Jungle Feelings: The Weird Faces Special – Extended Mix

Posted on December 11, 2022     13 Comments

Ravers are effortlessly good-looking because of their glowing I-have-danced-all-day-in-the-sun skin, their beaming eyes and their positive attitude towards life.

But not in a vain way.

Vanity (or pride, if you want) is one of the 7 deadly sins, as anyone who has seen David Fincher’s “Se7en” from 1995 might remember. Or read Dante’s The Divine Comedy for more gory details on the deepest level of Purgatory. 

So: Vanity = deadly sin. Ravers know this. Why do you think there are no mirrors in Berghain? And does anyone spend time checking their appearance at the Fusion Festival? OF COURSE NOT. Everyone’s too busy enjoying themselves.

Let’s celebrate this un-vanity with a Weird Faces Special – Extended Mix.

Tøndering remembers something very important and maybe unpleasant at the ØVSA Stage, (off)-Distortion 2022.
Phono also remembers something unpleasant and maybe outright disturbing, but 12 YEARS EARLIER – at Elektronisk Karneval 2010.
Wilcks slows down and lands in an extremely weird face situation at Elektronisk Karneval 2010.
Chriszka and Sofus are distracting you with their big raver smiles in the centre of this pic. (Distortion Final Party 2022!) But look closer. The weird face magic is in the crowd. Big ups to Thomas for this dance floor masterpiece!

 

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Maximum big-ups to the Ohoi! crew, deliverers of lots and lots of Weird Faces moments. This is Tim Driver, pulling an anniversary face at Ohoi!’s 2 year birthday celebration.

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No, Sofus the Amazing Shapeshifter is not just a pretty face. He can be totally not vain if he wants to. This is at the opening of Docken in 2007, followed by the Distortion Final Party.

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Jens pulls a weird face in a twisted Titanic moment at Ohoi!’s 2 year birthday celebration on a boat.

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Vitus, a Master of Discreetly Weird Faces When Cameras Are Out pulls another one at DNBZone on Nadsat, 2005.

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A truly magic moment starring PZ on the dancefloor. Yes, we’re back at Ohoi!’s 2 year’s birthday party on the boat. Guest stars: Dollar$, Lau and Chriszka the Time Traveller.

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Muad’Dib and Bateman pull a double ‘too much confetti’ face at the Distortion Final Party (well, afterparty) 2006. Yes, on a boat again. What a maritime raver kingdom we are.

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Enough sun and confetti. Let’s go below deck again. 2000F pulls a mean pirate face behind the decks at Ohoi!s 2 year birthday bash.

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Three very weird faces, but Svingsen wins.

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Mike Sheridan flashes a magic rubber face at the opening of Docken (which was followed by the Distortion Final Party) – 2007.

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Lewis introduces a truly weird face on the dancefloor in the belly of a boat.

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Lori pulls a threatening face on the dancefloor at Nadsat. Nothing disturbs the peaceful zen bubble of Advocatorex here, though. We’re at the Crystallizer party at Nadsat, 2006.

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It will take you a moment to process just how much Weird Face is represented in this picture. Thanks to Laura for the pic. Caught at Nadsat.

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Pure mastery by Vitus and Asger.

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Okay, maybe this face wins. This is Culture Box’ 3-year’s birthday celebration 2008.

Larry makes a Weird Face Masterpiece at Elektronisk Karneval 2010.
Yup, I know you have seen a picture of these two fellas just minutes ago (depending on how fast you scroll), but this time around, the (truly) weird face is not theirs, but in the crowd.
Steampunk glasses plus weird face plus sad face at Fusion. 2019.


Recommendations:
For more Ohoi!, bass face providers, jump back to the 4 year celebration on Stubnitz: Blasts from the Past: Ohoi! turns 4.

DID YOU MISS A DAY OF JUngLEkalenderen? Go here:

December 1st: Ravers are the Experts: Slowing Down in Fast Lives
December 2nd: How to be a Raver: The Sunglasses Special
December 3rd: Blasts from the Past: Birthday Bash Edition
December 4th: The 7 best things about being a raver
December 5th: How to be a Raver: Flags and Balloons
December 6th: Jungle Feelings: Stuff that Glows in the Dark (remix)
December 7th: Ravers Are the Experts: Dancefloors Everywhere
December 8th: How to be a Raver: The Mad Hatters
December 9th: Ravers are the Experts: Party Animals
December 10th: How to be a Raver: Food of the Gods

Go here for the complete collection of #JUngLEkalenderen, both past and present.

How to be a Raver: Food of the Gods

Posted on December 10, 2022     15 Comments

Some people think that ravers don’t eat, but this is obviously one of many misconceptions about the rave scene. It goes without saying that to dance for eight hours straight, you need proper fuel for the body.

Here are some ravers in the early stages of preparing a cooked protein-rich meal in camp at the very vegetarian festival Fusion. 2009.
And here are four experienced ravers after eating something that others prepared for them at Sulu’s birthday bash in Kødbyen, 2022. (Sorry – one out of four is still eating). 😉
And here’s what they had, approximately. Thanks for the buffet, Chef Mami!
Here’s Kristian, testing the spirituality of the veggie food stalls at Boom, 2012.
And here are two enlightened beings, testing the food stalls at Elektronisk Karneval in Fælledparken.
A watermelon has been introduced to ‘the table’ at a Danish/Swedish combo camp of experienced-ravers-from-the-90s at Fusion, 2007.
Two happily smiling junglists are very excited about their newly served breakfast in Mexico, while an android named Drop with weirdly blue laser eyes, but seemingly friendly, has joined the table.
Svingsen and Jakob eats Chriszka’s signature dish at the time (something with apples, salmon and balsamico), before heading to Nadsat for the unforgettable birthday bash, December 2005.
Smokey eats straight from the bag at Fusion, 2009, while Healthy and Spiritual Kristian goes for rugbrød and questions her food choices with a discreet but disapproving look.

