Eshal Firoze | The Chronicle
From age old pop music to Electronic Dance Music (EDM), high school students around the globe spend their teenage years curating individual music tastes ranging across genres. Though there are undoubtedly differences between certain shows and artists, the culture of concerts and the impact of live music remains the same.
Gaining almost 1.3 million views, Mason High School (MHS) sophomore Nikaya Barnawal went viral on TikTok after being invited onstage during a concert featuring pop music star Zara Larsson. Barnawal got the chance to dance alongside the icon during her hit “Lush Life” at Larson’s sold-out Midnight Sun Tour in Columbus in March.
“It was unreal to stand face to face with one of my favorite artists,” Barnawal said. “Being someone who loves music so much, I was screaming my heart out when I got the chance to get up on stage.”
The almost 11-year-old song, “Lush Life,” made a comeback this year with the returning theme of 2016 and the pop energy that embodied that era. The song is Larsson’s most popular song, earning its spot on the Billboard Hot 100 twice now, and often the closing song for her
concerts. Barnawal, a longtime fan, said she had been learning the “Lush Life” dance beforehand, hoping to be picked out of the crowd for the fan-favorite moment.
Baranwal said that having been to other concerts like Taylor Swift’s Swift Eras Tour and Tate McRae’s Miss Possessive Tour, she never expected to get up onstage and meet one of her idols. The unforgettable moment soon got attention on social media, with other fans recording and posting Barnawal on stage.
“When I got off the stage, everybody started taking pictures with me, and after, I started noticing that it was [posted] on TikTok,” Barnawal said. ̈I was surprised when it went viral and when so many people started commenting.”
Barnawal said it felt absolutely amazing to be up in front of a crowd with one of her favorite artists, and that the firsthand performance presented her with the unique opportunity of seeing her favorite music come to life in front of her eyes.
While Barnawal’s music taste comes from years of following the same genres, many other MHS students are branching out and experimenting with new artists and types of music to find where they fit best.
Senior Sienna LaRocca recently attended Zach Bryan’s “With Heaven on Tour” show in Louisville, Kentucky. Initially not a fan of country music, LaRocca said that Bryan’s unique blend of country and folk was what caught her attention.
LaRocca said that Bryan’s fanbase created an unmatched, electric environment, making it one of her most memorable nights, a sentiment matched by most fans who have attended his shows in the past. She said that one of the best parts of the concert was being among a devoted crowd and feeling the energy they brought to the night.
“Zach Bryan’s fans and their passion for music made the atmosphere unforgettable,” LaRocca said. “Everybody knew his songs, and they were so loud and dedicated.”
LaRocca said that everyone around her was singing and dancing their hearts out, and the impact of the music was evident in every person in the stadium that night. She said she’s never been to a concert where she felt the crowd was so interconnected, and the community the entire night was a feeling she never got tired of.
“You really felt the music all around you,” LaRocca said. “Even after the show ended, all his fans had this glow about them, his music means so much to so many people.”
LaRocca’s highlight of the night was one of Bryan’s popular songs and the show’s closing moment, “Revival.” LaRocca said the moment brought everyone in the stadium together, with almost every fan singing along word for word.
“[Revival] is one of the songs that got [Bryan] famous,” LaRocca said. “It was the last song of the night, and my friend and I were just dancing as he was putting everything out there one last time.”
While some experience music through more traditional concerts, senior Anna Osmonova has found her love of EDM through raves. EDM is music made up of many sub-genres like house, dubstep and techno.
Osmonova said that growing up, she was always into EDM, finding a true sense of belonging at raves with others who enjoy the same music.
Part of the community that Osmonova has found through this type of music comes with the inclusivity and self-expression at raves. After seeing raves on social media and hearing about them from her friends, she was drawn by the welcoming environment.
“I want[ed] to experience being in a crowd full of people who don’t judge,” Osmonova said. “Raves have this idea called PLUR, for peace, love, unity, and respect, it’s a judgment-free zone.”
Osmonova said that one of the highlights of going to raves is picking out outfits; for her, it’s the chance to experiment and venture out of her usual style. Not only does she get to wear something unique, but Osmonova said that seeing other outfits inspires her to be bolder and step out of her comfort zone.
“People are really colorful and glittery, and just enjoy the music,” Osmonova said, “[The clothes] are a great way to express yourself and be creative with what you wear.”
Osmonova said that she’s never felt more surrounded by a community aligned with her ] spiritually, musically, and physically. She said everyone’s extravagance is welcome and no one tries to out-do one another, eliminating a traditionally competitive nature, only leaving room for the music.
“It’s amazing because in today’s day and age, everyone is comparing themselves to others, wherever you look,” Osmonova said. “But the entire ideology behind rave culture is just to appreciate being around people who feel the music in their bones like you do.”
The experience has left Osmonova wanting to try more shows and festivals, with even plans to attend Lollapalooza this summer. For her, the togetherness and connection she felt stood out, and going to her first rave this year deepened her passion for music.
“A rave isn’t like a regular concert. Most of the concerts I’ve been to are so big, and I never feel connected with the people there. But during raves, people were always coming up [to me], giving out trinkets, letting me put on glasses for the lasers.” Osmonova said, “ It was really about enjoying the moment, and I felt a weight lifted off my shoulders when the music was in my body.”
