What is techno music? How does it differ from other music styles? And what are its influences? These are just some of the questions that haunt a student of this genre of electronic music theory. This auto Ethnological study studies analyze cultural influence through (I) subjective evocation of socio-cultural act and affect, and (j) autonomic auto-expression through aesthetic conscious self-production.
Aesthetics and Affect: An examination of the aesthetics of techno electronic music. The study compares and contrasts both classical and contemporary aesthetics of techno music. Scholars-turned-artists explore the expressive potential of modern technology in visualizing and interpreting the production of new technological audio-visual apparatuses. Some of these experiments include but are not limited to, the production of “warped” or abstract noise, the production of “articulated” sounds, the structuring of beats, the production of synthetic sound-effects, and even music with a tempo exceeding 1000 BPM.
Communicative Activity: A corpus of texts concerning techno electronic music and its effect on contemporary youth. A variety of texts examine various forms of communicative activity, which includes musical genre identification, genre and singer/song harmony, and even the politics of electronic and digital culture. In addition, a number of texts analyze various effects of techno dance music on listeners and how it can affect contemporary youth.
Tech Rhythm and Time: Examining the techno rhythm and time of a song. Most music styles adhere to a regular time signature; however, tech dance music deviates from this norm by using polyrhythmic music, irregular beat patterns, and non-continuous rhythms. Examining the rhythmic and time signature of techno dance songs enables scholars to establish the different forms of rhythmic patterns and dance styles common in techno music. Furthermore, these studies also reveal how such music has influenced pop and other popular music styles.
Cultural Significance: Examining the cultural significance of techno music among a variety of age groups including teenagers, children, and adults. Studies suggest that techno beats influence listeners to consider issues of political, technological, and economic issues, thus influencing their fashion choices. Further, studies show that techno electronic music and the related pop music industries have created outlets for expressions of social power, thus influencing social movements, issues of social justice, and issues of global warming and environmental degradation.
Economic Environment: A study examining the techno electronic music industry. The techno electronic music industry is an important component of the global economy, with revenues estimated at more than $40 billion annually. The techno electronic music industry benefits a wide range of industries ranging from music to fashion to publishing and from film to high-end electronics manufacturing. As technology advances and becomes cheaper, more companies are opening up shop across the world, giving rise to a rapid increase in competition. Consequently, companies looking to penetrate the techno electronic music market are taking advantage of new technology to gain an edge over rivals and enter the market.
Techno music has found widespread appeal among various age groups, especially teenagers. Most techno artists and musicians do not focus on building traditional roots of music, as many mainstream music icons have done. Instead, they focus on creating cutting-edge, socially conscious, and politically aware music, making their music an object of fascination for music lovers of all ages. Furthermore, the increasing number of Internet blogs, web logs, and social media sites focusing on music events have also contributed to the growth of this electronic music subculture.
With many of the characteristics of techno music coming into light, one can’t help but wonder what lies behind it. The study of techno music sheds light on the changing digital media landscape, new possibilities in the music industry, and socio-political commentary. The techno electronic music industry continues to evolve with time. Even as the trends in the techno music industry continue to change, the artists and listeners involved in the electronic music scene continue to experiment with new trends. As this continuous evolution continues, techno will emerge as one of the most respected music styles of all time.
