Dance music encompasses any form of electronic music intended for dancing purposes. Here is a selection of some of the more common genres.
Glitch-hop is an inimitable genre of EDM music. Creating glitch-hop requires complex audio editing techniques like beat repeating and cutting at short intervals to produce something truly original.
Disco
Disco is a beat-driven genre of music that gained immense popularity during the mid to late 1970s. Combining elements from pop, soul and latin dance styles it quickly became a global sensation – its name coming from discotheques which featured disco-type tunes as their backdrop.
A typical disco song typically features a strong bass drum beat set to four-to-the-bar (4/4 time), often subdivided by beats on the high-hat cymbal. This rhythm is syncopated, making it easy for dancing. Furthermore, these songs usually include catchy hooks that people will remember from one listen to another; these could include melodic, rhythmic or even lyrical hooks to ensure listeners remember it as well as dance to it!
Disco was a cultural movement that created opportunities for those typically excluded from mainstream society, specifically gay men and other minorities who may have otherwise not been seen as equal members of society. Disco opened doors for gay men, minorities, fashionistas, dancers, fashion and glamour; it returned dancing back into mainstream pop music through ballroom dance forms such as the foxtrot and waltz; R&B/funk was also part of its appeal.
House
House music is one of the most beloved forms of EDM both within clubs and on mainstream radio. Originating in disco’s legacy, house is known for its percussive electronic style that features four-on-the-floor kick beats and basslines with groove. House producers may add chord extensions from jazz instruments for added depth and character – often building to an explosive “drop”.
Progressive House music is an evolving subgenre of house music that features longer builds with automation and modulation techniques, becoming increasingly popular in big room house DJ sets today. Many big room house DJ’s now consider their tracks progressive.
Deep House is a slow form of commercial house that usually falls within 110-125 BPM, featuring more spaced out use of percussion elements, pads and chords and may incorporate Pop influences.
Ambient House is a genre born out of dance club chillout areas where people would come to escape the faster-paced beats of other styles and just relax. This genre blends House with Ambient music by using sparse atmospheric beats over structured structures with repetitive beats for its soundscaping effect.
Techno
Techno music combines the rhythm and groove of house with basslines that shake the dancefloor, offering upbeat energy that many listeners find both refreshing and energetic. Techno has an uplifting digital sound and features electronic voices as adlibs reminiscent of pop songs – giving it its distinctive sound and feel. Many enjoy listening and dancing to it because its upbeat energy provides them with an upbeat, energetic experience while others may find listening hypnotic – some people even claim listening to techno can be helpful in relaxing!
Techno is a subgenre of electronic dance music that originated in Detroit, Michigan. The subgenre evolved from disco and synthpop music; its tempo ranges between 120-150 beats per minute with an incessant four-on-the-floor rhythm that’s often inspired by European synthpop bands such as Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream.
Techno is one of the many derivatives of house music; another such derivative is UK garage, derived from a desire for more energetic and percussive house tunes. UK garage can be identified by sexual lyrics as well as its signature 44 house beat produced with Roland TR-808s or TR-909s; other variations on this style may include Miami bass, Ghetto House or Juke.
Trance
Trance music can often be met with harsh criticism. Some might find its melodies too relaxing and melodic; on the other hand, others find their breakbeats irresistible and count down until a beat drop happens.
Trance music first made its debut in Germany during the late ’80s and quickly established itself within club culture. Characterized by captivating instrumental melodies with strong ties to classical and film compositions, Trance music quickly rose to become one of the genre’s primary forms.
Trance music features a distinctive style influenced by Reggaeton, House and Techno music genres. Trance songs tend to feature melodic harmonies and intricate bass designs which contribute to its euphoric soundscape. Furthermore, many Trance tracks tend to feature extended breakdowns for maximum atmosphere as well as complex arrangements more prevalent among other dance genres.
Tech Drum & Bass
Originating from House, Techno and Hip Hop and characterised by fast BPMs with heavy distorted kicks that combine catchy melodies. Hard dance has seen great success across Europe but now reaching America as well – Insomniac even starting their own hard dance division specifically designed to meet demand!
Similar to trance, but with larger and more euphoric leads and an increasingly complex soundscape. This hybrid genre blends club energy with upbeat chords and melodies for an emotional yet transcendental experience; typically featuring vocals which reflect on spiritual, mystical states or have science fiction themes.
Dubstep-lite is a less aggressive variant that features more immediate beat and bassline, employing synthesized basses instead of traditional samples, less bar-oriented sample layers, more instrumental percussion and synths (often utilising high frequency filters to add texture), often employing lo-fi sounds such as misplayed notes, environmental interference, phonographic imperfections tape hiss and distortion – with typically 140 to 160 BPM production speeds.
Neurofunk
Neurofunk is a subgenre of Drum and Bass music with an oppressive and dystopian atmosphere. This style often incorporates sci-fi themes and eerie sound effects to create an otherworldly and ominous tone, as well as intricate yet complex sound design with layers upon layers of bass sounds that are often distorted, layered or altered for added effect.
Neurofunk music features fast-paced and syncopated rhythms accompanied by sharp snares, rolling hi-hats and other complex percussion elements for an energetic yet captivating listening experience. Neurofunk’s high energy style lends this genre its signature sound.
Producers typically utilize synthesizers to create psychedelic leads in neurofunk tracks. These leads may be gritty, aggressive or eerie and add melodic value. Neurofunk also utilizes various sound effects and transitional elements including sweeps, risers and impacts for an added melodic element.
Neurofunk has seen considerable development over time, as artists experiment with different tempos and rhythms. Some artists have even ventured away from the typical Drum and Bass BPM range for something more soulful and melodic in terms of tone and groove. Some artists even used live instruments in their productions in an attempt to bridge electronic with live musical composition; examples include Black Sun Empire Noisia Gridlok
Intelligent Dance Music
Many don’t realize it, but dance music encompasses numerous subgenres that you might not expect. House and techno have given rise to various variations that eventually evolved into trance, tech drum & bass and more besides.
Intelligent Dance Music, also known as IDM, emerged during the 1990s and is intended more for lounge listening than clubbing. Combining elements from ambient and electronica music genres with influence from early computer gaming culture as well as early internet culture; IDM typically features instrumental pieces with structured composition that tend to have melodic qualities more often found than in other styles.
Trance music is another extremely popular form of dance music that draws influences from house and techno, yet with an emotive edge. Long build ups with ample atmosphere make trance an engaging yet uplifting genre to listen to; artists to watch out for in trance include Carl Cox, Hot Since 82 and Patrick Topping.