headlinerHIGHLIGHT: Byron Basa

It’s always worth repeating: Insomniac fans, the real Headliners of the show, are the reason we stay up late doing what we do—and why get up early. Doctors, soldiers, teachers, yoga instructors, chefs, baristas—you name it—our Headliners might grind and roll their way through life along different paths on their way to the dancefloor, but they’re like family once they’ve arrived. In celebration of their uniqueness and the music and lifestyle that connect us all, we give you HeadlinerHIGHLIGHTS, an ongoing series profiling the diverse individuals that make up the Insomniac community.

Byron Basa

Age: 21
Currently living: Tracy, CA
Occupation: Audio/video technician
Favorite DJ: The Chainsmokers
Currently listening to: Reid Stefan & Venessa Michaels ft. Karra “Pop”

How did you get involved in dance music?
Before I started raving, I took six years of hip-hop dance classes. Those pretty much occupied most of my time, and we even got to go around California and compete. I grew up listening to mostly hip-hop, but thanks to my parents, I was exposed to all types of music. In middle school, I started listening to a bit of dubstep, and it wasn’t until maybe high school that I started to listen to a lot more EDM.

Do you still dance competitively?
I stopped dancing once I moved, but every now and then, I’ll take a dance workshop.

What do you remember about your first Insomniac show?
It was Audio on the Bay 2014. It was a two-day event, if I remember correctly, but we ended up attending one day only. It was a great experience, because I got to go with my sister and my other friends, who were also new to raving. One thing I remember was someone pulling the fire alarm and leaving everyone confused, but luckily it wasn’t a real emergency, and the show went on as planned. I feel like that was the event that made me want to attend more raves—mainly because I had such a fun time and I got to meet a lot of new people.

Where does your deep appreciation for Insomniac come from?
I honestly just love the organization of Insomniac’s events. I’ve had nothing but fun at every festival I’ve been to. The decorations, stages, and the event staff have all been great to me and help contribute to a great atmosphere. All of the attention to detail to help keeping a fun and safe environment is what’s going to keep me coming back and attending more events.

Do you remember what was going through your head when you first decided to get this tattoo?
I was in my kitchen when the decision took place. Although I already knew where I wanted my first tattoo to be, I was completely lost on what to get. My mom helped me choose the owl. Owls represent wisdom, and the choice also made me think of Insomniac. I’ve been to several Insomniac events and had great experiences at all of them, so the choice made sense. I wanted to get something that would remind me of all the fun times and experiences I’ve had, and all of the new people I’ve met during my early adult years at these events. I hope that by getting this owl, I’ll be able to reminisce about the past once I’m older. I also hope that this tattoo will give me some inspiration on what my next tattoos will be.

How long after you came up with idea for this ink were you sitting in the chair getting the work done?
I got the tattoo a week after I decided what I wanted.

Talk about the design process a little.
I looked online at other owl tattoos and chose a few that I really liked. I think I showed my artist about three pictures, and then I just let him design it from there. The tattoo came out a lot better than I expected; I’m pretty proud of his work!

Is this your first tattoo?
My first and only tattoo—so far. I do plan on getting more in the near future!

How did your friends and family react when they saw it?
Everyone loved it. I did have a few of my friends go up to me, saying they thought it was fake when I posted it online, though.

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