No matter what your favorite music genre is, we all can agree that Electronic Dance Music (EDM) is at the top of the music food chain right now.
However, there is a lot of controversy surrounding the writing and producing of electronic music, the culture EDM is producing and the credibility of EDM as a genre. Everyone has their own interpretation of EDM, but there are a few myths that need to be debunked first before judgement can be made.
1. DJs don’t play instruments
In reference to “old school” DJing, turntables have always been the instrument of choice. EDM DJs, on the other hand, use a wide variety of instruments to produce their catchy tunes, such as synthesizers and mixer consoles. Many DJs also have extensive musical training, which helps them in the production process. Joel Thomas Zimmerman (deadmau5) took piano lessons for eight years, for example. Axel Hedfors (Axwell) of Swedish House Mafia learned to play drums at the age of 9.
2. EDM is not real music
There are over 20 genres listed under the EDM category, with sub-genres branching off of each. Some common sub-genres include house, trance and dubstep. EDM genres continue to influence mainstream music, such as the use of dubstep in Taylor Swift’s “I Knew You Were Trouble” mashed up against her teenage pop/country vibe.
3. EDM is just a trend
EDM has taken a few years to finally reach the mainstream culture, but it isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. The New York Times even quoted Michael Rapin, world-renowned concert promoter, as saying EDM is the “new rock ‘n’ roll.” Music festivals devoted to EDM such as Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) in Las Vegas and Ultra Music Festival (Ultra Fest) in Miami have earned tons of media attention, and a press release on the EDC website stated that, “with more than 320,000 fans gathering under the desert sky this past summer, Electric Daisy Carnival claimed the title of North America’s largest music festival of any genre.”
4. Only teenagers listen to EDM
5. DJs lack real talent
It takes a musical expert to be a successful DJ like deadmau5, David Guetta and the members of Swedish House Mafia. There are many courses offered online and in institutions geared for aspiring DJs. One of the fundamentals for becoming a DJ is making sure you know your music theory. DJs produce feel-good music with complex rhythms, chords and drum patterns, and most EDM is categorized by beats per minute (BPM). It takes a vast amount of music theory to mix and arrange beats and sounds.
Multi-talented musicians are the force behind EDM. A wide range of knowledge in music theory is needed to mix and craft music in a way that draws about the listening ears of millions of music fans across the world. Producers of EDM are influencing other genres and continue to enrich mainstream “Top 40” songs with bass-dropping new wave sounds; there’s a lot to be thankful for.
– Dylan M., TakeLessons staff member and blogger
Photo by The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
Suzy S.