HeadlinerHIGHLIGHT: Taria Jessica Clayton

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, and you name it, our Headliners might grind and roll their way through life along different paths on their way to the dancefloor, but are like family once they’ve arrived. In celebration of their uniqueness, and the music and lifestyle that connects us all, we give you HeadlinerHIGHLIGHTS, an ongoing series profiling the diverse individuals that make up the Insomniac community.

Name: Taria Jessica Clayton
Profession: US Army Photographer (3 years)
Currently living: Fort Irwin, CA
First Insomniac show attended: I have gone to so many events that I really don’t remember the first Insomniac event.
Spirit animal: Bear
Currently listening to:

Let’s start off with a little about you and dance music.
Dance and electronic music have been in my life for as long as I can remember. My mother always had a ’80s pop CD or a ’90s dance mix on in the car. Once I started to get in to my own genres of music I got into trance big time. ATB is my favorite DJ of all time; the first time I listened to him (on my Zune) was in a computer class. I finally got to see him last year at EDC and that was my highlight of the entire weekend.

This lifestyle and culture is just something that you can’t really explain. The vibes that you get from everyone is something that you will never get anywhere else. The crazy fashion and the not give a fuck attitude is one of the things I love most about it. Seeing everyone come together in one place for three nights or even just three hours and becoming family—music brings people together no matter what your background is. Every event that I have gone to has been a life changing experience; whether it’s seeing a new DJ, or just meeting new people. Last year I was able to take my wife to her first-ever event (EDC), she took it all in like a champ and she will now forever be apart of this family.

How would you describe an Insomniac event to someone at work that has never been?
Amazing. There will never be a better, happier, or more free of a place in the world you will go to.

What’s a typical day like for you at work?
Physical training every morning from 6:30 till 7:30, and after that I go to work and take photos. We will go out and take photos of training events here at the Fort I am at. We work 14 days straight every month and only get like three to four days off a month, so going to an event is a huge thing for me and my wife; it’s where we have time together and just be together as our own crazy selfs.

Do you go out and party with co-workers?
I don’t like to party with the people I work with; being in the military people don’t really like crazy and getting out of their shell, but I do rave with my brother and he is in the military.

What do you like do outside of dance music when you have nothing to do?
I love to long board, and love to spend time with my wife in bed being lazy!

If you could have one magical/super power, what would you want?
I would love to fly because I would be able to go to every event with no worries!

Follow Taria Jessica Clayton on Facebook | Instagram