SOUL: Unexpected Rhythms - My First Night in West Hollywood
cbr, 2012 - #nowplaying - "Animal" by R.I.O and U-Jean
cbr, 2012 - #nowplaying - "Animal" by R.I.O and U-Jean
#nowplaying - "Animal" by R.I.O and U-Jean
Backstage of Life
As a recording artist who'd spent most of my performance days in universities, school auditoriums, and alternative spaces like Hot Topic, the world of nightclubs was entirely foreign territory. My musical journey had been about connection, storytelling, and intimate performances - not the pulsing, environment of West Hollywood nightlife.
Overstimulation
Walking into that first nightclub was like stepping into an alternate universe. The sensory overload hit me immediately - walls of sound, cascading lights, bodies moving in synchronized chaos. This wasn't my stage. This wasn't my rhythm.
The music - our anthem at the time - blasted through the speakers, but instead of feeling connected, I felt profoundly out of place. The beats of "Animal" by R.I.O and U-Jean seemed to pulse with an energy that was simultaneously magnetic and alienating.
Unexpected Connections
But nightlife, I was learning, wasn't just about the music or the environment. It was about human connection. Through a mutual friend that night, I met her - my first real, complicated, on-again-off-again girlfriend. In the midst of sensory chaos, a genuine human connection emerged.
Beyond the Club Lights
My nightclub experience was brief. I quickly realized that this world - with its intense stimulation and surface-level interactions - wasn't my natural habitat. My heart belonged to more intentional spaces: recording studios, university stages, spaces where stories could be told and souls could truly connect.
Luxury of Self-Discovery
What I learned that night wasn't about clubbing culture. It was about understanding myself. Some experiences are meant to show you where you don't belong, just as clearly as they show you where you do.
Lessons in Rhythm
- Not every beat is your beat
- Connection matters more than environment
- Your authentic self transcends any single space
- Growth often happens in moments of discomfort
Soundtrack of Becoming
That night in West Hollywood was a footnote in my larger story - a moment of contrast that helped define my own unique rhythm. As a recording artist, I understood that life, like music, is about finding your own tempo, your own truth.
Stay curious. Stay authentic. Keep creating.
– Mitchell Royel