The Top Electronic Music of 2012
Contents
A list of the top electronic music of 2012.
Introduction
It’s been an incredible year for electronic music. We’ve seen new genres emerge, established artists release some of their best work yet, and a continued proliferation of great music being made available for free online.
In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best electronic music of 2012. We’ll start with a brief overview of the year in electronic music, then dive into our list of the top 10 tracks and albums of the year.
Top Ten List
The top electronic music of 2012 includes a variety of sub-genres including dubstep, trance, and techno. The list includes both mainstream and underground hits.
Skrillex – Bangarang
1. “Bangarang”
2. “Breakn’ a Sweat”
3. “The Devil’s Work”
4. “Right In”
5. ” Summit”
6. “Kyoto”
7. “Recess”
8. “Stranger”
9. “Ragga Bomb”
10. “Dirty Vibe”
Nero – Promises
Nero is a British electronic music trio, composed of members Dan Stephens, Joe Ray and Alana Watson. Their debut album, Welcome Reality, was released in August 2011 to critical and commercial success, reaching number one in the UK and receiving a Mercury Prize nomination. The follow-up album, Between II Worlds, was released on 17 October 2015.
Nero’s first release was “Innocence” in 2004 with their first official album release titled Welcome Reality in 2011. In 2015, Nero won iTunes best dance album for their second album “Between II Worlds”. Promises” is a song by British electronic music trio Nero. It was released on 2 May 2011 as the lead single from their debut studio album Welcome Reality (2011). On 15 April 2012, the song received a nomination for Best Dance Recording at the 54th Grammy Awards.
Calvin Harris – Feel So Close
Calvin Harris’ “Feel So Close” was one of the top electronic songs of 2012. The song peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart and number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Avicii – Levels
Avicii’s “Levels” was one of the most popular songs of 2012, and it helped to propel the Swedish DJ and producer to international stardom. The track was originally released in 2011, but it gained widespread attention after being featured in a Volkswagen commercial in early 2012. “Levels” is an upbeat, feel-good electronic dance tune that features a catchy melody and a memorable drop. The track quickly became a staple of club playlists and radio stations around the world, and it remains one of Avicii’s most popular songs.
Swedish House Mafia – Greyhound
Swedish House Mafia was a house music supergroup consisting of DJ’s and producers Axwell, Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso. The group officially formed in late 2008, and rapidly releasing their debut album *Until One* in 2010, followed by a second album *One Last Tour: A Live Soundtrack* in 2012. They performed at a number of major music festivals including Coachella, Creamfields, Electric Daisy Carnival, Future Music Festival, Lollapalooza, Stereosonic and Ultra Music Festival.
The group announced their break up in 2012, after completing their world tour.
Kaskade – Atmosphere
1. Kaskade – Atmosphere
2. Daft Punk – Random Access Memories
3. Madeon – Adventure
4. Disclosure – Settle
5. Clean Bandit – New Eyes
6. Flume – self-titled
7. CHVRCHES – The Bones of What You Believe
8. Lorde – Pure Heroine
9. Arcade Fire – Reflektor
10. Beck – Morning Phase
Porter Robinson – Language
#1 Porter Robinson – “Language”
If you thought that dubstep was taking over the world in 2012, think again. Despite its relative popularity in the mainstream, house and techno were the undisputed kings of the electronic music world this year. And at the top of that list is none other than America’s Porter Robinson, who took the world by storm with his anthemic single “Language.” A perfect blend of progressive house and electro, “Language” was one of those rare tracks that appealed to both underground and mainstream audiences, and its popularity quickly propelled Porter to superstar status. With a debut album on the way in 2013, there’s no doubt that Porter Robinson will continue to dominate the electronic music world for years to come.
Zedd – Clarity
Released in October, Zedd’s debut album Clarity was one of the most highly-anticipated electronic albums of the year. The German-born, Russia-raised producer had already made a name for himself with his remixes of tracks by Lady Gaga, Black Eyed Peas, and Skrillex, but Clarity was his chance to show the world what he could do with an entire album.
Zedd didn’t disappoint – the album is a masterclass in pop-infused electro-house, with catchy melodies and beats that will keep you dancing all night long. The first single “Spectrum” featuring Matthew Koma is a perfect example of what the album has to offer, and other standouts include “Shave It Up”, “Fall Into the Sky” featuring Ellie Goulding, and “Lost at Sea” featuring Ryan Tedder.
If you’re looking for an electronic album that will get your blood pumping and your feet moving, look no further than Zedd’s Clarity.
Madeon – Icarus
Madeon – Icarus
This French electronic musician and producer shot to fame in 2012 with his debut album, Adventure. The lead single from the album, “Icarus”, was an instant hit, propelling Madeon to the top of the electronic music scene. His signature sound combines elements of house, techno, and electro, resulting in a truly unique and infectious sound.
Daft Punk – Get Lucky
Daft Punk is a French electronic music duo formed in 1993 by Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter. The duo achieved significant popularity in the late 1990s as part of the French house movement and had continuous success in the years following, combining elements of house music with funk, techno, disco, rock and synthpop. They are also known for their visual stylization and disguises associated with their music. The two gained international attention for their work on the 1996 film Tron: Legacy, for which they composed the score and produced its soundtrack album.
Get Lucky is a song by French house music duo Daft Punk, featuring vocals by Pharrell Williams and co-written by the duo, Williams, Nile Rodgers and Paul Jackson Jr. It is the lead single from Daft Punk’s fourth studio album, Random Access Memories. Get Lucky peaked at number two on both the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and UK Singles Chart; it topped charts in numerous other countries including Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Ireland and New Zealand. The single became Daft Punk’s first number-one song in the United Kingdom and their second number-one song in Billboard’s Dance/Electronic Songs chart history (the first being “One More Time”).
Conclusion
The top electronic music of 2012 was a varied and eclectic mix of sounds and styles, with something to suit just about every taste. From dubstep and drum & bass to synth-pop and techno, there was plenty of great music to choose from. So, if you’re looking for some new music to get into this year, be sure to check out our list of the top electronic tunes of 2012.
