Just as beautiful and magical as the majesty of Electric Forest’s presentations are the variety of souls that show up to spectate, and interact with one another. People, by way of how they dress and deliver themselves, are absolutely works of art, in my mind. Crossing paths with folks all the way from New York to California, everywhere in between, and from all over the world, is magical. Listening to the thoughts and interpretations of others, the way they assemble sentences and the delightful accents and dialects they represent, brings a smile to my lips, every blessed day. For this story, I am focusing on the community, and sharing conversations I had with several wonderful individuals while amidst the sanctuary of the geodesic domes built by Cerebral Concepts. Finally, there’s a story of my own digital interactions with a young woman from Atlanta, Shannel Ortega, in supporting her amidst unfortunate circumstances that befell her at this edition of Electric Forest, that she’s granted me permission to share. Prepare yourselves. Bear Swiftly, the Electro Scribe, is about to take you on an intentionally inspiring ride.
As I walked through Electric Forest on that final Sunday of action during daylight hours, I noted a variety of exploreres relaxing within the domes. I was drawn to a brightly colored young man from New York, Dulaney. He wore impressive attire of a multicolored shag jacket, bucket hat, slick shades, and sneakers. I entered his orbit, and asked permission to sit and speak with him about his impressions of Electric Forest’s artistry and community. He consented, and thus excerpts edited for succinctness from our discourse are as follows.
We began as I told him a little about the origins of this geodesic dome we sat within. I followed by asking for his reflections on artistry, and how creatives impress upon the community through the art they create. He answered the following.
“I mean, to me, this is mind-blowing. For a lot of people around here, this is kind of normal, but for me, I’m from a different background. I didn’t know anything about the EDM or rave scene, or festivals and camping. I’m from New York City, I don’t camp or anything like that. I found a way here [through] a friend, and this is amazing! The art, especially this place right here, when the sun sets and the forest lights up, it’s beautiful. The art they have with the lights all over, it’s art, beyond!”
Since this engaging and delightful fella was all dappered up, I asked about his take on fashion. “I think fashion in general should be about being free. Especially in this community, you get that freedom, where you might not get it as much on the outside. This is a place of expression. Everybody’s free. Everybody’s extra, like pushing it. It’s lovely, and I could just be myself.”
Before we concluded our brief chat, I requested that he share some words with the community he’s now vibing with. Encouragement. He shared how he’s grown through his interactions with others, and how his mindset has evolved.
“For me, being someone new in this community, I would like to say that I love you all. I appreciate all your help making me a better person. I see people picking up trash and stuff here. I had a bottle of water yesterday, I finished drinking it, and I didn’t throw it. I said, ‘let me walk this to the trash can.’ Oh shit, this is not me. I’m walking through the crowd, one time at my first festival, and some girls said, ‘say excuse me.’ Another lady said it, and I’m like, ‘okay, these people are really all about respect.’ Then I heard that expression, PLUR, peace, love, unity, respect. It’s good to see that not only is it said, but it’s also backed up in action. People are really standing by this law.”
I took this opportunity to expand his mind just a little further by including the proper translation of PLURR, the second R meaning responsibility. The responsibility portion entails that we all should put the best of ourselves out there, that it’s not all about us, and to be mindful that our actions impact, inspire, and improve our communities. He received my input graciously. We shook hands, and I moved onto the next dome to find more willing recipients with which to speak and share their ideas.
Entering a dome adjacent, I found a trio of lovely humans, Teegan, Bethany, and David. Teegan hails from Kansas and glowed dressed in shades of red and black. I felt she was a techno head, and my instincts were right. She’s a fan of Charlotte de Witte, Sara Landry, and the like. I love me some Boris Brejcha, the king of minimal techno.
Bethany and Mark actually hail from the same state as myself, Illinois, and we’d go on to joke about the whole, “You’re not really from Chicago,” argument that’s present all throughout the EDM Chicago Facebook group. Truthfully, I’m not, which I am more than happy to admit. As a matter of fact, I only use Chicago as a landmark to orient folks to my hometown in the northwest suburbs which is an actual reflection of who I am, and what I represent. Forests and trees, lakes and rivers, the beauty of nature. Though Chicago is a gorgeous and impressive metropolis to behold, full of impressive monuments, museums, skyscrapers, and structures, it can also be described as an imposing concrete jungle.
