DJs on deadly dance festival scene claim they are not glorifying drugs

The artists behind the hardcore raves where Sydney teenagers are overdosing on drugs say there is “absolutely no connection” between their music and narcotics — despite pumping out popular songs called Let’s Get Pillz and LSD Problem.

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The artists behind the hardcore raves where Sydney teenagers are overdosing on drugs say there is “absolutely no connection” between their music and narcotics — despite pumping out popular songs called Let’s Get Pillz and LSD Problem.

They also claim there’s nothing police or organisers can do to stop young adults from dying because “the actions of an individual is not something you can control”.

Masks and sports clothing are hard style staples.

A reveller at the Alison Wonderland Scarehouse Project.

A special investigation by The Daily Telegraph into the subculture of “hardstyle” music festivals reveals a community of revellers addicted to baring their flesh, wearing the kind of masks you would expect on an armed raider and partying for hours to intense music that has to be at least 140 beats per minute.

Drug references are rife in the lyrics.

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A video still showing Callum Brosnan dancing with friends at the Knockout Games at Sydney Olympic Park before he died of a suspected drug-related overdose. Picture: Facebook

Psyko Punkz — an artist who flew in from the Netherlands to play at the weekend’s Knockout Games of Destiny at Homebush where 19-year-old Callum Brosnan­ fatally overdosed — has a song called Drunken Masta.

The lyrics boast “you know my people do drugs, Two shots, four hits spat bitch naked”.

Another artist at the rave, Radical Redemption, has a song called Smack Bitch which repeats: “Guess you know the story, The rap-side, crack-side, How I smoked funk, Smacked bitches on the backside”.

DJ Psyko Punkz. Picture: Instagram

DJ Radical Redemption. Picture: Instagram

Yet Australian Corey Soljan, who performed at the Knockout Games as DJ Code Black, said that “what people ingest in their personal time or at an event is not my place to control”.

“And it’s not something the police or event organisers can really control,” he told The Daily Telegraph.

“If someone decides to take drugs on the train ride to work, should we ask the train staff how they feel about it? Simply put, the actions of an individual is not something you can control.”

Jason Suae, another hardstyle Australian DJ who attended the event but didn’t perform, also said artists can’t be blamed.

“To be brutally honest, there is absolutely no connection between the music and drug taking,” he said, claiming “top 40 music” has just as many drug references.

Corey Soljan, known as DJ Code Black says it is not possible to control the actions of individuals.

Jason Suae, known as DJ Suae, says top 40 music has just as many drug references as dance music.

Another popular Australian hardstyle group, The Strangerz, said their music was “just designed to be listened to and enjoyed”.

“We don’t have people being sober or high in mind when we make it,” a DJ belonging to The Strangerz said.

“As in every music scene, the music is what comes first. It’s hard to say where the love for the music comes from, as it’s different for everybody.”

Mr Brosnan was one of 16 casualties from drug overdoses at the Knockout Games, where another 130 people also received medical treatment at the event attended by more than 18,000.

Police issued 69 banning notices and of the 200 searches conducted, 62 people were found in possession of drugs.

Callum Brosnan collapsed in a fit at the train station after leaving the event. Picture: Facebook

Joseph Pham, 23, died at the Defqon Festival in Penrith in September. Picture: Facebook

Five people were charged with drug offences. It is understood MDMA — more commonly known as ecstasy — speed, ice and GHB were all present at the event.

Over the past three month, hundreds of revellers have been charged for drug-related offences at music festivals across NSW.

The latest fatality comes soon after the deaths of Joseph Pham, 23, and Diana Nguyen, 21, at Defqon.1 hardstyle dance event at Penrith in September.

On Sunday NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Peter Thurtell urged young people to stop “gambling with their lives” but the fear is that his call is falling on deaf ears.