Federica Brandi

Writer at EDM Maniac

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Articles

How Elohim's Mental Health Journey Became An Inspiring Story Of Resilience

1 month ago | edmmaniac.com | Federica Brandi

Enigmatic electropop singer, songwriter, and producer Elohim doesn’t just make music; she transcribes the human experience into it. Combining her electronic music production skills with her classical training, Elohim (aka Valerie Lee) takes listeners through a journey of raw emotion with her unapologetically candid lyrics, all while serving up beats that you can’t help but move to—a truly fresh find in an era of pre-packaged music.
The Hidden Challenges Of Sober Raving

2 months ago | edmmaniac.com | Federica Brandi

Rave culture symbolizes different things for different people. Still, across all continents and every subgenre, raves are venues where individuals gather to party–and that typically involves alcohol and drugs. This statement feels like a dirty secret spoken aloud, as many ravers challenge historical stereotypes about drug use.
Five Lessons Ravers Are Taking From 2024 To 2025

Jan 22, 2025 | edmmaniac.com | Federica Brandi

As the new year arrives, many ravers are reflecting on lessons they’ve learned in 2024. It was an eventful year for dance music, and not just in terms of music releases and festival announcements—economic and social pressures left their mark on the rave community at all levels. People are particularly preoccupied with skyrocketing ticket prices, lackluster festival lineups, overcommercialization, and internal culture clashes in the scene.
How To Keep Long-Distance Rave Friendships Thriving All Year Round

Dec 3, 2024 | edmmaniac.com | Federica Brandi

Raves have always been places where people forge extraordinary friendships, but staying connected with long-distance rave friends can get complex. Keeping the connections that blossom on the dance floor alive after festival season requires intentional effort if catching up in person isn’t an option—yet at the same time, texting and coordinating times to video chat can feel demanding and repetitive.
Are Underground Raves Dead?

Dec 3, 2024 | edmmaniac.com | Federica Brandi

Underground raves are famous, elusive, shrouded in lore, and often misunderstood. People are fascinated with them. Otherwise known as “renegades,” underground raves have captured people’s attention and imagination since the dawn of electronic dance music, and today, the underground is often seen more as a myth than a reality.
The Pashmina's Epic Journey From The Himalayas To The Dancefloor

Sep 17, 2024 | edmmaniac.com | Federica Brandi

When thinking of rave fashion, so many trends come to mind–here are timeless staples like Kandi and cyclical trends like tutus and platform boots–but one garment, in particular, has taken the scene by storm: The pashmina. From major festivals to underground shows, people of all genders love wearing eye-popping scarves on the dancefloor today–and many of us probably know at least one person who spends hours and hours hunting for the perfect pashmina online and in thrift stores.
Festival Report Card: Splash House 2024 (Weekend One)

Aug 18, 2024 | edmmaniac.com | Federica Brandi

With high energy, high spirits, and even higher temperatures, Splash House Weekend One turned up the heat in Palm Springs. The Margaritaville, Saguaro, and Renaissance Palm Springs resort pool parties delivered a unique experience as people played and danced the hot days away. The Friday night pre-party and Saturday afterparty at the Palm Springs Air Museum also delivered an exciting component to the experience.
How To Stay Cool In The Heat And Light On Your Feet At Splash House 2024

Aug 1, 2024 | edmmaniac.com | Federica Brandi

Splash House is just around the corner, meaning it’s about to get wet and wild in the desert. The renowned Palm Springs pool party brings ravers together to relive the excitement and joy of their childhood dog days of summer with the added perks of being a grown-up.
2024 Apparently Is The Year Of Nostalgia, But Will Clinging To The Past Fix The Present?

Jul 31, 2024 | edmmaniac.com | Federica Brandi

Society appears to be gorging itself on nostalgia lately. From re-boots and spinoffs of old movies and TV series to a flood of Y2K-inspired fashion, Polaroids, and remixes of classic hit beats hitting the charts, there’s a palpable yearning for a simpler, more innocent time—and the rave community is no exception.
Did Taylor Swift Fans "Steal" Kandi From The Rave Scene?

Jul 3, 2024 | edmmaniac.com | Federica Brandi

Beyond the music, rave culture is defined by traditions that run deep in the genre’s history, and kandi is one of the most iconic pieces of this history. The brightly colored bead accessories have been a staple image of US rave culture throughout multiple decades, and ravers still pour precious time and love into the craft as other trends come and go. Thanks to this, kandi remains an unmistakable symbol of rave culture– but another music fandom is shaking things up with its own bling.