After a series of unlikely coincidences, an international crew of junglists and psytrancers meet up for dinner at the beach on Holbox, Mexico. 2022.

The entire Hifly crew met up to eat at the legendary Hifly Pigfest – 2010.
JKamata explains about his home-built cooking machine at the Hifly Pigfest – 2010.
Someone brought an apple to his resting spot at Fusion. Check out the home-made water bottle pillow.
Someone ate the apple, the fruit of knowledge, at Somewhere 2016. Bonus points: Spot the white tiger.
A meal I will never forget. When I woke up in camp on my seventh Fusion, the year 2014, I was immediately served a Bloody Mary including a celery stick. That’s when I knew I was blessed to be in the camp-de-luxe of all camps. As I sat down in a chair with my drink, I quickly realized that Alex was actually preparing lobster. A short cooking break of about 20 minutes followed, because Alex needed garlic butter and went on a mission in neighbouring camps to procure it. He succeeded, somehow, and continued with his cooking. I am still super duper impressed and have to tell someone this story about once a year. The most exquisite and surprising meal I have ever had at Fusion. 10 stars.
Yes, food makes ravers happy. Nufound TRULY enjoys the salt sticks at Chriszka’s vernissage at Kapau, 2022. This vernissage turned into a tiny afternoon junglist party on the sidewalk afterwards.
Jeppe worships the deity of the pig at the Hifly Pigfest 2010.
Chriszka eats popcorn elegantly at Stella Polaris.
Junglists eats Mexican ice cream with lots of interesting flavors after a cosmic day at the pyramid.
Rowdy lights op the grill at Fusion 2016. I’m happy to know people that are camp builders like this. They cook, they bring lamps, they bring music and decorations and extra blankets and power banks and ice cubes and fresh juice. At Fusion, I spend so much time on the dancefloors that I rarely actually hang out in camps, but when I do, being surrounded by hygge is really, really nice.
Chriszka explores the crispy flavors of Peyote Land. A re-visit to Playa del Carmen, 2022.
Widell eats a champagnebrus like a boss, many years ago.
Someone brought a banana to the Pumpui stage at Ozora 2015. Aaaah, the miraculous banana. Truly a dance floor fruit for the stamina ravers.
Visiting German ravers eat food by the (harbor) water in Copenhagen before going to a rave by the (sea) water (after missing out on the first party at Hangaren because of a massive turn-up).
JKamata is preparing food for the masses yet again at a very underground location. Ohoi!’s 6th birthday, July 2008.
Normal Drop, pre-android-ization, gets ready for streetfood in Mexico after a pretty wiiiiild day of travels.
Chriszka and The Twins are very happy with their ecological Noma burgers at POPL, Copenhagen 2021.

Very important recommendation:
If you want more photos of ravers enjoying food (and sacrificing to the gods), go to Blasts from the Past: Ohoi! turns 6 – an extremely juicy selection of pics (and pigs).

DID YOU MISS A DAY OF JUngLEkalenderen? Go here:

December 1st: Ravers are the Experts: Slowing Down in Fast Lives
December 2nd: How to be a Raver: The Sunglasses Special
December 3rd: Blasts from the Past: Birthday Bash Edition
December 4th: The 7 best things about being a raver
December 5th: How to be a Raver: Flags and Balloons
December 6th: Jungle Feelings: Stuff that Glows in the Dark (remix)
December 7th: Ravers Are the Experts: Dancefloors Everywhere
December 8th: How to be a Raver: The Mad Hatters
December 9th: Ravers Are the Experts: Party Animals

Go here for the complete collection of #JUngLEkalenderen, both past and present.

Ravers are the Experts: Party Animals

Posted on December 9, 2022     15 Comments

Ravers are friendly people and it goes without saying that no-one loves animals (and aliens) with more intensity than us.

Obviously all junglists love lions and other predators (and all creatures from the jungle).

True psytrancers only rave in nature, in close contact with all the species of this planet (and other realms).

And who doesn’t feel the instant mood boost when listening to Trentemøller’s Killer Kat?

But I know you want photo proofs, so let’s dive into our animal instincts and have a look at all the Party Animals:

Dancefloors with sound systems built to make your entire human body vibrate are not optimal places to bring your favorite dogs and cats (or other pets) with sensitive hearing. But you can bring your inflatable friends instead. Here’s a proper grown-up squeezed tight by his friendly inflatable giraffe and also wearing a shamanic flute in case more spirit animals have to be summoned. Trancefloor at Fusion, a place of much fun, 2013.
Here’s animal lover and animal protector Joel Rowdy, bringing a tiger to the dance floor at Fusion. Turmbühne.
Hjeppe Mann simply wears cats at the Somewhere Festival 2017.
This guy always wears an elephant – at Roskilde, July 2010.
Copenhageners enjoy the sun underneath the flamingos at Kaj Din Ven I Solen, June 2021. This is hopefully a hint to Lewis Carroll’s ‘Through the Looking-Glass’.
In the newest incarnation of the Tanzwüzte stage at Fusion, which has a shipwreck vibe to it (including actual shipwrecks and a stranded yellow submarine) the crowd dances beneath circling pirate birds. You can spot three of them above the crowd here, behind someone’s ‘find-me-on-the-dancefloor-flag.
At Boom 2012, everyone at the Dance Temple danced beneath the feathered serpent Quetzalcoatl. According to the Mayans, Quetzalcoatl would return around 2012 and mark the beginning of the era of The Sixth Sun, a sun of darkness. This time, followed by the long reign of The Fifth Sun (a sun of light, dominated by the masculine and science) will be characterized by the rise of the feminine and of irrationalism, reality gaining a dreamlike quality. Have you started feeling it yet, people? (The Aztecs were very frightened by the coming of the Sixth Sun and started sacrificing children to avoid it or maybe ease themselves into it).
Here’s a proper look at one of the heads of the feathered serpent, before the dancing crowds arrived.
Someone ALWAYS brings a unicorn to the dance floor. This is the Distortion Final Party, 2022.
Someone brought crocodiles and elephants to the rooftop party in Kødbyen of Copenhagen, August 2010.
This captain guy brought an octopus to Fusion. 2019.

This just reminded me how much dubsteppers love deep sea monsters. Reread my text about the Kraken release party (happened around March 2007) here: Gigantisk dybhavsmonster indtager Stengade.

More glittery animals: Dancing beneath a unicorn at So Verbot, Copenhagen 2022.
Chriszka embodies Anubis with the jackal head, the ancient Egyptian god of the dead.
A monkey and a pink elephant show up at the Trancefloor on Fusion, 2013.
A mouse arrives at Dollars’ Campingvogn Party, August 2007.
Chriszka has turned into an icebear and is hugging Rosa (Rouladegade) Gjerulff (who did a show on Nørrebro Theatre called ‘Rosa in the Rhythm Forest’ which is a very raver title) – and the other ice bear Karen. This was a great day at work!
This is me, acting like a sad ice bear in the dressing room of Nørrebro Theatre. FUN WORK DAY!
Relaxing on a unicorn by Bachstelzen at Fusion.
Sofus the Shape-shifter embodies the spirit of the dead pig at the Hifly Pigfest, July 2010.
Chriszka embodies the spirit of the cat, many years ago.
Many years later, Chriszka recovers from the flu beneath her jungle cat Tybalt, lover of (and destroyer of) plants.
Since we are already talking about Tybalt, and since this post is about our love for animals, I think everyone should know that my hyper-intelligent jungle cat has learned to play fetch. Here’s proof.
A dear bunch of colorful raver musicians throw an energetic concert in front of the giant deer, watching quietly, created by Hackstage.
A butterfly thinks Chriszka’s raving shoes are phenomenal and must be flowers at Fusion, 2007.
Someone brought a bird to their head party on Roskilde Festival 2010.
Lützen plays with a dog. Islands Brygge, July 2010.
Chriszka brings her jungle t-shirt to the Chinese lion at the Forbidden City, 2004.
Someone wears actual wings (or has grown actual wings, who knows) at the Bachstelzen stage, Fusion.
A zebra overlooks the Øen Ved Siden Af stage at Distortion, 2022. For extra points: Spot the dragon.
Rowdy wears a friendly dragon hat in the middle of a sandwich hug at the Trancefloor on Fusion.

Chriszka is having a great time inside one of these rabbit costumes, exploring the world through new eyes. For more info on what was actually going on, read the article: https://www.berlingske.dk/kultur/se-koebenhavn-som-kanin

If you feel overwhelmed by your love for animals now, both the furry ones and the inflatable ones, here’s an idea: Join this event on Saturday the 10th, arranged by Joel Rowdy, protector of animals (and featured twice in the above collection with both tigers and dragons): Demonstration for the Ukranian Animals.

Thousands of dogs and cats are not having the time of their lives during the current situation in Ukraine but are left to their own devices in the streets with no food and no shelter. Rowdy has traveled to Ukraine to deliver donations and help out and has seen the situation with his own eyes.

Animal Rescue Ukraine will go back to Ukraine on December 22nd and help out some more, which is a very christmassy thing to do, and this is your chance to help out: The demonstration in Copenhagen is on Saturday 10th from 10-14 at Storkespringvandet, and there will be balloons.

DID YOU MISS A DAY OF JUngLEkalenderen? Go here:

December 1st: Ravers are the Experts: Slowing Down in Fast Lives
December 2nd: How to be a Raver: The Sunglasses Special
December 3rd: Blasts from the Past: Birthday Bash Edition
December 4th: The 7 best things about being a raver
December 5th: How to be a Raver: Flags and Balloons
December 6th: Jungle Feelings: Stuff that Glows in the Dark (remix)
December 7th: Ravers Are the Experts: Dancefloors Everywhere
December 8th: How to be a Raver: The Mad Hatters

Go here for the complete collection of #JUngLEkalenderen, both past and present.



How to be a Raver: The Mad Hatters

Posted on December 8, 2022     16 Comments

For obvious playful reasons, you will find ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and ‘Through the Looking-Glass’ references all over the rave-o-sphere, if you know what to look for.

At Fusion, there is an actual tea party table somewhere semi-hidden amongst the trees, not super far from Seebühne.

