Music can enhance happiness, boost creativity and promote feelings of inclusion and belongingness – and can even make us healthier!
Electronic Dance Music (EDM) is an expansive genre encompassing numerous subgenres such as disco, techno, trance, drum and bass and dubstep. EDM’s popularity has rapidly expanded worldwide through major music festivals and premier venues.
Disco
Disco music gained widespread appeal during the late 1960s and early 1970s in venues attended by African-Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans and gay Americans as a response to rock music dominance and its associated stigma at that time; disco was seen as a way out. Furthermore, disco provided an outlet to address increasing social problems like race riots, crime and economic instability.
Disco music was distinguished by an eclectic range of instruments such as horns, strings and flutes as well as synthesizers to produce its signature groove sound. Songs often featured repetitive lyrics designed for pure escape; and it was important that disco also incorporate elements from funk and pop music into its style.
Techno music first emerged in Detroit, Michigan when three musicians — Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunderson, and Derrick May — combined disco with synthesizers and other electronic equipment in hidden nightclubs to form recordings that later became widely popular across Europe and North America.
EDM is now an international phenomenon, featuring DJs, festivals and outstanding venues across the world. However, its critics remain. One such critic was The Spectator magazine which published an inaccurate article suggesting EDM had died out. While such speculations can often be misleading or wrongheaded in nature, they do reveal some people have narrow definitions of what makes up EDM music.
House
House music first emerged during the late 1980s and since has evolved into many subgenres. House music’s hallmark features a four-to-the-floor beat, synthesized basslines and melodies and danceable tempo of around 120 beats per minute; commonly, its beat will include open hi-hats on every offbeat and claps or snares every second or fourth beat; in addition, other elements may be added such as soulful or funk-influenced vocals or clave styles which all contribute to give house its distinct sound.
DJs are at the core of electronic dance music. Utilizing various tools to manipulate sounds and generate new ones, DJs often serve as the focal point of parties – whether clubs or festivals. But that doesn’t mean that only they should dance – everyone can join in!
Rave culture of the 1990s witnessed house evolve from techno and drum and bass into one of the most beloved forms of dance music today, becoming an integral element in rave culture itself. House has since been used as an influence by pop and rock musicians looking to craft their own brand of EDM; examples include Ellie Goulding, The Chainsmokers and Katy Perry among many others.
Techno
Techno is another electronic music genre produced using drum machines and synthesizers, but differs in that its sound tends toward robotic or dystopian, rather than melodies or hooks. Furthermore, unlike House music which typically samples from older disco or soul records for inspiration, techno shuns these influences in favor of more modern mechanical sounds that replace clap sounds with electronic hi-hats instead.
Techno music dance is distinguished by four-on-the-floor beats that repeat, along with various synthesizer sounds capable of changing pitch or producing effects. Tempos for techno range between 120 BPM and 140 BPM; popular styles of techno include Detroit techno, minimal techno and acid house.
Though many associate EDM with rave culture, its genre extends far beyond simply playing songs in clubs or parties. EDM fans can often be seen attending large-scale electronic music festivals that advocate PLUR (Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect). People also appreciate listening to EDM’s catchy melodies and powerful basslines at home or when driving their vehicles – an experience many find enjoyable!
Trance
Trance stands out among EDM’s many styles as one that has expanded significantly from its roots in disco, techno and synthpop music. Trance can be defined as an EDM genre that draws heavily upon those original roots – often featuring large build-ups and breakdowns similar to house. Trance often becomes highly repetitive while maintaining rhythm by featuring rising and falling beats that create rhythmic beats that rise and fall to create melodies hypnotic melodies and repetitions that focus on repetitions and melody repetition.
In the 1990s, rave culture helped spread trance music across the globe and make it one of the most beloved genres of dance music today. Trance has given birth to numerous subgenres as it continually evolves and innovates.
No matter if it is uplifting trance or progressive trance, its melodies often take the forefront in terms of song composition. Trance music relies heavily on electronic sounds and pulsing bass lines that help build up energy while being enhanced with female vocals for added beauty to complete its overall soundscape.
Trance music may seem dead to some listeners, but it’s far from being extinct. Millions still tune into Armin Van Buuren’s A State of Trance radio show from his custom-built studio in Amsterdam; fans around the globe still love its big build-ups and breakdowns, melodies, and hypnotic loops; it may just need time to regroup a bit – but certainly isn’t dead by any means!
