 Do Asians love EDM as much as white people love country Latinos love reggaeton and black people love rap Welcome everybody to the hotpot boys David We just got back from Las Vegas from our very first EDC event. We bought in we took a plane We went there to join the rest of the Asian world What do we see there? Oh the skydeck VIP zone is about 70% Asian General admission is about 25% Asian considering America is 6% Asian It's like 40% Asian. I mean, it's really over represented I thought I was in like an engineering or computer science or medical program for years on the internet people have asked the question Why do Asians love EDM festival so much? Why why why will pop up all these little questions that people have asked? Well, David, we have 10 reasons why Asians love EDM now You may think that we're complete outsiders. We've been keeping up with the scene for a while I've actually met Elenium and Marlon from the base Jackers. So you know I told him I talked to them about some of this stuff because they got a lot of Asian fans by the way So here are 10 reasons why Asians love EDM? Let us know in the comments down below which reasons apply to you and if you think we left any out Do you agree disagree guys? We're not the first people to talk about it point number one There is a historical context for Asians to like EDM because there has always been a decently large Asian rave scene someone told me Andrew that we are in AZN Raver 3.0 Wow 1.0 was in the 1990s with the pet shop boys mystic boys AZN Raver number 2.0. This was like exchange LA days Ken Lloyd And we are right now in AZN Raver 3.0 Which is Steve Aoki, but the favorite DJs like you said our Griffin, Elenium and Porta Robinson guys this is back when it was more referred to as like techno trance like the term EDM Wasn't really even used and then also it was highly highly and tightly knit with the Asian racer scene and this is when you know you had the light gloves and all these hand movements is where it came from This is there was an Asian rave scene before EDC was even an event okay before insomniac Started throwing stuff in Orlando or LA. This is this is the Asian rave I mean basically long story short I would say since the 1980s which is when like Asian Americans really started popping up like from our generation They've only been Favorited favorite of two types of music and one is EDM and one is hip-hop But I would say out of like three decades probably hip-hop got like one decade and the other two decades went to EDM And right now we are in the EDM decade. All right point number two EDM is culturally open as in you don't really have to buy into any specific culture to enjoy it And this is different than other genres of music. It does feel like sometimes other genres of music belonging I guess to other ethnic groups in America sometimes. I'm not saying for sure. It could feel a little bit like Self-glamorizing you know like when you're at a country show, it's like if you ain't a country boy Then what are you doing at the show or like at a hip-hop show? It might be like man if you're not like us Then really what are you or that at the reggaeton? They're like, hey You have to be Spanish to understand the rhythms of the like the romantic urn Yeah, I mean there's oftentimes no words to songs or our songs with words But they're usually about very relatable topics like love and being free and being positive, you know I mean, that's a good song by the way But you know, it's a very relatable topic and there's no like specific stories and slang that you have to know Right, even though a lot of EDM music is produced in like Sweden on a computer It's never like if you are Swedish on a computer you can't be here Yeah, no, it's very wide open in a way. I'd almost say it's like a blank canvas The only culture is to have peace love unity and respect plur and I do think that's been changing though Someone told me that as EDM has become hyper mainstream, especially in the AZ and raver 3.0 stage Which is right now that like everybody else has started to come in It's sort of like when the tech bros started coming in a tech and the pure like technologists are feeling like hey, man I don't know this guy from like Alpha SIG keeps like trying to like beat me up This kind of moves on to point number three Asians feel accepted here guys. We know being minorities in America There's not that many big mainstream parties that Asians feel completely accepted But I will tell you this EDC, you know, it's built into the culture to be accepting of Accepting of all types of people wearing all types of clothing. So when you're Asian there, you don't really feel like you're standing out Yeah, I think there's two types of acceptance There is consumer acceptance, which is you going to the show How do you feel and then on the back end how many Asians are getting money like points either producing the music or throwing the Events and EDM Andrew Asians are getting money Well Asians are spending money obviously as consumers, but a lot of Asians are making money as DJs whether that's like like we said You know, there's been Asian DJs DJ shadow going all the way back to Ken Lloyd to now Steve Aoki zoo The names are like sort of endless. Yeah, I mean, I would even say comparing it to an event like Coachella Coachella is much more about being cool putting on your best fit You want to go viral for your outfit, but EDC is like even if you don't have a good outfit No one's like bugging out. No one's gonna like look at you be like, oh, yeah, you're scrub You know, it's just not a judgmental space to be honest and also one last criticism that some people have said Some people ask the question that do Asians like EDC because they feel accepted there, but accepted by white people I don't know because it's mostly still a white event actually at the majority of it Oh, no for sure. I mean, um Like has gone through a lot of phases and people perceive EDM to be a upper middle-class white music genre Yeah, but particularly for progressive like open-minded middle-class, right number four all types of Asians go to EDM festivals Now I'm talking about everything from Asian thugs to Asians frats and sororities You're talking about Asian medical students Asian engineers to Asian CEO tech