The State of Electronic Dance Music
Contents
The State of Electronic Dance Music is a weekly column by veteran dance music journalist Bill Brewster.
Introduction
Electronic dance music, also known as EDM, has taken the world by storm in recent years. This genre of music is characterized by its heavy use of electronics and synthesizers, and its high-energy beats that are perfect for dancing. EDM has become one of the most popular genres of music, with festivals and clubs devoted to it all over the world.
Despite its popularity, there is still a lot of debate surrounding EDM. Some people argue that it is simply a passing fad, while others believe that it is here to stay. There is no clear consensus on the future of EDM, but one thing is for sure: it is a genre that has taken the world by storm and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
The Early Days of Electronic Dance Music
Electronic dance music has come a long way since its humble beginnings in the late 1970s. What started out as a niche genre of music has now exploded into the mainstream, with electronic dance music festivals being held all over the world.
The first electronic dance music festivals
The first electronic dance music festivals began in the late 1970s and early 1980s, as Disco began to decline in popularity. These early festivals were often organized by clubs or promoters and featured a mix of Disco, New Wave, and other emerging electronic genres. Many of these early festivals were one-time events, but a few became annual affairs, such as theNew Music Seminar in New York City and the Maple Leaf Festival in Toronto.
As electronic dance music became more popular in the 1990s and 2000s, festivals devoted exclusively to this genre began to spring up around the world. The first major EDM festival was probably Belgium’s Tomorrowland, which launched in 2005. Tomorrowland quickly became one of the most popular EDM festivals, due in part to its massive scale and dazzling production values. Today, there are EDM festivals held on every continent (except Antarctica), with hundreds of thousands of people attending each year.
The birth of techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in the mid-1980s in Detroit, Michigan. It was originally developed by a group of African-American techno producers who were influenced by the Italian disco music of the late 1970s. Techno is characterized by a repetitive, hypnotic beat and synthesized melodies.
The first techno tracks were produced in the early 1980s by Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson, who were collectively known as the Belleville Three. They took their name from Belleville High School, which they all attended. Their early tracks were released on Derrick May’s label, Transmat Records.
In 1987, Atkins founded his own record label, Metroplex Records, which became one of the most important labels in the history of techno. His label was responsible for releasing some of the genre’s earliest and most influential tracks, including “Big Fun” by Inner City and “Strings of Life” by Rhythim Is Rhythim.
Atkins has said that he was influenced by George Clinton’s music when he was growing up. Clinton is a well-known African-American musician who is best known for his work with Parliament-Funkadelic. He also played a role in shaping the sound of disco music in the 1970s.
In the early 1990s, techno began to gain popularity in Europe, particularly in Germany. This was due in part to the popularity of German DJ Sven Vath’s club night “Love Parade”, which featured many international techno DJs. The first Love Parade was held in Berlin in 1989 and attracted over half a million people.
