Erin D’Aleo / Equinox Staff: Boston DJ Richard Fraioli said, “Come out with me, let me introduce you to my scene, my world, my music and I’ll show you that you don’t need it.
“Molly” has become a household name as a result of recent high profile deaths of four young adults.
All four of their deaths were linked to the use of this drug at festivals showcasing electronic dance music, or EDM.
It is an exponentially growing reality that festival patrons are seeing; people are succumbing in similar situations across the country and, perhaps, the globe.
Now, EDM lovers and even disc jockeys are rising against the new stigma that is following a culture and lifestyle they worship.
Molly is the purest form of MDMA, an ingredient in ecstasy.
It is known for the euphoric side effects which enhance positive emotions.
Electronic dance music can ignite these feelings without the drug, but is said to be intensified when paired with Molly.
Junior Conner Lane has been a part of the EDM community since his freshman year at Keene State College when he was introduced to dubstep, a form of electronic music.
He has attended Identity Festival and seen artists such as Thomas Gold and Swedish House Mafia.
“The whole show is set up to entertain you,” Lane said, “whether it’s to make you dance, or the lights, there are crazy visuals that are kind of ‘out-of-this-world’, so I think Molly just kind of enhances the effect.”
Senior Becca Browning said she considers EDM artist, Pretty Lights her asphyxiation, but enjoys music from Lotus and Bassnectar to name a few.
As someone who regularly goes to these concerts, she said the circumstances are absurd.
“I definitely think the environment encourages people to do any variety of drugs,” she said.
“But I think it’s almost kind of embarrassing because I go to these shows, I spend money on tickets, I travel, and I get hotels because I enjoy the atmosphere.”
It is hard to imagine that every single person of the thousands that convene at EDM shows consume Molly and that is because it is simply not the case.
Regardless, big-name artists such as Afrojack and festivals like Electronic Adventure at Six Flags New England have been forced to cancel future shows as a rising number of venues are taking precautionary measures to ensure the safety of their attendees.
Investigators are also looking at the possibility of a “bad batch” of Molly being sold all over the east coast.
The tragedy is opening eyes, but the reality is hurting the artists as well as EDM fans who abide by the rules and PLUR: Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect.
Lane said he genuinely loves the music and frowns upon Molly.
One of the main traits he loves about the genre is the energy that it brings.
“One of the big things they always talk about is how electronic music is so universal,” he said.
“So everyone can kind of relate to it and there’s no language barrier. Sometimes there’s no lyrics,” Lane continued.
Boston-based DJ Richard Fraioli, who has been a professional DJ for nearly eight years, sided with Lane.
At 27 years old, he said he takes pride in the fact he has never taken Molly or any other substance.
The thing with electronic music is the natural energy that the music gives off, he said.
“The feeling that people have when they’re on these drugs, I feel naturally.”
Fraioli has opened for EDM artists such as Steve Aoki, Avicii, Fedde Le Gran and Bob Sinclar.
For seven consecutive years, Fraioli has performed at the notable Ultra Music Festival in Miami, Florida, which is the best EDM festival in the world, according to Fraioli.
With hundreds of thousands attending every year, he described it as a privilege and honor to even be playing at the festival.
He jumps up and down, throws his hands in the air and sweats whenever he performs his set.
“I’m literally feeling this music and I’m letting my emotions out through the music that I play and the vibe that I wanna give off to the crowd when they see me,” Fraioli said.
Fraioli said he credits the newfound explosion in EDM to “Top 40” artists who don’t have anything to do with the genre yet incorporate it into their music for a boost in airplay.
“The reason why the whole Ecstasy and Molly thing has become so big out of nowhere is because our genre of EDM has literally taken over the world. Electronic music was never really played on commercial radio,” Fraioli said.
“But now since all these commercial artists are incorporating it into their songs, it’s like the people have no choice but to listen to it,” he continued.
Lane said he believes the sudden popularity of the genre is a fad among young people who do not appreciate the music properly.
He said, “I don’t like when people go to these shows and do Molly because I don’t feel like they’re really in it for the music and how it makes them feel.”
“They’re just in it for how the drugs make them feel. So when they go, they don’t dissect the music like I would because that’s what I love about it. It’s just so different, “ Lane continued.
Fraioli stressed that when people do Molly, it’s up to them.
“People who do any drug, first and foremost, that’s their choice. You can always say no,” he said.
He also added that he does not like how people associate any EDM festival with Molly because “people are going to do it anyway.”
If they want to do it, he said, they’re going to do it anyway no matter what anyone says.
“You don’t need a drug to experience this music to the full effect. You don’t,” Fraioli said. “This goes for any kind of music. If you give it a chance, and actually listen to it, you’ll realize that you don’t need it,” he continued.
“Come out with me, let me introduce you to my scene, my world, my music and I’ll show you that you don’t need it,“ he continued.
This seems to be the consensus among DJs, as distinguished EDM DJ Kaskade sent out a plea to his fans via multiple Twitter posts. He said that his music is just as great, if not better, sober.
“Give me a night. Just you + me + the lights + the music. Let me take you there… That’s my job. I believe 100% it can be life-changing and uplifting when you are 100% sober,” he wrote on Twitter.
While the deaths stemming from Molly are gut wrenching, it is still very much a wake-up call for everyone in the EDM community.
“I think it’s going to totally change everything,” Lane confessed.
“I think that now that they cancelled such big shows, people are actually going to start thinking, ‘Okay, I really don’t need to do this to go to one of these shows”he said.
Fraioli said everyone just needs to relay the same message; you DON’T need Molly.
“If more DJs and producers and artists and the scene put out the message, that you don’t need it and you can say no, I think it’ll help.”
Kattey Ortiz can be contacted at kortiz@keene-equinox.com
