The Electronic Dance Music Encyclopedia

The Electronic Dance Music Encyclopedia is a blog that covers all aspects of the EDM scene. From the latest news to in-depth interviews, we have everything you need to stay up-to-date on the world of EDM.

Introduction to Electronic Dance Music

Electronic Dance Music, also known as EDM, is a genre of music that is produced electronically. It is characterized by a strong beat and often has a repetitive melody. EDM is often created with the use of computers and synthesizers.

What is Electronic Dance Music?

Electronic Dance Music, also known as EDM, is a type of music that is typically produced with electronic equipment. This includes synthesizers, drum machines, and various other types of electronic musical instruments. The music is generally intended for dancing, and it often has a fast tempo and repetitive beats. EDM is often played at nightclubs, festivals, and concerts.

The History of Electronic Dance Music

The history of electronic dance music is a long and varied one, with roots stretching back thousands of years to the very beginnings of human civilization. However, the genre as we know it today began to take shape in the early 1970s, with the advent of new technologies like synthesizers and drum machines.

Over the next few decades, electronic dance music would grow to become one of the most popular genres in the world, with sub-genres like house, techno, trance, and dubstep becoming household names. Today, EDM is firmly entrenched in the global zeitgeist, with top DJs regularly headlining sold-out stadium shows and festivals.

The future of electronic dance music is impossible to predict, but one thing is certain: it shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

The Different Types of Electronic Dance Music

Electronic dance music, also known as EDM, is a broad range of percussive electronic music genres produced 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.

House

House is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in the 1980s. It is characterized by a 4/4 time signature, a steady bassline, and offbeat percussion. House music is often associated with the club scene, as it is often played in clubs and on dance floors. House music has also been influenced by other genres such as disco, funk, and soul.

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 specific 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.

Techno is generally characterized by a repetitive 4/4 beat, a synth- and drum-machine-based sound, loops, and03/2011 late night atmosphere. It is often associated with futuristic themes, although it has been equally influenced by funk, disco, underground house music, and other styles. Techno is usually produced for use in a nightclub setting or as party music. It frequently has an experimental or avant-garde approach.

The earliest techno productions were purely instrumental tracks intended for use in clubs deejayed by DJs who were also producers (such as Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson). These tracks were mostly produced on personal computers with MIDI technology in the late 1980s. As more and more producers began making techno tracks, the sound began to evolve; early 1990s productions incorporated rougher drums and deeper basslines than those featured in earlier tracks.

In the early 1990s, techno achieved widespread popularity in Europe, particularly in Germany and the United Kingdom; it also became popular in Japan. In 1992, the word “techno” was added to the dictionary Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary. In 1994, Billboard magazine introduced a new dance music category called “electronica”. Techno was commercially successful throughout North America and Europe throughout the early to mid-1990s; however its popularity waned towards the end of the decade due largely to changing musical tastes.

Trance

Trance is a genre of electronic dance music that emerged from the British new wave and European rave scenes in the late 1980s. A more uplifting style of music with a 4/4 beat and a tempo of around 130 beats per minute, trance is often characterized by a throbbing, synth-driven melody, played over layers of flowing, trance-inducing rhythms. The genre developed during the early 1990s in Germany and the Netherlands before spreading to the rest of Europe and then North America and Australia in the mid-late 1990s.

Trance music is often described as “the feeling of floating while you dance”, and it often features spiritual or religious themes. The genre has been credited with helping to promote “flow states” or “trance states”, where people report feeling highly focused, creative, and in-the-moment while listening to trance music.

Drum and Bass

Drum and bass is a type of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 1990s. It is characterized by fast, syncopated beats and basslines. The genre was originally influenced by Jamaican dub and reggae music, as well as American hip hop. Drum and bass typically features samples from other genres, including films and television shows.