Trip Hop
Trip hop music first emerged from Bristol sound system scene of the 1990s. Massive Attack’s 3D, Mushroom and Tricky (Adrian Nicholas Matthews Thaws) helped pioneer this genre with their signature mix of narcotic funk and spoken-word samples; later developing into acid jazz, dubstep and illbient music genres.
After its initial success, many artists started experimenting with trip hoptimism without adopting it as their primary musical style. Mo’ Wax flirted with using the term, but displayed it ostentatiously crossed out on its sleeves; Ninja Tune and James Lavelle’s UNKLE played key roles as they built expansive rosters; DJ Cam pushed blunted beats across eager continental heads while The Wire magazine coined its own mysterious term: trip hoptimism.
Trip-hop was instrumental in inspiring drum and bass music, glitch hop and dubstep during the 2000s, which feature fast-paced rhythms with complex drum patterns. Hip hop has long been inspired by dance floor culture; artists collaborate with EDM producers to produce tracks designed to delight crowds on the dance floor. Even stomping bass-heavy trap music that has become part of today’s “EDM” landscape has roots in hip hop with triplet hi hats, loud kicks and snares, brass instruments and the Roland TR-808 bass sample that make for dancing. Hip hop artists collaborate with EDM producers on songs with fast-paced rhythms that keep people dancing all night long.
Tropical Bass
After the second half of 2000s, electronic dance music (EDM) experienced another surge in its popularity. A variety of factors contributed to this rise, including widespread usage of production techniques in pop and hip-hop music production; EDM fans frequently attend concerts (or raves) together; this creates an environment which celebrates peace, love, unity, and respect (PLUR).
Tropical Bass is an electronic dance music genre that draws upon elements of House, Latin and Dancehall. Its sound is more laidback than that of other styles and focuses on tropical rhythms, percussion instruments and guitars. Tropical Bass uses four-four drum patterns from House music while sometimes also including dembow beats from Dancehall music – its BPM range typically falls between 100-115.
Electronic music commonly known as “drug music” was inspired by mood-enhancing drugs like MDMA or Ecstasy. The genre’s pulsing beats and heavy bass lines can induce feelings of euphoria or highness while often being accompanied by flashing lights or smoke effects.
Though DJs are known for their work in Tropical Bass music, other artists often produce songs using similar production techniques. Diplo, M.I.A and Buraka Som Sistema have all become prominent producers using Tropical Bass production methods; their popularity has helped spread its appeal worldwide and led to a new era of electronic dance music.
EDM can trace its roots back to New York City during the 1970s when disco music became increasingly popular. Tracks like Donna Summer’s 1977 synthesized hit “I Feel Love,” composed by Pete Bellotte and Giorgio Moroder, or 1974’s song “Rock Your Baby,” by George McCrae were key influences in creating modern EDM.
Disco
Disco music may no longer be popularly called disco, but DJs still make a good living playing disco and its derivatives such as House and Techno music. Top DJs earn millions annually and travel all around the globe in private jets or limousines.
Dance music is an international language that transcends cultural barriers. Anyone with the necessary equipment and an appreciation for music can appreciate EDM; hence its wide appeal across cultures and peoples at EDM festivals, which often attract an eclectic crowd.
Disco first gained widespread popularity during the ’70s thanks to performers like Donna Summer, The Bee Gees, Gloria Gaynor and Earth, Wind & Fire. Hollywood movies such as Saturday Night Fever were an important platform for disco’s popularity among a broad demographic; critics included rockers who hated its emphasis on rhythm rather than lyrics; this outrage led them to organize an event called Disco Demolition Night where thousands of records were destroyed as an act of protest against disco’s existence.
Students will become aware of the cultural, economic, and geographical roots of disco through activities including discussion, music analysis, creative writing and note taking/music video analysis.
Distribute the Music and Video Analysis handout. Have students complete this activity by paying special attention to the visual elements in videos. Once complete, discuss their observations as a group.
Introduce two clips of dance music for their students to view. The first song by Disco musician Donna Summer will be played, so students should pay particular attention to identifying its elements such as bass line and hi-hat pattern.
The second clip features a remix by Boogie, an artist inspired by Post-Disco and Funk. This track has a syncopated bassline, clapping sounds, melodic chords, as well as melodic interjections. Disco is often described by its use of samples; therefore this clip uses samples instead.
