Fadel

“I listen to techno, house, and electro every day and all the time. It gets me into a good mood. It takes my negativity out. I am more energetic. It makes me go on and on. I don’t remember having a good time without techno music.

I met mister techno in Berlin at a new year’s event in Berghain. The best introduction you can get. It was magical. The music, people and place. I didn’t know what I was going to see. I was wearing a t-shirt and I was not very accepting of being naked, wearing jockstraps, leather or accessories like that. I didn’t understand it. It took me a while to see it as a fashion path more than a fetish.

Since then, I know this is the music I want, the life I want. I started to understand how to wear outfits and be more accepting of people. The first time I was like, what’s all of this? But now I am like, go for it. I started rough. I grew a lot in these events and underground places in Prague. From a boring guy into very talkative guy.

I became more accepting of people and I can adjust myself. This is what I learned from this journey. I can wear anything I want I can say anything. I can adapt my self at any place I am in.

After going to these events for five years and meeting friends, new people and DJ’s I noticed they love my dance moves. Dancing also changes by time. You learn from people how to move. Now I can dance on the DJ stand and have the power of this place where everyone wants to know you and talk to you. Either you will be arrogant, or you will be humble and nice by helping people who had too much drugs or alcohol to go home. This is reflecting a lot on who I am. If I am too much, I realize it and I calm down. Sometimes I am very talkative, and I become boring.

Techno parties have given me a lot of confidence. I feel very confident in my body now more than before. I was ashamed or too shy to wear tank tops, crop tops, see-through mesh or harnesses. Until last year. I wanted to show more body when the clubs would be open again after the lockdown. Now techno events are the reason why I started to work out.

Hedonism for me means interacting with my body and someone else’s body. Specially In the dark when you look at someone but you don’t know if they are into you or not. Then you spend some time to discover what your relation is with this person. We make an eye contact from time to time and then I go somewhere else just to see if they follow me to a different stage that’s how I know if there is something between us. But if they didn’t follow me, then they are probably waiting for me to come back. We look at each other again as we are saying: welcome back! This is just the beginning and the ultimate fun for me. 

It is important to respect everyone’s space and outfit with no judgment. Good bouncers, a selective door policy and a no-photo policy also contribute to a safer space. And no means no.

To first time ravers I would say, go with someone you trust and feel safe with. Be with someone that is willing to take care of you. And you will enjoy yourself. And bring a folded fan! If you don’t have big fan your chance of meeting new people is low. It’s the key. Do you know how many new people I meet because of my giant fan?”  

🗣 @7eemada2
📸 @hedonsonance / Annelies Kietselaer