We’ll start with Teegan, whose lovely, soft voice and style of dress engaged me. Thus, I asked her what part of Electric Forest enticed her coming. She answered, “The Vibes.” I followed up by asking her for some insight into how she puts her outfits together. Is it the feel of clothing, or how colors and shades she chooses represents her personality?
“It would definitely be the feel first because, I mean, you’re in the clothes all day. You want to be comfortable, but you also want to feel sexy, and cute, and everything. You want to make sure it’s real nice, and isn’t gonna cause any problems later. So, that’s kind of what I go for, like crushed velvet. If you have not tried that on, you have to try it on, and you need to get it! You will not want to wear anything else. Besides, it’s beautiful.”
Since she mentioned wanting to feel cute, and look good, I took this opportunity to compliment her makeup and outfit. She was thankful, and appreciated my recognizing how much time and effort she, as well as other women, put into putting themselves together. Fellas, we all know it can be a lengthy process, so be patient with your ladies, and tell them they’re killing it. They appreciate that shit!
Teegan’s makeup was on point, something I can’t do, because I’m virtually a sweaty nightmare from the time I step outside. I requested some of her tips for others on how they can keep their looks fresh, throughout the day. “Makeup that’s waterproof, and setting spray. Don’t touch your face, as hard as it is, don’t mess with it or anything like that, but yeah, those [items], you’re gonna need.”
With her fashion wisdom collected, I turned my attention to my fellow Illinoisans, and loving couple, Beth and David. They contributed that this was their first music festival, talk about poppin’ their cherries big time, and Beth bought their tickets as David’s Christmas present. What a sweet and thoughtful gesture between lovers. I asked them what festival was next, and they responded, “I think we’ll need a hiatus to recover from this.” David forwarded that he really wanted to try, Lost Lands. I’ve been multiple times, and I informed him it’s a different establishment of company, entirely, although there is some overlap. Headbangers, and their ilk, are quite a bit more intense (I count myself among their ranks), than those who graciously walk the woods of Electric Forest. Additionally, I informed them about one of my new favorite festivals, the fantastic Secret Dreams Music and Arts Community, which also occurs at the incredible Legend Valley.
Beth and David were very sweet towards one another, instantly claiming themselves as significant others. I inquired how long they’ve been together. “Six years, coming up on seven?” David looked at Beth for approval, she nodded. I kind of laugh at this, and David forwards, “I have to look at her the same way when someone asks me how old I am.” I’m a big supporter of relationships, but inevitably, conflict does arise. In this light, I asked how their partnership resolves issues when they do inevitably happen. David spoke like a man who has navigated this territory effectively.
“You just take a few breaths. If you need to cool, you gotta go cool. Otherwise, just honestly, as a man, you’ve got to be courageous enough to say what you’re really feeling. Not just act on your emotions, which is usually just anger, and not taking it out on anyone. That’s a big thing, If you want to give a relationship emotional maturity.”
As we furthered, I asked for insight into how they met. Bethany answered, “In college. We actually had a few art classes, together. I majored in art history with a minor in studio art. [David] had a minor in art studio and a major in business analytics. We’re both musicians, we make music together, we’re trying to pick back up, we just gotta get good ideas.” I hope they’ve found all the inspiration they need from this past edition of Electric Forest.
Before we end this recount of my conversations with patrons of Electric Forest’s audience, I want to share this story of how a young woman, Shannel Ortega, had an item she had placed in the forest for others to interact with, taken. She posted through an Electric Forest Facebook group a touching story of how she had seen others do something similar, and she followed suit by placing a journal for others to write in, last Electric Forest. By the time the festival finished last year, the pages of her book were filled with personal accounts from scores of wonderful foresters. This year, her book had disappeared without a trace, before the first day’s closing.