Trance
Trance music is one of the oldest subgenres of EDM. First popularized by artists such as Tiesto, Armin Van Buuren, and Ferry Corsten in the 1990s, trance has since gained worldwide acclaim and remains a staple dance music today. Trance’s hallmark characteristics are fast tempos with upbeat progressions using synthesizers; traditional instruments like piano or guitar may even be added for an organic touch in some tracks. Trance also has strong connections to pop music with many songs featuring memorable hooks like Greece 2000 by Three Drives or Children by Robert Miles that instantly stick in your memory!
Trance producers typically take an approach that involves building the track through loop-able riffs. This gives listeners the chance to immerse themselves in the music and move to its beat, drawing listeners into it. The best trance producers possess an acute knowledge of balancing rhythm, melody, percussion, delay effects and reverb effects for maximum harmonic tension in their songs.
Trance producers use dynamics more effectively than other forms of electronic music. Many trance tracks incorporate break-down sections within the song wherein the beat drops for several bars so listeners have time to focus on melody and atmosphere; sometimes these breaks may even serve to introduce new elements into the track or put listeners back into a state of trance.
Although most trance music is instrumental, some DJs like to incorporate vocals in their mixes – something which Sarah McLachlan and Delerium have become known for through their melodic performances.
Trance is a genre of electronic dance music with roots dating back to disco’s golden era in the 1970s. Since then, however, trance has taken shape as its own genre thanks to talented producers and DJs that helped sculpt its current sound and ensure its continued popularity.
Techno
Frankie Knuckles began recreating tracks and mixes after disco faded away by mixing in various genres of music, altering tempo, layering drum elements such as claps and knocks and adding layers. This gave rise to House music – an electronic dance music genre which has since undergone many variations such as Progressive House, Techno and Trance to name just a few.
House music features an infectiously rhythmic beat that will get you moving. Typically ranging between 120-150 BPM, its groove is often created through sequencing different synthesizers to produce a glitchy jacking beat. Kicks and hats (and sometimes claps) form the basis of house rhythm but this may be enhanced further with vocal samples or melodic instruments such as strings or guitars that add melodic elements.
Techno dance artists such as Deadmau5, David Guetta, Kraftwerk and Kraftwerk have made significant impacts in music history with their techno dance styles, with Deadmau5 becoming famous for his mouse themed headwear almost as iconic as his music; David Guetta appearing at virtually every major festival around the globe and having had many crossover hits; more recently however Big Room House artists like Hardwell and Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike drawing massive audiences to their shows while chart topping singles have cemented this form of dance music as being here to stay;
As with other forms of dance music, dancing to these beats can bring people from varying backgrounds together and foster a sense of community. This is particularly evident at festivals where this form of music transcends linguistic barriers as its rhythm-based composition creates a universal soundscape that everyone can enjoy. Furthermore, it is highly portable allowing it to be enjoyed on any device with an internet connection.
House
While many refer to EDM as an umbrella genre for all electronic music, it’s more accurate to refer to house, techno and trance music under that banner. All three genres share certain traits, such as their emphasis on rhythmic patterns and use of electronic instruments; making them perfect for dance-based entertainment in nightlife settings.
Electronic music’s roots can be traced back to disco music from the 1970s. At that time, drum machines and synthesizers became mainstream instruments used in popular production of popular music production, leading to its adoption as an artistic movement by artists such as Giorgio Moroder and Kraftwerk who pioneered new uses for electronics that laid down future trends within this genre.
Chicago DJs began experimenting with new drum machine technology and mixing disco loops together to form house music in the early 1980s. This resulted in a style combining symphonic disco with eurodisco-influenced techno. By the 1990s, DJs like Sasha and John Digweed helped spread house around the globe, cementing its place as part of EDM history.
House music has flourished within EDM since its introduction. A variety of subgenres exist within house, including progressive house which does not utilize loop-based arrangements like traditional house. Instead, progressive house features longer evolving pieces featuring extended atmospheric breakdowns; making it more reminiscent of trance than its counterpart genres.
Pop house draws heavily from pop and rap music, featuring artists like Zedd and Avicii as leading figures. This subgenre of house is distinguished by radio-friendly vocals, simple song structures and catchy melodies; similar traits exist with big room house; however, pop house tends to be more commercial in nature than its progressive counterpart.
Acid house, first developed in the UK during the mid-80s, offers an eclectic and progressive take on house music. This subgenre blends deep bass rhythms from techno with acid synths and funk-inspired beats for an upbeat and exciting style of house.
