envy

In the beginning of September, I find myself on another last minute trip with one of my best friends and we had a chance to dance for a party that used to happen in Vancouver called Envy My Music but this time it was Envy My Music Frankfurt where it all began. It was quite the experience specially because I hadn’t really officially danced for a party. I usually just play host when EMM was here in Vancouver. So this experience was quite different and fun nonetheless. Check out the video and slideshow on the next part of the post. In the eyes of Ricardo, here’s how it all went down:

Few years back, when Envy My Music came to our city, I got hypnotized by the European electronic music, the costumes, and the idea of the circus of the future . Now in its 3rd Anniversary, a new season has arisen and the kaleidoscopic propaganda drew my attention to one place: Frankfurt.

Like a little kid in search a new candy store, I started looking for flights.

Ricardo says: Pack your bags.

Redd says: Why?

Ricardo says: We’re going to Europe!

Redd says: LOL. Right & where?

Ricardo says: What about EMM Frankfurt?

Redd says: OMFG, Yes! Let’s go to Barcelona too?

And so we embarked in our journey across the Atlantic. Few days after visiting the cities of Paris and Barcelona, we finally arrive to our last destination: Frankfurt. A very modern city with not much of a gay scene, but with amazing parties open to all gay and straights alike. Envy My Music being one of those gay friendly events.

9.30 PM Redd is sleeping, I am looking at the clock, and we still have 90 minutes until it s time to go to the club. I am anxious. I am back in town, and in few minutes I will be in of the most incredible clubs I have ever seen. I turn the tv on, cant understand a thing & everything is in German. Zap, zap & nothing.

Pressed the mute button, and plugged my iPod to the room’s mp3 console. Play some soft music and lay my head in the soft pillow.

“Damn I fell asleep!”

Apparently the short instant I closed my eyes was more like one full hour in the land of dreams. I was tired. Redd is still sleeping, I rush into the washroom and splash my face with some water. I turn the volume up, and play track 12 on my favorite iPod playlist. It’s time to party!

“Do not get loud with me sir!” -I hear, meaning Redd is awake.

10:45 PM In the cute little red room we stayed in, I pour drinks in the short mini glasses I found (they looked more like shot glasses). Slowly we get dress, and packed the camera loaded with 4 GB of memory. I open the fridge, grab 2 cans of Redbull and head out the door.

The copper doors of the elevator open up, the chandelier hanging at the top of the ceiling make our skin look as orange as the copper walls of the interior. Ripped, half naked, gorgeous surfers speak with an Aussie accent in the background. The slim TV attached to the elevator is showing some surfing competition on the Japanese coast. Bell rings and door opens up, the penguin lamps welcome us to the hotel lobby, our taxi has arrived.

“Cocoon Club” I tell the driver, he turns the Mercedes around, turns the radio on, and catchy dance music starts playing. Are you here for the festival? he asks. ”No”, – we reply. ‘We are here for Envy’ .

By the look on Redd’s face I don’t think he even imagined the magnitude of this event. I Sip the last drop of my sugar-free energy drink..

The Cocoon Club, home of EMM is both modern and impressive. It is truly one of a kind, and is well known for its incredible interior design. Cocoon is not just a massive dance club, but it is also host of Silk and Micro which is a bar and a restaurant attached to the same building.

Guten Abend! The front door guy greets us. “Hallo”, I answered. We go and talk to the hostess who welcomes us and pointed us the direction where all the dancers and promoters are inside.

We walked in, and it feels like a surreal dream has sucked us into this strange neon land. Green glowing walls on outter side, and a hive-like panel surrounding the main dance floor on the inner side. DJ Skai is on the turntables and I feel at home. The music is a mix of electro and house, with a punch of Euro-style that makes us wanna dance. Some guests are hanging out in the lounge areas, and within the cocoons. Just chatting and enjoying their drinks.

We walk through Silk and go backstage were some of the dancers are already getting into costume. A snappy-faced girl looks at me with her big eyes. She tries to say something in German, but I don’t understand a word. The big afro style wig she has on is as big as my surprise to find out that it was Hannah. We met a year ago. She is not only beautiful, but a lot of fun to party with. She starts screaming with excitement, she seems happy to see me again, and this time with one more Vancouverite.

Then a gorgeous blond man comes out, and approaches me. ”Yum” Redd says, Indeed – I reply. I don t know what to say. That was Philip right in front my eyes, it s hard to picture him with his new long straight hairdo. Looking as hot as last year, he gives Redd and I a big welcoming hug.Then I see Sheena. Holding her long streams of burgundy hair, she runs over to welcome us and introduce us the rest of the crew. Behind the scenes, 14 dancers, 4 staff members. We get ready for one crazy night, with lots of fun & excitement.

Davide appears and hands me a bottle of booze. He speaks no English and I speak no German, but the mix of Italian & Spanish did work. In few minutes we catch-up in each other lives and he takes us out on a tour around the club.

Excitement runs through my body. Walking around the club brings some old memories. Deja Vu , I whisper. Within the gigantic dance floor, there was a platform suspended in the air. It s a different world from up there. Skai was there spinning with great energy. Even though he is now a resident DJ in Vancouver, he comes to Frankfurt to play for this amazing event. Andrej, creator and producer of EMM, was thrilled to see us and encouraged us to have fun.

We run backstage and it’s our turn to get in costume.

12:15 AM Time is flying, we go into the dressing room and find our garments. Slowly we unzipped the black fabric bag that is hanging in the rack full of costumes. Vancouver Boys is written on the front. Stretch pants, a red cape, and some accessories. It was not hard to decide what I was gonna wear. Redd immediately grabbed the black sequin pants that matched his red boots.

Make up and hair done. We are in full costume. We look at each other and the cameras start flashing. We look at the dancing schedule, back to back, every 20 minutes, there is a rotation of stage. People are rushing around, it’s time to perform. The show is about to begin. Dancers for the opening act are appointed: Shenna, Charlotte, Jasmin, Sarah Ann, Eun-Jin,Phillip, Davide, Redd, and I are heading to the main stage.

1:00 AM We run up the stairs the big circled stage. Nine dancers behind a red curtain, waiting for the cue to the opening act. We take our places, the intro-song starts playing. We can’t move.

Standing still we look at each other. Seconds later, in slow motion we start changing positions & Welcome to Envy my Music – I hear. Like a stroke of lightning, Sebastien Leger creates an explosion of electronic delight. The music, the lights, the bursts of cold air, the people screaming and dancing to the same rhythm that gave my body burst of adrenaline charge. I was enjoying every second.

4:20 AM Sitting on a chair in the back room, sweaty and exhausted I look at us in the mirror. The glitter that once was on my left cheek is now spread all over my face. The make up is still on, under the bright light it doesn’t look as good as it did hours ago. I drink some Red bull, I am still wired. I cant walk, I cant dance no more, I am drained.

Auf Wiedersehen the hostess says while we walk out the entrance door.

11:00 AM Sunlight comes into our room, I yawn. Open my eyes. Sheets full of glitter; I get out of bed, my body aches. Legs are bruised. Envy My Music is over, and we survived to tell the story.

Danke schön!

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