EDM may be an inaccurate label, yet its usage persists. EDM stands for electronic dance music (an umbrella genre with various subgenres under it).
Big room house music rose to fame during the early 2010s thanks to acts such as Martin Garrix and Swedish House Mafia, with its bombastic energy and minimal melodies making an ideal fit for main stages at massive festivals.
What is EDM?
EDM stands for Electronic Dance Music and it is a genre of music designed to get people dancing. This form of electronic dance music typically emphasizes rhythm with electronic instruments like synths, bass lines and drum machines featuring prominently. Live instrumentation will sometimes be included, though generally as an accompaniment rather than the primary focus of a song. EDM music has seen significant popularity growth over time as production styles associated with it have transitioned from underground scenes into mainstream environments, garnering much wider exposure. Furthermore, streaming has significantly expanded EDM’s global appeal by making it accessible to people who wouldn’t otherwise hear of it before now.
Early forms of electronic dance music were typically created by DJs and producers who were self-taught and resourceful; using affordable early 1980s equipment like the 303 bass synth and 808 drum machine to craft sounds that combined elements from disco, funk and the emerging synthpop scene of that time. These pioneers often lived outside conventional clubs or venues but introduced a whole new sound that became popular at secret parties or raves held outside.
Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) software has made it possible for anyone with access to a computer to become an EDM producer. DAW programs enable producers to take multiple sounds and combine them together into finished songs using virtual synthesizers that can be programmed or audio samples that capture small snippets of recorded sound.
Alongside fidget and electro-house scenes was another style of club music which would revolutionise EDM: Big Room House (first hitting charts in 2008). Many young producers found their inspiration here, most notably Swedish House Mafia who managed to bring dance music into mainstream audiences through their unique appeal reminiscent of rock stars.
What is Electronica?
Electronica is an umbrella term for various popular electronic music styles. This encompasses ambient, trip-hop, drum n bass, jungle music and IDM/downtempo genres as well as more experimental forms like IDM or downtempo music – providing listeners and relaxers a relaxing listening experience as opposed to dancefloor fillers.
Rock music is a genre created using electronic equipment and instruments, often with a tempo of 140 beats per minute or higher. It often includes high hats and cymbals, an electric guitar or synthesizer with chord progression, lead sounds that make you want to put up your hands in the air, ripping bass sounds effects and drum kits that may be programmed into digital audio workstations using MIDI technology – among others.
Bonobo and Four Tet are two artists known for creating Electronica music. Considered pioneers of this genre, they are well known for creating relaxing atmospheres through Electronica music. Influences from traditional genres such as jazz and classical give Electronica its distinct sound and set it apart from other forms of modern dance music.
The Cambridge Companion to Electronic Music defines electronica as one half of electronica music; electro-acoustic being its other side. The genre began its evolution during the 1960s in Jamaica when DJs would play reggae backing tracks without vocals in order to produce dub music; later European artists such as Kraftwerk and Mike Oldfield began creating long-form pop songs using electronic synthesizers and creating what became known as electronica.
In the 1990s, electronic music experienced its initial explosion into distinct genres such as hardstyle, electro house and trance. Big room house is more recent subgenre that heavily draws from electro house but with more bombastic elements. It has quickly become one of the main stage performances at major events like Ultra and Electric Daisy Carnival; its minimal melodies and energetic bass drops making it perfect for peak time slots at these festivals.
What is Disco?
Disco music first rose to popularity during the 1970s. Characterized by an upbeat four-on-the-floor beat and featuring instruments such as string synthesizers, guitars, bass and trumpet; vocalists like The Jackson 5 were among its most influential bands during this era, famous for their hit “Shake Your Body Down (To the Ground)”. Disco’s peak popularity reached mid to late 1980s; however faster tempos and synthesizer effects began making traditional disco less appealing and led to electronic and pop genres such as hi-NRG.
Disco began as a dance movement focused on sexual liberation and hedonism. People used it as an escape from life’s daily stressors to let loose and have some fun; music was used as an outlet of self-expression often combined with other elements like psychedelia, fashion and drugs.
Disco music combined elements from various genres such as rock, funk and jazz to form its unique style. Disco also featured an extravagant and dramatic aesthetic which perfectly fit with music videos’ visual potential.
As Disco became more widely popular, its influence spread worldwide. Clubs throughout Europe, Japan and Latin America became venues where disco could be found as entertainment.
Fashion was appealing to young people, particularly those feeling left out of the countercultural revolution of the sixties. These young people wanted to appear more sophisticated than suburban and middle class kids from that era, yet still revel in hedonism and sexual liberation.
Disco continued its transformation throughout the 1980s. By the end of this decade, however, its genre had begun to shift towards house and techno music genres; although some older-style disco remained popular due to artists such as Madonna and The Weather Girls performing it.
What is Techno?
Techno is an influential genre within electronic music culture. The genre’s unique production techniques and futuristic aesthetic have had an enormous effect on other electronic genres like house, trance and trap, among others. Techno music typically features four-on-the-floor beats as well as synthetic sounds created using drum machines, synthesizers or sequencers for its composition.
Techno is widely believed to have originated in Detroit, USA during the 1980s. Credit for this can usually be given to three artists known as The Belleville Three: Derrick May, Juan Atkins and Kevin Saunderson – who created an artistic form heavily influenced by Detroit groups such as The Stooges and MC5 while Motown Records.
Since its conception, house music has flourished into multiple subgenres that all bring something distinctive to its music. House has experienced this phenomenon more so than techno, where its core sound remains constant across its many subgenres.
Techno is defined by several distinct features that set it apart, but has also drawn inspiration from global musical traditions to form an eclectic mix that celebrates our globalized world. Techno tracks combine styles such as Afrobeat, Latin music and traditional Asian sounds in their compositions.
Techno music can often be seen as an alternative form of dance music and has long been associated with futurist ideologies, optimism and catharsis. While initially it may be confusing for non-initiated listeners, once familiarity sets in its power becomes undeniable. There are few genres of music which match its energy, creativity and sheer force as generated by an effective techno track.
Melodic techno is one of the softer shades of techno music, typically distinguished by emotive chord progressions and synth pads that envelop listeners emotionally. Typically not exceeding 130 BPM, melodic techno is best served to be experienced as more of an atmospheric experience rather than physical strain on listeners’ bodies. Bosnian-German Solomun has become well-known for his production of melodic techno which mesmerizes listeners with its soothing soundscapes.