Hi there, Steemit hive-mind, I've meant to contribute to this site for a while now, having invested in altcoins and following what Steem does, and here, I've found my niche to write about dance music, a lifelong love of mine. I've been a DJ for almost 20 years, cultivating it from a hobby into an addiction and now, a career, I supposed. (I said "I supposed" as one never really know about the validity of one's practice in the arts, especially music that's played at venues of loose morals so to speak, lol, but the validity is present every time you get a roomful of people locked in your groove...)

I've been collecting records and music since the 80s, growing up in the analog-turned-digital world, witnessing the birth of new music genres and sub-cultures like Hip Hop and House music, I was right there when it happened. Kids on the loose on the streets getting into the B-boy/girl culture, breakdancing to massive boomboxes on flatten cardboard after watching Wildstyle - this phenomenon broke like wild fire and you'll see the same scene happening from New York to Tokyo (and Singapore, where I was born and bred). From hip hop, we got house music, electro and techno. Raves in UK and Europe created a massive wave that took partying to the next level and that wave came through to Asia in the late 90s, and as they'll say, the rest is history, fast forward 20 years, we got this "multi-billion dollars industry" called "EDM Music" today.

And some also say, "EDM Music is dying".

Good riddance, I say, because for starters, lets stop bastardising the term "EDM" or "electronic dance music which was a collective term for dance music made by electronic instruments, it could be trance, it could be Lady Gaga's songs or more suitably, the type of music that we dance to for the last 30-40 years or so. But if an industry can't even use a music term correctly, when even Billboard magazine calls it "EDM Music" - electronic dance music music? - something is very wrong.

I felt disrespected.

I felt the music and original culture is being disrespected.

Some may also say that the "EDM Music" culture has elevated dance music to new levels, and earning it new and a lot more listeners (and dancers, although I would argue about the finesse of the dancing today compared to the groove on Soul Train), and I'll agree and acknowledge that fact. However, it's not just a question of quantity but one of depth when we speak about the appreciation of the arts. Pop-EDM does nothing towards the progression of dance music and the culture built by the originators in the last 40 years. The clubs and promoters care more about making alcohol and sponsorship dollars instead of the music. The dancers cared more about "the drop".

So, 2 years ago (2015), on a random day, I had a random thought - we gotta do something about this, I gotta, because I still care for this music and what it stands for. Saw the domain name ReclaimEDM.com is available, bought it and start hatching the idea of branding, documenting and promoting the quality dance music scene.

2017 November, ReclaimEDM.com is live and ready. This is the first post of many to come, so if you resonate with this culture and the cause, check your socials, try it out and search the hashtag #ReclaimEDM. I look forward to your contribution and hear from you - the dancer, the music lover, the record collector, the underground music producer, your label, party promoter, venue or festival representing the underground vibe, oh and we are also looking for writers (who are dancers). Holla!

• nomsta. [email protected] www.facebook.com/reclaimedm www.reclaimedm.com

Next: our very first #REDM Radiocast.