Something In The Water

Pharell, Masego, Missy Elliot, and CHARLIE WILSON! Yes, Charlie Wilson! These were some of the artists on the lineup for the first-ever Something in The Water Festival.

My little sister and I bought our tickets months in advance. We got on a plane, rented a truck, and drove into Virginia Beach, where we discovered what that special something in the water was.

Okay, that was a pretty corny line, but like for real though, there is something special about this festival, perhaps its the fact that the magically ageless Skate Board P curated it. Nothing, other than COVID-19 could stop this show from going on, but let's travel back to a time before COVID. The golden year for Something in The Water!

Friday, April 26th, 2019... Masego is set to perform. Dark clouds linger over the beach. Festival goers wander the streets locating their wrist bands, denying the reality that a storm is rapidly approaching.

"PLEASE EVACUATE THE BEACH! A STORM IS APPROACHING! THE FESTIVAL CANCELLED TODAY!"........ announced a volunteer through a megaphone.

''PLEASE DON'T HATE ME GUYS TODAY'S MY BIRTHDAY!" she squealed.

Nobody moved, except my sister and I, we decided to go to the water, to take in the beauty of Yemaja.

"I wish we had weed", I said staring out into the distance.

Suddenly I saw a tall, dark, and handsome figure approaching. We locked eyes in that Rom-Com way of locking eyes.

"You look like a mermaid", he said.

"Thank you", I smiled blushing shyly.

"Where are you from?" he asked.

"Atlanta", I said

"Oh bet, I'm from Miami.. little Haiti-"

"Ou se Ayisyen" which translates to "you are Haitian!?"

I'll spare you all the flirty details, but it was in that moment, under the stormy clouds of Virginia Beach that I found my Haitian Papi.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a blunt. God always gives you what you need, am I right! (insert cool guy smile)

He handed me the blunt, just as I began to take a hit, a huge gust of sand slapped me in the face. Lightning struck and the sky released a treacherous storm. My Haitian Papi turned to run away, I followed for a moment, quickly turning back to look at my sister.

She was still. Facing the storm as if she were apart of it. Her stillness grounded me, I too stood in stillness allured by the magnificence of the storm. We watched as the storm morphed around the ocean creeping its way onto the land. It was sensational.

Eventually, we joined the stampede of festival-goers running away from the beach. I looked around hoping to see Haitian Papi, but I never saw him again. He is not the focus of this story, although Haitian Papi if you read this hit me up! The focus of this story is that special something in the water. So what is it?

It's love.

That's what's in the water, it's like the sugar in Kool-Aid.

Okay, that was also a corny line, but for real though you could just feel the love of community and artistry, even the food was made with love. Shout out Pharell for looking out for the vegans.

Pharell and his team curated a rare event that brought pure ecstasy to the mind, body, and spirit. How often are you forced to choose between Kaytranda and Deepak Chopra? Either way, you win. We did, however; chose Deepak. As always had a very simple yet powerful message that I want to leave you with.

"We are stardust beings, all of us... it took the whole universe to make you."

So, in times like these, when its easy to feel insignificant. Remember that it took the entire universe to make you.

So, you are special. You are loved.

See you at Something In The Water 2021!

Peace & Blessings,

The Creole Griot