Here it is, the tea party table, getting sprinkled with water on a hot day in 2018.
And here are the signs not showing us were to find it.

Apart from the Hatter himself, no-one wears hats like ravers.

This is the day where I prove it. Let’s dive in!

Kresten wears a floppy mad-hatter-y style hat and gets a hug for it at Turmbühne, 2010.
Chriszka wears a psychedelic hippie hat in London, dreaming of the future.
Michael has cleverly decided to wear a warm and comfy knitted hat at Somewhere 2017.
Martinez wears a stylish but elegantly feathered hat splendidly – and about 10 full years before this exact style started to get super trendy at the outdoor slow-tech Berlin clubs and subsequently at Garbicz Festival and similar hotspots. This is the Distortion Final Party 2007.
Tøndering wears an aggressively stylish pirate hat at Turmbühne in 2012.
Rune RK keeps cool and wears a knitted hat on the super sweaty and enthusiastic dance floor at Operaen, 1994.
Mariii proudly wears one of those pumps you use to inflate your air mattress. Razor-sharp camping style at Fusion, 2009!
Someone wears the most TOTALLY AMAZING BOAT HAT at the Somewhere Festival 2016. LOOK AT IT! This is like the extravagant and absurd French hair styles of the super-rich of the 1700s. Chriszka the Time-Traveller absolutely loves this.
Jaco is wearing a hat while not wearing a hat, cleverly, like Kraka. Chilling for a bit in the camp between dance floor visits at Fusion, 2009.
Soft hat meets hard hat at the S.U.N. Festival main floor, 2013.
Svingsen wears a basket hat in one inspired moment on one of many New Year’s Eves.
Kim Kemi has decided to wear an inflatable cake hat at the Daniel Dreier party at Nadsat, 2008.
Wearing a floppy mad-hatter’y hat AND a splash gun from outer space to the Trancefloor at Fusion is totally the way to go. 10 points. Fusion, 2013.
The classic hat PLUS hoodie look at Turmbühne. Fusion 2009.
Hjeppe Mann wears the cosmic JA-HAT like noone else. Just owning the main floor at Boom, 2022, during Atmos’ opening set (exactly two hours in).
Alhad wears an aviator hat from WW2 to the Tanzwiese floor at Fusion.
Thomas decides to not wear a hat but to visit other cultural expressions at Fusion 2010.
Chriszka wears her absolute favorite festival hat ever at Fusion 2007. Bought in China, used a lot and now lost forever and never replaced. So sad. I loved that hat. Somehow the only hat that was ever big enough for my head and all the hair – and completely perfect on hot days, too. Every single hat since has been slightly too small or slightly too warm. Bohoooo.
And here I am again, happily wearing it at Turmbühne, Fusion 2009. Was THIS when I lost it?! On the way home?! When?! Soooo sad.
Here I am, TRYING to wear another hat at Fusion 2010.
Feltman wears a BOWLER HAT at the Hifly Pigfest 2010.
Adam wears a hat AND a drum on the day where we all said goodbye and good onwards journeys to Mika. An emotional and important ritual. January 2022.
Lasse feels powerful and strong wearing his straw hat in Mediebyen at Roskilde 2010.
Dalge also feels strong wearing his straw hat at Orange Scene at Roskilde 2010. The amount of pictures I have of Dalge having conversations on dance floors is pretty remarkable, by the way. I have a feeling we will have to return to this phenomenon later on.
Paulina wears the classic slow-tech raver hat (now copied by endless amounts of Garbicz/Bachstelzen visitors) at Løgtenborg Slot Sommerkur – juli 2013. In my diary, I described this garden party as the, and I quote: ‘vildeste havefest ever’. It was spectacular, for sure.
One place to effortlessly wear a crown is under your hippie umbrella by the Turmbühne stage at Fusion.

DID YOU MISS A DAY OF JUngLEkalenderen? Go here:

December 1st: Ravers are the Experts: Slowing Down in Fast Lives
December 2nd: How to be a Raver: The Sunglasses Special
December 3rd: Blasts from the Past: Birthday Bash Edition
December 4th: The 7 best things about being a raver
December 5th: How to be a Raver: Flags and Balloons
December 6th: Jungle Feelings: Stuff that Glows in the Dark (remix)
December 7th: Ravers Are the Experts: Dancefloors Everywhere

Go here for the complete collection of #JUngLEkalenderen, both past and present.

Ravers are the Experts: Dancefloors Everywhere

Posted on December 7, 2022     17 Comments

Proper ravers make the best dance floors in the world, and everywhere: From tiny dance floors in livings rooms and secret dance floors in the forests to cosmic dance portals for tens of thousands of people like The Dance Temple at Boom or Turmbühne at Fusion.

Since I started raving, all other dance floors lost some of their attraction, because dance floors with junglists, psytrancers and techno heads on them are just more dedicated, more intense and tons more fun. And always more beautiful.