founders, right? You talking about geek money to street money They got everything in between I think of the different groups that you see at EDM festivals, but mostly that's to be honest just mostly white and Asian from what I've seen Uh, I would say the Asians have like every single archetype of Asian Whereas when I see the whites at EDM shows they tend to be more like one or two different types But if I examine the Asians, it's like they got all like 20 days. David. We're at EDC You know, we did happen to have access to the skydeck VIP area and let me tell you this There was like shirtless Asian thugs like tatted up from head to toe and they were just like just loving the music So and there was the table across was like some CEO tech founders some crypto kids and just all All different types of backgrounds guys Maybe it's an event not just to bring all people together, but all Asians And I think that once that in AZ and Raver 3.0 like we're talking about the three different segments Once it got super mainstream at some point the snowball just keeps on rolling No, and and other Asians who are not really the EDM like us We just end up going because we're just like all Asians are going Yeah, also, I do think that to the point of Asians either loving hip-hop, which was mostly from 2002 to 2012 But a lot of those people that were hip-hop producers or rappers if they wanted to stay in the music industry Andrew They actually switched over to EDM to get money whether they're like producing the shows or making the beats The reason that that's relevant Andrew is because me and you loving hip-hop hip-hop and EDM are not Oppositionally to each other. They're sort of like cousins There's artists and or like a Yuletron or Waka flaka who made the jump from the hip-hop world to the EDM world point number five It is an escape from what is often otherwise a stressful and compressed Asian life I mean listen if you talk to anybody who discovered EDM festivals and felt accepted there They almost are like it was just so freeing like I just I kind of dropped everything I didn't have to think about my Overbearing parents and I didn't have to think about this and that and it was just an escape people like escapes And let me tell you this it is a different world when you go to these festivals Especially EDC the way they build it up and the music and the looks and everything It's just like you're almost in a dreamland. Yeah, and I don't think it's like for everybody. Some people They're just like, you know, it's just another reason to party. I've been partying my whole life But you're right There is a segment of people specifically probably East Asian with like very high expectation Tiger parents who's going as like almost this Like party 101, you know in addition to their like school syllabus and they're trying to get an A Point number six for some Asians and some people in general It feels like a spiritual moment and especially for those who are maybe not very religious now I mean, I think if you've ever met anybody that has really discovered EDM And maybe they were on the substances as well, but they were like, oh my gosh I felt free. I just opened up to the music and it was just like a spiritual moment for myself And maybe I feel better about myself. Maybe it helped with depression or whatever it was But like it definitely sounded like they had they found God at EDC. No for sure I mean, I think it's like scientifically proven whether it's like the BPM rate or the heart syncopation with your heartbeat Different things. It's like Andrew I saw this quote in this article where somebody said, you know, this EDM stage brought me closer to God Than any book ever has. Whoa. Yeah, I mean, it's possible guys again, you know music I do think it depends on your prior like religious upbringing or exposure Yeah, I do think like for example, like perhaps if you grew up at a you know, African-American Baptist Church where every Sunday You're already up singing and you're moving along with the choir and stuff like that, you know And you have that as part of your life. Maybe you don't need EDM music as much to get up off your feet No, you probably would prefer to be at Kanye Sunday service, right? Right? I mean, maybe you know, I mean, I'm just making generalizations But guys point number seven EDM DJs have very relatable images that I think is very appealing to Asians Right spent a lot of time in front of the computer usually like prep school backgrounds. Oh, they're nice guys Yeah, they're nice guys. No rap sheets for the most part not like, uh, you know It's not like other genres could could potentially get kind of crazy I think that that's why people like them too, but you know rock stars wrecking hotel rooms or rappers getting shot Yeah, overall EDM DJs are often guys who even used to work like as engineers or doing something with the computer And then they got into producing music and then, you know, some of them even have like a anime background for example So guys, Porta Robinson and a Lenny and big anime fans. Yeah I've heard Asian guys time after time be like, hey, man, I think I could be an EDM DJ. That looks lit I might have to see how many ABG's are there. I wish I was it. I'm just kidding. David What if instead of being in a rap, we were just in the EDM this whole time. We don't pick the wrong genre Hey, headlining, you know, kinetic field fun, bro. Hey, and we bought the wrong stock Point number eight you can dress Very revealing and sexy without being judged. Also, you could partake in a number of different Substances and not be judged. Yeah, it's kind of a time to just not be judged This goes back to the whole cultural aspect where you know, and I think it's really big for Asian guys who like to work out Because they're like, when else do I get to show off to the world a bunch of non Asians that I'm really really buff that I've been counting my macros. Well, this is a great time Just take off your shirt and no one's even gonna judge you it makes perfect sense even with women as well Obviously, you want to dress very sexy without the connotation that you're gonna be harassed not saying none of that stuff happens But it probably doesn't happen as often as you know, considering how many people are there But like