From Living Room Raves to Adriatic Waves: The Solo Trip That Changed My Way of Travel
The Soundtrack to My Lockdown
For many, 2020 was a year of sourdough starters and endless Netflix or TikTok. For me, it was a deeper dive into music.
I went from casual listener to obsessive curator, spending hours organizing playlists and diving deeper into dance music: Disco, House, Drum & Bass, UK Garage, and Techno.
The energy in the music moved fast, and I wanted my body to keep up. So I decided to learn, and found myself taking one-on-one virtual shuffle dance classes with an instructor I discovered on Instagram (shout out to @amyyconte - she’s the best!). Later, I’d even move to Denver and train with her in person! My passion wasn't just a hobby; it was and is my anchor.
The Call of Croatia
Dozens of my playlists were made and the only thing my best friend/roommate and I knew what to do with them was…buy an unnecessary amount of strobe lights, a fog machine, a disco ball and throw raves in our Astoria, Queens living room.
Fast forward to 2021. As the world cautiously reopened, Croatia emerged as one of the first destinations to welcome the world. I stumbled upon lots of new artists, many of whom had tracks on @Defected Records. I’ll never forget seeing an advertisement for Defected Croatia, their annual boutique festival in Tisno, Croatia! It felt like fate.
The only catch? None of my friends could commit and didn’t feel comfortable exploring out into the world as the pandemic had only started to let up.
This was a crossroads. Do I let the lack of companions stop me and instill fear, or do I embrace the adventure and trust that COVID wouldn’t come for me?
I started reaching out to travel friends I’d met abroad to join me and got lucky! I connected with my now good friend, JM, whom I had previously met in the Philippines. JM was the perfect partner: he's also into dance music, is a fellow traveler looking for any excuse to venture out, and wasn't scared off by COVID.
And just like that, we purchased our tickets.
I decided that this trip would be monumental. It was my first time planning a trip for just me - treating myself with a trip curated around a passion that had blossomed during lockdown.
The Tisno Bliss: Beach Days and Barbarella's Nights
And what a trip it was!
Defected Croatia was everything I'd hoped for and more. The perfect number of people, the most amazing vibe, and a stunning location, hosted at The Garden, Tisno, that transformed into a musical paradise.
Imagine dancing on the beach all day, the sun on your skin, the sea breeze in your hair, and then continuing the party into the night. The routine was pure bliss: dance, go home to recharge, head back out for more, repeat.
We didn't miss a beat.
Five incredible days of festival magic, including unforgettable boat parties and nights that turned to mornings at @Barbarellas Discotheque, an open-air nightclub unlike any other. I met Dennis Cruz (one of my all time favs), Low Steppa, Ferreck Dawn and the legend Simon Dunnmore, founder of Defected Records.
I was starstruck to say the least!
It was then that I knew this festival was special - these kind of encounters could never happen at a festival double the size.
Let Your Passions Be Your Compass
We danced until our feet ached, met countless incredible people, and felt a sense of freedom I hadn't experienced in years.
That trip wasn't just about the music; it was about rediscovering myself and forging new connections.
In fact, one of the friends I made later became my roommate when I moved to London!
Defected Croatia holds a special place in my heart - I had to make a return and later would attend another two times!
This experience solidified that my travel is about anchoring it to something I love - music and festivals. It's about letting that passion lead you to new countries, new cultures and new experiences, all while having a built-in reason to celebrate and connect.
If you have a passion that makes your heart sing, I urge you to consider building a trip around it.
Whether it's music, art, food, or adventure, let your passions guide you.
You might just find yourself dancing on a Croatian beach, making lifelong friends, and discovering a whole new way to see the world.
