Life After Rave Returns: Underdog Energy, Genre-Bending Sound, and a New Chapter for New Orleans’ Underground

NOLA EDM: For those discovering Life After Rave for the first time — what is the vision behind the label?

How did it begin, and what does “Life After Rave” represent creatively and culturally to you?

Trouble: The vision behind the label is very much let’s release the music that artist can genre bend in, let’s have artist collab that would only be possible through the networking of relationships. Life After Rave represents the underdogs, putting them in a safe space to showcase thier work.

NOLA EDM: This return marks a new lineup and a new venue.

What does this event represent for Life After Rave at this stage, and how does it reflect where the label is heading now?

Trouble: This event is me proving a few things, taking a 2 month break to get back to the roots of this project (more dj sets) This one’s big for us because were coming up on a year of throwing shows, this marks our 9th event and i couldn’t be happier with the line up, getting some well respected djs in the scene to pull up to this very niche event is the full circle moment i’ve been waiting for.

NOLA EDM: For people stepping into a Life After Rave space for the first time, what do you hope they walk away feeling?

Trouble: I hope they walk away inspired, inspired to step out of their norm of night clubs for a community based underground show, or just  their new favorite song would be cool.

NOLA EDM: Life After Rave lives at the intersection of underground energy and emotional release.

What kind of sound, feeling, or atmosphere defines the label right now?

Trouble: Just fun, having fun in New Orleans crazy enough is hard for me personally. Stepping out of the norm of night clubs and bars curating this space of house, electronic, dance hall, even underground rap music is what this is all about and we don’t have a lot of that here.

NOLA EDM: Trouble has been pushing forward with new releases and sonic direction.

How does his recent work connect to the Life After Rave identity, and why did it feel right to spotlight that momentum at this event?

Trouble: I’ve been making so many connections  in the rave scene so it was important to put all my favorites under the same roof all in a stacked line up mixing crowds and genres.

NOLA EDM: When curating events and releases under the Life After Rave name, what do you look for?

Is it sound, intention, emotion, community alignment — or a mix of all of it?

Trouble: I look for identity, what sticks out about said artist, i think meshing different walks of life is important when creating a line up, definitely a mix of it all

NOLA EDM: The name “Life After Rave” suggests that the experience doesn’t end when the night does.

How does that idea influence the way you approach community-building, visuals, or event design?

Trouble:  I think an experience that most people haven’t experienced before is always the goal, making events as late as possible in a venue no ones ever been to always keeps the people coming back, having visuals from past shows playing on a projector or just having a cool stage setup is the approach.

NOLA EDM: This event offers free RSVPs alongside a low barrier to entry.

How important is accessibility and openness to the way Life After Rave shows up in the scene?

Trouble: Very important! If i could make all these events free i would. I always want everyone to pull up, this economy is so f**ked, so i try to make this experience as accessible as possible.

NOLA EDM: Looking ahead, what’s next for Life After Rave after this show?

More releases, showcases, collaborations, or new spaces we should have on our radar?

Trouble: More releases! I’m working on a mixtape all in house for the most part, but I have some crazy features and producers locked in, more shows! Definitely gonna get another one in for our raveversary. Djs I’ve been looking up to are asking to collab so expect a lot from us this year.