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We headed to Mexico City, Mexico for some good people and good music.

This past weekend, freaks and fans from all over Mexico and points beyond converged on Mexico City for the diverse and tasteful celebration of music, art and food that is Festival NRMAL. This year's sixth anniversary edition took place over two days in the scenic (if slightly dusty) Deportivo Lomas Altas park and featured well­known US bands like Swans and Future Islands as well as non­US acts like Mexico's Porter, Syria's Omar Souleyman and Canada's Metz. From Brazilian psych­rockers Boogarins to German electronic act Mouse on Mars, it was truly a delicious stew of cultural exchange.

As we quickly found, the people of NRMAL are a welcoming bunch who are not afraid to make new friends or share their Indio beer. Whether they were sitting on blankets in the sun or pumping their fists to a late night techno set, they displayed none of the culturally insensitive attire or boorish behavior that gives certain festivals stateside a bad rap. Absent, too, was the cynical attitude so often observed across various events in indie culture; that "fuck the things we do, lol" shrug. Maybe it was the thoughtful curation, the vibey drugs going around, or simply the perfect weather, but the young, Mexican­-skewing crowd seemed genuinely stoked to be there. Also: to bust out their best festival fashions.

Here are 11 friendly people we found rocking out and looking cool.

 

Stephanie, 22

Hometown: Mexico City
Favorite act(s) playing the festival: Swans
Favorite thing to do in Mexico City: Go to concerts and parties.
Most embarrassing moment: "When a girl tried to hit me and fell down on the floor... I felt ashamed... I was a little drunk."
Advice you'd give your teenage self: "You are doing well, believe in yourself. Keep in touch with your mind, and the universe."
Phone background: A picture of a Furby with the words "Fight me, you lil' bitch."
Hidden talent: Painting and drawing

 

Saira, 27

Hometown: Michoacan
Favorite act(s) playing the festival: Revollero, Phantogram, Chain and the Gang
Favorite thing to do in Mexico City: "Go to parties... and there's lots of culture, lots of things to explore. It's very rich."
Most embarrassing moment: Getting drunk for the first time—"I took five shots of vodka in one hour... first it made me happy, then aggressive, then dizzy. I threw up a lot and I had the worst hangover ever."
Advice you'd give your teenage self:"Don't be so hard on yourself. Life is too short."
Current phone wallpaper: People wearing hoodies, riding an escalator and holding hands.

 

Camila, 22

Hometown: Guadalajara
Favorite act(s) playing the festival: Future Islands
Favorite thing to do in Mexico City: "Walk around... there's always something good to discover."
Most embarrassing moment: "I peed my pants at camp while watching Carrie because it was so scary."
Advice you'd give your teenage self: "Don't be such a pain in the ass."
Phone background: The ocean
Hidden talent: Can drink a beer in 10 seconds.

 

Sarah, 32

Hometown: Del Rio, Texas (but just moved to Monterrey)
Favorite act(s) playing the festival: Future Islands
Favorite thing to do in Mexico City: Eat street food
Most embarrassing moment: "My whole life is an embarrassing moment."
Advice you'd give your teenage self: "Be cool, everything is good, don't be scared, don't be a dumbass."
Current phone wallpaper: A drawing of a robot girl by Chiara Bautista. 

 

Sandra Blow, 24

Hometown: Mexico City
Favorite act(s) playing the festival: Mariel Mariel
Favorite thing to do in Mexico City: Party!



Most embarrassing moment
: None!
Advice you’d give to your teenage self: "Stop dressing like that! I used to be super goth... true goth."
Current phone wallpaper: "A picture I took of a girl crying."
Hidden talent: "I can do a great Gloria Trevi impersonation."

 

Anna Nasty, 25

Hometown: Washington, D.C. 
Favorite act(s) playing the festival: Peaking Lights, Mouse on Mars
Favorite thing to do in Mexico City: Eat, see architecture
Most embarrassing moment: "I switched schools in the 4th grade...the first day, I farted and sneezed at the same time during a presentation."
Advice you’d give to your teenage self: "All the things people made fun of me for are the things that make me great."
Current phone wallpaper: An image by designer Nathalie du Pasquier
Hidden talent: "I can touch my foot to my nose."

 

Chema, 27

Hometown: Monterrey
Favorite act(s) playing the festival: Malos Modales
Favorite thing to do in Mexico City: Go to concerts
Most embarrassing moment: "Right now."
Advice you’d give your teenage self: "Try to get a girlfriend."

 

Daniela, 24

Hometown: Monterrey
Favorite act(s) playing the festival: El Guincho
Favorite thing to do in Mexico City: "Go to El Centro Historico—it's a beautiful place."
Most embarrassing moment: "I drank too much tequila before a show and threw up on the floor."
Advice you’d give to your teenage self: "Go a little bit crazier."
Current phone wallpaper: The sun
Hidden talent: Cooking

 

Gilberto, 28

Hometown: Mexico City
Favorite act(s) playing the festival: Metz. "They were incredible!"
Favorite thing to do in Mexico City: See movies, go to music festivals
Advice you’d give to your teenage self: "Keep rocking, baby."
Phone background: Stars and clouds
Hidden talent: Playing chillwave music

 

Jenny, 30

Hometown: Born in Australia, lives in Aguas Calientes
Favorite act(s) playing the festival: Twin Peaks
Favorite thing to do in Mexico City: Go to museums and festivals. "I come about four times a year to see what's happening. I love music and art."
Most embarrassing moment: "When my mom found out I smoked pot."
Advice you'd give your teenage self: "Party hard!"
Phone background: A blue Hindu god

 

Michelle, 26

Hometown: Mexico City
Favorite act(s) playing the festival: Bocafloja—"And I liked Metz!"
Favorite thing to do in Mexico City: Go to las trajineras in the canals at Xochimilco, which are like gondolas.
Phone background: A picture of herself with a stray dog
Hidden talent: Making jewelry

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