EDM music, or Electronic Dance Music (EDM), is often composed specifically to be played at dance clubs by DJs as part of their mix. This genre usually has high energy and an emphasis on rhythmic components.
Pop is characterized by an eclectic variety of subgenres and styles, widely utilized by today’s major pop and mainstream artists.
Genres
Electronic Dance Music (EDM) is a broad genre with many subgenres. Intended to encourage club-style dancing, EDM is typically played by DJs as part of a DJ mix accompanied by other tracks. Most people refer to EDM in reference to its more well-known sub-genres such as House, Techno, Trance and Drum & Bass; it may also refer to more subtle or artistic forms like Downtempo and Ambient music genres.
As disco music began gaining prominence during the 1970s, it presented an exciting opportunity for more traditional musical forms to interact with electronic instruments. Disco incorporated funky basslines, orchestration and vocals, along with its rhythm of 100 to 120 beats per minute (BPM), making it perfect for dancing. Thus it quickly attained immense global renown.
As dance music became increasingly popular, DJs such as Chicago radio jockeys The Hot Mix 5 and club DJ Frankie Knuckles started recreating their favorite tracks using synthesizers and drum machines – an innovative technique known as dubbing that involved recording two separate versions of one song onto reel-to-reel tape recorders before duplicating each of them to add percussion effects to them both.
House music quickly evolved into one of the most favored forms of Electronic Dance Music (EDM). Characterized by four-to-the-floor rhythm, synthesizers, and drum machines – it can range from upbeat or melancholic; including pop vocals or song structures for added effect.
Another feature of this genre is the use of reverb and delay effects to create an exciting environment, making the music perfect for dancing. Reverb-delay has become immensely popular with dancers worldwide and often serves as the backdrop music at fashion shows, night clubs and other high-profile events.
Techno music is a highly diverse genre that features steady tempos between 129 to 150 BPM with synthesized instruments, choral vocals and harmonic structures that create a transcendental feeling. Techno has many subgenres including progressive, tech and Vocal Trance with elements from other genres integrated into its core sound – Aphex Twin and Marshall Jefferson have helped define its signature sound.
Styles
EDM music has quickly become one of the most ubiquitous genres today’s musical landscape, whether you prefer hard techno beats, house tracks or the melodic uplifted sounds of trance. EDM can be found across platforms such as streaming services and club music venues alike; creating an entirely new culture around dance!
At its roots, electronic music began in the underground clubs of late 70’s and 80’s where DJs such as Frankie Knuckles would experiment with creating tracks using different genres of music combined with drum machines to form new genres that became ever more popular over time. Eventually mainstream audiences accepted electronic music.
Electronic Dance Music (EDM), as it has come to be known, encompasses all the genres that have emerged from underground movements and is commonly abbreviated to EDM. EDM can be recognized by its rhythmic pulse with high beat per minute (BPM) counts and emphasis on synthetic or sampled sounds instead of live instrumentation and singing.
These genres have had an immense influence on other music genres and remain widely popular with both young and older dancers across the world. Most productions in this category use a Digital Audio Workstation or DAW which enables producers to easily combine sounds at any time during production – using virtual synthesizers programmed into software or accessing a library of samples that can be altered into creating the perfect soundscape for their song.
Hardstyle, Electro House, Techno and Dubstep are among the more widely known subgenres of dance music that can be heard both radio or in clubs; there may also be many others which are yet to be discovered and could become timeless classics over time.
Lost Frequencies has recently made waves in the electronic music scene with his tropical-infused sounds, becoming famous through his tropical house and trance remixes on Major Lazer, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber and Diplo tracks. Additionally, he established his own label called Found Frequencies to continue producing chart-topping hits.
Techniques
EDM music stands apart from many traditional genres by relying on original creation of sounds rather than recycled elements from decades past. Therefore, understanding how to construct an EDM track requires building it from scratch with drums, synths and vocal samples that complement each other – auditioning different drum kits in an appropriate sampler can help. Auditioning will teach you sequence drums as well as map kits to trigger MIDI. Furthermore, effects like reverb can transform an otherwise dull drum loop into something vibrant and dynamic!
Gain staging is another crucial skill to master. Gain staging is the practice of balancing the volume between various elements in a mix. Dance music makes it tempting to cram on effects, but without proper gain staging your track will sound unnatural and murky. To avoid this from happening, think of your track like an orchestra: all instruments should have their place within its arrangement.
