Electronic Dance Music in the 80s

The 80s were a time when Electronic Dance Music really came into its own. This was the decade when some of the genre’s most iconic tracks were released.

Introduction

The term “electronic dance music” (EDM) encompasses a wide variety of different styles and genres, all of which developed in the 1980s. EDM includes everything from early techno and house music to contemporary styles like trance and drum & bass.

The roots of EDM lie in the development of synthesizers and other electronic musical instruments in the 1960s and 1970s. In the early 1980s, pioneers like Kraftwerk and Afrika Bambaataa began experimenting with electronic music, laying the foundation for the genres that would emerge later in the decade.

The 1980s was a golden age for EDM, with new styles and subgenres developing at a rapid pace. By the end of the decade, EDM had taken over the global pop charts and was here to stay.

The Birth of Electronic Dance Music

Electronic dance music has come a long way since its humble beginnings in the 1980s. What started as a subgenre of electronic music has now become a global phenomenon, with EDM festivals and concerts happening all over the world. Let’s take a look at how it all started.

The First Synthesizers

Before the advent of electronic dance music, synthesizers were mostly used in progressive rock and other experimental genres. In the early 1980s, however, synthesizers began to be used in more mainstream genres such as pop, rock, and new wave. This led to the development of a new type of music known as electronic dance music (EDM).

EDM is characterized by its use of electronic instruments and digital audio processing techniques. drum machines, sequencers, and synthesizers are commonly used in EDM productions. The genre also often incorporates elements from other genres such as hip hop, house, and techno.

The first EDM tracks were created in the early 1980s by artists such as Kraftwerk, Giorgio Moroder, and Afrika Bambaataa. These artists laid the foundation for the genre with their innovative use of synthesizers and other electronic instruments. EDM quickly gained popularity in nightclubs and soon spread to other venues such as raves and festivals.

Today, EDM is one of the most popular genres of music in the world. It continues to evolve and grow in popularity with each passing year.

The First Drum Machines

The first drum machine was invented in the early 1930s, and was used by composers to create backing tracks. It wasn’t until the late 1970s that the first commercially available drum machine, the Roland TR-808, hit the market. This machine quickly became popular with musicians and producers, who used it to create groundbreaking new sounds in electronic music.

The 808 was particularly influential in the development of hip hop and techno. Its distinctive sound can be heard on classic tracks like Afrika Bambaataa’s “Planet Rock” and Cybotron’s “Clear”. The 808 was also used extensively by early house music producers, who relied on its simple yet effective beat-making capabilities to create dancefloor anthems.

Today, drum machines are an essential part of many electronic music genres, from pop to EDM. While they may have evolved significantly since their inception, they still provide producers with a quick and easy way to create catchy rhythm tracks.

The Rise of Electronic Dance Music

In the 1980s, electronic dance music began to rise in popularity. This was partly due to the increase in availability of affordable music synthesizers and sequencing devices, as well as the popularity of new wave and synth-pop music. EDM became increasingly popular in clubs and on the radio.

The First Clubs

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, American and European disco clubs played electronic dance music on massive sound systems for the first time. These clubs used powerful Japanese-made audio equipment to play multicolored lights along with the music. Many of these early clubs had a strict dress code that required patrons to wear formal attire. Disco clubs were also often associated with illicit drug use and debauchery.

Despite these unsavory connotations, electronic dance music quickly gained popularity among the youth of both America and Europe. These club-goers were attracted to the new sound of electronic dance music as well as the hedonistic lifestyle that came with it. In America, New York City was at the forefront of this new culture, with legendary clubs like Studio 54 and Paradise Garage becoming hotspots for electronic dance music fans.

The First Festivals

In the early 1980s, electronic dance music was often played at illegal underground rave parties held in secret locations, for fear of police raids. In 1985 Chicago house music artists started throwing warehouse parties. These parties were first popularized in Chicago by DJ Pierre, Juan Atkins, Jess Bundy and Michael Ingall under the name “The Music Box”. The first official acid house party in Chicago was held on November 17, 1987 at the Lake Shore Drive apartment of Terry Mullan. This new style of music then spread to England where it developed into the UK rave scene. The first rave in England was organized by Russ Jones and Paul Oakenfold at an abandoned warehouse in Covent Garden on May 19, 1988. The party was called Shoom and featured performances by House artist DJ Alfredo and Nancy Noise.

The Legacy of Electronic Dance Music

The 1980s saw the rise of electronic dance music, a genre that has had a lasting impact on the music industry. Electronic dance music has its origins in the disco music of the 1970s, but it truly came into its own in the 1980s. The 1980s were a time of great innovation in the music industry, and electronic dance music was at the forefront of that innovation.

The Influence on Pop Music

Today, electronic dance music (EDM) is one of the most popular genres in the world. But it wasn’t always this way. In the 1980s, EDM was a niche genre that was largely ignored by the mainstream music industry. However, a small group of passionate DJs and producers kept the genre alive, laying the foundations for its eventual explosion in popularity.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, EDM began to gain traction in Europe, thanks to the popularity of club culture and the rise of underground rave parties. By the mid-1990s, EDM had entered the mainstream, thanks in part to iconic albums like The Prodigy’s ‘Music for the Jilted Generation’ and The Chemical Brothers’ ‘Exit Planet Dust’. From there, EDM only continued to grow in popularity, eventually becoming one of the most commercially successful genres in the world.

While EDM has undergone many changes since its humble beginnings in the 1980s, it still retains many of the same core elements that made it so popular in the first place. These days, EDM is appreciated by people all over the world for its energy, its excitement, and its ability to bring people together.

The Influence on Hip Hop Music

It is impossible to overstate the influence that electronic dance music has had on hip hop music. The genre has been a major source of samples and inspiration for hip hop producers and DJs for decades, and its impact can be heard in the work of some of the most iconic and influential artists in the genre, including Afrika Bambaataa, Public Enemy, and The Beastie Boys.

electronic dance music was created by black and Latino teenagers in New York City in the early 1980s. These kids were experimenting with new sounds and technology, and they quickly began to develop their own style of music. This new style of music was heavily influenced by the disco and club culture of New York City at the time, as well as by European electronic artists like Kraftwerk.

The influence of electronic dance music on hip hop can be heard in the use of samples, drum machines, and synthesizers. Hip hop producers often sample disco and club tracks, searching for that perfect beat or hook to help give their songs a unique sound. Drum machines are also heavily used in hip hop production, providing a steady rhythm for rappers and singers to flow over. And finally, synthesizers are often used to create atmospheric soundscapes or to add unique sonic textures to a track.

Whether you’re a fan of hip hop or not, there’s no denying that electronic dance music has had a profound impact on the genre. And as the genre continues to evolve, it’s likely that this influence will only become more pronounced.