspects of raving: Kandi.

Now we’re not talking about literal candy, no we’re talking about kandi as in little plastic beaded bracelets strung together on elastic string more classically worn by third graders. Yes that kandi, and although those bracelets years ago were given among friends as a sign of friendship, to this day they are given away for similar reasons, or what we call in the community PLUR.

When you break down PLUR it means peace, love, unity, and respect, and it is meant to reflect the underlying commonalities we as humans should share with one another. In the edm community, no matter how segmented it may be among sub groups such as techno snobs, head bangers, and kandi kids (the list goes on honesty), it is an honor to receive one of these at any event.

The concept originated in the 90’s, and finds its roots grounded in NYC when at the time DJ Bones was attempting to bring together a community made up many many different groups.

“Peace: The calmness you find with those around you and inside of yourself.

“Love: The caring you feel for friends, for strangers, for those in need, and the caring you show to yourself.

“Unity: This means we all share a lot of common things, regardless of our age, gender, race or orientation. We are all human beings. We all need other people, and we’re all in this for the happiness experienced being around others. Though we may have differences, we all arise from the same source.

“Respect: This may mean respect for others, their ideas, their music and their lives. It’s also respect for one’s self: one’s body and the needs that it has.

-DJ Bones

I can recall from my earliest days of hitting the scene all the way back in 2012 (I know forever ago), the amount of gratitude and awe I felt receiving my first piece from a woman who was equally mysterious as she was beautiful. My electric baptism commenced with a few hand gestures before clasping hands and feeling the cold plastic beads roll onto my wrist. For any first timer, or in that case tenured veteran, receiving a bonafide kandi piece is legitimately one of the coolest and most immersive experiences that occurs in raving.

I would go on to crafting my own for the many various events I would attend, but the purpose of each of these pieces of costume jewelry speaks volumes of the connections made with in the scene. A lot of people turn to electric music for its lack of mainstream presence in an attempt to find something outside the “norm.” I truly believe more often than not, people find family in the friends and acquaintances they meet. They cast memories onto these sometimes meticulously curated, sometimes thrown together, sometimes relatively suggestive pieces. These plastic bracelets become little trips down memory lane that its new owner can keep; or in sacred tradition pass on to others in a gesture intending the passage of good vibes and appreciation for one’s fellow man.

So until next week I wish you all peace, love, unity, and respect. But remember my friends, its only PLUR until you hit the parking lot.