Not All Electronic Music Is Dance

A look at how not all electronic music is created for the dance floor and can be used for other purposes such as studying or relaxing.

The Different Types of Electronic Music

Electronic music covers a wide range of genres, from dance to ambient. While dance music is the most popular genre of electronic music, there are many other styles that are worth exploring. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the different types of electronic music.

Ambient

New Age music was often considered to be within the ambient genre, although more populated and rhythmically active sub-styles such as deep techno, goa trance, dub and breakbeat have since developed from the genre.

In general, Ambient music is visual music; created to be a backdrop or environment for another activity, usually housing. In this way it differs strongly from other musical genres such as rock or folk music, which create their own foreground environments. It also differs from representative music in that its goal is not to evoke a emotional reaction as much as to direct attention inwards.

Because of these properties, and its ability to generate new micro-genres (such as dark ambient or deep ambient) its visited by many film directors seeking an appropriate score.

Chillstep

Chillstep is a subgenre of dubstep that is characterized by its mellow, almost-ambient sound. The tempo is usually slow (around 60-90 BPM) and the atmosphere is very mellow and relaxing, often with a lot of reverb. The bass lines are often slow and complex, with lots of movement. The melodies are often emotional, and the overall vibe is very dreamy and wistful.

Downtempo

Downtempo music is any music that has a slower tempo than most other music genres. This can include ambient, electronica, trip-hop and more. This type of music often has a relaxing quality to it, which makes it perfect for studying, working or even sleeping.

Drum and Bass

Drum and bass (also written as “drum ‘n’ bass”; commonly abbreviated to “D&B”, “DnB” or simply “D’n’B”) is a genre of electronic music characterised by fast breakbeats (typically between 160–180 beats per minute) with heavy bass and sub-bass lines, sampled sources, and synthesizers. The popularity of drum and bass at its commercial peak ran parallel to several other homegrown dance styles in the UK including big beat and hard house. Drum and bass incorporates a number of styles including techno, jungle, dubstep, UK garage, breakbeat hardcore, and grime.

The genre emerged from the London underground rave scene of the early 1990s and was further influenced by Jamaican sound system culture, especially the pioneering work of producers like King Tubby and scientists like Augustus Pablo. It is difficult to pinpoint the exact origin of the drum and bass sound; however One Nation parties in Bristol in the late 1980s are often cited as an important factor in its development. Steven Reaume wrote that One Nation’s popularity had been established by 1992 through its weekly club night at Codefishstatio Sound System’s parties… At Codefishstation events there was always a dublate going on in one corner while another tune played on the main sound system setup.”

Reaume continues, writing that English producer Skeng (“The Assassin”) introduced layering using 808 kick drums in 1993 while attending One Nation events: “I started hearing these tracks that had four beats playing at once—an Amen break layered on top of two other breaks with an 808 kick underneath it all.” Producer LTJ Bukem credits this approach as being influential on his own work: “When I first started making drum ‘n’ bass tracks around 1993 I used to use multiple layers of breaks… When I first made Logical Progression [in 1996], every tune had four or five breaks layered up against each other.”

Glitch Hop

Glitch hop is a fusion genre of hip hop and glitch music that originated in the early 2000s in the United States and Europe. It is typically characterized by tempo ranges from 110 to 150 beats per minute (bpm), syncopated rhythms, basslines and stuttering, intermittent melodies.

The genre developed out of the IDM and hip hop scenes in London and California, respectively. It has been described as “a deliberate attempt to deconstruct conventional ideas about music”, as well as a reaction against traditional hip hop production.

Glitch hop artists often use samples of electronic music from the 1970s and 1980s, which are then manipulated using modern production techniques. The result is a hybrid sound that pays homage to the history of electronic music while also sounding fresh and contemporary.

Notable glitch hop artists include Flying Lotus, Hudson Mohawke, Madlib, Machinedrum, Ras G, Rustie, SBTRKT, TOKiMONSTA and Zero 7.

