For most people, the word “race” paints a mental picture of bright neon lights, scantily clad girls wearing tutus with furry boots, wrists full of plastic beads, people rolling on ecstasy and ear-piercing music. On the other hand, people struggle to describe the music genre behind it all. From its humble beginnings to its current club-culture reputation, EDM (electronic dance music) has always led the way with its avant-garde style.
The genre encompasses house, trance, dubstep, electro and other club dance music. in the past decade, the genre has evolved dramatically into an international movement that is paramount in the rave culture. with new advances in technology, EDM is easier and faster to produce, as many DJs are able to make music at home on their laptops. Some DJs have become overnight, global successes just by creating their music at home, putting it online and spinning at clubs.
Although EDM is often mistaken as distasteful “druggy music,” it has morphed into a mainstream international genre worth an estimated $4 billion dollar a year, according to visual.ly.com. Its songs are played on the radio and are even enjoyed by individuals who probably never have or never will go to a rave. In either case, the new wave of EDM popularity has made the rave culture seem more socially acceptable and less of an underground taboo scene.
The components that make up the genre have made their way into mainstream music, with pop musicians from Taylor Swift to Will. I. Am incorporating EDM elements in their music. Meanwhile, EDM favorites he likes of Swedish House Mafia and Avicii have permeated the Top 40 and are played alongside Demi Lovato – a far cry from the EDM of the 1990s.
House, Trance and Dubstep: The Big Difference
Everyone knows the words “dubstep,” “trance” and “house,” which comprise the three most popular sub-genres of EDM. House music developed in the 1980s in Chicago and it morphed from disco. It is characterized by repetitive 4/4 beats, synthesized baselines and a kick drum on every beat. House music is diverse and varies in style and in influence. Popular house DJs and musicians include David Guetta, Swedish House Mafia, Deadmau5, Avicii and Kaskade. Popular house songs on the radio include “Don’t You Worry Child” by Swedish House Mafia and “Fade into Darkness” by Avicii. Trance developed in the 1990s in Germany and is distinguished by a variety of synthesized sounds, but it is typically more melodic or progressive in comparison to house. The beat also remains static the entire song. According to the DJ Magazine poll, the top-five trance DJs in the world are: No. 1 Armin Van Buuren, No. 2 Tiesto, No. 3 Paul Van Dyk, No. 4 Above and Beyond No. 5 ATB.
Dubstep also emerged in the late 1990s in the united kingdom. It is known to have a darker vibe due to its typical minor key, overwhelming bass lines and no vocals. According to Spin.com, it began as an underground club movement as a reaction to U.K. grunge music. Spin.com also claims that the genre didn’t start to emerge in the American market until around 2006 when artists such as Caspa and Rusko captured the attention of American teens. Since then, dubstep artists have partnered up with American pop artists such as Britney Spears, and the genre has blown up across the country. In a Sept. 12, 2011 interview with Spin.com, dubstep artist Bassnectar claimed that the American market is the place to be for the genre.
“Right now, in America, the work has been done, the road is paved. If someone offered me Tokyo or Paris on a Saturday or Kentucky or Mississippi on a Tuesday, I’d take Kentucky”.
Dubstep artist Skrillex places EDM on the map as he continues to top the charts and garner international attention. In 2012, his album “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites” won Best Dance/Electronica Album at the Grammy Awards and he was nominated for Best New Artist. He also earned the spot as No. 10 ranked DJ in the world on the Dj Magazine poll.
“I personally feel the main reason why EDM is huge now is because of dubstep and more specifically because of Skrillex,” Pepperdine senior and six-year EDM fan Jeremy Hill said. “Dubstep offers more variability and schoking beat changes with the use of dropbeats that attract a larger audience.”
The Rave Culture
The word” rave” garnered its negative stereotype because of its bizarre culture that often focused on drug abuse, which lead to many deaths. But even for fans who defy the druggie stereotype, the addictive music acts as a drug itself.
“The rave culture has grown because of the atmosphere it creates,” said Pepperdine freshman and five-year EDM fan, Rachel Siegman. “Once a person listens to EDM, it is almost like a drug: People get captivated by the sounds that are intertwined to make catchy and upending beats”.
Today, raves are socially acceptable musical festivals commonly held in fields, warehouses, sports arenas and basically any place that can fit a monster sound system and tons of people. They are publicly advertised on Facebook and other social media, capturing the interest of college students and even underage kids to attend.
“Sure drugs are taken at raves, but drugs are taken at all types of concerts,” said Pepperdine senior and sever-year EDM listener Zach Palsson. “You like country music? So you’re a Republican right? Reggae? How much weed did you smoke today? It’s all about opinion.”
Mainstreaming EDM
Pop artists such as Flo Rida, Britney Spears and even Ne-Yo have jumped on the EDM bandwagon by infusing popular house or trance songs into their poppy radio songs. The genre that was once considered “druggy music” or “raver music” today, sits competitively on Top 40 hit lists. Senior Jeremy Hill sees the positives and the negatives of EDM’s evolution over the past few years.
“I think that EDM has lost some of its novelty because of its popularity, but at the same time it only offers the opportunity for it to diversify and evolve,” more sub-genres of EDM have emerged and also the merging of EDM and other genres allows for more interesting songs.”
Many EDM artists have smaller concerts and shows that are not raves. The high energy, the fast beat and the avant-garde sounds create a dynamic and exciting environment. It isn’t necessarily for every one, but neither is country or heavy metal.
“EDM has some of the sweetest beats of any type of music and it is so exhilarating,” said Siegman. “It does not require technicality or choreography; you can just feel the beat and have an awesome time.”
“Pop songs get lost in the need to make a catchy chorus,” Hill said. “EDM offers so much more… You can lose yourself in the pure musicality”