One of the most beautiful dance floors I have ever danced on: The Ozora main floor (2015). At night, the tree seemed to morph into a giant underwater octopus decorated by glittering jellyfish, but my iPhone camera couldn’t capture night images back then, so I can’t actually prove it.
Blue mushroomy jellyfish also floated at the edges of the So Verbot dance floor in Copenhagen, August 2022. Mathias feels inspired by the underwater theme and does a floaty tentacle dance move.
The magnificent Dance Temple at Boom 2022, at sunset. This place takes the dancing ritual very seriously and describes itself (the Dance Temple, that is) as the pulsating heart of the festival and a power source that transmutes the energy of the dancers and sends it up in the sky and into hyperspace.
Notice how the dancers at Boom bring their own colorfully tentacled jellyfish to the dance floor.
And this is what the Ozora dance floor looked like from the stage in 2015.
Junglist are a more urban species than psytrancers and just love to dance to the rumbling bass lines under busy motorway bridges. This is Bas Under Buen, July 2016.
This is what some dedicated dance floor moves looks like at Bas Under Buen 2019.
More urban grimey-ness. This is the multi-level dance floor inside the belly of the boat called Stubnitz. Quite a scary mainfloor filled with sharp corners, steel stairs and stumble hazards everywhere. But junglists can dance everywhere. Drop doesn’t look too pleased, though, and I must have felt a bit squeeeeezed, too, since I took the time to take this photo. This is Ohoi!’s 4th birthday celebrations, 2006.
To be honest, I don’t really enjoy dancing indoors anymore, event though that’s how raving started for me (it started with jungle in the 90s at The Paradise Club in London). For many years, now, I have preferred dancing out in the open, under the blue sky, at festivals like this. And during the day, even. Sleeping at night is awesome! (In this pic we are back at the Dance Temple at Boom 2022.)
Fortunately, at the right time of year, there are tons of outdoor parties to choose from, if you wish. Here’s a semi-secret one – in the morning at sunrise in Copenhagen.
And here’s a not so secret one by the water in Copenhagen. Bølgen 2022.
And here’s Chriszka and Helene above the dance floor at Bølgen, 2022.
Back in time! Here’s a Pirate Party Pack morning party dance floor ON A BOAT after the final party at Distortion, 2006. Good times.
Another classic transformed spot: The entire Dronning Louises Bro connecting Nørrebro to Central Copenhagen is shut down during the Distortion festival and turned into a dance floor.
Here’s a bunch of Danish ravers transforming a part of Fælledparken into a dance floor in 2008.
And this is the same park, but a slightly different location (I think) and definitely a different setup – two years later, at Elektronisk Karneval in Fælledparken, May 2010.
AMAZINGLY, I have videos of this! Remember not to turn the sound up too loud, this is caught with old equipment. Elektronisk Karneval in Fælledparken, May 2010.
Hey, let’s watch another rare video! This is the dance floor that erupted in the morning at the Promilleservice camp on July 6th, 2009 – Roskilde Festival.
But don’t forget the tiny dance floors, too. This is Chriszka and Nufie dancing in the living room of Svingsen’s Jungle Hut after Jungle Bells 2007.
Let’s jump slightly forward in time to 2008. Who remembers when Turmbühne at Fusion looked like THIS?! I really liked that centre piece flower. There’s a trippy joyfulness about it that was slowly replaced by more dark and industrial deco in the following years.
This is what the flower petals looked like from on the Turmbühne dancefloor.
And THIS is what Turmbühne at Fusion looks like in more recent years (this is 2016). Yup, it all grew a bit in size. And then – maybe – comes a year where you start to miss ‘the way it was’, and that’s when you move on to new festivals or take a small break and come back with revived enthusiasm.
Back to the tiny dance floors! Chriszka inaugurates a miniscule dance floor for maximum two people after moving into a new home.
And here’s a spontaneous dance floor that happened when two aliens popped up and started playing not far from the lake at the Boom festival 2022.
Aaaaah, dancing outside surrounded by nice people at pleasant summer temperatures. This is the daytime dance floor at So Verbot, one of the highlights of 2022 in Copenhagen.
Chriszka and Svingen dance in the hallway of the Jungle Hut before a Coma party.
Morten Kamper creates a spontaneous Depeche Mode dance floor in a café flooded with daylight.
The natural beauty of the outdoor dance floor (one of three) – by the ocean at the Somewhere Festival 2016.
The hippie-esque beauty of the afternoon ravers on the dance floor by the ocean at the Somewhere Festival 2016. This was the ONLY truly warm weekend of that summer, as far as I remember. Quite a weird year, sun-wise.
Chriszka wears a psytrance pattern to a jungle rave at the Culture Box dance floor.
And to conclude this tour of different dance floors: Enjoy the awkwardness of the soundless Silent Disco dance floor at Roskilde 2010!

DID YOU MISS A DAY OF JUngLEkalenderen? Go here:

December 1st: Ravers are the Experts: Slowing Down in Fast Lives
December 2nd: How to be a Raver: The Sunglasses Special
December 3rd: Blasts from the Past: Birthday Bash Edition
December 4th: The 7 best things about being a raver
December 5th: How to be a Raver: Flags and Balloons
December 6th: Jungle Feelings: Stuff that Glows in the Dark (remix)

Go here for the complete collection of #JUngLEkalenderen, both past and present.

Jungle Feelings: Stuff that Glows in the Dark (remix)

Posted on December 6, 2022     18 Comments

I’m intensely attracted to stuff that glows in the dark. This is putting it mildly. When I see something sparkly or fluoresecent, I will immediately feel an urge to move towards it – and, if possible – dance below it (if it’s a main floor deco). Or in front of it (if it’s a backdrop). Or in the middle of it, if it’s a laser. Or just wear it, if it’s a t-shirt with an alien reflex on the front. Anything shiny and bright, anything neon.

