Think of music playing as you swing your arms in the air. Lights are flashing everywhere, smoke from a smoke machine is permeating the room, and the immeasurable beat is resonating in your eardrums like drums during a parade. The rhythm drops and raises again as the DJ makes a fist and throws it into the air with an electrified voice. The sweat is pouring out of your glands as the DJ pauses the music temporarily to put on his Beats and start composing an insane bass drop on the spot. You are listening to one of the hottest genre of music right now on the market, but you have no idea what this music genre is…
Electronic music is music without the aid of classic instruments. Very rarely is an actual instrument used; solely computers construct the music genre. But if the beat changes even by ten per minute, it can further categorize the electronic song into a subgenre. This is why the genre is extremely confusing in countless circumstances. I firmly believe that if society can fully understand electronic music, then they can gain a basic understanding of the modern music industry. Electronic music, being said, is the music of the future.
Electronic music is used commonly throughout the world, especially in the United States, Canada, and many countries in Europe. It started in the 1970s as a new genre called, “Disco,” which used music containing many elements of funk, pop, psychedelic, and Latin. It gained popularity during the 1980s with the introduction of the new genre called “New Wave,” (the use of synthesizers) and over the years, using multiple varieties of computer software, they were able to construct more modern electronic music as well as mixing modern music into a hip-hop danceology. Today, electronic music lays the foundation for many types of modern entertainment as well. In fact, most musical producers use electronics to enhance their voices, and replace old-fashioned instruments with artificial beat boxes to lay a simple beat. Electronic music is used for a variety of purposes, and it has given many DJs the opportunity for success in the music industry. One popular example of an electronic band is Daft Punk. Daft Punk has been together since the early 1990s. They are known for their 90s electronic style, and a “Gallic duo who disguise their love of ’70s disco and album rock in the trappings of house music, complete with robot visages and processed vocals.” (Cooper.2014) Another example is Skrillex, who is a dubstep electronic DJ who has been hot on the market since the early 21st century. He is known for his bass drops, “wubs,” and profane vocals in his compositions.
Electronic music is very diverse when it comes to definition as noticed from the examples above. The word, “electronic,” is very broad. Electronic music is defined as, “music performed using synthesizers and other electronic instruments.” Obviously, the definition can take many paths. The conventions in this genre consist of the use rapid electronic beat for the use of constant dancing, bass drops, and if there are lyrics, they are usually electrified, which is basically a robotic voice. Also, there is a single DJ station controlling the beat for the music, and the music is created via online software, which can be downloaded freely throughout the Internet. One example of electronic music producing software is Fruity Loops, which is shortened publicly to “FL Studios.” Using the mouse of the computer, you can add a variety of simple sounds to the music, such as kicks, cowbells, snares, synths, gross beats, crashes, and sweeps. The rules of electronic music are in fact, very lenient. All you need is a simple beat so you can build on it by mixing and matching simple sounds, such as kicks. Electronic music can be choppy or flowing; it is all personal preference of the composer. That being said, electronic music does not consist of the reading of music. All you need to do to write a song is listen to the beat you composed, and if you do not like it, you can highlight it on your computer, and delete it or rearrange it. Freedom is the sole beauty of this music genre.
One example of electronic music is the song “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger,” written by Daft Punk. This song is a perfect example of electronic music because first of all, the beat is constant, which is perfect for dancing. Another convention of electronic music presented is this song is the lyrics. Electronic music tends to have lyrics in which the music is electrified, and if we listen to “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger,” it proves the convention correct. Using vocal enhancers, Daft Punk was able to manipulate the voice of the main singer, making is sound robotic. Besides this, the song is fully composed with the use of computers, with the exception of the occasional cymbal playing every few beats.
Another perfect example of an electronic music song is the song “Rock n’ Roll Will Take You To The Mountain,” by Skrillex. Skrillex is a dubstep artist, which is a sub-genre of electronic music. His compositions tend to maintain a steady one hundred and forty beats per minute, and because the beat is consistent for the most part, it classifies as electronic music is that aspect. Overall, Skrillex is known for his insane bass drops, and lyrics. That being said, his vocals are electrified, again sounding slightly robotic and enhanced. Finally, all of Skrillex’s works are created via online software, and his songs are in the complete absence of classical instruments. Because the song “Rock n’ Roll Will Take You To The Mountain” lacks classical music and is created with online software, maintains a steady beat, has electrified vocals, and is meant for dancing, the song qualifies as electronic music.
Overall, electronic music is meant for getting you excited. At the beginning of the party, the music with the DJ, the bass drops, and the smoke were a complete stranger to you. But now, being knowledgeable about the music genre, you can easily refer those elementary conventions to electronic music. Finally knowing the music genre you are listening to, you continue to dance. The DJ turns the smoke machine back on, and the song lyrics become electrified. You get more and more excited as the bass rises, like a roller coaster going up a hill. Then the beat stops…it is silent…but then…BASSDROP!