Electronic dance music, also called rave music, club music or just dance, is a wide spectrum of percussive, electronic musical styles created mainly for clubs, raves and Gypsy festivals. The term ‘DJs’ refers to clubbers (dancers) or professional night pushers who are hired to set the mood at parties and clubs. Most DJs work with a ‘play list’ detailing exactly what music should be played on certain nights. Clubbers use a different kind of list; they usually have a ‘feel good’ factor to help them get through the dance floor with as little disturbance as possible, and are rarely concerned with what other people will think of the selection.
Techno DJ’s is one of the most distinct types of EDM, a sub-genre which has grown in popularity over recent years. These DJ’s often work with a variety of genres including techno, trance and breaks. Techno DJ’s tends to favour a mixture of old and new school cuts, featuring elements from jungle, hip hop and techno. Some modern, classic cuts by international DJ’s have been re-amped and re-recorded by a growing number of techno DJ’s.
A less well-known but no less interesting sub-genre of the electronic dance music is called ‘EDM’. Electronic drum music is closely related to the is a form of EDM which is largely used in clubs. It shares some elements with the is a form of electronic dance music that evolved in the early 1990s. The producers of this music often prefer to create their own sounds rather than using pre-set tracks. A typical early 90s club scene is packed full of many such producers playing on a set of speakers, often using special effects to make music unique and special. This type of scene is still mentioned occasionally in EDM news.
Another closely related electronic dance music genre is ‘IDM’. Unlike electronic dance music, IDM tends to be made more to achieve a DJ vibe. Often known as a hard style, many IDM producers (most of them male) are from Manchester and the area surrounding it. The main characteristic of this kind of music is the use of distorted kick drums and heavy bass. Many of the producers of IDM are aged in the early to mid ’90s and are renowned for their hardstyle/tech vibe.
One of the newer electronic dance music genres is ‘Gangsta’. Unlike breakcore or hardstyle, g Gangsta is often created as a backlash against traditional electronic dance music styles. It’s sound is close to house music (with a harder edge) yet is often more aggressive and has a similar, yet far less polished feel. As house music continues to grow in popularity, g Gangsta is likely to see its own place among the ranks of rising stars.
One other very strong bass oriented subgenre of electronic dance music is ‘NOFX’. Although not as prominent as g Gangsta, NOFX is beginning to see its place among the ranks of the top-selling electronic dance music genres. In fact, many producers of NOFX are actually based in the United Kingdom. A large number of DJs and producers are starting out with this style of music because of its heavy bassline, unique drum programming and high reverb. While it’s generally more upbeat than other forms, the deep throbbing bass is what sets it apart from other forms of electronic dance music.
The final form of electronic dance music, we’re going to cover today is probably the most commonly heard and recognized subgenre in the United Kingdom. It is called ‘EDM’. And although it technically started in the early 1990s, it wasn’t until later that it began to take shape as a distinct sound. ‘EDM’ stands for ‘Electronic Dance Music’. ‘Gangsta’ is the common term used to refer to a variety of early nu-step artists and producers.
Nowadays, a large number of artists and producers are producing electronica based dance albums and songs. One of the most prominent characteristics of such electronically produced music is its tight melodic arrangement and polyphonic sample playback. A large number of producers are currently creating hip hop and break dance track as well as rhythmical music. These latter types of tracks generally utilize sample-based electronic music. So now you have three broad categories of electronically produced dance music.
