Masters of our ceremonies,
make me dance,
make me move,
play the tune that my body sings to.
Music,
dance with me, speak to me,
until I can hardly breathe,
take all capacity of thought, emotion, and being,
until my being fills with you,

music

you are

my

muse.

MOVEMENT: Detroit’s Electronic Music Festival
My favorite music festival in North America, it brings in elements of Detroit’s energy, a grittiness and depth that can only be found in this amazing city.
Our city….
of soul, dilapidation and creativity.

Looking around, where thousands surround Detroit’s Hart Plaza, I am witness to the growth of what this movement has become, since it’s start 12 years ago.

It has been 5 years since Paxahau Events Production has taken over, in observing each year evolving, they outdid themselves yet again.
There are 4 stages set up in the plaza, the speakers immense and encompassing, they vibrate sound powerfully.
Each stage holds its own micro-environment, bouncing from each, my ear tunes in to the music, music created with a depth and intelligence that evolves with humanity’s grasp on technology.
This is more than music, a group, connection, or festival
it is a commitment
to expansion and development.
Progression at its finest displayed in this musical community.
With lounges, massage and aqua in the VIP
I felt treated, like a queen.

5 years ago I understood this to be the music that was my soul’s beat.
Invoking within me a pulse that once switched on, there was no turning off.
This started a journey into an underground scene that has brought out the full spectrum within me, transforming every part of my being.

speaking of melancholy and beauty, awakened with this track

This year, as I strolled down the stone steps to the massive stage set up in the center, my thoughts were of a disconnected nature.
In the past this scene was a huge part of my life, now a smaller piece of the whole of my existence.

“Will this do for me what it used to?”
I asked myself

“After all I have experienced, what does this mean to me now?”

Ricardo Villalobos started to play…

Heavy, low bass rumbled through me, re-awakening my purpose within sound.
The air thick with rich, warm South American tones, reminiscent of where I traveled from.
A musical healing, the vibrations touch on parts of my being, becoming a dancing release.
My body was attached to the spot,

I

can’t

stop

dancing

Music and I remembering one another as long-lost lovers,
we meet and all that is spoken of is this intertwining love

Transporting me through space and time.

On a Boat party with techno playing on top deck, I was captivated by a musical spell.
Losing track of hours, perpetually fueled by sound, the bass becomes the heartbeat and we all synchronize individually to its pulse.

Sun shining through the clouds, floating around the detroit river,
there was love abundant with playful fun and laughter.
dancing, dancing,
Good friends and connecting

thought to self,

amazing that I am here, back to my roots, enjoying
my heart’s calling

leading

me

to

Incubation states of tranquility and centering in the Westin Book Cadillac hotel.
Here I cultivated familial ties I have made with people from all over the world, connecting through music. This year, instead of pushing myself to go, go, go, I listened to and honored my body’s needs.
Water, coffee and raw greens were my keys.
Parties with incredible artists I passed on, what transpired instead were intense, thought-provoking conversations.
Emanating and radiating,
inwardly and outwardly.

Radiating

A group of us tried our hand at physically seeing what we could produce,forming an energetic ball created from love,we joined together to send out love vibes from this weekend
to?
Afghanistan

Instantly as we spoke it,through the window, a green laser pointed its way right through the center of our circle

The old Miami, a Veterans bar in Detroit is like a hodgepodge of contrast, converging on memorial Day.
.

Out in the grassy backyard, with the sun shining, the air breathing music, existence is penetrated with a dream state.
Becoming pure alchemy, within this there is transcendence.
We are taken to elevated dancing places. Music has it’s own consciousness and that essentially is all I wish to witness.
With a smile on everyone’s face, it was literal utopia,

I think to myself, this is the potential for all of humanity.

I understand these groups I am drawn to have subtle ties to our roots.
Paxahau of Mayan origin literal meaning
Pax=power of music ; Ahau=cycle of time in Mayan calendar.
Visionquest literal meaning = Native American rite of passage in finding one’s self through vision.
Their symbols geometric, correlating to the innate wisdom of these intelligent races.

Movement is a primal instinct grounded within us, stemming back to the dawn of humanity. Our own dance rituals and sounds have evolved into something I know our ancestors would be proud of.

As I am dancing on the grass, under the sunlight, a veteran in his army uniform strolls over.
“Your dancing makes me happy, seeing all of this love and peace reminds me that this is the freedom I fought for.
Can you show me how to dance to
this
music?”
he asks

feel it capitulate you,
move with it however you allow it to
An energetic exchange, infinity of ebb and flow,
a bridging of many worlds occurs,
music is
universal language

xo,

Nicole

Thank you Paxahau for incredible production for the best weekend yet, excited for more to come.
Thank you Visionquest, yet again for blowing all of our minds : )
Thank you Nico Heins for the photography,
Thank you Peter for the help with my blog.
Thank you to everyone who I connected with this weekend, astounding.