The Best Electronic Music Producers of All Time

A look at some of the best electronic music producers of all time, including Aphex Twin, Daft Punk, and more.

Introduction

In electronic music, the producer is the equivalent of the composer in more traditional genres. Producers are the creative minds behind the tracks, crafting the soundscapes and shaping the overall direction of the music.

There are a wide variety of producers working in electronic music today, each with their own unique style and approach. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best electronic music producers of all time. These are the producers who have shaped the sound of electronic music and influenced countless other artists.

Aphex Twin

Aphex Twin is the stage name of British electronic musician Richard D. James (born 18 August 1971). He is best known for his influential and idiosyncratic work in styles such as ambient techno and intelligent dance music during the 1990s. He is also a notable remixer, working under several aliases.

James was born in Limerick, Ireland. He grew up in Truro, Cornwall, United Kingdom and started producing music around age 12, using a cassette tape deck given to him by his parents and rudely interrupting radio broadcasts with loud noises made by banging on tables. In his teenage years he became interested in acid house and techno music and started attending rave parties. At age 15 he bought a Saturn 8-track synthesizer which allowed him to start making music at home.

James began releasing tracks under various aliases in 1991 on various small European labels. In 1993 he released Analogue Bubblebath 3, the first record under the name Aphex Twin; it was “a collection of tracks recorded over a five-year period,” according to James. According to AllMusic, its titular track “revitalized acid house with its frequently imitated squelchy synths.” The track “Melt” from selected Ambient Works 85–92 received significant airplay on modern rock radio station 120 Minutes on MTV in the United States; the album eventually peaked at number 54 on Billboard’s Top Heatseekers chart in 1996.

From 1992 to 1993 he lived in London and released two more Analogue Bubblebath EPs (the fourth and fifth installments in the series) as well as “Diceman,” his first track under the Polygon Window alias, on Warp Records’ Artificial Intelligence II compilation album (1993). During this time he also collaborated with Grant Wilson-Claridge of Rephlex Records under the moniker Caustic Window; their lone EP, Joyrex J4 EP, was never officially released but leaked onto the internet in 2006 and was reissued by Rephlex later that year. In late 1993 James moved back to Cornwall; shortly thereafter Caustic Window disbanded while Polygon Window became inactive after Warp declined to release James’s selected ambient works as an album (selected Ambient Works 85–92 would eventually be released by Warp without James’s permission).

Autechre

Autechre is the stage name of British musical duo Rob Brown and Sean Booth, who are considered to be among the most innovative and influential electronic music producers of all time. Autechre’s music is characterized by intricate rhythmic patterns and complex textures, often created with software synthesisers and other digital signal processing equipment. The duo has released thirteen studio albums since their formation in 1987, and their work has been included in numerous compilations and soundtracks.

Boards of Canada

Boards of Canada is a Scottish electronic music duo composed of brothers Mike Sandison and Marcus Eoin. One of the most influential acts in IDM and electronica, the duo is known for their unique sound combining elements of vintage analog synthesizers and recordings with modern production techniques. The group has released five albums, four EPs, and a number of singles and compilations.

Brian Eno

Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno, RDI (/ˈiːnoʊ/; born Brian Peter George Eno, 15 May 1948) is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer, writer, and visual artist. A self-described “non-musician”, Eno is best known for his pioneering work in electronic music as well as his contributions to rock, pop and ambient music. He has been variously associated with the glam rock, post-punk and new wave movements.

Eno launched his professional career in 1973 as a member of the glam rock band Roxy Music. He subsequently established himself as a solo artist with his critically acclaimed debut album Here Come the Warm Jets (1974). In subsequent years he has released a series of ground-breaking and highly influential solo albums including Another Green World (1975), Before and After Science (1977), and Music for Films (1978). He has also been involved in numerous collaborative projects such as possed on the album My Life in the Bush of Ghosts (1981) with David Byrne, generation Frontline with Jon Hassell and irrigation by Joshua tree with Daniel Lanois.

