A History of Electronic Dance Music at UCLA

A History of Electronic Dance Music at UCLA is a blog that explores the history and origins of electronic dance music.

Pre-EDM

Electronic dance music, also known as EDM, is a genre of music that emerged in the early 1990s. The genre is characterized by a 4/4 time signature, repetitive beats, and synthesized melodies. UCLA has a long and rich history of EDM, dating back to the early days of the genre.

The Birth of Hip-Hop

The 1970s saw the birth of hip-hop in the Bronx, New York. Hip-hop is a genre of music that often incorporates elements of rap, DJing, and breakdancing. DJs would play records at block parties and people would dance. MCs would rap over the music, adding their own lyrics. This new style of music quickly gained popularity in the African American and Latino communities in New York City.

The Rise of House Music

In the late 1980s, a new style of dance music called house began to emerge from the underground club scene in Chicago. House music was heavily influenced by disco, but it also incorporated elements of techno and other electronic genres. House tracks typically feature a four-on-the-floor drum beat, simple melodies, and sparse vocal samples.

The rise of house music coincided with the development of a new type of DJ mixer called the Roland TB-303. This machine allowed DJs to create continuous, pulsing basslines that became the signature sound of house music. The TB-303 also played a key role in the development of acid house, a subgenre of house music that featured distorted, psychedelic soundscapes.

House music quickly spread from Chicago to other major American cities like New York and Detroit. In the early 1990s, London also became a major center for house music culture. By the mid-1990s, house music had become a global phenomenon, with festivals and clubs dedicated to the genre popping up all over the world.

EDM at UCLA

UCLA has a long and storied history with electronic dance music. The earliest EDM events at UCLA date back to the early 1990s, when the rave scene in Los Angeles was first starting to take off. In the years since then, UCLA has plays host to some of the biggest names in the EDM world, including Skrillex, Diplo, and Zedd.

The Early Years

The early years of EDM at UCLA were marked by a few key events. The first was the arrival of DJ Kool Herc, who is credited with inventing the breakbeat. He played his first show at UCLA in 1974, and his unique style of mixing quickly caught on with the college crowd.

Another important event was the release of Kraftwerk’s album “Autobahn” in 1974. This record introduced many Americans to electronic music for the first time, and its popularity helped spark an interest in dance music among UCLA students.

The late 1970s saw the rise of disco, and UCLA students were quick to embrace this new sound. The campus became home to several popular disco clubs, including Heaven and Hell, Studio 54, and The Vineyard. Disco quickly fell out of favor in the 1980s, but its influence can still be heard in today’s EDM scene.

The Golden Age

The early 2000s saw a surge in popularity for electronic dance music on college campuses across the country. At UCLA, this was no exception. clubs like Avalon and Spundae (now both closed) were regularly hosting world-renowned DJs, and students were flocking to them in droves. This was the Golden Age of EDM at UCLA.

Unfortunately, it didn’t last long. By the mid-2000s, club culture in general was on the decline, and UCLA was no exception. While there are still a handful of clubs that host EDM events, they are nowhere near as popular as they once were.

The Present Day

It would be impossible to talk about the UCLA EDM scene without mentioning Pacific Music Group, the organization that has brought some of the world’s biggest DJs to campus. In recent years, they’ve hosted performances by electronic music legends like Tiesto, Skrillex, and Calvin Harris. But PMG is just one of the many groups devoted to spreading the EDM gospel at UCLA. There’s also Bass Camp, which puts on bass-heavy shows featuring local and up-and-coming DJs; REACTOR, which specializes in experimental and underground sounds; and Pulse Radio, which showcases both mainstream and niche EDM on its 24/7 online radio station.

With so many organizations dedicated to promoting EDM, it’s no surprise that the genre has taken off at UCLA. According to a recent survey, nearly 20% of undergraduate students say they listen to electronic dance music “all the time,” and an additional 50% say they listen “sometimes.” That makes EDM one of the most popular genres on campus (though it’s still far behind hip-hop and pop in terms of overall popularity).

So what does the future hold for UCLA’s burgeoning EDM scene? Only time will tell, but if the past is any indication, we can expect to see even more growth in the years to come.