A Prayer to Aliveness

Rain on skin…

Sweat on lips…

Coconut water on tongue…

The whole night, a conversation in liquid.

———

We’re gushing today.

Amidst my downtempo week while heeding The Heptagon of True Rest’s call, I slipped over to Vancouver for what I daresay was my most enjoyable night of song and dance all year—and I’ve been blessed with a lot of excellent shows this year.

You could say I curated my own one-day festival, starting the night early at an unexpectedly nice club that I’d never been to before, then moving to a gritty warehouse rave that was everything I hoped a night of drum’n’bass in a place that maybe should have offered tetanus shots at the door would be.

In other words, everything was perfect.

I can only describe the first show as a beautiful display of artistic talent, blending house, techno, and orchestral instrumentation into one cohesive, stunning sound.

I couldn’t have asked for a more soothing, uplifting warm-up for what came next.

———

Flowing from club to hotel for a wee and a wardrobe change, rain begins to fall.

I smile into the drops, thanking them for cooling me, for refreshing me.

———

As soon as I saw the warehouse from the outside, I felt the current flare to life.

Faded, peeling paint. Crumbling plaster. No external markings. 

Finally, a proper taste of the underground…

Which somehow had the most magnificent sound I’ve found in the city so far, and where I was blessed by one of the openers mixing what was essentially one of my own playlists into a cohesive, absolute banger of a set. Seriously: I knew over 90% of the songs, and each one well enough to sing along. How often does that happen?!

———

When I breathe, my lungs carry the beat.

When I raise my hand, the music crescendos.

When I let go, the night swallows me whole.

Firmly adrift in rhythm, I can’t stop smiling.

Song bubbles out of my throat unbidden.

With every day that passes, more synchronicities emerge.

The more I live from the fire in my belly, the more the world conspires in my favour.

———

The headliner unfolded into this unique-for-me experience where I only have a few clear memories of specific moments. In contrast, I have plenty from the prior DJs.

But what I’ve carried with me from his set in a deeply profound way is the feeling: 

Which was simply lovely.

I do have one standout memory though, which is a fucking excellent drum’n’bass flip of Green Day’s Boulevard of Broken Dreams. And he played out the whole song, which is super rare for drum’n’bass. Usually songs change every 30-60 seconds.

Boulevard of Broken Dreams is one of my childhood favourites, and was one of my practice songs for October. Needless to say, this felt like a gift from the heavens.

And I love, love, loooved being able to sing along well.

———

Stumbling out of the warehouse, I am PARCHED. 

I knew I did a terrible job of hydrating, but I was much too busy dancing.

Across the street, I spy an oasis in the form of a 24 hour convenience store.

Never ever before have I downed a litre of coconut water in three minutes.

———

I very nearly stayed home last weekend, only deciding to go the day before.

After all, how often do two international artists you’ve been dying to see for ages play on the same night in the only nearby city where the music you like happens, with one being an early show that allows you to rock up right on time for the second?

Probably never again.

Plus, ‘twas Halloween weekend, and I do enjoy dressing up like the Cheshire Cat. 

———

I promised myself rest.

But few things are more restful than a night of play, however that looks to you.

“Remember, remember,” she purrs with delight.

“Aliveness flows wherever you let yourself spill.”

With love from the forest,

~ Alexander