As recording technology advanced, particularly with electrical recordings and the invention of record players, music began to change significantly – leading to the emergence of electronic music with bands such as Popol Vuh, Klaus Schulze and Tangerine Dream.
In the 1970s, rock bands started using Moog synthesizers in their sound; Kraftwerk were one such band who made use of this trend to symbolize and sometimes celebrate alienation from modern technological society through their music.
Techno
Techno first emerged as an underground dance music genre and subculture in Detroit during the 1980s, merging elements of Chicago house, funk, electro music with technology. Many artists associated with techno are known as “techno rebels”. Techno music often incorporates four-on-the-floor rhythms along with drum machines and synthesizers for creating its distinctive robotic-sound. You may encounter it at nightclubs or dance music festivals.
Techno is a hard dance genre combining elements of house, acid house and dub. Produced specifically to be played continuously during DJ sets using synchronized segues between tracks, it was more raw and less polished than house music; further influenced by digital audio workstations which allowed more people to produce music independently without expensive hardware equipment.
As techno grew in popularity, more record labels began specializing in this genre. Some of dance music’s leading figures such as Tiesto and Daft Punk also established themselves during this era; additionally, large-scale commercial electronic music festivals also mushroomed during this decade.
Musical genres can often be difficult to define and distinguish. Electronic music (techno) has even more difficulty being classified and labeled. Techno has developed various subgenres like Detroit techno, German techno and acid techno; acid techno being most widely associated with harsh sounds and high-pitched synths.
As important as it may seem, electronic production’s sound has an enormous influence on our musical experience and emotions it conveys. Constantly evolving genre, electronic production can create new experiences while transporting us to distant worlds. Catering to different types of listeners from those looking for adrenaline thrills to those wanting tranquillity or meditation; electronic production music remains one of the most influential genres today and an indispensable aspect of life.
Ambient
Ambient music is a genre that incorporates soothing sounds to create a relaxing and soothing ambience, becoming increasingly popular due to technological developments and cultural trends. Artists have explored this form of expression to produce innovative ambient pieces.
Ambient music’s roots can be traced back to Pierre Schaeffer’s creation of musique concrete in the early ’40s; an electronic form that used sound recordings of everyday sounds to compose. Later composers such as Steve Reich and La Monte Young would explore minimalist techniques by employing repetitive hypnotic patterns in their works; this gave way for ambient artists who ditched conventional song structures for atmospheric textures and mood.
At its height in the 1980s, ambient music found its niche. Artists like Enya and Kitaro used dreamy soundscapes and soothing melodies to craft soothing, relaxing compositions – aided by an increase in New Age music which overlapped with ambient’s more experimental style – both genres often shared spiritual themes or soothing melodies with each other.
In the 1990s, avant-garde producers expanded ambient music’s boundaries through complex programming and unconventional sound design to challenge traditional notions of melody and structure. Their work was made easier thanks to widespread availability of music technology such as synths becoming more affordable and MIDI’s ability to integrate audio effects such as reverb. Artists such as Biosphere and Aphex Twin created ambient pieces which explored abstract soundscapes while defying listeners’ expectations about what ambient should sound like.
Ambient music has grown increasingly popular over time, yet some remain skeptical of its future. Certain listeners may find the genre monotonous or boring when exposed for extended periods without dynamic changes; others may experience unintended emotional reactions to certain sounds or textures which may be disturbing or upsetting; nevertheless, its ability to engage multiple senses means it has much to offer audiences of various kinds.
Electronica
Electronic music has become one of the world’s most beloved genres. Comprising of various subgenres such as techno, house, and electropop – its popularity has steadily grown since the early 2000s and it has had an immense effect on mainstream musicians and artists as well. By 2022, its value had expanded across most countries, as physical format sales saw increases for the first time in several years; artist earnings also saw substantial increases.
Electronic music dates back to the early 1900s when composers began exploring how technology could be applied musically. Electromechanical instruments like Thaddeus Cahill’s Teleharmonium were created, though due to being complex and costly they weren’t widely adopted until vacuum tubes became affordable enough for widespread adoption – composers then started taking advantage of microtonal composition techniques as well as expanded timbre possibilities enabled by electronic instruments; futurists such as Ferruccio Busoni even advocated their use in his influential Sketch of a New Esthetic of Music!
In the 1960s, rock musicians began to incorporate electronic sounds into their music; for instance, The Beatles utilized Moog synthesizers during recordings. But it wasn’t until 1970s that electronic music truly flourished with genres such as krautrock and disco employing monophonic synthesizers and drum machines as part of their compositional arsenals.
Digital sequencers revolutionized recording and production techniques, enabling more accurate sound production and recording. By the 1980s, new wave, synthpop, and dance music genres had developed, including new wave, synthpop and dance music; all driven by disco music’s success as well as polyphonic synthesizers and drum machines being introduced.
Since 2000 and 2010’s technological innovations, electronic music’s popularity has continued to increase rapidly. Programs like Ableton Live and Reason have made it easier for non-professional producers to produce high-quality music without professional studio equipment, increasing festival attendance such as Tomorrowland and Weekend Festival.
Trance
Trance music has won millions of fans around the world over its 30-plus-year lifespan. Its mesmerizing beats and melodic threads transport listeners into otherworldly realms, providing temporary escape from reality. Trance draws its inspiration from progressive house, techno, acid house and classical music sources and is typically instrumental with only occasional vocal tracks included in its compositions.
Trance first gained wide-spread attention during the late 1990s and early 2000s. First found its foothold in European nightclubs, then becoming global hits through artist like Tiesto and Armin van Buuren’s success worldwide. By then trance had cemented itself as one of the leading dance music styles, earning worldwide respect from audiences of all stripes.
As the genre continued to flourish, new subgenres emerged. Trance is heavily influenced by other genres like techno, ambient and chill-out music; digital effects and modern synthesizers also create unique sounds; some of the more prominent examples being progressive trance, psychedelic trance and uplifting trance.
These new sounds have helped trance evolve and become more approachable to mainstream audiences, while online music distribution services such as Spotify and Apple Music make it easier for trance producers to reach international audiences.
Since its introduction, trance has steadily gained in popularity and had an ever-increasing effect on other electronic music genres, particularly big room EDM and pop EDM genres, where many producers incorporate elements of trance into their productions.
However, experts do believe that trance has reached its zenith and may have begun its gradual decline since 2005 due to commercialization and backlash against dance music generally. Still, trance remains a prominent force within EDM and should remain popular over the coming years.