The beach bar, a Flying Fish in my hand, the newest EDM on offer and all my friends by my side. Music festivals are the playground of the young and we took full advantage of it. As a 20-year-old varsity student, there was no better place to be from the 3-6th of October than Rocking the Daisies. The crowd who enjoyed RTD was ultra-dynamic and featured people of all races, cultures and ages. Music tends to be subjective and many genres exist for a reason, yet when it comes to the groove of Afro-tech, Cape Town agrees that there is a common favourite.  With a number of different stages, there was a vast amount of music on offer. During the day, the Beach Bar entertained with Sun El Musician and Oscar Mbo while at night the crowds who didn’t want to be at main stage found their way to Maybelline Station where artists like Atmos Blaq, Prince Kaybee and Lemon & Herb were some personal favourites. 

There is something so rhythmic about the electronic genre of music, add in some Afro undertones and the experience becomes that much richer. It is interesting that all these artists fall under the same umbrella of techno and yet, each has their own unique style behind the DJ decks. Prince Kaybee has a way with flow that makes you want to never stop dancing, his mainstream songs like ‘Breakfast in Soweto’ do not need to make a feature for you to really enjoy his set.

An artist which surprised me was Oscar Mbo, someone who I never listened to before and yet when he was in his element on the stage, so was I. His style of music feels like home, which makes sense because he’s from Pretoria. His slower and calm beats were the perfect fit for the Beach Club and for me.

The only way to describe just how much the music was enjoyed is to put it this way. There were hours that went by where my friend and I exchanged no words and just danced by each other sides. Barefoot in the sand, faces in the sun and with not a care in the world. The groove was the only thing that mattered. Afro-tech particularly is on the rise and growing exponentially, RTD is proof of this. Cape Town and Stellenbosch are booming with young talent and the next Daisies could be featuring new artists like Stellenbosch’s very own Three Man Weave or big headliners like the popular Keinemusiek. One thing I could say I appreciated just as much as the beat, was the fashion. Bikini and sandals, Birkenstocks and crochet dresses, shorts and a t-shirt, it didn’t matter. This is an area where I absolutely thrived. 

Leading up to the festival I had my grandmother make skirts which I designed and chose fabric for. Getting to curate cool and funky outfits for night and daytime looks made the experience that much more exciting. A stigma which I overcame this past weekend is that most men do not put effort into their style. The matching sets I saw were not only fashionable but worn with a sassy male confidence. The people of Daisies came through with all the latest trends: the chunky belts, 2000’s thin framed sunglasses and cowboy boots were all the rage. What’s so unique about South African music festivals is that despite the mainstream swag that was brought out by the youngsters, amongst them the roots of our nation still thrive through the guy wearing a South African Flag speedo and another wearing his traditional cultural patterns.

Pickpocketing and the pure heat could be the only thing to critique as many returned home with sunstroke and no phone. While general camping is a nuisance and the dust activated my allergies, these things were minuscule in the bigger picture. However, if you are a purely throwbacks girl at heart, hate camping and absolutely need 6 hours of sleep, this festival might not be the place for you. What is irrelevant is if you know the main headliners, if you know lots of people going or if you cannot drink. None of those things are necessary to enjoy this festival to its fullest. It is an expensive ordeal if calculating tickets prices, petrol costs and food but, if you spend conservatively and come with the right attitude, every cent is worth it.

In saying that though, being able to attend is a privilege. This festival was a highlight of my year, and my future kids will be hearing my stories (most of them). To have this shared experience with my friends is something to be grateful for. I left Daisies with an unlocked love for Shekinah, sore feet from too much dancing, sunburn on my neck and hair wild from the wind. Every second was thoroughly enjoyed and my life is richer for it. Shoutout mom and dad for good dancing genes and sensational moves.