The Electronic Dance Music Scene Today

Electronic dance music, also known as EDM, has become one of the most popular genres of music in recent years. It has a wide range of subgenres, each with its own distinctive sound. The popularity of EDM has led to the rise of festivals and clubs dedicated to the genre, as well as the growth of a vibrant online community of fans. In this article, we’ll take a look at the EDM scene today, including its history, its subgenres, and its most popular artists.

The Mainstream Appeal of Electronic Dance Music

It is no secret that electronic dance music has become increasingly popular in recent years. In fact, it has become so mainstream that even major labels are getting in on the action, signing EDM artists and releasing compilations of dance hits. This newfound popularity has led to a renewed interest in the genre, and people are curious to know more about the electronic dance music scene today.

So, what is EDM? Electronic dance music is a broad term that encompasses a wide range of subgenres, including house, techno, trance, drum and bass, and dubstep. It is characterized by its use of electronic instruments and computer-generated beats, and it often features heavily synthesized melodies and sound effects.

The origins of EDM can be traced back to the early 1970s, when pioneers like Kraftwerk and Giorgio Moroder began experimenting with electronic music. However, it was not until the 1980s that EDM began to emerge as its own distinct genre. This was thanks in part to the advent of new technologies like drum machines and synthesizers, which made it possible for artists to create more complex sounds and rhythms. In the 1990s, EDM attained global popularity with the rise of club culture and the rave scene. Today, it continues to grow in popularity, with more people than ever before enjoying its infectious beats and catchy melodies.

The Underground Scene

In recent years there has been a growing interest in underground electronic dance music. This type of music is often characterized by its unique sound and its ability to bring people together.

The underground scene is often seen as a more authentic and community-oriented alternative to the mainstream dance music scene. It is also seen as a more creative and artistically-driven scene, with many underground artists creating their own music and art.

While the underground scene is not as large or well-known as the mainstream scene, it has been growing in popularity in recent years. This growth has been driven by word-of-mouth, social media, and the increasing accessibility of electronic dance music.

The underground scene is often seen as a more authentic and community-oriented alternative to the mainstream dance music scene. It is also seen as a more creative and artistically-driven scene, with many underground artists creating their own music and art.

While the underground scene is not as large or well-known as the mainstream scene, it has been growing in popularity in recent years. This growth has been driven by word-of-mouth, social media, and the increasing accessibility of electronic dance music.

The Future of Electronic Dance Music

Electronic dance music has been around for decades, but it has only recently begun to gain mainstream popularity. EDM is a genre of music that is characterized by its use of electronic instruments and synthetic sounds. It is often created for use in nightclubs, raves, and festivals.

The Rise of EDM Festivals

EDM festivals have seen a meteoric rise in popularity in recent years, with events such as Tomorrowland and Ultra Music Festival becoming global phenomenon. This rise in popularity has been driven by a number of factors, including the increasing popularity of electronic dance music itself, as well as the emergence of social media platforms which have made it easier than ever for people to connect with each other and share their love of EDM.

EDM festivals are now some of the most popular music festivals in the world, with millions of people attending events every year. The rise of EDM festivals has also had a positive impact on the electronic dance music industry as a whole, with more people than ever before being exposed to the genre.

Looking to the future, it is likely that EDM festivals will continue to grow in popularity, with more and more people attending events around the world. With this growth comes an opportunity to further expand the reach of electronic dance music and expose even more people to this incredible genre of music.

The Growth of the Electronic Dance Music Industry

In the past decade, electronic dance music has exploded in popularity, becoming one of the most popular genres of music in the world. With its expansive array of subgenres and subcultures, electronic dance music has something for everyone.

The popularity of electronic dance music has led to the rise of a new generation of superstar DJs and producers, who are now some of the most famous musicians in the world. The biggest names in the EDM industry, such as Calvin Harris, Skrillex, and Diplo, have helped to make electronic dance music more mainstream than ever before.

The future of electronic dance music looks bright, with the genre continuing to grow in popularity around the world. As more people discover the joys of dancing to thumping beats and pulsing basslines, the EDM industry is only going to get bigger and better.