Lahtelais festivalgoers report similar experiences at local electronic music event

Attendees at the Sonaari festival in Lahti describe how trance music grounds and calms them, describing the experience as both sensory and communal.

Sonaari, organized by local promoter Niko Vanhala, is Finland’s only trance-focused festival this summer, held on the scenic Enonsaari island in Lake Vesijärvi. Over 300 people attended the event’s opening night on Friday, with more expected for the second day.

Vanhala, 34, who was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, says the festival’s music helps him focus. “Trance at 130–140 beats per minute puts me in a state where my thoughts are clear, and I can just be,” he explains. He traces his connection to the genre back to childhood, when he would close his eyes and let the music transport him.

Heini Zara, another attendee with an ADHD diagnosis, says electronic music has long brought her comfort. “It helps me ground myself and feel present,” she says. Her friend Liinu Silvennoinen adds that the music’s vibrations stimulate the body in ways that align with ADHD terminology.

The festival’s appeal extends beyond the music. Zara highlights the natural setting—cool sand underfoot, wind on the skin, and the forest backdrop—as integral to the experience. “It’s not just about the beats; it’s the whole sensory environment,” she says.

Vanhala notes that many in the electronic music scene, including artists and organizers, have neurodivergent traits. “A lot of us have ADHD or autism,” he says. “The music gives us a way to step out of everyday life and focus on the moment.”

Some research supports these observations. A thesis from the University of Oulu found that clear rhythms, fast tempos, and singing can positively affect alertness. International studies in music therapy and rhythmic music have also suggested that such music may ease symptoms of attention disorders.