She took to Facebook to appeal to the community for its return, sharing details of her objective with the journal. As a writer and a journalist, this touched me, and also upset my standards. I decided to intercede. As I’m a member of Cerebral Concepts vending team, I told her we’d supply her with a fresh journal. She was grateful for this, and asked where we could be found. I gave her details, and eventually a photo to guide her path. When I approached Joseph and Michael on the matter, and even told them I’d pay for it, they declined my money, citing that there are many things in life that supercede the need for financial compensation. Shanell eventually found the booth and picked out a journal to her liking, at a time when I was away, adventuring. She reached out to me later through Facebook messenger, and we had an emotional and touching conversation.
She doesn’t consider herself a writer, but I beg to differ. Throuhgout our conversation through Messenger, I noted how acutely she formed and expressed her thoughts. Thus, I asked if she wouldn’t mind providing a detailing of her experience with the journal. The following are her own words, and for any interested, the first time any writer but myself has contributed to this blog and website.
“To a kind stranger and all intrigued readers:
2024 has been a year of self-indulgence and that has included my third year at Electric Forest. If you aren’t familiar, let me share the journey I have had attending this magical festival.
The history of my forest journey started in 2022. If you know anything about obtaining tickets, specifically in 2019 or 2020, you know it is fiercely competitive and not for the weak. In 2019, myself along with a group of twelve others all banned together to get tickets. A few of us were successful and through them, almost the whole group had a ticket to go in 2020. Fast forward a couple of years, and you know that we would not get to see a forest in 2020 or 2021. As the years went by, so did the friends who changed their mind on committing to going.
Come 2022, it ended up just being one other friend and myself. We decided to make a road trip out of it and drove all the way from Atlanta, GA to Rothbury, MI. No preparation could have ever made us ready for the magic we would experience in the forest. There are so many things to love in the giving nature of the forest, one of which was my accidental stumble upon journals hidden in the forest. On that Sunday of the fest, I was exploring and found myself suddenly mesmerized by a journal I found just sitting on a tree stump. Curious, I picked it up and read. The book contained countless pages full of strangers’ stories: what the forest means to them, people who have been lost, people who have found themselves, what music means to them. I snapped some pictures of entries I found moving and dedicated myself to plopping a book in the forest the following year.
In 2023, I returned to the forest with my same friend from 2022 and two other “new” friends that I had made in the forest my previous year. My small forest family within the large. Hesitant to put a journal out for fear of it being stolen, I waited until the last day of the festival to strategically place it. To my amazement, not only was the book still there after a full day inside the forest, but it was full. The wonder of these mysterious books were now in my personal possession and I could take the words written from total strangers and keep it forever.
2024 saw my third return to the forest. This time, not just my small forest fam but with a group of sixteen people. Yes – you read that correctly. The forest not only gave me a family previous years, but let my forest family prosper and grow. It’s become a group of people that love and support, unconditionally, while fostering a safe space. Being that in 2023 my journal survived, I decided to put out another on the first day. I checked on it a couple times throughout the afternoon and saw forest dwellers writing their hopes, dreams, and thoughts in it. I was thrilled to have another year of priceless pages to keep. Towards the end of the night, I decided to check on it one last time and sneak peak just a few of the pages. To my devastation, the book was gone before the end of day one.
I follow a couple of pages on Facebook to keep up with any big news on the forest, and while I’m not the most active social media participant – I decided to make a post. Before crafting, I knew that I wanted the post to have a message of kindness. Yes, this was not the ideal situation, but maybe the person who stole it needed it more than me. My post described a broken heart and reminded readers that the meaning of forest is about kindness, giving, and having a safe space. After posting I had an incredible amount of responses – the majority of which were all positive and even some folks looking out for the book themselves. One particular comment came from Ben Zander reaching out to swing by a booth called Cerebral Concepts for a gift of sorts. Intrigued, I searched for the booth on Friday with no luck. If you were at Electric Forest this year, then you know Saturday was essentially rained out so I did not get the opportunity to search for the booth then either. I knew that on Sunday I needed to find the booth and with a little extra help from Ben, I found the booth.
