Electronic Music Isn’t Just Dance Music

If you’re a fan of electronic music, you might think that it’s all about getting people moving on the dance floor. But there’s a lot more to it than that! In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the different genres and styles of electronic music, and what makes each one special.

The History of Electronic Music

Electronic music has come a long way since the days of early pioneers like Kraftwerk and Giorgio Moroder. In the intervening decades, electronic music has splintered into countless subgenres and scenes, from industrial and techno to trance and drum & bass. In this article, we’ll trace the history of electronic music and take a look at some of the genre’s most important innovators.

The birth of electronic music

Though the term “electronic music” didn’t come into widespread use until the 1950s, the first electronic instruments were invented in the late 19th century. The telharmonium, or “dynaphone,” was invented in 1897 and could be considered the first synthesizer. Inventor Thaddeus Cahill hoped to create an instrument that would be capable of producing any sound that could be created by an orchestra.

The theremin, one of the best-known electronic instruments, was invented in 1919 by Russian scientist Lev Theremin. The theremin is played without being touched; instead, players wave their hands in the air to create sound. It was used extensively in movie soundtracks in the 1950s, particularly in horror films.

Electronic music truly came into its own in the middle of the 20th century with the invention of several new devices, most notably the Trautonium and Ondes Martenot by German composer Oskar Sala and Frenchman Maurice Martenot, respectively. These early electronic instruments were used extensively by composers such as Olivier Messiaen and Edgar Varèse.

The rise of electronic music

The first electronic instruments were developed in the early 1900s, and by the middle of the century, electronic music was well on its way to becoming a new genre. The first electronic music was created using synthesizers, which are capable of creating a wide range of sounds. These Synthesizers were used by composers such as Pierre Boulez and Karlheinz Stockhausen to create new pieces of music that were unlike anything that had been heard before.

In the 1960s, electronic music started to become more popular with the general public. This was in part due to the development of new technologies such as the phonograph and the tape recorder, which made it possible for people to create and listen to music in their own homes. It was also due to the rise of popular genres such as rock and roll and soul music, which incorporated elements of electronic music.

The 1970s saw a further increase in the popularity of electronic music, with artists such as Kraftwerk and Giorgio Moroder becoming household names. This decade also saw the development of new genres such as disco and hip hop, which would go on to have a huge impact on popular culture.

Today, electronic music is more popular than ever before, with millions of people around the world listening to it on a daily basis. It has also come to be appreciated as an art form in its own right, with many composers creating beautiful and moving pieces of music using nothing but synthesizers and computers.

The Different Types of Electronic Music

There are many different types of electronic music, and it’s not just dance music. While electronic music does include dance music, it also includes genres like ambient, trip hop, and IDM. Electronic music is a very diverse genre, and it’s worth exploring all the different types of music that fall under this umbrella term.

House

House is a genre of electronic music that was developed in the 1980s in Chicago. The style is characterized by a repeating 4/4 beat, often with a syncopated bass line, and is usually faster than other forms of dance music. House music often incorporates elements from other genres, including electronica, disco, funk, and pop.

Techno

Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid-to-late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988. Many styles of techno now exist, but Detroit techno is seen as the foundation upon which other subgenres have been built.

The initial template for techno was created by pioneers such as Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson, who were influenced by electronic music from Europe, Japan, and Africa. Their productions incorporated elements of disco and electro, but they also added something new: a stripped-down approach that emphasized minimalism and machine-like rhythms. This sound would go on to define techno and help it spread around the world.

Techno is typified by a fast tempo (140–160 beats per minute), repetitious 4/4 beats often achieved with drum machines, off-beat hi-hat cymbals, and synthesized basslines. Members of the early techno scene sought to create a mobile form of DJing that would allow them to play music in multiple locations without lugging around heavy record crates full of vinyl records. This led to the development of the turntablist style of DJing, which relies on skillfully manipulating the pitch and speed (tempo) of records using a special turntable mixer known as a rotary mixer.

Drum and Bass

Drum and Bass, also known as DnB, is a type of electronic music that emerged in the mid-1990s. It is characterized by fast breakbeats (typically between 160-180 beats per minute) with heavy bass and sub-bass lines. Drum and Bass often features samples from other genres of music, including movies and television shows.

Trance

Trance is a genre of electronic music that emerged in the early 1990s. It is characterized by a tempo of between 130 and 160 BPM, melodies that are often played with significant delay, and a general feeling of progression and energy. Trance is often used as the term for all “uplifting” music, regardless of genre or tempo.

Dubstep

Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in South London in the late 1990s. It is characterized by sparse, syncopated rhythmic patterns with prominent sub-bass frequencies. The style emerged as an offshoot of UK garage, drawing on a lineage of related styles such as 2-step and dub reggae.

In the mid-2000s, dubstep began to emerge as a mainstream genre in the UK, and has since enjoy global popularity. Early dubstep was often characterized by dark and sinister soundscapes, but the style has since evolved to include a more diverse range of sonic palette. Today, dubstep producers often incorporate elements from other genres such as hip hop, grime, and drum and bass.

The Future of Electronic Music

The electronic music industry is growing at an unprecedented rate. In the last five years, the industry has seen a 500% increase in sales. This growth is set to continue, with electronic music expected to be worth $32 billion by the year 2022. This rapid growth is due to the popularity of electronic music genres such as EDM, dubstep, and trap.

The popularity of electronic music

With the rise of DJs and producers such as deadmau5, Skrillex, and Calvin Harris, electronic music has become one of the most popular genres in the world. According to a report by the International Music Summit, the global EDM (electronic dance music) industry was worth $6.9 billion in 2016, and is expected to grow to $8.1 billion by 2020.

One of the reasons for electronic music’s popularity is that it is very versatile – it can be used for anything from dance parties to relaxing at home. It is also easy to produce, which has made it popular with independent artists.

However, not everyone is a fan of electronic music. Some people believe that it is too repetitive and lacks soul. Others believe that it is just a fad that will eventually disappear.

What do you think about electronic music? Do you think it is here to stay?

The evolution of electronic music

Electronic music is often thought of as a synonym for dance music, but the genre has come a long way since its early days in the clubs. Although elements of electronic music can be traced back to the late 19th century, it wasn’t until after WWII that composers began experimenting with producing music using electronic equipment. The first electronic music was created using tone generators, which could create sustained tones or repeating patterns of tones called loops.

Composers such as Karlheinz Stockhausen and Gyorgy Ligeti were pioneers in the development of electronic music, and their work laid the foundation for many of the genre’s signature sounds and techniques. In the 1970s and 1980s, electronic music became increasingly popular thanks to the advent of affordable synthesizers and drum machines. This period saw the rise of influential electronic music genres like disco, techno, and house.

In recent years, electronic music has continued to evolve with the help of new technologies. Producers now have access to powerful digital audio workflow tools that allow them to create more complex and nuanced sounds than ever before. As a result, today’s electronic music is more diverse than ever before, with subgenres like dubstep, trap, Drum & Bass ,andIDM attracting millions of listeners around the world.