As of January 22, 2026, Grammy-winning singer Harry Styles released the lead single for his fourth album, Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally. The single “Aperture” is noticeably different from his previous release, an observation that holds. Derived from the Latin word aperire (to open), aperture is defined both as a simple opening and as the opening of a photographic lens that admits light. This definition makes sense when tied to Styles’ new pivot with this release, and ultimately to many musical artists’ recent pivots into more dance-focused, electronic releases.
Considering that we’re in the middle of the decade (insane!), the rise of more electronic and upbeat beats in our recent music climate cannot be considered a momentary trend anymore. From albums like Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia to Harry Styles’ upcoming album, electronic dance music is cementing itself as the definite sound of the 2020s. But first, most of us know of EDM, but what exactly is House music, and how exactly are these two evolving into our current mainstream?
House music is a sub-genre of electronic dance music, characterized by its deep association with the musical climate of the 80s, and is a deliberate blend of disco, funk, and German electronic pop, utilizing obscure records, sound effects, and drum machines to truly make the beat feel as full and consuming as it is intended to be. The subgenre was created by Black DJs and musical producers in Chicago’s underground club culture around the 70s. Many minorities—black and brown queer people who were specifically shunned from queer clubs due to their race—found refuge in the four-on-the-floor beats, enjoying the continuous and deeply engulfing feelings of music and connection in tight, hidden basements. This, at its core, is the very essence of House music: connection, acceptance, and communal hedonism. That essence evolved in the 80s, lingered throughout the 90s, and segregated from the early 2000s to the early 2020s. Before the 2020s, house music was ultimately promoted as music for high-income, white young adults who sought fun and entertainment—with its roots as music created by Black DJs and music producers for Black and Brown people. In a way, the recent evolution of House shuns these minorities in the same manner that EDM shunned them in the 70s, despite still using their voices. A musical act originally meant to celebrate inclusion and community, now being weaponized against its originators to signal exclusivity and wealth.
This is until Beyoncé’s seventh album, Renaissance, was released on music streaming platforms on July 29, 2022. Without going into much detail (because I definitely had to delete a whole paragraph discussing the album…), the album was dedicated to the creators and pioneers of House music, her late gay cousin “Uncle Johnny”, and her queer fans who have followed her since the beginning of her career. The interpersonal album, whether intentional or not, opened up the floodgates to the general public’s interest in more upbeat, dance-oriented music. Since 2022, more house (and house-inspired) releases have entertained the public’s ears. Releases like Tinashe and Disco Lines’ “No Broke Boys Remix,” Troy Sivan’s “Rush,” KAYTRANADA’s Timeless, and Charli xcx’s BRAT—all of them have a common theme: insane resonance within young people.
But the main question many have is: why? Why are House and EDM-inspired releases gaining momentum in the current popular culture? For one, I believe that the majority appeal in dance music is directly related to our current political and economic climate. Recession Pop refers to a recently coined term meant to define popular dance-focused music released during the Great Recession of 2008. It acted as a means of escape for the average American during times of struggle, typically characterized by hedonistic, optimistic and materialistic lyrics meant to lessen the feelings of financial and personal anxiety. Fast forward 17 years, and we have found ourselves in an even worse economy and political climate, leading many to seek refuge in a variety of escapisms and distractions. This borderline desperation to escape the overwhelming bits of our current days can also be attributed to TikTok’s explosive popularity in the 2020s. There are more reasons for this rise, whether it be fond nostalgia or the effects of easy listening emboldened by streaming. However, the decline of the current state of life has pushed many to a more optimistic escape that House/EDM-inspired sounds have cultivated for decades.