Burial

Burial is the moniker of London, England based producer and DJ, William Emmanuel Bevan. Burial’s sound is a dark, emotive take on 2-step garage that often uses found sounds and features heavily delayed and reverbed beats. His debut album, Untrue, was released to critical acclaim in 2007 and cemented Burial’s place as one of the most innovative and original producers working in electronic music.

The Chemical Brothers

Formed in 1989 by brothers Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons, The Chemical Brothers are considered one of the most influential electronic music groups of all time. With a sound that draws from a wide range of genres including acid house, techno, and hip hop, their music is both danceable and experimental. They have released eight studio albums, the most recent of which, Born in the Echoes, was released in 2015. In addition to their work as a group, they have also produced tracks for other artists including Beck, Noel Gallagher, and The Charlatans.

Daft Punk

Daft Punk is a French electronic music duo formed in 1993 by Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter. They achieved popularity in the late 1990s as part of the French house movement; they also had success in the years following, combining elements of house with synth-pop. They are considered one of the most successful electronic music acts of all time, both in album sales and in critical acclaim. Daft Punk’s music has been used in films, television shows, and video games. The duo has released four studio albums: Homework (1997), Discovery (2001), Human After All (2005), and Random Access Memories (2013).

Four Tet

Kieran Hebden, better known by his stage name Four Tet, is an English musician. He first came to prominence as a member of the band Fridge before embarking on a solo career in 1999.

Hebden’s music is often categorized as electronica, but he incorporates diverse influences into his work, including glitch music, hip hop, jazz and folk. His contributions to the Meltdown and All Tomorrow’s Parties festivals in 2003 saw him increasingly associated with the London underground music scene, particularly with its post-rock and experimental music elements.

Hudson Mohawke

Hudson Mohawke, born Ross Birchard, is a Grammy-winning producer, DJ, and musician from Glasgow, Scotland. He is best known for his work with Kanye West, on the albums Yeezus and The Life of Pablo. He has also released several solo albums and EPs, and has produced for a variety of other artists including Drake, Jay-Z, Pusha T, and Frank Ocean.

James Holden

James Holden is a British-based electronic music producer, DJ, and label owner. He is best known for his 2002 album The Intelligent Dance Music compilation mix Transferring Gaia Memory, as well as his 2006 debut studio album The Idiots Are Winning and 2013 follow-up The Inheritors. He has also released several EPs and singles, most notably “A Break in the Clouds” (2005) and “Nothing” (2009). Holden founded the record label Border Community in 2003, and has released music on it as both a solo artist and as part of the duo Darkside.

Jamie xx

Jamie xx is a British record producer, DJ and remixer who is best known as a member of the indie pop band The xx. He has been praised for his innovative and experimental work on the band’s albums, Coexist (2012) and I See You (2017), both of which topped the UK Albums Chart. In 2015, he released his debut solo album, In Colour, to critical acclaim. The album won the Mercury Prize and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album.

John Hopkins

John Hopkins is often credited as one of the masterminds behind the IDM (intelligent dance music) genre. A classically trained musician, he found his niche in the early ’90s when he started to experiment with making music on his computer. He has released several albums under his own name as well as various aliases, and has also worked on soundtracks for films such as “Babbit and Nicki” (1996) and “Lost in Translation” (2003). Hopkins is known for his complex and often erratic rhythms, as well as his use of unusual time signatures.

Joy Orbison

Joy Orbison, born Peter O’Grady, is a British electronic music producer and DJ. His style is a mix of house, techno, and dubstep. He is known for his singles “Hyph Mngo” and “So Derren”, both of which were released on the label Hyperdub.