When I walked into the booth, I saw two gentlemen sitting in the back. Not sure what to say, I mentioned that I was told to swing by from someone who worked the booth. Immediately they asked me for my name and I confirmed that I was the person who’s journal was stolen. Seconds after, they told me, “Pick whatever you want in the store. It’s yours.” Shocked, I asked if they were sure. They reassured me that they were just trying to make light of a gloomy situation and keep my experience in the forest positive. I looked around at all the amazing crafts in the store and spotted a section of leather journals. I scanned the journals and found one that spoke to me: a beautiful leather-bound journal with patterns on the front and the words “Be Hard-Working, Brave, and KIND”. I hesitantly took it over and said, “I think this is the one if you’re okay with it”. They said of course and proceeded to hand me little gifts on top of the book.
I thanked them profusely and told them I have a tradition every year I go to Electric Forest. The tradition is that each year I go, I need to come home with a story that I can share with friends and family. Something that I can share with both my music festival community and those who aren’t in this world to explain how amazing it is. Thanks to Cerebral Concepts, Ben Zander, and the two gentlemen working the booth (who I later learned are the owners!) this became my story.
If this were the end of my story, I would have been completely content. However, there is more that recently came out as what started as a simple journal being stolen in the middle of the woods. Unrelated, I recently have been on the hunt for an Odesza poster from The Gorge as I attended their concert on July 5th. They are my favorite artist, the first tattoo I’ve ever gotten, and the most magical production and music I’ve ever heard. Searching for any Facebook groups that might have one, I stumbled across a girl looking for a specific video of a song that was played only on the night I was there. I quickly responded to her post with a “here you go fam” and video. She thanked me, calling me a hero, then asked if I could personally message her so she could save the video.
My initial reaction of course was yes, and I went to send her the video seconds later. When I opened my messages, I saw I had an unread message from none other than Ben Zander. Upon reading it, I realized it was sent during Electric Forest almost a month ago. I respond by sending mounds of thanks and asked if he was one of the guys I met at the booth. While the two men I met were not him, he explained to me that when he saw my post he wanted to help. In his exact words, he is, “fierce in supporting his community.” In my opinion, he is a hero.
I am not a particularly emotional person – you can ask any one of my friends and husband. But I found myself exchanging sentiment weeks after forest with someone who I have never met on what the music community means and how kindness can spread. I am sure that when Ben whipped out his own money to fund whatever I wanted in the booth to a total stranger, he didn’t realize the extent of the impact it would have on me. When it initially happened, I told anyone who would listen to me. When I got home, I told everyone who asked how my trip was. The whole interaction was incredible and an above and beyond act of sincerity. Something that someone did out of the kindness of their heart, “just because”. Now, here I am a month past Electric Forest talking to this person who thought me, a stranger, was important.
Ben has asked me to write my perspective on the story and I can’t think of anything I would be prouder to do. So Ben, to the kind stranger who saw my somber situation and decided I was important, thank you. Electric Forest has a saying that, “the Forest provides”, and you have proven that immensely. To all of you readers, please remember that kindness spreads. None of us know how a kind act – big or small – can impact others. Kindness reflects a genuine soul and echoes through others as we propel forward. Remember to treat each other fairly, be thoughtful, and be mindful. The magic of the forest spreads outside of their trees if you let it.”
Music festivals of all kinds are special because of the community that comes out in support. There are so many aspects of Electric Forest that are unique, and throughout you’ll find people from all walks of life interacting with each other like old friends and neighbors. I want to thank all those who took time to speak with me, and be included in this piece. A special thanks to Shanell Ortega for reaching out to me, and detailing her journal episode. As I read through her words, again, I got a little choked up at the level of appreciation she affords me. I’m a regular dude doing what I feel is right, listening to classical music, drum and bass, dubstep, electro swing, glitch hop, house, techno, and even some instrumental stuff too, while I compose my work and share my thoughts through stories for others to enjoy. I hope you’ll source some inspiration for your own projects from this piece.
Thank you for your attention, all of your support, and keep on living your best lives. If you’re ever looking for me, to interact, just follow the sound of my laughter. It’s distinct, infectious, unique, and how many of my friends find me within packed crowds.
For now, our time together has come to an end. This is Bear Swiftly, signing off. Sayonara, all you Samurai.
Be well, be successful. Bear Swiftly.
–Electro Scribe–
