I grew up in the cities of New Jersey, hyper-focused on music like reggeaton, rapping to the newest rave in basement parties.

I was geared towards the tunes of urban life, extremely ignorant to many other cultures of music. This was my second concert at Higher Ground in S. Burlington, VT.

My first concert was seeing a band called Lotus. Both concerts I danced to a new tune, that of my boyfriends and the many followers of jam-bands.

There’s a different pace in these places. Everyone wants to speed up and slow down to the music all at the same time. They are all truly connected to the people on the stage. To the people all around them.

Each time I couldn’t help but absorb and experience. There so much I could say and explain, but to put it simply - there is no separateness in these places.

Even if for a moment, everyone finds themselves all at the same time connected to a feeling and a sound like no other.

I’m honored to have been brought into this culture with much love and understanding for my own.