From MTV to Mycelium: a 90s kid finds their true beat

The evolution of a social identity, merging music and mushrooms

I’m a kid of the 90s. My inner teen always believed that my social identity was rooted in Nintendo, MySpace and MTV. That narrative has shaped my lifestyle– intentionally living in cities like London, Cape Town or Johannesburg to be at the centre of emerging pop culture and gigs that nobody knows about, unless “you knowwww” 👀. Dressing up for gallery openings hoping that today’s latest street-style photographer splashes your outfit on their Tumblr. But mostly, discovering great music. The kind of discovery that we experienced before Spotify fed us algorithms. In nightclubs, at gigs, at festivals.

My social identity became so tied to music that festivals were a no-brainer in the annual calendar. Who am I, if not one with lived experience of rough camping, muddy shoes, broken eardrums, the mild depression that sets in when you return to real life, and the feeling of awe, inspiration, admiration and overwhelm that you experienced THAT ARTIST perform live, right in front of you? Exactly, I’d be nobody.

Now, the natural world has crept back in and I’m rediscovering roots. As a kid of the ‘90s, I lived in forests, fynbos and mountains. Afternoons involved trekking up the gravel track (by foot, bike, horse or tractor) to recce the land, explore dongas and get lost a little. On rainy school holidays we’d be clocking levels of Super Mario Bros., but come sunshine we got feral. 

My true social identity feels the most right– from MySpace to Mushroom Space. ‘90s nostalgia, Nintendo, nightclubs, and now nature. Like a well-fit pair of Levis, the idea clicks like an ‘ah-huh’ moment. Muddy festival shoes are also forest trekking trainers. Music and mushrooms can merge in my world.

All of this babble is a long-winded way of contextualising why I’m giddy with excitement to attend my first MUSHROOM FESTIVAL this weekend (!!!)

All Things Fungi ticks all the boxes: ancient woodland, live music, mushrooms and more. It’s an ode to the fluidity and interconnectedness of all things natural and all things melodic. It’s MTV meets mycology, and I think it’s just cool. Feral fun can exist at a fungi fest.

If you’re going, reach out or comment below! We can sit down to discuss fungal identity over a cup of Lions Mane coffee.

If you’re not going, reach out anyway or comment below! I’d love to discuss and compare notes about your story of identity evolution.

Mush love!

🍄❤️ Jess

Check out ALL THINGS FUNGI Festival here.