A small, but current wave of no-phones policies highlights the scene’s underlying battle with digital screens and enjoying the present moment. A night on the dancefloor has turned into a social media ad campaign. With party goers holding phones up during key moments of sets, and venues sacrificing an immersive environment in the hopes of viral posts and views. Naturally, when the little camera-covering stickers come out at the door, I already know the crowd is more immersed in the music and...

2025 was my year — after years of watching from the sidelines, I finally dove into ADE, hitting 7 events in 4 days. We kicked it off with a rave that topped Google’s ‘sustainable ADE events’ list: Droppie x Bye Bye Plastic. Low-budget, high-vibe — proof that doing good doesn’t kill the party. It amplifies it.