Deep, fluorescent colours have a hypnotising effect on me. I gravitate towards them, like an insect. Yes, I know, it’s totally a trance thing. But it’s also completely jungle, since some of my best Glow in the Dark Moments of Complete Overwhelm have been smack bang in the middle of the giant, green laser at the London Astoria, while Darren Jay or Kenny Ken was mixing, back in the 90s. Oh, what a magnificent spot. Eyes were completely hypnotised, as well as the ears.

So I’m dedicating today, a day in the middle of one of the darkest weeks of the entire Scandinavian year, to Stuff That Glows in the Dark. Because this gives me the opportunity to squeeze some healthy colours like THESE into your eyes. And some fond memories into mine. This is the insanely hypnotizing glow-in-the-dark deco at the Dance Temple, the main floor of The Boom Festival in Portugal.

But we don’t have to stick to psytrance. This also gives me a COMPLETELY appropriate opportunity to, once more, squeeze in this darkside masterpiece with one of the most loved jungle samples of all time:


Felt that I was in this long dark tunnel with a very very bright light at the end so brilliant, it was more brilliant than the sun.

That’s what I mean. Glow-in-the-dark is built into the junglistic DNA. So here we go.

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A bunch of ravers gather around a shiny object like night insects at the RAW After After Party in 2007. Thanks to jonask.dk for the pic.
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As you can see, junglist are naturally attracted to any kind of light.
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And light is naturally attracted to junglists. Especially that green laser light. This is DNBZone at Culture Box, 2006. Thanks to Miss Popo for the pic.
Ravers gather by the ocean to look at a very very bright shiny object in the distance at the Somewhere Festival in 2016.
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Ravers light their own little glittery hand-held fires that glow in the dark.
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The Jungle Monster casually plays with fire at the Ohoi! party at Basement, June 2004. Props to jonask.dk for the pic.
Ravers dance below a glowing string of fire at the Tanzwüzte floor on Fusion, 2019.
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Whohooo, shiny reflex adding some instant excitement to a dark dance floor. This is at the very first Public Service Festival (2004?) in Strandgade by Luftkastellet, with Trentemøller playing on stage and Ole’s clothing playing with your eyes.
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Chriszka the Time Traveller has found some interesting door-opening lights to play with at a bar in Shanghai. They actually open the door, that’s the trick.

Okay, that was clearly a “Sesam Sesam luk dig op!”-moment right there. For more door-opening magic and the scary horror tale of Aladdin and the 40 Thieves (my first favourite record ever), go to The DIY Test: Is Your Child a Junglist?

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Asmus is suuuuper casual about his amazing glow-in-the-dark-raver-t-shirt at Zerrbild, Culture Box, 2007.
Ravers swim with objects that glow in the dark at Strøm Festival 2019. A SUPER awesome night for someone like me! The lasers! The water! The glow-in-the-dark play toys!
Press play for some laser movement. Glowing laser fun at Frederiksberg Svømmehal at the Strøm Festival 2019.
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Tim Driver curiously inspects Chriszka the Time Traveller’s amazing glow-in-the-dark time travelling portal device. This is after dinner and before jetting off to the Birthday Bash at Culture Box.
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Everybody loved that magic little thing. Glowing portals. So much fun, forever.
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Chriszka the Time Traveller and Svingsen spot a super nice glowing object in the distance.
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Junglist cozy up around their own oldskool glow-in-the-dark creation, somewhere secret.
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An insane glow worm attacks people at the Muffler party.
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I’m just slowing down and having a tiny nap here, at the Silobash, but there it is, the MAGNIFICENT REFLEX ALIEN GLOWING IN THE DARK!
Back to psytrance! – because no-one is better at glow-in-the-dark-stuff than this crowd. This is the insanely awesome projection mapping on the tower next to the main floor at the Boom Festival 2022.
Watch the video I made of all the glow-in-the-dark animals playing at night time at Boom Festival 2022 here.
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To the great pleasure of Chriszka the Time Traveller, Elisabeth goes completely psytrance after a concert in Tivoli.
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Reflexes, the instant mood booster!
Mathias lights a tiny fire at Nemoland.
Raver silhouettes gather in front of a shiny object at the So Verbot party 2022.
SØS plays underground (and under lasers) at the Strøm Festival.
ALL kinds of light imaginable at Christiania’s birthday celebrations 2022.

DID YOU MISS A DAY OF JUngLEkalenderen? Go here:

December 1st: Ravers are the Experts: Slowing Down in Fast Lives
December 2nd: How to be a Raver: The Sunglasses Special
December 3rd: Blasts from the Past: Birthday Bash Edition
December 4th: The 7 best things about being a raver
December 5th: How to be a Raver: Flags and Balloons

Want to see more pics from the RAW After After Party? Go right here.

Or how about more rare pics from the Public Service festival? Go to the amazing collection of The Secret Junglists.  

Did you miss a day of JUngLE? Go here for the complete collection of #JUngLEkalenderen, both past and present.

How to be a Raver: Flags and Balloons

Posted on December 5, 2022     20 Comments

Anything that floats in the air above our heads seem to be an absolute must wherever ravers congregate. The more colourful, the better.

