Electronic music is a broad genre encompassing numerous subgenres. Produced using different instruments and software programs, this genre often co-exists alongside conventional musical instruments.
In the 1980s, synth-pop and its associated genres such as Euro disco began their rise. Numerous artists found worldwide fame with this style such as Pet Shop Boys and Erasure.
Origins
Electronic music‘s beginning can be traced to the early 20th century. At that point, basic circuits for sine, square, and sawtooth-wave generators as well as amplifiers, filter circuits, loudspeakers were developed – these were then used to generate noise, distortion and feedback sounds which then replaced mechanical acoustical recording methods with electrical recording methods.
Electronic music began its rapid rise during the 1950s and 1960s. Computers had already been invented at this point and used for algorithmic composition; musicians began experimenting with synthesizers and other electronic devices, leading to new genres like musique concrete and ragtime music.
At this time, the first purely electronic music was composed. One such example is Futurist painter Luigi Russolo’s invention of intonarumori–noise instruments that grated, hissed, scratched, rumbled, and shrieked–by Futurist painter Luigi Russolo. Edgard Varese composed Poeme Electronique for four hundred loudspeakers at the 1958 Brussels World Fair; another is Mauricio Kagel’s Transicion II for two pianos each tuned differently with sets of percussion instruments Mauricio Kagel composed Transicion II as another composition from this period.
By the early 1970s, synthesisers had become widely available and were being utilized to create music from different genres such as funk, disco and jazz. Kraftwerk, Y.M.O, Gary Numan and George Clinton came into being during this era; together they would form electro music – a hybrid style made up of synthesizer and vocoder sounds with breakbeats that broadened both hip hop production’s scope and ambitions.
By the late 1990s, other subgenres of electronic dance music began emerging. Most prominent was big room house – an innovative genre that combined elements from other types of electronic music with melodic vocals and lyrics – as its centerpiece. Dubstep, another subgenre popular during this era in Britain early 2000s that used heavy bass frequencies, was another subgenre with heavy syncopated beats as its hallmark feature. Trance and progressive house were other genres developed from this era which eventually formed part of EDM (short for electronic dance music), leading to large commercial dance music events like Electric Daisy Carnival and Tomorrowland among many others.
Subgenres
Electronic music’s popularity exploded between 2000 and 2010 due to advances in computer technology and musical software, as well as the advent of less complex yet more cost-effective production studios such as Ableton Live or Reason, providing less complex but cost-efficient alternatives that allowed amateur and hobbyist electronic musicians to create their own songs and remixes using only their laptop computer.
Luigi Russolo created some of the earliest examples of electronic music in the 20th century when he created mechanical noise instruments called intonarumori, which grated, hissed, scratched, and rumbled to express industrialized society’s sounds. These early instruments served as precursors for later forms of electronic musical composition that use new technical resources – as well as avant-garde compositions that employed such forms as avant-garde music composition.
Techno is one of the most influential subgenres of electronic music and a cornerstone of dance music culture. Its key characteristics are its steady four-on-the-floor beat and use of electronic devices like drum machines (Roland TR-808 and TR-909 are popular choices), sequencers and synthesizers. Furthermore, many elements from traditional rhythm and blues and hip hop combine with techno’s sound; for instance syncopated drum patterns, heavy basslines, and an hypnotic vocal melody are all hallmarks of traditional rhythm and blues and hip hop sounds are incorporated into its sound.
After disco became highly popular during the 1970s and 80s, an electronic subgenre known as synth-pop was created. This subgenre featured synthesizers as its dominant instrument. Pet Shop Boys, Erasure, and New Order all performed this genre which would later give way to acid house or trance music genres that feature long melodies, high tempos, and complex soundscapes.
Electronic dance music developed quickly during the 1990s, leading to a variety of subgenres such as minimal techno, electro house and tech house. Each of these genres are characterized by hard four-on-the-floor beats of 120-175 BPM that feature intricate rhythms and melodies crafted into melodic structures; all influenced by various forms of music such as jazz classical hip hop.
IDM
Intelligent Dance Music (IDM) is a broad genre of electronic music that emerged in the early 1990s. Composed by musicians experimenting with soundscapes and beats that defied particular genre boundaries, IDM has often been described as avant-garde music due to its complex rhythmic structures and melodies as well as its experimental qualities that set it apart from dance or rave genres of electronic music.
IDM began its journey as part of the rave scene during the late ’80s. Chicago house, Detroit techno, acid house and acid house all contributed to what would become IDM in later years – especially after independent labels like Drop Beat, Isophlux Suction Schematic emerged to foster it further.
Mira Calix, Aphex Twin and Luke Vibert are notable artists who have embraced this genre, emphasizing synthesizers and drum machines in their work. Additionally, Moog Music (an American company) is widely respected for their range of synthesisers and effects pedals created by founder Robert Moog (an electrical engineer who pioneered modular synthesis in musical compositions).
Surfing on Sine Waves by Aphex Twin (Polygon Window), released in 1992 and considered one of the founding works of IDM music, received much acclaim as it combined ambient and techno styles seamlessly – receiving two separate top 25 albums lists: Pitchfork and Fact.
Other IDM artists include Black Dog Productions’ 1994 record “Spanners,” which combined multiple dance music influences into an upbeat sound, unlike many of its contemporaries. Also popular is m-Ziq’s 1997 release Lunatic Harness which popularized drill n bass subgenre of IDM.
Other IDM musicians include Autechre, Squarepusher and m-Ziq. His LunaticHarness album introduced Drill ‘n’ Bass music which blends elements from IDM with drum-and-bass to create this style that’s especially popular among younger listeners.
Electronica
Electronic music has evolved considerably since its initial creation in the 1920s. These early electronic instruments included synthesizers and drum machines used for disco music in the 1970s. As technology advanced, so too did its style; evolving from an underground style into mainstream mainstream mainstream usage today across different genres to add modernity and excitement.
As technology advanced during the 1990s, music software entered the scene and revolutionized how music was made. It enabled musicians to compose their own songs using computer programs, giving rise to new styles of electronic music as well as danceable genres like EDM. EDM refers to any style with beats and percussion meant to make people move around – it is often played at festivals or nightclubs and hence given this name.
In the 1990s, many popular artists began to incorporate elements of electronica into their music, such as Madonna and Bjork’s albums Ray of Light and Homogenic as prime examples of this trend. Electronica tends to feature more relaxed sounds than its more danceable cousin EDM, making it perfect for relaxing, working, or unwinding after a hard day’s work.
Electronica covers an expansive spectrum of musical genres, such as ambient, downtempo and chillout. This style of music can be identified by its use of synthesizers, digital pianos and other electronic instruments alongside vocals as well as effects like reverb, delay or modulation; it often draws influence from classical music and jazz styles alike.
Electronic musicianship demands both specific skills and an appreciation for music. Being an electronic musician is typically freelance work, which means you may need to travel and perform for extended periods. Furthermore, you’ll likely require familiarity with various production techniques – like MIDI – in order to succeed as an electronic musician. These can be learned either interning for established artists or studying music at university.