About Electronic Dance Music

This article is a collaborative effort, crafted and edited by a team of dedicated professionals.

Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

Contents

This blog is all about Electronic Dance Music. Here you will find information on the latest EDM news, new releases, and upcoming events.

Origins of EDM

Electronic dance music, also known as EDM, is a broad range of percussive electronic music genres made largely for nightclubs, raves, and festivals. EDM is generally produced for playback by DJs who create seamless selections of tracks, called a mix, by segueing from one recording to another.

Early electronic music

Early electronic music was created using a variety of instruments and devices, including telegraphy, telephony, and early computers and synthesizers. These early electronic music instruments were often used for creating sound effects or noises for use in theater or radio productions. One of the first electronic music composers was Joseph Schillinger, who used a Theremin to create his composition “The Dies Irae.”

In the 1930s, British composer Percy Grainger began experimenting with new ways to create and record music. He developed the “Free Music Machine,” which allowed sounds to be generated by photoelectric cells and played back on a piano roll. This machine was later used by American composers Robert Moog and Amadeus Wong to create their own electronic music compositions.

In the 1950s, German-born composer Karlheinz Stockhausen began experimenting with new ways to create electronic music. He developed a number of new tape-based compositional techniques, which he demonstrated in his seminal work “Studies in Tape Music.” Stockhausen’s work influenced many other composers, including Pierre Boulez and Steve Reich.

In the 1960s, American composers such as Robert Ashley and Terry Riley began experimenting with loop-based composition techniques. These composers were also influenced by Indian classical music, which they incorporated into their own work. Riley’s composition “In C” is one of the most well-known examples of loop-based composition.

In the 1970s, Japanese composer Isao Tomita began experimenting with synthesizers and other electronic devices to create his own unique soundscapes. Tomita’s album “Snowflakes Are Dancing” is considered one of the first albums of ambient electronic music.

In the 1980s, English composer Brian Eno popularized the concept of ambient music with his album “Ambient 1: Music for Airports.” This album featured lengthy, slowly evolving pieces that were designed to be played in public spaces such as airports and offices. Eno’s work paved the way for other ambient musicians such as Harold Budd and Robert Fripp.

The birth of EDM

The term “EDM” (electronic dance music) is a broad umbrella that encompasses a wide variety of sub-genres. The roots of EDM can be traced back to the disco era of the late 1970s, when DJ’s began using electronic instruments to create remixes of popular songs that were designed to keep people dancing all night long. Over the next few decades, EDM evolved and mutated into a variety of different sub-genres, each with its own distinct sound and style.

Today, EDM is one of the most popular genres in the world, with festivals like Tomorrowland and Ultra Music Festival attracting millions of fans every year. While the sound of EDM has changed considerably since its early days, the one constant is the desire to make people dance.

The rise of EDM

In the past decade, Electronic Dance Music has taken the world by storm. Originating in underground clubs in Europe, EDM has become one of the most popular genres of music today. With the help of social media and the internet, EDM has become a global phenomenon. Let’s take a closer look at the rise of EDM.

The first wave of EDM

The first wave of EDM started in the early 1980s, with the rise of electronic music genres such as disco, new wave and synth-pop. These genres were often played in nightclubs and on the radio, and they quickly gained popularity. This popularity led to the development of new electronic music technologies, such as drum machines and synthesizers. These technologies helped to create the sound of EDM, which was often characterized by its heavy use of bass and drums.

During the 1990s, EDM began to gain more mainstream appeal, with the help of popular DJs such as Daft Punk and The Chemical Brothers. This appeal led to a new wave of popularity for EDM, which reached its peak in the early 2000s. During this time, EDM became one of the most popular genres of music, with festivals such as Ultra Music Festival and Tomorrowland becoming extremely popular.

Unfortunately, the early 2000s also saw a decline in EDM’s popularity, as other genres such as hip-hop and rock began to gain more popularity. This decline continued into the 2010s, although there has been a recent resurgence in interest in EDM thanks to artists like Avicii and Calvin Harris.

The second wave of EDM

The second wave of EDM began in the early 2000s and was characterized by the rise of trance music. Trance music is a genre of electronic dance music that is often described as “music for the mind.” Trance music is designed to create a feeling of euphoria and to induce a state of trance, or altered consciousness. Trance music is often characterized by its use of repetitive, melodic structures and harmonies. Trance music is also often characterized by its use of synthetic sounds, or “synthesizers.”

The second wave of EDM saw the rise of many new subgenres, including progressive trance, tech trance, psytrance, and hard trance. The second wave of EDM also saw the rise of many new artists, including Tiesto, Armin van Buuren, Ferry Corsten, Paul van Dyk, and Sasha.

The third wave of EDM

In the early 2010s, a new type of EDM began to emerge. This wave was influenced by progressive house, deep house, and techno. It was also characterized by a more minimal sound, as compared to the previous two waves. This wave is sometimes referred to as the “third wave of EDM.”

The future of EDM

The electronic dance music scene is ever-changing and evolving. What was popular a few years ago may not be popular now. So, what does the future hold for EDM? We take a look at the current state of EDM and make some predictions about where it’s headed.

The fourth wave of EDM

We are currently in the fourth wave of EDM, which is being defined by a new generation of artists who are breaking down the barriers between genres and creating a new sound that is all their own. This sound is often characterized by heavy basslines, complex rhythms, and futuristic sound design.

Some of the leading artists of this new wave include REZZ, TOKiMONSTA, Seven Lions, Bassnectar, and Illenium. These artists are pushing the boundaries of what is possible with electronic music and taking it to new heights.

The fourth wave of EDM is also being defined by a new generation of fans who are just as passionate about the music as they are about the lifestyle. This lifestyle includes going to festivals, raves, and clubs where they can dance all night long.

This new wave of EDM is still in its early stages, but it is already making a big impact on the music scene. It is only going to get bigger and better in the years to come.

The fifth wave of EDM

The fifth wave of EDM, also known as “intelligent dance music” (IDM), is a subgenre of electronic dance music that developed in the early 1990s. It is characterized by intricate melodies and harmonies, often created with uncustomary time signatures and instruments, and a focus on A&R rather than BPMs.

IDM artists often eschew typical song structures in favor of long, complex compositions that may span several hours. They frequently employ unusual time signatures, such as 5/4, 7/4, or 11/4, and make use of non-standard instruments such as prepared pianos and toy keyboards. This wave of EDM was pioneered by artists such as Aphex Twin, Autechre, and Squarepusher.

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