Electronic Dance Music otherwise known as EDM, has evolved rapidly over the years following its infiltration of mainstream music in the early 2000’s. At EDC 2012 the headliners included Alesso, Above and Beyond, Steve Aoki, Armin van Buuren and of course, Doctor P; all of which have created music that are considered dance hit classics. Genres were loosely defined and most people couldn’t tell you the difference between House and Dubstep let alone the 200 different categories of Trance music.
EDM has become less Skrillex and Afrojack generic style music and more about expressing the music in new ways with new sounds. Artists, DJs and producers have come up with a variety of different sounds ranging from Bass House to Psy Trance, Dubstep to Vomitstep and, Hardcore/Hardstyle to Hard Trap. Just like any respectable genre of music the industry had to change and adapt to grow with its following who wanted more variety and less 808 dubstep tracks that sounded like a remix of Nice Sprites and Scary Monsters. Some of the greatest producers that we know and love have changed to explore their musical creativity and push the boundaries.
Skrillex has focused less on the generic banger formula and has branched out to work with artists like Justin Bieber, Hundred Waters and From First to Last. Unfortunately, artists like Afrojack saw no piece of the cake and died out with the formula when he failed at creating a more varied tracklist; although I will say his live sets are Throwback Thursday worthy and bring the nostalgia in full force. With more success than Afrojack, Deadmau5 has reemerged after a break and has gone on tour again to revitalize the roots of EDM but add new life to older style tracks.
Bassnectar is still providing wooks with plenty of “enlightened” tracks to headbang to and Avicii has made 2 catchy songs that get overplayed on every Pandora playlist to the point that no one wants to hear Levels ever again.
Granted it isn’t just the older artists that have fallen short as well, no one asked for the Chainsmokers and yet they are still making Closer sound alike but in a different key with different words that carry the same message. I a sad to say they were Generation Y’s Backstreet Boys, popular at the time but 10 years from now sorority girls will laugh in remembrance of the time they sang Closer at Coachella and every frat party ever. I’m not disrespecting anyone’s personal preference of music but I will say that it EDM has changed and created many sub genres, most of which I am not a fan of and that is okay.