The oddness of something magically suspended in midair seems to be part of the attraction. The playfulness of grown-ups just loving balloons is another part of it. Here, a red balloon floats above Chriszka and Mariiiii (and the reflex alien) at the Silo Bash. Pic by jonask.dk.
And then there’s the obvious practical reason: If you are lost on a massive festival dance floor, you can find your friends again if they brought balloons. Here’s a super classic raver ballon at Fusion 2012.
OR, in very rare cases: The balloons can hide your friends. A swarm of balloons have taken over someone’s head at Dollars’ Campingvogn Party in 2007.
Someone made sure that a lot of colourful flags would mark the limits of Sulu’s Birthday Bash in August 2022. So that 1) people can find the party and 2) people will know when they have drifted too far away from the party.
2000F’ hair gets stuck in a flag at Sulu’s Birthday Bash 2022.
Just a reminder that 2000F also had hair that things could get stuck in all the way back in 1995. Dancing away at Jungle Fever IV at Operaen, Christiania.
Neon-coloured inflatables can create a bouncy safe space around your body on any dance floor. This is Elektronisk Karneval 2008.
Lau plays with balloons like a proper grown-up at Dollars’ party, August 2007.
Ravers bringing find-us-on-the-dancefloor flags (and inflatable flamingos) to the opening of Tanzwüzte at Fusion.
Someone brought a St. Pauli balloon to Roskilde Festival 2007.
Survival inflatables being inflated at the scorching hot Boom Festival 2012.
Someone brought a massive inflatable slide to Elektronisk Karneval 2007.
Strange balloon meet-up at Roskilde Festival 2013.
Chilling out with balloons just past dusk at Fusion 2019.
Tobias generously creates a big balloon for the crowd to play with at Elements 2022.
You probably thought that that was the biggest balloon in this collection, but this one is just a tad bigger. Massive blue balloon walks by at Roskilde Festival 2007.
Mads is surrounded by a magical necklace of tiny flags at Elektronisk Karneval 2005.
The most massive floating flag at the entrance of Sonnendeck, Fusion 2019.


For more raver playfulness, read Blasts from the Past: Back When Masks Were Fun

DID YOU MISS A DAY OF JUngLEkalenderen? Go here:

December 1st: Ravers are the Experts: Slowing Down in Fast Lives
December 2nd: How to be a Raver: The Sunglasses Special
December 3rd: Blasts from the Past: Birthday Bash Edition
December 4th: The 7 best things about being a raver

How to be a Raver: The Sunglasses Special

Posted on December 2, 2022     21 Comments

So, we have established that ravers are always right and thus probably the most highly evolved species on this planet (along with dolphins, the ravers of the sea).

If we, the ravers, were only completely in charge, the future would be so bright. So magnificently bright that we would have to wear sunglasses to stare straight at it.

So that’s what we will do today. Slow down, chill out, put on the shades and enjoy this selection of sun-soaked raver snapshots from all over the world, from China to Turmbühne.

Lewis and Wilcks are hit by the bright smiles of the ladiiiieeeees and take cover behind their cool shades. Piles of fun at Distortion 2010.
I have never, not once, managed to take a photo of Jacob Phono where he doesn’t look like a complete superstar. He could pick his nose in one and still look cool. Some people have just got that je ne sais quoi. Backstage’y vibes at Elektronisk Karneval, 2010!
Sensible Svingsen wears sunglasses AND applies sunscreen to the head of Tom Collins. Roskilde Festival, 2006.
Rare footage! Mariii caught on my mobile camera that was accidentally filming. We have just arrived at the Distortion street party, Nørrebro edition, 2010.
Check out the dangerous look of Sim’s sunglasses. We are somewhere in Beijing, 2004.
Chriszka approves of Sune’s mirrored sunglasses on the Turmbühne floor, one marvelous afternoon at Fusion, 2007. Has there ever been an afternoon at Fusion that wasn’t marvelous? Well – this one was PARTICULARLY good.
Fred Alert wears his shades well at Orientkaj – Din Ven I Solen. A spontaneous visit that turned out to be longer than expected and a very good idea.
Probably the coolest sunshade photo in this selection. Worn by Jkamata, stylish as always.
Two oldskool junglists cover their eyes and soak up the magic at the Kukulcán Temple, the cosmic pyramid at Chichen Itza. Praise to the feathered serpent,  the god of rain, wind, storms, and life! And definitely jungle.

Notice how the extra large diva sunglasses makes Anna look extremely elegant, even in a dusty hotdog moment at Roskilde 2010.
Meters and meters above everyone else, Frede towers with sunglasses and wine – on a wonderful afternoon at Kaj Din Ven I Solen.
Despite their hyper-fit jungle legs, Chriszka and Svingsen are completely exhausted behind their weird sunglasses after a steep climb on the Great Wall of China. 2004.

Holger plots world domination or just chills out completely behind his shades at Roskilde Festival 2006.
Michael wears ultra black eye-catching ‘anything-can-happen-behind-these-shades’ sunglasses during the morning party vibes at the Distortion Ø Final Party – 2022. A most excellent morning that never ended and continued to surprise everyone. At least the ones who had the endurance to find the secret but not so secret official afterparty….
Here we are, sunglasses everywhere, at an absolutely awesome daytime party at Hangaren just after (most of the) lockdowns were lifted in Denmark. The daytime parties were the ONLY good thing to come out of those lockdowns. What happened to daytime parties?! I WANT THEM BACK!
A wonderfully sunglass-y moment at Turmbühne, on another one of those magical and colorful afternoons at Fusion Festival.

Click here for the complete collection of #JUngLEkalenderen entries, ever – both from past seasons and present.

SEE YOU TOMORROW!

