Electronic Dance Music FAQ, What Is EDM? What is Trap? – EDM Sauce

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If you’re like one of the millions of people who consider this whole genre ‘Techno’ this guide is definitely for you. Now this is not fully complete, but it is a great rough guide of the different styles of music within the Electronic Music Scene.
Table of Contents
Electronic dance music (also known as EDM, electronic music, or dance music) is a genre of music largely produced for music festivals, clubs and raves. EDM is generally used by DJs as they transition from one Dance music track to another. Within electronic dance music is a plethora of sub-genres including House Music, Dubstep, Drum and Bass, Mashups, Moombahton, Electro, Glitch, Trap, Trance, Hardstyle.
House music originated in the 1980’s in Chicago, Illinois. After having success in the mid 90’s, house music grew larger with the wave of Progressive House. It is known to be the most ‘human’ sounding music of all of the genres. It is also the most popular and most used in the Top 40 mixes, because of it’s catchy tunes. Famous House DJs are Daft Punk, Deadmau5, Steve Aoki and Tiesto (formerly focused on trance).
Trance is one of the most emotional jerking genres because of its melodic tunes and it’s repetitive synths. Trance originated in the 1990’s and is usually characterized to be between 125 and 150 beats per minute.
Electro is short for electro-funk or electro-boogie and was influenced by the TR-808 drum machines and funk sampling. Song usually feature drum machines and heavy electronic sounds. Electro usually does not consist of vocals unless they are distorted.
Unfortunately most noobs think of our music as a genre as techno. Typically this genre is considered to be EDM or Electronic Dance Music. Techno is a form of EDM that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the late 1980’s. Techno is generally a repetitive beat in common time (4/4). The tempo is generally (120-150 BPM) and generally uses drum machines, digital workstations and synthesizers.
Dubstep originated in South London at around the year 1998. Dubstep is known to be “tightly coiled productions with overwhelming bass lines and reverberant drum patterns, occasional vocals, and clipped samples.” In 2011, Skrillex and other artists such as Rusko and Datsik have gained the appeal to people in the US market by introducing a post-dubstep style known as brostep. Brostep is known to be “lurching and aggressive.”
Moombahton is a mix of house mix and reggaeton. This genre was made famous by American DJ and Producer Dave Nada in 2010. Moobahton is very close to dutch house and electro house, but at the tempo of reggaeton (108-112 BPM).
Trip hop is the downtempo electronic music which originated in the 1990s. It is known as the post-acid house music which is a variant of soul, jazz and funk.
Trap music is a sub-genre of ‘EDM” that has been gaining momentum throughout dance music fans. Trap music first emerged from the south and included a multitude of sounds including triplet hi hats, loud kicks, snares, triangle, brass and the popular low end 808 bass samples.
“EDM Trap” or “Trap music” is a constantly evolving sound that incorporates the use of techno, dubstep and dutch house with the added Roland TR-808 drum samples.
Trap music is essentially 1/3 hip hop, 1/3 dance music and 1/3 dub.
Tropical House music also known as “Trop House” is a sub-genre of EDM and Deep House” that was originally created by Thomas Jack and Kygo. Tropical House music typically uses steel drums, horns, marimbas and slower tempos.
Today’s most popular tropical house artists include Kygo, Thomas Jack, Autograf, Klingande, Bakermat, Felix Jaehn, Robin Schulz, Matoma, Sam Feldt, Lost Frequencies and LCAW.
Deep House music is a sub-genre of house music and EDM that originated back in the 1980s. Deep House songs fused together elements of Chicago House as well as 1980s jazz-funk. Deep House songs typically have a slower BPM (Beats Per Minute) than other dance music sub-genres in its category. Most deep house songs are around 120-130 BPMs and elements include pitched down vocals, psychedelic sounds and groovy basslines.
Future House music is a sub-genre of deep house and EDM that emerged in the 2010s. Laidback Luke said that future house is “deep house meets EDM.” Artists that are well-known in the future house scene include Tchami and Oliver Heldens.
Hardstyle Music is a sub-genre of EDM that usually consists of influences from hard techno and hardcore. Elements of hardstyle typically include a hard-sounding kick drum, reversed basslines, detuned sounds and a dissonant Synth melody.
Hardstyle is very popular in many European countries and is starting to see a rise in popularity in North America.
Hardstyle music is typically characterized with a BPM of around 140-150.
Indie Dance Music also known as alternative dance and indie disco is a genre of dance music that mixes influences from indie rock, alternative and post-disco music.
Some popular indie dance music artists include Flight Facilities, Goldroom, Viceroy, RAC, Oh Wonder and Bloc Party.
Ambient music is a style of electronic music that is typically instrumental and has no constant beat. Ambient music is typically used to enhance moods, help people sleep and evoke atmospheric emotions.
Popular ambient artists include The Orb, Boards of Canada, Brian Eno, Aphex Twin and The KLF.
Jersey Club is a sub-genre of EDM that was created in New Jersey. Jersey Club often features tempos of around 128-140bpm.
Some of the most popular Jersey Club music producers include DJ Rell, DJ Sliink, Nadus, Trippy Turtle, Cashmere Cat, DJ Hoodboi and Hemsworth.





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