A Brief History of Electronic Dance Music

A look at the origins and history of electronic dance music, from its earliest beginnings to the present day.

Pre-EDM

Electronic dance music, or simply “EDM” for short, is a umbrella term for a variety of genres that emerged in the mid-1970s. This include but are not limited to: disco, techno, house, and digital hardcore. Early adopters of this new sound were predominantly black and Latino youths in urban areas such as New York City and Chicago.

Early electronic music

Early electronic music was created using a variety of different instruments and equipment, including reel-to-reel tape recorders, synthesizers, and theremins. One of the earliest electronic music genres was musique concrète, which was created by composers such as Pierre Schaeffer and Pierre Henry in the 1940s and 1950s. This type of music included sounds that were recorded from the natural world, such as transportation noises and environmental sounds. Other early electronic music genres included electroacoustic music and tape music.

In the 1960s, electronic music began to be used in popular music. One of the earliest examples of this is the song “I Feel Love” by Donna Summer, which was released in 1977. This song made use of a synthesizer to create its distinctive sound. In the 1980s, technology played a major role in the development of electronic dance music (EDM), as new technologies such as drum machines and samplers became more widely available. This decade also saw the rise of trance music, which was characterized by hypnotic rhythms and melodies.

The birth of disco

The genre of electronic dance music (EDM) has its origins in the disco era of the 1970s. At that time, DJs began to experiment with using electronic equipment to create innovative new sounds and beats. These early pioneers laid the foundation for the modern EDM scene.

One of the most influential early disco DJs was Giorgio Moroder. He is credited with creating some of the first electronic dance tracks, including “I Feel Love” and “Love to Love You Baby”. Moroder’s work paved the way for other EDM innovators, such as Kraftwerk and Jean Michel Jarre.

Kraftwerk’s 1974 album Autobahn is widely considered to be one of the first examples of EDM. The group’s use of synthesizers and other electronic equipment was groundbreaking at the time. Kraftwerk’s influence can still be heard in modern EDM, particularly in the work of German producer Schiller.

Jean Michel Jarre was another pioneer of electronic music. His 1976 album Oxygene is often cited as one of the most influential EDM albums of all time. Jarre’s work inspired a new generation of musicians, including Vangelis and Tangerine Dream.

In the 1980s, a new wave of British producers began to make their mark on EDM. These include Brian Eno, Aphex Twin, and The Orb. These artists took EDM in new directions, experimenting with sounds and beats that had never been heard before. They laid the foundation for the future development of EDM.

EDM’s golden age

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, electronic dance music reached its golden age. A new style of music known as “trance” emerged, characterized by faster tempos, melodic synthesizer lines, and often Asian-influenced melodies. This new style of music quickly gained popularity, and soon became the dominant form of electronic dance music.

The rise of house music

In the 1980s, a new style of electronic music emerged from the nightclubs of Chicago. This music, which came to be known as house, was a blend of disco and electronic music. House music quickly became popular in Europe, where it was played in clubs and on the radio. By the early 1990s, house music had spread to the United States, where it became one of the most popular genres of dance music.

The rise of techno

The late 1980s and early 1990s was the golden age of techno. Underground parties in Detroit and Chicago gave birth to the style, which quickly spread to Europe. In 1991, the Berlin Wall fell, and techno became the soundtrack of a generation of clubbers looking for freedom. The rave culture of the 1990s was defined by this music, with huge illegal parties taking place across the UK and Europe. Hardcore techno, trance and drum & bass also emerged during this period, further widening the appeal of electronic dance music.

The rise of trance

The early 1990s saw the rise of a new form of electronic dance music: trance. Trance music was defined by its use of repeating, looping melodies and infectious rhythms. This style of music quickly became popular in nightclubs and soon found its way into the mainstream. By the mid-1990s, trance music had become one of the most popular genres in the world.

Post-EDM

The fall of trance

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, trance was the dominant form of EDM. But by the mid-2000s, a new style of music called progressive house had become popular, and trance began to fall out of favor. In 2006, a song called “Temperature” by Sean Paul became a huge crossover hit, incorporating elements of EDM into mainstream pop music. This signaled the beginning of the end for trance’s dominance. In the 2010s, EDM has exploded in popularity, with artists like Avicii, Calvin Harris, and Martin Garrix becoming global superstars. But while EDM is now more popular than ever, trance has largely been left behind.

The rise of dubstep

The rise of dubstep can be traced back to the early 2000s, when producers in the U.K. began to experiment with new sounds and production techniques. One of the most influential early dubstep tracks was “Vex,” by producer Benga. This track, which was released in 2002, featured a heavy bassline and atmospheric sounds that would become signature elements of the genre.

In the years that followed, dubstep began to gain popularity in clubs and on radio stations in the U.K., and eventually spread to other countries in Europe and North America. By 2010, dubstep had become one of the most popular genres of electronic dance music (EDM), with artists like Skrilllex and Bassnectar becoming household names.

Today, dubstep has evolved into a more mainstream sound, with many producers incorporating elements of trap and hip-hop into their tracks. However, the genre still retains its signature heavy basslines and atmospheric soundscapes, which continue to make it one of the most popular forms of EDM.

The rise of EDM

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, electronic dance music (EDM) began to rise in popularity in the United States. This was largely due to the success of artists like Moby, who had a hit with his song “Go” in 1999, and David Guetta, who had a hit with his song “I Gotta Feeling” in 2009.

The popularity of EDM continued to grow in the 2010s, with festivals like Ultra Music Festival and Electric Daisy Carnival becoming increasingly popular. In 2012, Skrillex won three Grammy Awards for his work in the EDM genre, and in 2013, Avicii’s song “Wake Me Up” topped the charts in several countries.

In recent years, EDM has begun to decline in popularity, with some fans saying that it has become too commercialized. Nevertheless, it remains a popular genre of music, and there are still many fans who enjoy listening to and attending EDM festivals.