Sober raves are the new trend sweeping the nation, but it's about more than the music

For decades the idea of electronic music and raves has been associated with substance abuse, nasty hangovers and zero memory of the night before – but Gen Z is changing that.

Over the past few months we've seen a nationwide trend taking over, younger generations are looking to have fun without the hangover and it seems they've found the perfect way to do so.

Sober raves are popping up all over the country, and they're only going to get bigger from here.

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You've got On Air in Melbourne, a café with live DJ sets and radio shows each morning, and then there's Dawnbreak, a silent and sober disco event kicking off at 4am on a Friday down at Perth's Cottesloe Beach.

In Brisbane there's AM social, a coffee rave drawing crowds from as early as 7am, and Sydney's Maple Social Club hosts its DJ and coffee events, drawing crowds as big as 400 people.

Most recently, Spotify even jumped on the trend, but they put their own unique twist on it.

The music streaming platform teamed up with Doglateria – a gelato shop for dogs – to host a the Spotify Woof Doof in Bondi.

Spotify AUNZ Senior Editor Steph Liong tells 9honey the event was inspired by the recent trend sweeping Gen Z Aussies.

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"We are obsessed with the trend at Spotify and wanted to create our own love-letter to alternative gig venues," she says.

"Pet ownership is on the rise in Australia, we have one of the highest pet ownership rates in the world, and Gen Z is carrying the torch on this ownership, so we figured... if Australia is animal crazy, why should humans have all the fun?"

So, the teams at Spotify and Doglateria teamed up to design a sober rave catered to dogs with music specifically designed for canines.

"A 2017 study by the University of Glasgow and Scottish SPCA found dogs prefer soft rock and reggae over other musical genres," Liong explains, adding that the volume was also kept at a level suitable for dogs' hearing.

"The rhythm and slower tempo of the two genres mimics a dogs own heart rate, which can have a calming effect. With this in mind, we worked to fuse these two genres together, to create the ultimate 'Dogpop' playlist for the event."

The team at Spotify explain that there has been a major uptick in the amount of EDM titled playlists streamed by younger Aussies, with homegrown talent Dom Dolla leading the charge as Australia's top EDM artist.

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So, while it may seem a love for the genre is the main reason behind these events, there's also a wider issue at hand that sober raves are working to mend.

Research shows Gen Z is the loneliest generation, with social media, fewer in-person connections and economic instability all contributing to the matter.

Run Clubs were one of the first social initiatives combatting the epidemic to take off nationwide, a free event where people are encouraged to meet and interact in person – but the issue is, not everyone likes to run.

Maple Social Club founder Taylor Gwyther told The Sydney Morning Herald their DJ and Coffee events were designed as an "alternative to the run club", adding that "probably" 50 per cent of attendees come solo as a way to meet new friends.

Liong tells us it's obvious Gen Z enjoys "the magic of EDM music and social connection" but it's refreshing to see young Aussies challenging the setting that enjoyment takes place in, relocating to a café with a latte in hand rather than a warehouse with a vodka.

"Not too dissimilar to the rise of run clubs, it's ultimately a chance to socialise and bond in a more low-cost, low-effort way that prioritises health and wellness," she says.

"Cafe raves exist through a shared love of music and dance without the extra frills. 'Soft clubbing' as a trend is definitely here to stay."

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