Tempo-shifts are an integral component of dance music and are frequently employed to introduce changes of mood or sections. A typical tempo-shift involves gradually building or dropping in tempo in order to add tension or excitement; usually accomplished through gradually adding more layers of sound such as snare fills that build from quarter notes, then eighth notes, 16th notes before finally exploding into full-on drum rolls. White noise swells and tonal risers may also be added for added drama and depth.
Another popular technique in dance music is the breakdown, or drop-out, which allows listeners to relax and anticipate the main hook of a song. Breakdowns often combine multiple elements such as bass lines morphing into leads. Big room EDM music features an archetypical breakdown sound consisting of supersaw leads derived from uplifting trance music for its drop-out.
Audience
Musical technologies have allowed music producers to explore sounds in ways never before possible. Roland released its first drum machine and electronic instruments during the 1970s, which music producers quickly used to pioneer new genres of music including disco. Donna Summer’s timeless classic ‘I Feel Love’ from 1978 is often considered one of the first disco songs featuring synthesized backing track. By 1980s electronic dance music had spread from underground club culture into mainstream cultural landscape – leading to iconic EDM festivals like Tomorrowland and Electric Daisy Carnival that now host millions of dancers annually!
Music stimulates dopamine production in our brains and has been linked to feelings of pleasure, happiness, and focus. Repetitive music inducing trance-like states can aid people’s memory recall while connecting emotionally and psychologically across communities – whether dancing at clubs or festivals! Music brings people together through shared experience of listening and moving along to its beat.
Cross-genre collaborations in electronic dance music have led to an explosion of innovation and the breakdown of artistic boundaries. Artists such as Diplo, Skrillex and Major Lazer have spearheaded this trend by incorporating elements from various genres into one auditory experience for listeners – thus broadening electronic dance music’s sonic palette while appealing to audiences of diverse musical preferences.
Electronic dance music (EDM) has had a significant positive effect on society and health, yet more work needs to be done on understanding its effects on emotions and social connections. Additional research should utilize optical motion tracking methodologies for monitoring movement at EDM events as a method to measure attendees’ subjective experience of attending these events and uncover how in-the-moment musical experience influences social connections and peak emotional states; additionally, mechanisms through which EDM may impact wellbeing among younger audiences should also be examined in more depth.
Some individuals mistakenly believe that EDM encompasses everything produced with electronic instruments; in reality, however, EDM only comprises part of a much wider family of music genres.
Genre families that fall within this umbrella include dance music such as big room house, hybrid trap and dubstep as well as less percussive genres like ambient and techno.
Genres
People frequently use “Electronic Dance Music,” or EDM, to describe any dance music featuring synthesizers or electronic beats. Unfortunately, EDM encompasses various subgenres of electronic music like techno, house and disco which all possess their own distinct sound and culture – meaning dedicated fans of these styles believe using one general label dilutes their music and confuses listeners.
No one knows the true source of EDM’s origin; perhaps it was created as a marketing buzzword to sell EDM music to mainstream pop audiences. Today, this genre covers progressive house, electroclash and trap music as well as subgenres like trance that incorporate melodic synth lines and over-the-top pop choruses; their tempo ranges between 110 BPM to 140 BPM.
EDM producers frequently utilize vocoders to modify the vocals in their songs and produce an original musical style. Vocoders have been widely utilized since the early 1980s as a method for producing more synthetic sounds; this style of music is popular at nightclubs, raves, and festivals and often played back by DJs creating seamless sets or mashups using this technique.
House and edm differ in that one is associated with mainstream music culture while the latter has wide commercial appeal; house is more niche-oriented and is still widely associated with underground clubs and rave scenes of the 1990s.
House music typically features slower tempos of 110-120 BPM while acid house and techno often feature higher tempos with Detroit techno and minimal techno often reaching 120-130 BPM. Both forms of music feature unique rhythms and beats.
Drum and bass music is another electronic genre with distinctive beats, making its mark through breakbeats that characterize it and incorporate drum samples from jazz, R&B, or funk to produce its signature style. Typically its tempo ranges between 160-180 BPM.
Styles
Electronic music encompasses many genres and subgenres that vary considerably in style and genre – from techno to drum & bass and house. Many people refer to EDM as an umbrella term for all these sub-genres, yet in reality each sub-genre has its own history and vibe.
