According to Benny, founder of Musical Madness, the power of hardstyle is not only in the music or the shows, but especially in the community that has formed around the scene. In a recent anniversary interview, the organizer spoke extensively about the atmosphere at events and why, according to him, it feels different compared to other music scenes.
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Benny regularly visits events himself, both from Musical Madness and other organizations. Still, he notices a clear difference every single time he attends a hardstyle event. “When I go to our own events and see the incredible energy there… it feels different,” he says. “I also visit a lot of other events. I can’t even explain exactly why it’s different, but the energy is different.”
According to him, that feeling is not caused by one specific aspect, but rather by a combination of factors. The production, the line-up and especially the crowd all contribute to a unique atmosphere at events. “I think that uniqueness comes from the combination of production, line-up and the energy of the visitors.”
“You will never be alone at a hardstyle event, you will always meet someone”
For Benny, the openness within the hardstyle community plays a major role in that atmosphere. According to him, the scene stands out because of how approachable people are towards each other at events. “I think the hardstyle community is very unique,” he explains. “You can basically go to a party alone and you will always meet someone. You will never spend the entire evening alone.”
According to Benny, that atmosphere can be found at almost every hardstyle event. Visitors know each other, easily connect and share the same passion for the music. “People know each other at parties, greet each other and simply have a great evening together.”
“People travel all over the world for events”
The dedication of hardstyle fans also continues to amaze him. Benny regularly sees visitors traveling from different countries to attend Musical Madness events. “People come from everywhere to visit our events,” he says. Fans with tattoos of event logos like Apex or Into The Madness also leave a strong impression on him. “That remains unbelievable to see.”
According to Benny, that dedication is exactly what makes hardstyle so special. “The most surprising thing I’ve learned from the community is that no distance is too far,” he says. “People travel all over the world for events.”
Images via: Musical Madness