yes, the whole idea is that you can walk around and you have space to vibe out and people aren't gonna like No, it is a safe space I mean, I think that that's what their general rule is It's like we want to provide a safe space for you to have a fantastic galactic experience But remove the downside risk of you know, potentially what could happen in high-risk exposure environments point number nine It is one of those few events in the world that Asians feel comfortable Mobbing to in large groups. We're talking about what's aptex groups of like 20 30 people who are going to EDC, right? And whether you can meet up with each other because it's a logistical nightmare, but like they just it's it's an easy buy-in Asians are like Hey, we're all going let's go and other Asians are like, all right, I'm in You know what's funny and I was doing research for this article in 2015 There was kind of a controversy in the EDM world at least in America where people were complaining about Asian trains Which is so almost like a frat stroll But with just a group of friends that doesn't want to lose each other So some people were saying like they were getting really mad at that but Andrea 2022 now it doesn't seem like it's a big issue anymore. These articles were from 2015 I know what you're talking to do because Asians, you know, especially for all the reasons listed They're gonna go there as a group and feel comfortable each other They want to link together so they kind of make these long snakes that kind of cut through the crowd And basically if you're a person in the crowd, you have to like move. Let me tell you this I know that it's it's big because Andrew There is a subtle Asian ravers group on Facebook with like 120,000 members and that's pretty much just America and Canada Yeah, I think it really comes down to Asians really seeking safe spaces and and EDC is one of the more wild Still safe. No, it's lit and it's safe and the how often you find those two things juxtaposed and layered together Yeah, if I'm it's lit and it's safe Asians are gonna be there and point number 10 Asians have embraced EDM because they don't necessarily have their own form of music like we said earlier And it seems like a lot of us especially obviously southern white people. They tend to gravitate towards Country music northern white people. They tend to gravitate towards rock music African-Americans gravitate towards hip-hop Latinos gravitate towards reggaeton. I'm obviously these are like They're not really there. This is just like the main group that consumes it or desi people You can ask any desi American Indian American and they're like, oh, I listen to some bongra At least I'm familiar with it. Which is funny enough Jay Sean was at EDC I'm not saying Jay Sean is bongra, but he did have some bongra influences in his earlier albums But I think you know and shout out to K-pop we have K-pop, but it doesn't use a lot of necessarily like traditional Asian Elements, right? So I think when it comes to music that is specifically infused with Asian elements There's not really a pop one right now. Now. There are some songs here They're from J-Chile Wangli home that had the goot on the Artists from Japan and Korea and Vietnam But for the most part the vast majority of music consumed even in language in those countries Doesn't have a lot of Asian instruments because the West has sort of determined what is modern music by using their drum kids and their Guitars and things like that. Yeah. Yeah, and I do feel like Indians were the one like Asian group that has deeply infused their traditional music and I'd actually just heard like a like EDM dance song that was mixed with traditional Indian music would play like five seconds of it right now You know what I'd like to see I think that we generally think that Asian culture doesn't have a lot of like rhythm and drums in it But we have taiko drums and we have the drums that you use for for Chinese New Year the You know for the lion dance, so I don't know if people could somehow incorporate those those would still count as Asian elements In my opinion and Lenny M and Porter could always one I'd like to see how they would flip it as outsiders. I have a bonus point I'm not gonna spend a lot of time on this but EDM trance house techno are really big in Asia as well And it's partially because Asia has probably interface more with Europe or interface with Europe earlier on then it did with American culture and but also if you go to any club in Asia like any club in any big city in Asia For the most part they're gonna play mostly EDM techno house stuff like dude It is super common and I remember growing up at church There was like somebody else our church that was really into the JDM scene They were listening to techno and trance to pock remixes in the year like 2005 Like literally this is oh five pock died in 95 and they were playing techno to pock. Let me pop up some videos of Shuffling in China because people love shuffling in China I do think it also goes down to the electronic music or the midi music of even games like chrono trigger final fantasy Kingdom Hearts, etc. I do think there's some tie-in with anime RPGs as well as even the blade soundtrack and or that was the first time I got Exposed to that like deep house trance, you know from Europe that Actually and for me my biggest takeaway is that it's just something that fits with Asians even though it's not inherently Asian There's nothing inherently Asian about computer science. There's nothing inherently Asian about medicine That's been like a worldwide thing, right? It's just like numbers and stuff like that But for whatever reason Asians really gravitate towards it in like disproportionate numbers. Yeah, yeah I mean, I think the question is like does the EDM help Asians find a release and find their voice or does it just help Asians feel? Like they fit in like everybody else. I don't know guys. These are just bigger questions I'll leave it at that and let us know what you thought about our list in the comments down below. There's more ABG AZNs at EDM's than their ABGs at KTVs. Oh Yeah, also be another factor. I forgot to mention. All right, everybody. Thank you so much for watching We are the hot pop boys and until next time we out peace