Ravers are the Experts: Slowing Down in Fast Lives

Posted on December 1, 2022     22 Comments

I’m sure you have all noticed that things seem to have sped up immensely in our universe. Just as you have gotten used to one change, a new one is mixed into the field. Interesting times.

Obviously, proper ravers have been training for these conditions for their entire existence, since we prefer our lives to run at 140 beats per minute and beyond anyways…

…but surprisingly to some, we are experts in slowing down, too.

And here’s the thing: The only way to thrive under these new conditions of the cosmos is to slow down. And if you don’t figure out how to slow down your life on your own, the universe will do it for you. And that can be a bit unpleasant.

So let’s avoid that: Take the wheel and slow down everything on purpose. Yup, I know it’s difficult, and I still practice it on the daily.

To help you out, I have gathered some photographic inspiration from all over the rave-o-sphere: Here’s a sweet selection of ravers slowing down in the middle of everything like proper experts. Enjoy it! (slowly).

Chriszka and Tim slow down happily on the floor in the Jungle Hut storage room after Jungle Bells 2007.
CRS slows down completely in the middle of our Grooverider campaign fiest, even though he is actually wearing one of his Freddy Krueger tops and thus shouldn’t go to sleep at all, really, if he wants to survive…. (This is after Jungle Bells at Culture Box, December 2007. Nis was dj’ing, and apparently that party was SO INCREDIBLY GOOD that 30 people decided to party on in Svingsen’s Jungle Hut at Adelgade. And that’s when the Free Grooverider stuff happened…).

Tiny fun fact: We spent a lot of hours at Culture Box back then. The day BEFORE Jungle Bells, I was at Culture Box, too, dancing to Matthew Dear. In my diary notes, I have written ‘Flotteste dj ever‘, hahaha).
Kristobal slows down after New Year’s Eve festivities in 2007. What a year.
Sommer, David and Hans slow down handsomely in the afternoon sun at Slotskuren 2013.
Alex feels his brain slowing down at Roskilde Festival and attaches himself to Thomas’ leg, like a plant, to not get lost. Just in case.
Polle slows down a bit in the middle of another party that no-one wanted to leave (post-Jeff Mills at Culture Box – May 2006).
Someone slows down next to Sulu backstage at the Kraken Party at Stengade (October 2007).
Tom Collins chills out completely in the middle of Stella Polaris (which is actually what the organizers love to see. Well done, Collins). This is August 2007. WHAT A YEAR.
Stine slows down a lot next to Chriszka and Vagn at RAW 2006.
Ronin slows down between the tents at Fusion 2010. Obviously things got lively later on.
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Mathias slows down in the sunset at the ØVSA stage – Distortion 2022.

Laura suddenly slows down immensely next to Carsten Jensen and MHM1. Stella Polaris 2007. Bonus info: Carsten COULD have been taking a photo of sleepy Tom Collins (check the Tom Collins photo again to see what I mean).
Chriszka slows down in a forward fold on her ‘Island of the Gods’ yoga mat.
Christian slows himself down with a happy smirk and a cold beer next to Turmbühne at Fusion, 2011.
Svingsen and Niels slow down in beautiful synchronicity at the table. There’s a pretty good chance we are listening to some awesome music, by the way.
Kresten and Paulina slow down in camp at Fusion 2012.
Junglists slow down chaotically on the floor after a fun-filled moving day.
Ronin slows down on the shoulder of Lewis at the Raw After After Party of August 2007. (WHAT A YEAR!)

Right, so that was proof that ravers are, in fact, experts at slowing down, even in fast-paced situations. Always look at what proper ravers are doing if you find the times we live in confusing and troubling. Ravers are always doing the right thing. We all wish more people knew this.


DO YOU FEEL INSPIRED?

Do you want to slow down some more? Here’s a genuine recommendation: Get yourself a yoga mat and get started!

Those dancing muscles shaped by endless techno fun need to get stretched. And your sitting-down-in-front-of-a-computer-screen-all-day-because-of-work-muscles need stretching EVEN MORE!

If you, like me, want to be visually entertained (and motivated!) while doing yoga, check out my hand-painted yoga mats right here and choose your favorite (maybe even for Christmas): Which one of my hand-painted yoga mats is perfect for you?

And no, I haven’t painted directly on the mats. My paintings (acrylics on canvas) are printed onto the mats by mat-printing experts. The one I’m practicing my backbend on is ‘Island of the Gods’ which I made specifically for hot yoga. The hotter it gets, the better it is. Like a junglist.

All the paintings (and all the yoga mats) are right here.

MORE STUFF!


SEE YOU TOMORROW!

My newest painting: WipeOut, a portal for your wall

Posted on January 28, 2022     Leave a Comment

Do you want a canvas art print of my latest work for your wall?


The video below features me and the art print on canvas of my newest painting, WipeOut, on a wooden frame, ready for your wall. 60 cm x 60 cm x 1 cm. For sale!

WipeOut is your very own meditation portal on the wall: Hypnotic and meditative.

WipeOut took me 57 hours to paint (acrylic on canvas), with 51427 small decisions along the way (a huge puzzle!) It’s inspired by light machines, moving techno visuals, the amazing powers of our brains and playing WipEout in virtual reality with my nephew and niece.

The art print is signed and numbered on the back of the canvas.

You can also buy it as an art print on paper (instead of on framed canvas) at a reduced price.

Link to my shopify page with more info: chriszka.myshopify.com

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