Kraftwerk

Kraftwerk is a German electronic band formed in Düsseldorf in 1970 by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider. Widely considered as innovators and pioneers of electronic music, they were among the first successful acts to popularize the genre. The group’s signature sound combines driving, repetitive rhythms with catchy melodies, often obfuscated by synthesizers. Kraftwerk’s commercial breakthrough came with the 1973 release of Neon Lights, which peaked at number eleven on Billboard’s Dance/Disco Top 100 chart in the United States. The album was followed by a series of successful albums, including Trans-Europe Express (1977), The Man-Machine (1978) and Computer World (1981).

Mount Kimbie

With a sound that’s both nostalgic and ahead of its time, it’s no wonder Mount Kimbie is often cited as one of the best electronic music producers of all time.

Born in London, England, Mount Kimbie is made up of Dominic Maker and Kai Campos. The duo first came to prominence with the release of their debut album, Crooks & Lovers, in 2010. The album was widely acclaimed, with many critics calling it a game-changer for the genre.

Mount Kimbie’s music is notoriously difficult to pin down, blending elements of IDM, techno, ambient, and dubstep. But whatever you call it, there’s no denying the power of their music. If you’re looking for some of the best electronic music out there, look no further than Mount Kimbie.

Oneohtrix Point Never

Oneohtrix Point Never is the stage name of Daniel Lopatin, a Brooklyn-based producer who emerged in the early 2010s with a string of well-received experimental releases. His music is often categorized as “glitch” or “ambient,” but these terms only begin to describe the range of sounds and styles he incorporates into his work.

Lopatin’s first album, “Rifts,” was released in 2009 on the small electronic label Optimusica. The album was issued on CD and vinyl, and later reissued by international avant-garde imprint Editions Mego. “Returnal,” Lopatin’s second album, followed in 2010. It was widely acclaimed by critics and led to Lopatin signing with Warp Records, one of the most important labels in the electronic music underground.

Lopatin’s Warp debut, “Replica,” was released in 2011 to further critical acclaim. The album saw Lopatin expanding his sonic palette to include elements of R&B, pop, and film scores. He followed this with two more albums for Warp, “R Plus Seven” (2013) and “Garden of Delete” (2015), both of which continued to explore new sonic territory while also receiving widespread acclaim from critics.

Lopatin has also released a series of mixtapes under the Oneohtrix Point Never moniker, as well as a collaborative album with visual artist Nate Boyce (as Chuck Person). In 2017, he composed the original score for the film “Good Time,” which earned him widespread acclaim from both critics and audiences alike.

Orbital

Orbital were an English electronic dance music duo from Sevenoaks, Kent, consisting of brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll. The brothers achieved their greatest success in the mid-1990s with singles “Chime” and “Belfast”, both of which peaked at number 16 on the UK Singles Chart. In total, Orbital produced five studio albums, four live albums, one compilation album, five mix compilations and 27 singles.

Orbital were considered by critics to be one of the most innovative and influential dance music acts of the ’90s; NME described them as “the most inventive and original band that electronic dance music has spawned”. They applied new technologies to classic rave hits: creating a consistent sound that was both hypnotic and emotional. Their sound often incorporated a mix of stuttering bleeps, rolling basslines and melody.

Plaid

Plaid is a British electronic music duo composed of Andy Turner and Ed Handley. They are best known for their work in the early 1990s as part of the group The Black Dog and for their later solo work.

Turner and Handley met while studying at the Leeds College of Music, where they began making music together. They first came to prominence as part of The Black Dog, a group associated with the techno movement of the early 1990s. The Black Dog released a number of successful singles and albums, including 1992’s ” Spacetime Continuum “, before Turner and Handley left to focus on their solo work as Plaid.

Plaid’s first album, Not For Threes , was released in 1996 to critical acclaim. The album featured a more melodic sound than The Black Dog’s work, and was followed by an EP, Risp . Plaid’s second album, Rest Proof Clockwork , was released in 1999 and featured a more experimental sound.

