Kaskade has recently generated a stir within the media after he responded to the LA Times for sensationalizing drug deaths within the EDM community. The controversial article began with the premise that HARD’s popular Halloween event – Day of the Dead – will not be held due to the deaths that had occurred during HARD Summer.
The headline of the article (Hard’s Day of the Dead) was not mentioned in the second half of the article. Why? The LA Times decided to focus on the tragic deaths that had occurred at various festivals in California. Basically, the LA Times suggested that the world of electronic music and drug-related deaths were inherently connected. The article in question can be read here.
Kaskade’s response came swiftly, eloquently and passionately.
Kaskade has never been shy to share his opinion and the producer took to Twitter and his website journal to fire back at the LA Times.
This newest attempt to demonize EDM culture by equating raves with drug deaths is not only shoddy reporting, but also inaccurate. Kaskade‘s response points out that numbers prove that drug-related deaths are not unique to dance events.
“So, in the past 10 years there have been 21 substance-related deaths at dance events. And EVERY DAY there are 27 substance-related deaths, which are somehow less news and attention worthy. I suppose once you reach a certain point, the news doesn’t notice anymore.”
Kaskade certainly has a point. Substance-related deaths while tragic are not wholly unique to the dance community. Neither I nor thatDROP is in any way condoning illegal drug use, but let’s look at this logically.
What does demonizing electronic music and culture do? It does nothing. It sensationalizes, it frightens and it poisons the community. Instead of trying to choose a scapegoat, people should look for solutions.
There are better answers than regurgitating the same alarmist solutions that have never worked, which will NEVER work. Try this on: education, harm reduction and legalization.
Kaskade has said it better than I ever could. Education, harm reduction and legalization. Instead of trying to find someone or something to point a finger at and blame, we should be expending our efforts towards promoting festival safety and drug education. Kaskade‘s response to the LA Times sensationalizing drug-related deaths is a perfect segue into talking about festival safety.
Kaskade‘s response to the LA Times has efficiently opened this discussion that we need to have about safety and education. We all go to these events to have fun and because we love music. We are all responsible for the safety and wellbeing of ourselves as well as others. If you see someone who looks ill or who looks like they need help, help them! There are medical tents and water stations everywhere on festival grounds. We always talk about PLURR, so let’s show it.
