Postwar composer Milton Babbitt pioneered total serialism – an electronic form which emphasizes pitch order – in America while Karlheinz Stockhausen experimented with ring modulators and Hammond organs at his Kling-Klang studio in France and Germany.
British new wave pioneers Ultravox made history when German producer Conny Plank mixed their most iconic tracks – setting the scene for techno and synthpop genres alike.
Daft Punk
Da Funk has received 6 Grammy awards – Best Dance Recording for Da Funk, Album of the Year for Random Access Memories in 2014, and Album of the Year again this year for Random Access Memories – making a profound mark on EDM music in general and particularly French House scene of 90’s French House scene in particular. No one can deny they are one of most influential living (or rather robotic) EDM legends today.
Bangalter and de Homem-Christo first met at a Paris school in 1987, where they formed an indie rock band called Darling before creating Daft Punk. The duo took an unconventional punk approach to their music, refusing to conform with any conventions or be controlled by any individual or institution. Uninterested in fame but keen on creating mystery among fans, the duo would wear masks during photoshoots and interviews and wear masks during interviews in order to keep audiences intrigued by them. Their debut studio album Homework showed their talent at mixing multiple genres together successfully; its mix of disco, hip hop, ambient sounds was truly impressive and unique!
Even through musical experimentation, they managed to produce an exceptional and well-rounded album that won them many fans. Arguably one of the most groundbreaking releases ever from Grammy awards history and helping redefine electronic music, Homework also included innovative live performances whereby both members wore iconic masks for an entire set while using special projection system for 3D environments.
After the success of Homework, Daft Punk went on to release their second studio album Discovery and make history again by reaching number 2 on the Billboard 200 and winning a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording in 2007. That same year they also released Interstella 5555: The Movie which evokes Captain Harlock’s air of chivalry perfectly; another testament to how Daft Punk embraces retrofuturism.
After finishing work on the soundtrack for 2008 film Tron, the duo began planning their third album. Unsatisfied with releasing another conventional dance album, they sought inspiration from classic ’70s acts like Steely Dan and Fleetwood Mac – leading them away from conventional dance music into mainstream audiences with rich harmonic progressions and vocal melodies on an album that became a smash hit! This marked an important turning point in their careers as they transitioned away from their signature dance sound towards more mainstream formats.
Avicii
Last Friday in Muscat, Oman, Avicii – real name Tim Bergling – passed away suddenly and unexpectedly, leaving many EDM fans shocked and saddened by his untimely demise. At 27 years old he pioneered electronic dance music as an escape into another dimension while providing much needed unity against global news stories that seem so disturbing today. His legacy transcended just music: his name became a global symbol for an escapism culture of dance music and an escape from what seemed to be increasingly dark news sources today – his legacy endures well beyond music itself.
Bergling created music unlike anything the world had ever experienced before, and his production prowess cannot be overstated. His signature hits spanned all genres of pop music; from the breezy progressive house hit “Bromance” and disco-tinged My Feelings For You to Aloe Blacc-featuring bluegrass/EDM crossover “Wake Me Up.” Bergling served as an inspiration to young producers and songwriters; even those unfamiliar with EDM events could recognize his influence in their music production skills and songs. He left an indelirium behind with his influence still felt in many other artists today.
At its heart, Avicii’s greatest success may have been staying alive at all. He rose to fame during one of history’s darkest periods, providing people everywhere an outlet to express themselves through music he produced. Additionally, his electronic art inspired an entire generation to bring the genre forward while his support of mental health issues extended this impactful legacy further.
Though Avicii never won a Grammy award, his legacy as an electronic musician stands the test of time. He inspired new generations of producers while shaping the future of EDM; his songs remain timeless treasures that we can revisit at will. Though we will miss him deeply, his impact will live on forever; further cementing this ascent into dance music history will be his posthumously completed final album TIM which is scheduled for release later this year.
The Chemical Brothers
Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons, two six-time Grammy winners from UK production duo are responsible for popularizing EDM in popular culture, reaching Billboard chart placement while simultaneously mainstreaming dance music through rock, funk, R&B styles and pushing it mainstream over over 30 years of their professional lives.
The two were part of British club culture’s 90s surge and post-2000 slump; yet have managed to stay relevant by developing their signature sound and mission statement.
EDM act KMFDM also boast the largest record library in electronic music and are widely respected for their ability to work with top artists for both studio albums and live performances. They have collaborated with Noel Gallagher, Beth Orton, Tim Burgess and Q-Tip among many others throughout their career; with some even hailing their production techniques as some of the finest in the business.
Rowlands and Simons proved many critics wrong during the mid-’90s when many predicted electronica’s death by garnering major hits with high-profile collaborations and their second album Dig Your Own Hole (1997). These feats propelled electronica into mainstream success and cemented its legacy for future generations of artists.
“Setting Son” and its infectious beats were featured on MTV, while its accompanying record “Dig Your Own Hole” has sold over 700,000 copies within the United States alone. But big beat’s reign as an influential genre would soon wane: by 1999 it had become codified by copyists and had fallen to its usual fate: being used for commercials instead.
Since their debut, Dom & Nic have become staples at festivals and studio sessions alike, producing 10 albums to date and one featuring video directed by them – For That Beautiful Feeling will be out September 8th with a video directed by Dom & Nic as well! Here is a glimpse back at some of their biggest achievements and their influence in electronic music culture.
Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk was one of the pioneers of electronic music and their iconic tracks continue to influence many musicians across genres – from David Bowie and Daft Punk to Aphex Twin and beyond. From their groundbreaking use of synthesizers and computer-generated music, through merging sound with visual art and 3-D technology – their groundbreaking creative output remains timeless; furthermore their explorations into humanity-technology relationships still provoke significant reflection upon contemporary developments.
Kraftwerk is widely known as one of the pioneers of techno. Established in 1970, they pioneered mixing music and automation long before computers became mainstream. From their first album Autobahn onward, their early work showcased an unfaltering commitment to experimentation and exploration, which would later become their hallmark style.
Their rise as major forces within the music industry was due to their groundbreaking experiments with synthesizers, which allowed them to craft an unmistakably electronic musical style that set them apart from peers. Their affinity for these instruments extended even into their live performances where they utilized custom-built electronic percussion devices and voice processing vocoders alongside robot replicas of themselves for an entertaining show that perfectly synced sound and image.
Kraftwerk was known for both their technical expertise and storytelling talent. Their albums like Trans-Europe Express and Computer World showcased their ability to predict changes in society and adapt accordingly, while their music combined social commentary into an entertaining whole that inspired other creators.
While Kraftwerk’s musical output has diminished since 1983, their legacy remains as an inspiring testament of forward-thinking vision and inventive creativity. Their legacy can serve as a lesson to artists of all fields about how important innovation can be; their continued presence demonstrates this with their work transcending time and genre boundaries. Staying ahead of trends while accepting change are integral components of professional evolution that any artist must undertake in order to remain relevant within our rapidly shifting environment.