Plaid has released five albums as well as a number of singles and EPs. They have collaborated with a number of artists, including Björk , Boards of Canada , and Max Richter . In recent years, they have also composed scores for film and television, including Nicholas Winding Refn’s film Drive .

Richie Hawtin

Richie Hawtin is a Canadian DJ, record producer and musician. He is best known for his work under the alias Plastikman and for his collaborations with Andy Gill of Gang of Four and Luciano.

Hawtin began his career in the early 1990s as a DJ in Windsor, Canada. He rose to prominence as a member of the Second Summer of Love rave scene in England and for his contributions to the development of techno music. In 1994, he founded the Plus 8 record label with John Acquaviva. In 1998, Hawtin released Decks, EFX & 909, a mix album that featuredManager}, which won a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording.

Hawtin has been nominated for three Grammy Awards and has received numerous other accolades. He was inducted into the Detroit Electronic Music Hall of Fame in 2007 and into the Pioneer DJ Hall of Fame in 2013.

Robert Hood

Robert Hood is an American techno producer from Detroit, Michigan. He is a founding member of the now-defunct Underground Resistance collective and label, and has worked under a number of monikers including Floorplan, Rhythm & Sound, and most recently Hoodcore. He is widely considered one of the pioneers of minimal techno.

Hood began his career as a hip-hop producer in the mid-1980s, before shifting to techno in the early 1990s. He rose to prominence in the underground techno scene with a series of EPs released on UR, including the landmark Minimal Nation album. He has also released a number of solo albums, most notably Internal Empire and Motor: Nighttime World 3.

In recent years, Hood has increasingly moved away from techno towards house music, with releases on labels like Dekmantel and Ninja Tune. He remains one of the most respected and influential figures in electronic music.

Shed

Shed, AKA Rene Pawlowitz, is a Berlin-based producer who has been creating mind-bending techno and house music for over a decade. His music is marked by its deep, hypnotic grooves and dark, often eerie atmosphere. Shed has released several acclaimed albums on labels such as Ostgut Ton and50 Weapons, and he is widely considered one of the most innovative and talented producers in the electronic music world.

Space Dimension Controller

Space Dimension Controller is a Belfast-based producer who creates intricate, otherworldly tracks that are as emotional as they are danceable. His music is often described as “cosmic,” and it’s easy to hear why; his productions feel like they’re beamed in from another galaxy.

Despite the futuristic feel of his music, Space Dimension Controller is deeply influenced by retro sounds, particularly ’80s synth pop and early house and techno. This nostalgia is evident in his use of vintage synths and drum machines, as well as his sample-based approach to composition.

Space Dimension Controller’s music is perfect for late-night listening, when your mind is free to roam and dream. Whether he’s making complex soundscapes or catchy club tracks, he always manages to evoke a sense of wonder.

Surgeon

Surgeon is the alias of Anthony Child, a British techno producer and DJ. He is known for his experimental and often unconventional approach to music production, as well as his versatile DJing style.

Child first rose to prominence in the early 1990s as a member of the Birmingham-based group The Bleeding Hearts, with whom he released two EPs. He began performing under the Surgeon alias in 1994, and released his debut album Basictonalvocabulary the following year. Since then, he has released five additional albums and numerous EPs and singles on a variety of labels.

In addition to his work as a solo artist, Child has also collaborated with various other producers and musicians, most notably Japanese avant-garde musician Keiji Haino. He has also remixed tracks for a number of well-known artists, including Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, Björk, and Meshuggah.

Tale of Us

Tale of Us is an Italian electronic music duo made up of Carmine Conte and Matteo Milleri. The duo met while attending college in Milan and bonded over their shared love of music. They began making music together in 2009, and released their debut album, Freshwater, in 2012. Since then, they have released two more albums, Immersion in 2014 and Endless in 2016. They have also released a number of singles and EPs, most notably “Burning Bright” in 2015. Tale of Us is known for their atmospheric and emotive brand of techno, which has earned them a loyal following among fans of underground dance music.