Where to Listen to Electronic Music

Electronic music is a genre of music that often gets lumped into the “dance” category, but not all electronic music is meant for the dance floor. In fact, there are many subgenres of electronic music that are better suited for other activities, such as studying or relaxing. If you’re looking for some good electronic music to listen to, here are a few suggestions.

Festivals

Festivals are a great place to listen to electronic music, but they’re not the only place. You can find electronic music festivals all over the world, from the UK to Australia. If you’re looking for a particular type of electronic music, you might want to check out a festival that specializes in that genre. For example, there are festivals that focus on techno, trance, and drum and bass.

Clubs

While some people may believe that all electronic music is dance music, there are actually many different sub-genres within the genre itself. This can make it difficult to know where to find the type of music you’re looking for. In general, though, you’ll likely find electronic music in one of four places: clubs, festivals, online, or on the radio.

Clubs are probably the most obvious place to listen to electronic music. After all, many popular DJs got their start playing in clubs. If you’re looking to hear the latest and greatest in electronic dance music (EDM), then hitting up a club is probably your best bet. Just be prepared to dance!

Festivals are another great option for finding electronic music. While festivals can be quite diverse, there are often specific festivals that focus on EDM. These can be a great option if you’re looking for a more immersive experience or if you want to see multiple DJs in one place.

If you can’t make it out to a club or festival, don’t worry—there are plenty of other ways to listen to electronic music. One popular option is streaming platforms like SoundCloud and Spotify, which offer a wide variety of electronic genres and sub-genres. You can also find many DJs and producers releasing their music for free on these platforms.

Finally, don’t forget about the good old radio! While it may not be as hip as some of the other options on this list, there are still plenty of great radio stations that play electronic music—you just have to know where to look.

Radio Stations

Whether you are a fan of EDM, techno, house, or any other type of electronic music, there are plenty of ways to get your fix. In addition to countless streaming options, there are also plenty of radio stations that offer electronic music 24/7. Here are just a few of the best.

-Beat minima: Based in Barcelona, this station offers a refreshing take on electronic music, with a focus on deeper and more atmospheric sounds.
-NTS Radio: Founded in 2011, NTS is one of the UK’s leading underground radio stations. You can find everything from techno and house to disco and funk on their schedule.
-Nova Radio: This Parisian station has been broadcasting since 2002 and is known for its eclectic mix of music, including plenty of electronic sounds.
-Red Light Radio: Hailing from Amsterdam, Red Light Radio is all about championing underground music and DJ culture. You can expect to hear plenty of great electronic tunes on their schedule.

Online

Whether you want to listen to electronic music for free or to support the artists, there are plenty of ways to do it online. Below are some of our favorite ways to enjoy electronic music.

Spotify: One of the most popular streaming platforms, Spotify, offers a comprehensive experience with both free and paid options. If you opt for the free version, you’ll hear ads between songs and won’t be able to download tracks for offline listening. With Spotify Premium, you’ll get ad-free listening, high-quality audio, and the ability to download tracks for offline listening. You can also take your music with you on your devices with the Spotify app.

SoundCloud: Another great option for streaming electronic music is SoundCloud. This platform is particularly popular with up-and-coming artists who use it as a way to share their music with the world. Because of this, you’ll find a lot of unique and interesting tracks on SoundCloud that you won’t find anywhere else. Similar to Spotify, SoundCloud has both free and paid plans available. With the free plan, you’ll hear ads between tracks and won’t be able to download them for offline listening. With SoundCloud Go+, you’ll get ad-free listening, high-quality audio, and offline listening. You can also take your music with you on your devices with the SoundCloud app.

YouTube: While YouTube isn’t typically thought of as a place to listen to music, there are actually a ton of great electronic music channels that offer hours of non-stop tunes. Plus, if you’re looking for a particular song or artist, chances are good that you’ll be able to find it on YouTube. And since YouTube is free (with ads), it’s a great option if you’re on a budget.

