In the 2000s, several new dance genres made waves in society. Berlin especially was home to this explosion, especially styles utilizing Roland’s TB-303 bassline synthesizer for jaw-dropping basslines that gave rise to spin-off genres like drum and bass.
Michael Mayer from Kompakt’s production company played an outsized role in shaping what clubbers danced to. His Immer is a luxurious collection of sounds that range from precise rhythmic ellipses to barely audible hums – an essential piece for club dancing.
Techno
Techno has long been a cornerstone of electronic music culture. From huge festivals to intimate basement clubs around the world, techno is a vital force. It can range from fast or slow beats, minimalist or over the top sounds; bright or dark tones all converge at its foundation: a solid beat and pulsing bassline which give this genre its signature sound.
Techno stands apart from melodic and emotional genres by emphasizing rhythm and groove. Its repetitive beats are designed for dance floors and club environments; their beats also create an upbeat, rhythmical pace which keeps people dancing; this feature of techno is what has made it such a globally beloved genre.
Techno is heavily impacted by its equipment of production. In particular, computer technology and software development were instrumental in revolutionizing this genre – Ableton Live and Reason were two such programs which made music production simpler, enabling musicians to produce high-quality tracks using only laptop computers; this allowed techno to expand and evolve beyond its initial boundaries.
As the decade progressed, techno began to branch off into different subgenres and substyles. These included Detroit techno, minimal techno and tech house. Each substyle has its own distinctive features which vary based on country or style of music influences – Belgian techno is known for its riffs; German techno has more noise; while British techno features breakbeats.
One of the most noticeable developments in techno was the rise of DJs as one of its cornerstones. DJs are recognized for being at the core of today’s electronic music scene and for pushing its limits forward. From festivals to basement clubs, these performers bring unmatched energy and engagement with audiences during every performance they offer.
Similarly, the 2000s witnessed the emergence of new dance music artists and producers who brought techno to new levels. Artists such as SND, Farben, Vladislav Delay, Pan Sonic Pole and Alva Noto pioneered new forms of techno through intricate beats and soundscapes; their music ranged from meticulous rhythmic ellipses to barely audible hums; these artists would go on to influence acts such as Daft Punk and Depeche Mode.
Dubstep
In the 00s, dubstep was born. Combining bass-heavy beats with grimy UK garage sounds, dubstep became increasingly popular thanks to artists like Skrillex whose song “Screwdriver” became one of its defining tracks. Dubstep is often associated with heavy basslines and wobbles as well as complex drum patterns, skittering percussion, and ghostly vocal samples; some producers preferred its harsher sounds while others embraced its atmospheric nature by exploring alternative approaches; this style was popularized by artists such as Mount Kimbie and Burial who expanded upon its boundaries further than ever imagined!
Madonna and Fatboy Slim both made headlines as crossover artists during the dubstep boom of the 2000s, as both artists embraced clubbing aesthetics to craft distinctive electronic sounds. Madonna used techno, pillow-time breakbeats, Euro-trance synth-splashes and Euro-trance synth-splashes on her Ray of Light album as part of exploring motherhood as spiritual change; Fatboy Slim used pulsing funk, serious bass weight and mystifying synth lines from Praise You album to propel dance music to new corners of American pop marketplace.
Producers like Horsepower Productions and Kode9 played an essential part in establishing Dubstep as an EDM genre. Through their combination of UK garage, drum ‘n bass, and 2-step garage sounds they helped establish its distinctive sound – with tracks such as Kode9’s Harpoon being key examples of this trend. His Hotflush Records imprint became an important early hub of dubstep culture alongside featuring work by talented DJs such as Distance Toasty Walsh.
Rusko and 12th Planet also expanded EDM’s reach by including hip-hop influences in their tracks, creating a hybrid sound even EDM veterans could appreciate.
At this time of expansion, many early dubstep songs would incorporate what would later become known as a bass drop; here, percussion would pause for about 55 seconds before returning with increased intensity and bass-heavy wobble. This became a hallmark of dubstep and would later be adopted by other genres such as hardcore house.
EDM
In the 2000s, dance music saw a renewed focus on its roots with minimalist production styles and mashups becoming increasingly popular. Take Rihanna’s hit “Good Life”, featuring an Etta James sample from 1962’s hit, “Something’s Got a Hold on Me.”
As electronic music developed during the 1970s and 80s, artists experimented with synthesizers and drum machines. By the early 00s, electronic music had established itself as an identifiable genre; its progression can be tracked through subgenres like techno, trance, and dubstep.
Minimalism became a distinguishing mark of many styles that reduced and tightened, with sounds ranging from meticulous rhythmic ellipses to barely audible hums. Mille Plateaux’s groundbreaking double-disc compilation Clicks + Cuts provided an enduring example of this trend.
Germany and, specifically Berlin, played an essential role in the development of electronic music during the 2000s. Berlin served as an epicenter for raves and parties previously held across England, as well as being home to renowned techno club Tresor. Furthermore, German synth-pop quartet Kraftwerk made their mark during this era through innovative use of Moog synthesizer.
One of the biggest subgenres to emerge during the 2000s was electro, which transformed traditional instruments such as bass guitars and drums with synthesizers and drum machines to produce an energetic, pulsing beat reminiscent of hip hop or German synthpop music. Electro would become one of the major driving forces behind subsequent growth of house music genre.
Matthew Herbert was a master of this style, possessing an uncanny grasp on all that made machine music move and groove. Among his accomplishments are DJ mixes and collections of glitchy torch songs – two pieces he is most remembered for.
Electro
In the 2000s, electronic music fused with dance-pop to form electropop – a hybrid genre which combines elements from pop, hip-hop, and dance music with electronic musical instruments like synthesizers or drum machines – creating its unique sound. Electropop’s hallmark sound often includes high-frequency drum beats accompanied by sampling or reverberation vocal techniques as well as sampling vocal techniques that combine with vocal sampling for an immersive listening experience.
Pop has quickly become one of the world’s favorite genres among young people everywhere due to its catchy melodies and rhythmic beats, featuring songs about love, relationships, and technology that resonate particularly strongly with female listeners. Additionally, its composition draws heavily from popular culture and modern technology influences; creating music which makes its listener feel transported away into another dimension altogether.
Early experiments in electronic music began during the 2000s with compositions by composers such as Karlheinz Stockhausen, who used electronic instruments in classical orchestral performances. He attempted to break free from Classical-Romantic tradition of tonal thinking by employing electronic oscillators that generated sounds which musicians then reconstruct as tones and chords; creating music which was both highly structured and unpredictable – an experience unlike anything they had experienced previously.
Later in the 2000s, electronic music began influencing mainstream artists, who often adopted its styles of electropop. This development had an immense effect on broadening its scope and appeal while simultaneously helping establish it as a distinct genre from other forms of dance music that existed at that time.
Next came IDM, dubstep and trap music – more clubby yet poppy styles using complex polyrhythms to get people up dancing both physically and cognitively. Artists such as Aphex Twin, Squarepusher and Board of Canada created sounds more associated with art than pop.