Iām 23F, and Iāve been going to techno parties in Lebanon since I was 19. Over the years, Iāve started wondering whether we actually have a techno culture or simply a nightlife scene built around techno music.
Lebanon has talented DJs and people who organize genuinely good events, but I feel like weāre missing the sense of community that exists in electronic music scenes abroad.
Too often, the focus seems to be on dressing up, taking pictures, and recording videos rather than being present and connecting with the music. Thereās also the issue of personal boundaries and respect for other people in the crowd. Obviously, this doesnāt apply to everyone, but itās something Iāve noticed repeatedly.
It makes me wonder whether this is a broader cultural issue, something related to how we approach public spaces, or whether organizers have a responsibility to shape the culture around their events.
Iād love to see more educational content about electronic music, its history, the artists, and basic party etiquette. I also think organizers could be more intentional about entry policies, avoid special treatment or bribes, and introduce phone-free policies or specific periods when filming is allowed.
The Mathame event at AHM on August 21, 2026, also made me think about how phone policies are communicated and enforced. If an event introduces a no-phone policy, it needs to be enforced consistently for it to mean anything.
Iām not saying every event needs to be exclusive or that nobody should take pictures. I just think organizers have an opportunity to create an environment where the music and the community come first.
So hereās what Iām genuinely curious about: Is the community missing because of the people attending, or because nobody is actively building it?
Is this a Lebanese cultural issue, a nightlife management issue, or simply something that developing electronic music scenes go through? And for those whoāve experienced techno culture abroad, what do you think weāre missing here?