The History of Electronic Music

Electronic music is not a recent invention. In fact, it has been around for over a century. The first electronic instruments were invented in the early 1900s and were used in novelty songs and dance music. It wasn’t until the 1970s that electronic music began to be taken seriously as an art form.

Early beginnings in the 1940s

Electronic music is a genre of music that employs electronic musical instruments or electronic audio processing techniques. In general, a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means (electroacoustic music), and that produced using electronics only. Electromechanical instruments include telephones, film projectors and theremins, while pure electronic instruments include the Theremin, synthesizers, and computer.

The first electronic instruments were invented in the early 20th century. Thomas Edison’s phonograph was the first device used to record and playback sound (although very crude by today’s standards). Invented in 1877, it revolutionized both the recording and playback process by using vibrations to create sound instead of mechanical means.

The Theremin was one of the first true electronic musical instruments, and was invented by Russian scientist Leon Theremin in 1919. The instrument was originally intended for use in an orchestra, but its unique capabilities (sound is produced by moving your hands in the air around two metal rods) quickly caught on with avant-garde composers such as Edgar Varese.

During the 1930s and 1940s, American composer John Cage started experimenting with new ways to use traditional acoustic instruments, often with unusual results (he is perhaps best known for his 1952 composition 4’33”, which consists of four minutes and 33 seconds of silence). In Cage’s hands, normal everyday objects such as radios and wrenches could become musical instruments. This philosophy paved the way for future composers to experiment with found objects and unconventional methods of Sound production.

The first electronic music studio in the 1950s

In the late 1940s, German-born composer and engineer Karlheinz Stockhausen (1928–2007) was living in Cologne, where he worked for the newly created NWDR (North-West German Radio). In 1949, Stockhausen was appointed head of the Electronic Studio of NWDR, which made him the first person to hold that title at any radio station. The first electronic music studio in the world was born.

In the studio, Stockhausen and his team had access to a range of new electronic devices, including theremins, tone generators, and early tape recorders. They used these instruments to create sounds that had never been heard before.

One of the first pieces of music composed in the studio was Stockhausen’s “Studie I,” which consisted of sine waves of different frequencies recorded onto tape and then played back at various speeds. “Studie I” is considered by many to be one of the first examples of electronic music.

While “Studie I” was groundbreaking, it was not danceable. That would come later. In the early 1960s, composers like Pierre Henry and Pierre Schaeffer pioneered a new style of music called musique concrète. This type of music was made by manipulations of recordings of everyday sounds, like footsteps or doors slamming.

The birth of disco in the 1970s

The first electronic dance music was made in the 1970s. It was called disco. Disco was a new kind of music that people could dance to. It was made with synthesizers and drum machines. Disco became very popular in the United States and Europe.

Some of the most famous disco songs are “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor, “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees, and “Funkytown” by Lipps Inc.

In the 1980s, a new type of electronic dance music called house music was created. House music was invented in Chicago, Illinois. House music is a lot like disco, but it has a stronger beat. House music quickly became popular in clubs all over the world

The rise of techno in the 1980s

In the 1980s, electronic music became increasingly popular, particularly in Europe. This was partly due to the rise of the techno genre, which originated in Detroit, Michigan. Techno music is characterized by its heavy use of synthesizers, drum machines, and computer-generated sounds. It quickly became very popular among young people, who often danced to it at nightclubs.

However, not all electronic music is techno. In fact, there are many different genres of electronic music, each with its own distinct sound and style. For example, ambient music is a genre of electronic music that is designed to be relaxing and contemplative. It often features slow rhythms and gentle melodies. On the other hand, dubstep is a genre of electronic music that is known for its heavy basslines and chaotic soundscapes.

The popularity of electronic music in the 1990s

The popularity of electronic music in the 1990s was a direct result of the success of techno and house music in nightclubs. This type of music was usually played by DJs who mixed together different tracks using turntables or electronic equipment. The sound was often repetitive and had a hypnotic quality that made it perfect for dancing. As the popularity of this music grew, so did the number of people attending clubs and festivals where it was played.