The Evolution of Electronic Music

jam uh weezy

jam uh weezy

Bluelighter
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It seems like if you look back on the history of electronic music that many of the varying styles influence one another, sometimes giving rise to completely new sub-genres of electronic all together.


I'm curious what current progressions you are seeing and experiencing today? Both in terms of the sounds(or sub genres i guess) and what they say about the types of people attracted to electronic music's different forms. How do you feel about these things? How do they compare to how things are in "the past"? What are some significant social(or otherwise) factors you notice that are influenced by or actually influence electronic?

I'm also curious what you guys think is the fundamental reason(s) that people are attracted to electronic music.

or just write whatever you feel like.
 
Well I've only been listening to Electronic music since about 2004, so it's difficult for me to evaluate how it's change. But then again I also listen to a lot of artists/genres-styles/releases that were popular before this date and I've also been to EDM events in a few different parts the world (socal, midwest, canada, UK, Ukraine, Russia, Goa).

I would say the big thing nowadays is how 'mainstream' artists are implementing elements of certain genres in their tracks. Glitch, electro-house and dubstep/bass music seem to be pretty popular among 'mainstream' artists. But then again, most of these implementations tend to be half-assed. They are simply in riding the wave of current fab. As far as real electronic music is concerned, it doesn't really change anything. Fads will change, people will get tired of "dubstep". Underground producers will continue pushing boundaries and inventing new sounds and styles.

The biggest reasons why I listen to EDM:

* The focus on atmosphere and/or dancing. I love listening to ten minute tracks with a lot of layers and long intros/outros. I often find vocals and typical rock song structure to be "too be explicit to be real". EDM on the other hand does not hold your hand while sending you to outer space and/or to the depths of your soul. It's a natural process where your mind takes sonic vibrations and generates emotions, vibes and even visions. Vocals can be too limiting in that they often limit your ability for abstract thought.

I'll write more when I get back home from work.
 
There seems to be a trend toward an emphasis on LFO's in electronic music production. This sound seems to be popular right now as electro house, dubstep and some glitch music is what is being listen to by the general public. Producers are always trying to push boundaries. This is why new genres in EDM are constantly becoming invented. People who are new to electronic music tend to go for what is new and popular. This is the reason why you see many young people into music like dubstep and electro house. But some people like music that is easily accessible like trance. Or some get into drum and bass because they like breakbeats.

There is no ONE sole reason people like electronic music. I like different genres for many things. It's not an easy question to answer as to why I like electronic music. It's much easier to answer why I like "deep house" or why I like "dark psytrance". The reasons I like and I'm sure other people like each genre is completely different. I will say one thing though. People listen to electronic music because it makes them feel an emotion that they connect with.
 
my impression is that edm is focussing more and more on bass and less on the kick in all 4/4 genres. this is especially noticable in minimal techno (which btw all sounds more or less the same when you compare it to minimal techno from the early 00's) and psytrance.
slower stuff is also becoming more popular now. back then most music (even the commercial "club remix" crap) was 130-160bpm and now the most popular styles are minimal techno, electro house and dubstep, all typically below 120bpm.
and new styles are commercialised much more quickly. just look at dubstep. it started out dark and ungerdround, basically the opposite of easy listening and it only took a few years until the first pop-dubstep tracks appeared.
 
It speaks to our tribal/shamanistic roots. I like it because it vibrates well with me.
 
Black said:
my impression is that edm is focussing more and more on bass and less on the kick in all 4/4 genres. this is especially noticable in minimal techno (which btw all sounds more or less the same when you compare it to minimal techno from the early 00's) and psytrance.
slower stuff is also becoming more popular now. back then most music (even the commercial "club remix" crap) was 130-160bpm and now the most popular styles are minimal techno, electro house and dubstep, all typically below 120bpm.
and new styles are commercialised much more quickly. just look at dubstep. it started out dark and ungerdround, basically the opposite of easy listening and it only took a few years until the first pop-dubstep tracks appeared.
Click to expand...

I always thought dubstep started out fairly easy listening actually, if you compare the stuff from 05ish to now the bulk of it has gotten a lot more abrasive and brosteppy.
 
LuGoJ said:
I always thought dubstep started out fairly easy listening actually, if you compare the stuff from 05ish to now the bulk of it has gotten a lot more abrasive and brosteppy.
Click to expand...

honestly, i don't listen to it much and i'm not really up to date. i'm just saying that commercial spin-offs appear faster now. it took more than 10 years for psytrance and even longer for dnb to sell out to a level that's barely close to this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bizL0kRychU. when compared to earlier tracks like this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5ITHpUT32w; it's not as agressive as the modern stuff, but has a totally 'underground-music' atmosphere. the existance of sell-outs of course doesn't mean that the majority of music is crap, but the organizers realise that a lot more money is to be made with commercial artists...
and it does get on my nerves when i'm trying to explain to people that i don't listen to infected mushroom even though i said that i like goa trance ;). i guess it's not different for other genres :).
 
My experience of the music is more singular than anything else. I seem to listen to it in private more often than not.

As far as trends go, I see a lot of interesting things happening at the edge of the beat. Genres like Dubstep, Glitch, and whatnot seem to be pushing the limits of what defines nights out in the big room format, or maybe I am talking out of my ass.

:D

I have no idea. I think I may be gravitating more towards what I have heard dubbed the drumstep sound.

:)
 
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