South African Electronic Dance Music: What You Need to Know

South African electronic dance music is some of the best in the world. If you’re looking to get into this vibrant and exciting genre, then you need to know a few things. In this blog post, we’ll fill you in on everything you need to know about South African electronic dance music.

Introduction to South African electronic dance music

South African electronic dance music is characterized by its use of African sounds and influences. It has been influenced by a number of different genres, including house, techno, kwaito, and African traditional music.

The history of South African electronic dance music

The history of electronic dance music in South Africa is a long and storied one, dating back to the 1980s when the first unofficial rave parties began to take place in Johannesburg and Cape Town. These underground parties were often shut down by the police, but they served as a breeding ground for a new generation of South African DJs and producers who would go on to define the country’s electronic music scene.

In the early 1990s, South Africa’s first official electronic music festival, “Rave New World”, was held in Johannesburg. This event was a turning point for the country’s EDM scene, helping to bring it into the mainstream. Since then, South Africa has become home to some of the world’s biggest and best EDM festivals, including Ultra South Africa, Rocking The Daisies, and Origin Festival.

Today, South African electronic dance music is as diverse as it is dynamic, with artists and genres ranging from tech-house and trance to dubstep and Drum & Bass. No matter what your taste in EDM may be, there’s sure to be something for you coming out of South Africa.

The different genres of South African electronic dance music

South African electronic dance music is incredibly diverse, with a wide range of genres, sub-genres, and subcultures. Here’s a quick guide to the different genres of South African electronic dance music:

-Kwaito: Kwaito is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in South Africa in the early 1990s. It is characterized by its use of African musical elements, such as kwela and mbube, as well as American hip hop and house music.

-Gqom: Gqom is a genre of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 2010s in the city of Durban. It is characterized by its dark, minimalistic sound and use of heavy basslines.

-Amapiano: Amapiano is a genre of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 2010s in the city of Johannesburg. It is characterized by its use of piano melodies and jazzy horn samples.

-House: House is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago in the 1980s. It is characterized by its four-on-the-floor drumbeat, soulful vocals, and often funky melodies.

The popularity of South African electronic dance music

Since the late 1990s, South African electronic dance music has become increasingly popular, both in South Africa and abroad. A wide variety of genres are now represented within the South African EDM scene, including house, techno, trance, drum and bass, and dubstep.

One of the biggest advantages of South African EDM is its ability to appeal to a wide range of listeners. Whether you’re a fan of harder-hitting styles or more mellow tunes, there’s sure to be something within the genre that you’ll enjoy. In addition, South African EDM often incorporates elements of traditional African music, giving it a unique flavor that can’t be found anywhere else.

If you’re thinking about getting into South African electronic dance music, or if you’re just curious about what the genre has to offer, be sure to check out some of the artists listed below. With their diverse range of styles and influences, they are sure to have something that will appeal to any taste.

The future of South African electronic dance music

The future of South African electronic dance music is looking very bright. With the popularity of the genre growing exponentially, it seems that there is no stopping the rise of South African EDM.

There are many factors that are contributing to the success of the genre, including the increasing number of world-class festivals and clubs, as well as the ever-growing pool of talented producers and DJs.

What is even more exciting is that South African EDM is starting to gain international recognition, with many leading international DJs and producers beginning to include SAEDM tracks in their sets and mixes.

So what does the future hold for SAEDM?

Well, it looks like the sky is the limit!