Anger over DJs playing crowded raves without safety measures during the pandemic
Artists including Dave Clarke and Telefon Tel Aviv have vocalised criticism of DJs playing packed pandemic parties without Covid-secure measures like masks or social distancing in place.
Clarke wrote a Facebook post claiming he was “disappointed in “The Scene”,” decrying “a few top flight DJ’s who financially do NOT need the money but are in some FOMO pact”.
Footage from a recent Amelie Lens gig has been circulating on Twitter, drawing anger from electronic music fans who are keen to see clubbing return safely.
Amelie Lens
August 2nd 2020 pic.twitter.com/inGTYANKRx
— Business Teshno (@businessteshno) August 5, 2020
Another circulating video shows Nina Kraviz in Italy playing to a non-mask-wearing, bored-looking crowd.
I hope big business techno is finished forever because of this crisis. Nina Kraviz here playing a plague rave in Italy to a bunch of people who aren’t interested in dancing. Weird vibe pic.twitter.com/WZrtQinyrS
— /// ＭＯＯＴ \\\ (@MootIreland) August 20, 2020
Much of the criticism has been directed at Lens, Kraviz and Peggy Gou, although some have argued that male DJs who have been playing events with large audiences have seen less judgement.
At what point is she going to realize that she’s basically the fifth horseman if the apocalypse, every city she’s done a rave in these past two weeks has seen a major uptick in cases. This should be enough to ruin a career imo. Lives are at stake.
— Telefon Tel Aviv (@telefontelaviv) August 18, 2020
The Business Teshno Twitter account is archiving footage of DJs playing to large crowds during the pandemic, with videos showing performers including Jamie Jones, Dax J, Nina Kraviz and more. The account also highlighted the increased amount of engagement on its tweet about Amelie Lens in comparison to that of male DJs performing, which received minimal likes and retweets.
Twitter users also highlighted the hypocrisy of criticism being directed towards an electronic music festival that took place recently at a water park in Wuhan while European DJs are regularly playing on the continent, where the virus is still at large.
Everyone be criticising Wuhan for having a pool party while being silent about big name DJs like Amelie Lens, Patrick Topping, Nina Kraviz, Charlotte de Witte, Loco Dice + plenty of others doing gigs for thousands of people in France/Italy, thus leading to potential second waves.
— Zab Mustefa (@ZabMustefa) August 18, 2020
Efforts are being made to safely bring back electronic music shows, including in Berlin where a contact-tracing app has launched in nightclubs, developed by music tech employees.
