Electronic music is a genre of music that fuses sound-producing instruments with electronic devices. This technique was employed by composers to achieve many different results and has had an immense effect on musical history.
Electronic music began in the early 20th century and has evolved ever since. This genre includes songs utilizing synthesizers, computers, signal processors, and flutes.
Origins
Electro music has a rich and fascinating history. It began with the invention of the telharmonium in 1895, an electronic instrument which generated musical sounds using electrical signals generated from multiple rotary generators.
This was the first major attempt to generate sound using electricity, leading to synthesizers and drum machines. Their invention marked an important turning point in music history and helped define what we now refer to as electronic music.
Early electro music was heavily influenced by 1970s disco, funk and New York boogie. These styles featured various drum patterns and grooves as well as live instrumentation to give songs an authentic live performance feel.
The Roland TR-808 drum machine was a widely-used production tool of its era and helped define electro music. This device produced an intense bass drum sound, enabling producers to craft more uptempo dance music.
Electro music stands out due to its harmonically rich sound. This characteristic arises from the distortion and waveforms used in its creation.
These sounds can be heard in many genres, such as techno, dubstep and drum n’ bass. Electro is especially popular in Europe and the United States and has become a dominant force within dance music circles.
Electro music has a rich and colorful history, available on hundreds of labels around the world. While its peak popularity was in the 1980s, it has experienced a resurgence over the last decade with new artists such as Helena Hauff and DJ Stingray; plus festivals like Dekmantel are helping bring this genre back to life.
Styles
Electro music is an electronic genre that evolved from funk, disco and synth-pop. It uses various synthesizers and drum machines to craft songs with offbeat rhythms and a fast tempo. Furthermore, its distinct structure has made it increasingly popular within mainstream music industries.
Electro music has a long-standing legacy and continues to be beloved across all cultures. With its humble beginnings and current popularity, electro continues to inspire artists today.
Over time, various styles of electro music have emerged, such as house, techno and drum and bass. These genres can generally be classified as subgenres of electronic dance music (EDM).
In the 1970s, DJs began creating songs using synthesizers, drum machines and sequencers to create new types of music. These musicians had complete control over their instruments and could experiment with a wide range of sounds.
Many of these musicians had roots in hip hop, which informed their production style. This resulted in an eclectic blend of electronic music and rap dubbed EDM (Electronic Dance Music).
Another popular electronic music genre is dubstep, created in The Netherlands during the 1990s. This style blends fast beats and samples with heavy bass and a heavy dub influence.
Dubstep and wave are closely related genres that emerged in the 1990s. Wave combines heavy bass with atmospheric melodies and wild elements, pioneered by Flume. Since then, there have been multiple subgenres of this style created.
Electro-pop is the newest and most sought-after form of electronic music. This genre blends synthesizers with pop songwriting for a modern danceable experience.
Influences
Electro music has been shaped by many influences, such as rock, jazz and funk music. Additionally, its use of drum machines and electronic equipment has had an immense effect on its development.
In its early days, Electro music was heavily influenced by the Roland TR-808 drum machine and its ability to create unique sounds. This innovation would eventually set Electro apart from other genres of music.
This sound, often referred to as electro funk, helped define the genre as a whole and had significant influences on Hip Hop culture – an integral element in early electro music’s history.
At this time, musique concrete – a movement focused on sound manipulation and composition – had an immense influence on modern musicians.
Gary Numan was another influential artist, pioneering the use of synthesizers in rock music. As part of a band called Tubeway Army, they were heavily influenced by Kraftwerk’s song Trans-Europe Express.
He then went on to record Are Friends Electric?, his first song written using synthesizer. This track became a hit and cemented his status as one of the top artists in electronic music.
Electro music was once an obscure genre, but has recently been rediscovered by many artists such as James Stinson, Damon Baxter, Dynamix II, Aux 88 and Underground Resistance. These artists have helped shape this genre into what it is today; helping to revive it and create a new generation of fans in the process.
Techniques
Electro music utilizes electronic equipment and instruments to create music, as well as mixing and mastering of recorded sound to ensure that its quality remains high.
Electronic music is a relatively recent development that draws inspiration from various musical genres. As such, the techniques employed can often be quite distinctive and unique.
Most genres of electronic music feature some form of rhythmic beat, such as a kick drum, snare drum or other percussion instrument. This gives the music its energy and helps listeners understand where it’s coming from while setting the mood for each song.
Another essential technique in electronic music is sampling. This involves taking sounds from other songs or recordings and layering them on top to create a unique sound. It’s an effective way to add interest to your compositions and is used by artists across all genres of electronic music.
Hip-hop is perhaps the best example of this, drawing inspiration from funk and soul music to create its unique style. To complete the song, a rapper usually raps over top of it, giving life to the melody and bringing it to life.
Other electronic music techniques involve process music and generative music. Process music refers to a composition in which the composer sets up an automated process that an instrument will follow to produce sound or effect; this could include tape recorders, samplers, or similar instruments. On the other hand, generative music is created automatically through computer algorithms; it’s sometimes employed for ambient pieces like Brian Eno’s Discreet Music or music installations that don’t require human involvement.
Terminology
Electronic music refers to any form of music produced and altered using computer-generated sound such as synthesizers and sampled instruments. It may also include live electronic music performed using laptops or other electronic devices.
Electro music is typically characterized by the use of electronic drum machines and other rhythmic elements. These may include snares and claps to accent upbeats or breakbeats, or syncopated kick drums which form the main rhythmic foundation.
Electronic music often incorporates synthesizers, which are usually played with techniques such as slide, vibrato, ring modulators, distortion and wahwah. Some composers utilize these methods to produce sounds with a robotic or mechanical feel.
Electronic music can also be found in ambient, which emphasizes atmosphere rather than structure or rhythm of the piece. This genre was popularized by English producer Brian Eno.
The style is typically associated with fast tempos, but it can also be slow or rhythmic. It may also feel spacey and even experimental at times.
Electronic dance music (EDM) has seen an exponential growth in popularity over the last few years and now stands as its own genre with many clubs playing it regularly.
Electro music draws inspiration from disco, funk and hip-hop but has also been influenced by techno and trance. Combining the drum machines of disco with synthesizers from funk and hip-hop creates a distinctive sound.
Skweee is also sometimes used to refer to an entirely new style of dance music, Scandinavian Funk or Skweee, which blends electro and disco elements. This genre has gained increasing recognition in Finland and Sweden.