Techno music has been around for years. Originating as disco music, techno is known for its four-to-the-floor beats, distorted kicks, and synthesized basslines. Calvin Harris, Avicii, and Skrillex are three artists known for creating and performing in this genre, enjoying massive mainstream success; their videos being seen by millions. Furthermore, these musicians have appeared on popular television programs and awards shows.
Neurofunk music falls within the realms of both techno and house. Its tempo typically ranges between 160-200 BPM, featuring distorted kicks, catchy melodies, and complex chord progressions. Neurofunk has quickly become a favorite across Europe with DJs pitching their tracks directly to hard dance labels for distribution. Derivative subgenres include gabber, speedcore and industrial hardcore.
Deep house music draws heavily from techno. This genre can be identified by slower tempos and deep basslines, along with vocal chops or other effects to create its signature sound. Recently, deep house has gained immense popularity at raves nationwide.
Ethnic electronica is a genre that blends traditional instruments with electronics. Once popular in the 1990s and again seen recently as part of Katy Perry, Bon Iver, and Alt-J’s performances, ethnic electronica can now also be heard on commercials and movies.
Although EDM has become an international sensation, some critics still regard it as not being a legitimate genre of music. Some claim it lacks emotional depth while others consider it just another fad that will quickly pass.
Techniques
As electronic music has grown in popularity, producers have developed numerous subgenres. From ambient to drum and bass to techno to trance – all producers use electronic instruments for creating their music – whether that means programming beats on computers or using synthesizers and drum machines – making music that is uniquely electronic.
EDM stands out from other genres of electronic music in that it is composed specifically for dance floors. This genre typically emphasizes beats, basslines, and vocals to produce fast tempo-driven pieces like those produced by Tiesto and David Guetta; two renowned names in EDM.
Electronic music genres that use more experimental approaches to sound production often borrow influences from metal, punk and alternative rock genres; such as punk music. Their sounds can often come from industrial noise music sources. Furthermore, such genres tend to have more aggressive and dark qualities with lyrics often featuring political or social commentary.
Vaporwave was an experimental form of electronic music popular during the 1990s. Partly satirical in nature, its aim is to reimagine early computer culture and advertising with high-pitched synthesizers and digital keyboard sounds accompanied by pop and smooth jazz influences; its BPM can range anywhere from 60-95 BPM.
Some believe the term EDM (Electronic Dance Music) has become too broad and no longer accurately represents all forms of electronic music. Many techno fans in particular dislike this label because they feel it suggests their music does not suit dance floors well and has been watered down; they feel this oversimplification obscures its unique cultural roots and values.
Problems surrounding electronic dance music (EDM) become further complex by its influence from other forms of pop music such as pop, rock and R&B. This has led to some debate regarding its definition; with some producers insisting that EDM refers to all forms of mainstream electronic music regardless of genre.
Audience
EDM is an international phenomenon that unites people through its pulse-pounding beats and melodic hooks. From clandestine raves to global stages, its journey symbolizes how music unifies communities while sparking collective joy. EDM’s growth as an independent genre also showcases dance music’s evolving relationship between technology and creativity.
As its popularity with mainstream audiences has grown, rock has evolved into an intricate web of styles and subgenres with their own history and culture. Understanding these distinctions is essential for music enthusiasts who wish to fully comprehend and appreciate all nuances of this genre.
Techno, house, and trance all share similarities but each genre boasts its own distinctive sound and loyal fan base. EDM has become increasingly popular and this has led to an explosion of new artists pushing the limits with innovative production techniques and sound designs.
EDM music can be recognized by its signature sounds: pulsating beats, melodic hooks and dynamic rhythms. Synthesized instruments and danceable beats have become staples in popular culture – inspiring songs produced from this genre such as Drake. Furthermore, EDM has given rise to an active club scene and festivals dedicated to dance music that unite fans from around the globe.
Karlheinz Stockhausen and Wendy Carlos pioneered modern electronic dance music by using synthesizers to produce outlandish sounds with synthesizers, setting the foundation for its modern form – EDM. Hip hop dance genres also incorporated elements of electronic music into their unique sounds, leading to EDM becoming an influential genre today.
EDM’s signature sounds come to life through meticulous sound design and careful mixing techniques. Sound designers use additive, subtractive, and FM (frequency modulation) synthesis techniques to craft unique timbres that can be layered for depth. Harmonies and chords add layers of emotion ranging from melancholy to euphoria to each track while artists can use spatial effects such as reverb delay stereo imaging techniques to produce three-dimensional audio experiences for listeners.